stupid, stupid Tiny computer!

Fleur_2

Ah! where to begin ... well, with the warning to others - don't buy from Tiny!

Anyway, to the problem in hand.
Last night my PC crashed and wouldn't re-boot.
It went through scan disc fine but kept crashing / freezing afterwards.
On the umpteenth attempt it did get to the PC desktop, but froze again.
I tried to open in safe mode - nada!
So, I decided to try and re-install the system from the disc Tiny gave me.
Everything hunky dorey as it checks FATS and stuff, but on the reload it will get as far as 3%, 6% and at the most 18% before freezing again (3 different attempts to gtting the flippin' thing to load)
I gave up last night cos there was a massive thunder storm rolling in from the hills.
Does anyone have any suggestions about this?
Has anyone experianced similar / same problem.

This PC has been hassle from day 1 (when unloaded from box the thing didn't even work, then it was returned with a duff card reader which has since gone kaput again.)

I have unplugged all my periferals in case they might interfere with the re-load.

Any help would be really very welcome as I am tearing my hair out about this.

Thanks

rogerramjet

Probably a memory problem, or heat especially as it happening on boot or re-install. If it has 2 memory chips installed remove one and try to boot it, if it doesn't replace and remove the other...only good though if you have 2 chips installed.

Other option is see if you can have a lend of a memory chip from someone. Basically you need to eliminate any hardware faults to begin with and sometimes that can only be done by replacing different items one at a time.

Fleur_2

Hi!
Thanks for the reply.
How would I identify the memory chips?
Are they easy to replace if there is a problem?
What will happen when I remove one bearing in mind that I tried to re-install the system yesterday and only got some 10% in before the PC froze??

Do you think that, now that it is a bit cooler, it would be worth trying to re-install again?

Paddymcc_2

Can you see the blue strip with Tt on it?

That is a memory chip, although yours may not be this colour and may be a small green baord with black chips.

If you have two of these try removing one, or try switching them around in the sockets.

Also check and see that thermal paste was used on the heatsink and chip, by removing the heatsink and looking underneath it for a pasty substance where it contacts the processor.

robnye

Fleur wrote:

Hi!
Thanks for the reply.
How would I identify the memory chips?
Are they easy to replace if there is a problem?
What will happen when I remove one bearing in mind that I tried to re-install the system yesterday and only got some 10% in before the PC froze??

Do you think that, now that it is a bit cooler, it would be worth trying to re-install again?

yes.......... try the reinstalll

you say that it is a bit cooler........ when it is running can you hear the fan?

socmwils23

The memory chips would be easy to identify. They are usually thin rectangular strips plugged into the motherboard. They will be placed into a slot and clipped down at either end. To remove them just undo the clips and pull out the memory. It really is that easy to do.

The downside is that if you have a warranty it will invalidate it. I used to have a Tiny computer and had similar problems and it was this that prompted me to build my own which is really very easy, good fun and works out cheaper to do.

If you dont feel confident of opening the computer yourself take it to a local computer shop or pc world and get them to test it for you. It will cost more than using the tiny warranty but i would trust them more than i would tiny to be honest.

Fleur_2

Thanks for all the help guys!
I will take a butchers when I get home tonight.
I'll try the re-boot again first off and see if that works, if not I'll try the memory chip.
There is no way on earth I am sending it back to Tiny again.
It has been back 3 times already (so case has been opened before by them) and all it seems to do is leave me PC less for weeks and skint from chase up phone calls at £1 per minute.

There is a PC doctor in Oxford that I might give a shout should I not be able to get things sorted myself.

I'll keep you updated

boogiemaster

Computers can crash for a number of reasons.
The hard drive can fail and stop windows from booting up.
The Cpu can overheat and cause system shutdown to prevent Cpu burning out.
The heatsink takes away heat from the Cpu, and the Cpu fan cools the heatsink.
If the heatsink is full of dust? then the fan cannot cool the heatsink properly and pc will shut down.

If you have one stick of memory and it breaks down? then your computer will boot up but no imformation will show on the screen until you replace it.
If software files from Xp or 98 go missing? they can stop a system from booting up.

A boot sector virus can dammage the boot sector of your drive and stop it from ever booting up.
A trojan can stop your computer from booting up and take your bandwith while you find out whats wrong.
Lots of software can conflict with your system causeing non system boot up, going into safe mode and uninstalling software will sometimes get system to boot up.

Graphics cards can die showing nothing on the screen, motherboards can die showing nothing on the screen.
If you have a fault? your bios will bleep a certain ammount of times to let you know whats wrong? Look in the manual to find out what it means.

Some computer shops will charge a small fee to tell you whats wrong with it? and some will charge you £40 plus parts and thats good becouse it saves you headaches galore in the long run

Fleur_2

I very rarely have the speakers on and have to say that there were no Bios beeps or bleeps from the computer yesterday.
It just seems to keep freezing, no matter what I did, it would freeze.
The PC is only7 months old.
The hard disc was whiring and the light flashing and then it would freeze and the harddrive light stays on.
I am pretty sure that the fan was working. I couldn't noy hear it, and it is one of those noises you miss when it's not there.

All the info is on the screen, as I say the problem is that as I am trying to re-load from the XP disc the system keeps freezing and therefore I can't get the system up and running.

danmanchester

Only 7 months old then it must still be under Tiny warranty..and I remember when I had a Time computer ( we all make mistakes...it even had AOHell too) and had a problem they told me if I opened the case I'd invalidate the warranty!!! :mad:

So I'd give Tiny a call first as has been mentioned above sounds like some kind of hardware failure and they should fix/replace under the warranty/guarantee.

[edit]

I know you've sent it back before and would be reluctant to do it again, but maybe if you inform them that if it isn't fixed or replaced this time then you'll hand over all your previous and current problems with Tiny to BBC Watchdog!
I remember seeing someone from Tiny on that show squirming at the number of complaints featured and they promised to bend over backwards to sort out...worth a try?

calibrax

socmwils23 wrote:

The downside is that if you have a warranty it will invalidate it. I used to have a Tiny computer and had similar problems and it was this that prompted me to build my own which is really very easy, good fun and works out cheaper to do.

Many PC makers state that "opening the case invalidates the warranty". However, I don't believe that this would stand up in court, particularly if the manufacturer advertises the machine as upgradeable... you can't upgrade without opening the case...

I do agree about building your own, it's not as difficult as you might think.

Steve