Weird PC Problem

S

Sysem

Expert Member
Joined
Mar 26, 2009
Messages
1,891
Reaction score
5
Ok, not 100% sure if this is hardware related, but anyway. Today my PC started doing something very weird. It would randomly "black out" - in other words, unresponsive with a black screen. The PC, however is still running, so it didnt reset or switch itself off. I think it happened every time I bumped the PC (with my knew etc) - even a slight tap - but that could be coincidental. So I'd have to hold the power button or unplug it and restart the PC normally which would fix the problem until the next "episode" happened. Except, 15 min ago, I couldnt switch the PC back on. I re-inserted the RAM - nothing. I took out the CMOS battery - and it worked! Thinking my problems were finally solved I continued to boot up. When setting the system time, however, I was unable to set 17/07/2010. Every time i set "17" it jumped back to 1. I ignored it eventually thinking it had something to do with the OS being the RC version at one stage ( I tried upgrading the Win 7 RC version to full RTM version, but it wouldnt allow me, so I used some cheap trick to con the installer into thinking the version (2600) was sufficient to upgrade). But now my PC refuses to boot Windows which makes me believe the OS didnt do something right when bypassing the installer check.

Quite a confusing situation, I know, but any help would be much appreciated.

Oh, and I needed to use the Upgrade function on the installer as I didnt have anywhere to backup my 250GB.
 
The hard drive might be on the fritz. You should backup your important files, and try installing on a fresh drive.
 
I would backup the date and use a full on legal install to do the trick and make sure all the drivers are brand spanking new. Updates for windows 7 are coming out all the time from all the vendors, so check driver updates once a month at least. Do this for the next year or so... You will be surprised what problems can be avoided or solved with driver fixes... but do yourself a favour... use a virgin legal OS to start off with. It will save you a ton of trouble.
 
Sysem said:
Ok, not 100% sure if this is hardware related, but anyway. Today my PC started doing something very weird. It would randomly "black out" - in other words, unresponsive with a black screen. The PC, however is still running, so it didnt reset or switch itself off. I think it happened every time I bumped the PC (with my knew etc) - even a slight tap - but that could be coincidental. So I'd have to hold the power button or unplug it and restart the PC normally which would fix the problem until the next "episode" happened. Except, 15 min ago, I couldnt switch the PC back on. I re-inserted the RAM - nothing. I took out the CMOS battery - and it worked! Thinking my problems were finally solved I continued to boot up. When setting the system time, however, I was unable to set 17/07/2010. Every time i set "17" it jumped back to 1. I ignored it eventually thinking it had something to do with the OS being the RC version at one stage ( I tried upgrading the Win 7 RC version to full RTM version, but it wouldnt allow me, so I used some cheap trick to con the installer into thinking the version (2600) was sufficient to upgrade). But now my PC refuses to boot Windows which makes me believe the OS didnt do something right when bypassing the installer check.

Quite a confusing situation, I know, but any help would be much appreciated.

Oh, and I needed to use the Upgrade function on the installer as I didnt have anywhere to backup my 250GB.
Click to expand...

The date will always jump back to default since you've taken out the battery (it's used to store the BIOS settings). Have you actually considered that it might be your graphics card? Try borrowing a friend's and see if that helps.
 
Could be that your hack is not letting you get to step two of the following process:

Effective June 1, 2010, Windows 7 RC expires:

* Windows starts to a black desktop.
* Windows 7 RC users are presented with a Windows Activation screen. The screen states that the Windows that you are running is not genuine.
* Computers that are running Windows 7 RC restart every two hours.
Click to expand...
 
Upgrading from RC to RTM is a) illegal and b) you will most likely run into problems.

So just buy the oem version asap to resolve your problems.
 
Just starting my backup now, will post details regarding the success/failure of reinstalling Windows later.

paul5186 - Just curios to know why its illegal to upgrade from the RC to the retail version if i own the retail version and the RC was free to test? Surely MS wont condone testing their products then upgrading to their full software packages?
 
Could it also maybe be a grounding problem in your box itself after you bump it? Maybe something shorting the motherboard or something?

A friend of mine built up a pc once, but when he put it in the case, the pc wouldnt boot up, but if he assembles the pc outside of the box, no problem.
 
Osiris85 said:
Could it also maybe be a grounding problem in your box itself after you bump it? Maybe something shorting the motherboard or something?

A friend of mine built up a pc once, but when he put it in the case, the pc wouldnt boot up, but if he assembles the pc outside of the box, no problem.
Click to expand...

My first guess. Moved my HDD to another PC and tried booting up from there. No luck. Either a HDD or OS problem.
 
Sysem said:
I re-inserted the RAM - nothing. I took out the CMOS battery - and it worked! Thinking my problems were finally solved I continued to boot up. When setting the system time, however, I was unable to set 17/07/2010. Every time i set "17" it jumped back to 1.
Click to expand...

The reason that you could not set the date is probably because you entered the date in this format: 17/07/2010 and it should be 07/17/2010 i.o.w - mm/dd/yyyy and not dd/mm/yyyy.
 
RoMark said:
The reason that you could not set the date is probably because you entered the date in this format: 17/07/2010 and it should be 07/17/2010 i.o.w - mm/dd/yyyy and not dd/mm/yyyy.
Click to expand...

That... would be hilarious...
 
RoMark said:
The reason that you could not set the date is probably because you entered the date in this format: 17/07/2010 and it should be 07/17/2010 i.o.w - mm/dd/yyyy and not dd/mm/yyyy.
Click to expand...

Yes! Damn date formats always confuse me! Not used to the month first.
 
GPU problem.......Had a similar issue on a pc 2 weeks ago. PC would boot and after about 5 minutes the screen would go off but the pc was still on. Then it would not boot Windows (XP). After formatting the drive and reloading Windows, it seemed to work but then it started again. Changed GPU and problem seems to have been solved.
 
Sysem said:
Just starting my backup now, will post details regarding the success/failure of reinstalling Windows later.

paul5186 - Just curios to know why its illegal to upgrade from the RC to the retail version if i own the retail version and the RC was free to test? Surely MS wont condone testing their products then upgrading to their full software packages?
Click to expand...

Not so much that it is illegal, but its not recommended. I also ran RC, then bought the final version. Always better not to try upgrade/con the installer....might end up with problems like you did.
 
Sysem said:
Just starting my backup now, will post details regarding the success/failure of reinstalling Windows later.

paul5186 - Just curios to know why its illegal to upgrade from the RC to the retail version if i own the retail version and the RC was free to test? Surely MS wont condone testing their products then upgrading to their full software packages?
Click to expand...

Just use a genuine DVD + Daz Loader ;)

You have PM ;)
 
There is no such thing as a weird problem when it comes to PC hard-/software. All issues are to be considered in the realm of normality. Some things happen more often than others, but they all happen ... which is how it's suppose to be.
 
Picard said:
There is no such thing as a weird problem when it comes to PC hard-/software. All issues are to be considered in the realm of normality. Some things happen more often than others, but they all happen ... which is how it's suppose to be.
Click to expand...

Weird because I couldnt find the problem ;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X