Refurb PC

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the wrist strap is to prevent static damage, to ram in particular. The undischarged capacitors will probably be holding charge and keeping the board live, not the cmos battery, removing the power lead and switching on should discharge them.

cleaning ram is unlikely to make any difference, and is more likely to cause more problems, it works in safe mode, which points to software, so backup first, then lookup how to create windows discs and factory restore your particular model, assuming the previous owner hasn't wiped the data

UsernameAlreadyExists

You are a Geek

Edit: agreed on cleaning the RAM being pointless, I suggested he cleaned the video card :P

NiftyDigits

UsernameAlreadyExists wrote: »

You are a Geek

Edit: agreed on cleaning the RAM being pointless, I suggested he cleaned the video card :P

Have to disagree here. Cleaning RAM contacts can be of use, especially for a second owner PC.
Perhaps the OP can also run the Windows Memory Diagnostics Tool.

Miroslav, what Operating System is in use on the HP? XP Home or Pro or some flavour of Vista?

macman

OP, if it doesn't freeze in Safe Mode, then it's not going to be a PSU issue.
Freezing in any mode is not indicative of a failing PSU anyway. A failing PSU will usually result in a failure to complete POST, and so it won't boot to the Windows desktop.

Splott

UsernameAlreadyExists wrote: »

You are a Geek

Edit: agreed on cleaning the RAM being pointless, I suggested he cleaned the video card :P

No it isn't pointless. Over time because the metal on the pins of the RAM and the contacts of the socket it plugs into are dissimilar metals, corrosion builds up on the surface.

Taking the RAM out and cleaning both the contacts on the RAM and in the slot with a fibreglass pen sorts a lot of problems with machines typically 4+ years old.

LucianH

UsernameAlreadyExists wrote: »

Give the contacts a bit of a scratch/wipe, ...

I would never recommend scratching contacts (specifically since many will be gold plated). Just clean/degrease (spot of meths). The only time you may need some form of abrasive is if its a bare copper (or similar) contact where it may tarnish. In that case use a very fine abrasive and make sure you clean it well afterwards to get rid of any metal deposits.

Miroslav

Thanks everyone.

I managed to get the graphics card out and clean it this morning (had to rush off to bed last night). I've only just switched it on for the first time, so too early to say it isn't going to stick.

I will keep attempting to backup what I can.

I have run the memory diagnostics tool - no errors.

This PC is running Windows Vista Home Premium.

So, it's unlikely to be PSU....any reasons why one monitor that's donkeys years old will run better than a much newer monitor? Although it still sticks.

I've uninstalled software that i've put on since just before it started sticking....nothing changed.

If I do a system restore - it has 1 choice that was saved before this started going wrong, would I lose files (photo's etc)?

Lum

It's possible that the graphics card is faulty or overheating... does the graphics card fan (if it has one) still turn?

Since the other monitor is running at 640x480 rather than 1440x900 maybe the card is doing less work and thus not overheating so quickly.

I take it you don't have a spare graphics card lying around?

Miroslav

Lum wrote: »

It's possible that the graphics card is faulty or overheating... does the graphics card fan (if it has one) still turn?

Since the other monitor is running at 640x480 rather than 1440x900 maybe the card is doing less work and thus not overheating so quickly.

I take it you don't have a spare graphics card lying around?

It does have one and I have cleaned it. Nvidia Geforce 7300le

I do have another one - MSI - trying to find a pic of it as can't find booklet. It doesn't have a fan.

EDIT found booklet - it says it has a fan connector, but not a fan.

ATI Radeon HD5450 series

Says I need a 400w or better power supply - I only have 300w

1g DDR2 memory, 512mb DDR3 memory, 256 DDR3 memory

Connections look different as well on the outside - has HDMI which my current one doesn't. It's ok though I think, as it has different size brackets to choose from.

And my screen just turnd purple!

NiftyDigits

Miroslav wrote: »

It does have one and I have cleaned it. Nvidia Geforce 7300le

I do have another one - MSI - trying to find a pic of it as can't find booklet. It doesn't have a fan.

EDIT found booklet - it says it has a fan connector, but not a fan.

ATI Radeon HD5450 series

Says I need a 400w or better power supply - I only have 300w

1g DDR2 memory, 512mb DDR3 memory, 256 DDR3 memory

Connections look different as well on the outside - has HDMI which my current one doesn't. It's ok though I think, as it has different size brackets to choose from.

And my screen just turnd purple!

The new card will work, as long as it will fit in the PCI Express slot. Try it.

I'll send you the Vista DVD if you need it.