computer is erratic...could it be the phone line?

apprentice_tycoon

I have a broadband connection and all isn't well at the moment. I can zip from one task to another changing websites and doing all the normal stuff for a few minutes at a time and then it turns to sludge, again for a few minutes at a time - in those sludgy minutes I get 'no page to display' messages and I have to click repeatedly or refresh the page etc - and then a few minutes later it's back to normal again zipping along at speed.

So the question is - why does it work perfectly well for a couple of minutes and then not well for a couple of minutes? is it the computer or phone connection do you think?

Little_John

I would expect it to me a pc problem, rather than the internet connection problem.

most proberbly the cpu is overheating and is shutting itself down untill the temperature drops to a level it can work at then it springs back in to life again untill it gets to hot and the process just repeates itself.

open the side of your pc and check to see if the cpu fan is working and moving air out of the cpu heatsink, maybe have a feel of the heatsink to see if it is hot but be carefull it could be very hot so if you can feel the heat as you move your hand close dont go touching it you will burn yourself. also watch for the spinning fan blades they can be very sharp and will hurt if they hit your fingers. it could be other bits over heating but the CPU is your best start.

mr_fishbulb

Is it just your internet or does it slow down when you are doing other task-intensive things?

Open up a lot of programs (word, excel, a videom in media player etc.) and flick through them at teh speed you would you internet sites. Can it do that ok?

apprentice_tycoon

Thanks for the ideas.

I currently have as I write, a photo programme + a video + turbo lister + a peice of work in my documents all running and so far it's all working well.

I take the point about the fan, I came on here a few weeks ago asking about the fan as it was making real roaring noises, it was suggested that I cleaned the fan up and it has stopped being so noisy so maybe it's not an overheating problem then?

MortgageBroker_2

With a broadband connection you need to make sure that ALL phones and other equip which are plugged in to the broadband line use ASDL filters.

If not some can cause interference or maybe drop the connection.

Worth a check

T4i

Next time this happends (sluggish) look at your p.c tower or desktop box and see if the red HDD light flashes like mad.

Also, press ctrl, alt and del when it goes sluggish. Click on performance tab and look at your CPU / PF Usage. Does your CPU read 100%?

If it stays sluggish for a while (long enough for you to look through the process list in task manager) scroll down the list and look for something that is using a high percentage of your CPU.

apprentice_tycoon

Thanks all again, I'll check the filter, there's a fax machine on the same line.

There isn't a red light going crazy (no red light at all to be honest). I've had a look at the task manager and it peaks at 100% when I click on to something new then settles down to around 10% with the odd 50% here and there. Is this OK?

T4i

apprentice_tycoon wrote:

There isn't a red light going crazy (no red light at all to be honest). I've had a look at the task manager and it peaks at 100% when I click on to something new then settles down to around 10% with the odd 50% here and there. Is this OK?

No red light? You should have a light that flashes/lights up to indicate HDD usage.

If you have no light listen for a 'thrashing' noise coming from the HDD next time your p.c goes sluggish.

When you click on a application 100% CPU usage is normal, once the app is open your CPU usage should settle down to as near to 0% as possible (depending on background services, apps running)

apprentice_tycoon

I think I've found the red light - except it's yellow and quite deep into the casing. It seems to be flashing persistently regardless of how the computer is performing. It's not a steady pulsing, it's random rapid flashes with the odd stronger one.

T4i

If you are not doing anything on the p.c and your HDD goes on a 'mad one' then you have something thats not quite right (unless its a old machine running a new anti-virus)

Real-time scanning with antivirus can make the HDD work without the user actualy using the p.c

I would suggest cleaning the p.c using http://www.ccleaner.com/

Defrag and see how it goes.

apprentice_tycoon

I took on board all the infomation that was given.

I ruled out the filter problem as everything on this phone line goes through the filter.

I was waiting for my in-house DIY operative to get a bit of time this weekend to take the case off the tower and have a look inside to check for overheating and run the clean up programme as suggested

so in short - no 'cures' have been done to the computer as yet so why is it working perfectly today? I've given it as much work to do but it's running smoothly with no sludgy moments, not complaining of course but more puzzled than ever.