Laptop Freezes

lovema75 · 19th July 2013, 23:09

Ok Peeps, I've picked your collective brains already with this machine, and have come a long way with it already - just one issue to address if you can help.

Just as a quick recap, this is an ancient Acer Aspire 1350. The specs:

1.4GB RAM
20 GB Hardive
Windows XP Home edition with service pack 3
DVD drive
Google Chrome

The machine is running well, with just 1 main problem - every so often it just...stops. Becomes totally unresponsive, with no signs of activity, and the only thing I can do is switch it off and start it again. When re-started I get messages about FAT32 and incorrect files sizes etc, it "repairs" them then off we go again.

Any tips on what I can look for? Is there something deep in the operating system that can be changed/un-ticked etc? I've switched off every setting I can find regarding power saving, hard drive shutdown etc. Should I try re-loading the operating system again?

And before anyone says "Its old - bin it" I will as soon as I can afford it!

E_T_V · 19th July 2013, 23:34

Does the cooling fan work? (I'm thinking processor overheating)

Have you tried taking some of the memory out? (memory faults are a pain to test for!)

lovema75 · 19th July 2013, 23:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by E_T_V

Does the cooling fan work? (I'm thinking processor overheating)

Have you tried taking some of the memory out? (memory faults are a pain to test for!)

Yes the fan works.

No, I've not opened it up. Upon investigation there are 2 memory slots, 1 with 1GB in and the second with 512MB. I could upgrade that to !GB but thats all.

It does get very warm, but online reviews I've read state that they were noted for it when new. Very basic spec I know, but its very quiet and does ok for me at the moment if I could make it more stable.

drewesq · 20th July 2013, 06:04

Sounds like it is overheating to me! The exhaust vents can, over time, fill up with dust and not expel the heat as well as it used to. You could try a can of compressed air, just be careful not to blow all that dust back into the laptop!

You could try reinstalling windows to see if that fixes the problem - if it does great - if it doesn't then you know it is definitely a hardware issue and you need a new laptop!

DaveyC · 20th July 2013, 06:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by drewesq

Sounds like it is overheating to me! The exhaust vents can, over time, fill up with dust and not expel the heat as well as it used to. You could try a can of compressed air, just be careful not to blow all that dust back into the laptop!

You could try reinstalling windows to see if that fixes the problem - if it does great - if it doesn't then you know it is definitely a hardware issue and you need a new laptop!

Or, you may just need to take out a stick of memory at at time, to see if its memory related. Or, check the cooling fan ducts are free from fluff / crud, to ensure the fan IS actually cooling the processor and obviously check the fan is running.

Let us know how you get on.....

Dave

jubbarelly · 20th July 2013, 06:28

If it's fan / heat issues the laptop would simply turn off to protect itself. It sounds to me like a faulty hard drive, especially if it's having to do repairs every now and then on the file system. I suggest backing up your data just in case.

Download seatools for windows and install it and then run a diagnostic test on the HDD (hard drive) if it won't run in windows download the DOS version and burn it to cd and boot from that cd.

Hope that helps.

lovema75 · 20th July 2013, 08:02

Thanks all, I'll give those suggestions a try later.

arodriguez · 20th July 2013, 15:24

You certainly aren't short of memory so I doubt that's the problem. HDD is certainly worth investigating as suggested. You can pick up a new 60Gb one for about £35 ish and then do a fresh install of XP.

lovema75 · 20th July 2013, 22:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by jubbarelly

If it's fan / heat issues the laptop would simply turn off to protect itself. It sounds to me like a faulty hard drive, especially if it's having to do repairs every now and then on the file system. I suggest backing up your data just in case.

Download seatools for windows and install it and then run a diagnostic test on the HDD (hard drive) if it won't run in windows download the DOS version and burn it to cd and boot from that cd.

Hope that helps.

Sea tools downloaded but does nothing, just says "scanning for drivers" and nothing happens.

jubbarelly · 21st July 2013, 15:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by lovema75

Sea tools downloaded but does nothing, just says "scanning for drivers" and nothing happens.

Could you post up a screen shot?

19th July 2013, 23:09	#1
lovema75 This is my second home 75 Tourer CDT Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Enfield Posts: 3,925 Thanks: 63 Thanked 431 Times in 237 Posts	Laptop Freezes Ok Peeps, I've picked your collective brains already with this machine, and have come a long way with it already - just one issue to address if you can help. Just as a quick recap, this is an ancient Acer Aspire 1350. The specs: 1.4GB RAM 20 GB Hardive Windows XP Home edition with service pack 3 DVD drive Google Chrome The machine is running well, with just 1 main problem - every so often it just...stops. Becomes totally unresponsive, with no signs of activity, and the only thing I can do is switch it off and start it again. When re-started I get messages about FAT32 and incorrect files sizes etc, it "repairs" them then off we go again. Any tips on what I can look for? Is there something deep in the operating system that can be changed/un-ticked etc? I've switched off every setting I can find regarding power saving, hard drive shutdown etc. Should I try re-loading the operating system again? And before anyone says "Its old - bin it" I will as soon as I can afford it! Last edited by lovema75; 19th July 2013 at 23:37..

19th July 2013, 23:34	#2
E_T_V Loves to post MG ZT-T Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Scunthorpe Posts: 423 Thanks: 8 Thanked 9 Times in 9 Posts	Does the cooling fan work? (I'm thinking processor overheating) Have you tried taking some of the memory out? (memory faults are a pain to test for!)

20th July 2013, 06:04	#4
drewesq Posted a thing or two 75 Tourer Auto Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Exeter Posts: 1,085 Thanks: 148 Thanked 43 Times in 41 Posts	Sounds like it is overheating to me! The exhaust vents can, over time, fill up with dust and not expel the heat as well as it used to. You could try a can of compressed air, just be careful not to blow all that dust back into the laptop! You could try reinstalling windows to see if that fixes the problem - if it does great - if it doesn't then you know it is definitely a hardware issue and you need a new laptop!

20th July 2013, 06:28	#6
jubbarelly I really should get out more....... MG ZT 180 SE Poseidon, Peugeot 508 GT Sport Tourer Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Wolverhampton Posts: 2,509 Thanks: 232 Thanked 266 Times in 185 Posts	If it's fan / heat issues the laptop would simply turn off to protect itself. It sounds to me like a faulty hard drive, especially if it's having to do repairs every now and then on the file system. I suggest backing up your data just in case. Download seatools for windows and install it and then run a diagnostic test on the HDD (hard drive) if it won't run in windows download the DOS version and burn it to cd and boot from that cd. Hope that helps.

20th July 2013, 08:02	#7
lovema75 This is my second home 75 Tourer CDT Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Enfield Posts: 3,925 Thanks: 63 Thanked 431 Times in 237 Posts	Thanks all, I'll give those suggestions a try later.

20th July 2013, 15:24	#8
arodriguez Loves to post Rover 75 Club 1.8T SE Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Bristol Posts: 310 Thanks: 28 Thanked 35 Times in 32 Posts	You certainly aren't short of memory so I doubt that's the problem. HDD is certainly worth investigating as suggested. You can pick up a new 60Gb one for about £35 ish and then do a fresh install of XP.