Computer tests etc...

zc1 · 29-04-2008, 19:11

Hi,

A friend of my Dad PC has been locking up and I would like to test it for a few hours see if I can find anything wrong with it, so I am looking to test: CPU, Ram, Hard Drive SMART and status, etc...

Can someone recommend me some free software to do this.

DocDutch · 29-04-2008, 19:13

memtest is the best for testing the memory.

trevortt · 29-04-2008, 19:35

You could try run Futuremark 06.

DaiNasty · 29-04-2008, 19:41

You could start by checking the system event logs for clues.

If it's an older machine it could be a temperature issue related to dust and fluff.

Run something like CPUID HWMonitor to display temperatures and voltages.

just a few ideas.

zc1 · 29-04-2008, 19:48

Hi,

Yes it is, an older machine, it is a emachine with a 1.8ghz celeron cpu and 256mb ram

Tightscot · 29-04-2008, 20:53

first thing i'd do would be take side panel off and check for dust and crud, ensure all fans are spinning and not impeded and then check for blown capacitors. - pictures of bad caps here Linkage

then go on with further tests within windows...

Bender · 29-04-2008, 21:45

i second the event logs. then START > RUN > type CMD and hit return > type CHKDSK /F and accept the offer to check currently locked drives on next boot. once back up, run a defrag. JkDefrag is an excellent free defragger that uses the MS API, so it will do no more harm than the built in MS defrag, but it has much more versatility and runs a little deeper than the standard MS one. command lines I use for it... 'jkdefrag.exe -a 3' followed by 'jkdefrag -a 5'.

elainefu88 · 30-04-2008, 09:11

I don't know much about them.

But hope you are all right to do that.

**Graham M** · 30-04-2008, 09:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by elainefu88

I don't know much about them.

But hope you are all right to do that.

What a useful post

**David F** · 30-04-2008, 09:42

As Dai said look through even logs for failing apps or possible hardware errors. As Doc says memtest for a boot time scan of ram . And as I say Orthos prime for a cpu /ram test. Also the eye test as Tiger says look for crud

DaiNasty · 01-05-2008, 12:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by zc1

Hi,

Yes it is, an older machine, it is a emachine with a 1.8ghz celeron cpu and 256mb ram

eMachine eh?
In that case whip the side off and carefully examine the power supply. If it says 'Bestec' then replace this immediately.

The older Bestecs have a habit of destructive failure, where the 5v line goes over-volt gradually until it burns out the motherboard.

The shutdowns are one of the early warning signs.

http://sci.tech-archive.net/Archive/.../msg00524.html

zc1 · 01-05-2008, 13:59

Hi,

I changed the Power Supply a couple of days before I got it back, as it was dead, so maybe the old power pack done some damage to the motherboard

trevortt · 01-05-2008, 15:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by zc1

Hi,

I changed the Power Supply a couple of days before I got it back, as it was dead, so maybe the old power pack done some damage to the motherboard

A cheap PSU can severely damage a computer.

DaiNasty · 01-05-2008, 15:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by zc1

Hi,

I changed the Power Supply a couple of days before I got it back, as it was dead, so maybe the old power pack done some damage to the motherboard

It's possible although my experience with these eMachines has been that once the PSU failed it totally killed the mobo and sometimes other bits as well. The worst case I've seen it took out mobo, cpu and the harddisk.

**David F** · 01-05-2008, 16:11

http://www.bestec.co.uk/ lol