Anyone good with computers?

ppyvabw · Post by **ppyvabw** » Sat Feb 03, 2007 10:51 am

Hope this isn't inappropriate for a car forum but I was hoping to pick your brains about my computer.

My cd/dvd writer isn't working properly. When playing CD,s or DVD, it skips and plays slowly. The whole computer runs slowly, and just crashes it basically, takes me off the net,etc.... I usually have to restart.

When ripping CDs, they download eventually, but slowly and the whole compuer runs in slow motion. So sound effects like mouse clicks rung in slow motion, so instead of 'ping' they kinda sound 'priiiiinnnnnngggggg' and clears up when its finished downloading, but still can't get on net so have to restart.

I think CD roms are reading/ writing fine tho, like games etc... but I rarely only use it but to play music on and dvds.

Have changed CD drive this morning to no effect and am at a loss to what to do now because i'm completely thick with computers. Kasperky AV says I have no viruses.

Windows XP, media centre, 3.8 GHZ i think, 200 Gb hard drive, mostly empty, 1000Mb ram.

Unfortunately the computer fairies haven't fixed it for me yet so was hoping for some input.

Cheers

GreenV8S · Post by **GreenV8S** » Sat Feb 03, 2007 12:21 pm

I assume you're using IDE drives. If you can, put the CD on a different IDE port to your system disk. Also have a look at the CPU load (in Task Manager) to see whether the system is running out of CPU power or whether any of the IO counters are going wild. It may be something simple like your anti-virus access scanner going mad, so you could try disabling your AV for a few minutes and see if that makes any difference.

ppyvabw · Post by **ppyvabw** » Sat Feb 03, 2007 1:19 pm

Ok, ile try that. I haven't got a clue what IDE means, its just a long ribbon cable with 2 or three connectors in parrallel and a seperate power cable.

Where do i find IO counters?

Ian Anderson · Post by **Ian Anderson** » Sat Feb 03, 2007 2:24 pm

Cont Alt Delete

Select Task Manager
See what processes are running Click on System usage to get in order

At work we sometimes have speed problems and found that winword opens twice - once for amil and then once for word - system then is really slow - kill one off and i speeds up

Also I have heard that if your Ram is not balanced in pairs it can also screw things up - mainly for older RAM (People upgrade and plud in a new bit but not in the right slot!

Ian

IainB · Post by **IainB** » Sat Feb 03, 2007 2:33 pm

ppyvabw wrote:Windows XP, media centre, 3.8 GHZ i think, 200 Gb hard drive, mostly empty, 1000Mb ram.

In theory you shouldnt be having any issues with a spec like that, im running my rig with a lot slower spec and dont get any issues (though I did build it myself)....is this a pre-built from somewhere like PC World?

For the IDE issue, if it hasnt got anything anti-tamper on the case, open it up and see if the disk drive and hardisk are running off the same lead. Could be as simple as getting another cable for either the disk drive or the hard drive (assuming you have another IDE connector on the motherboard you can use!)

Post by **katanaman** » Sat Feb 03, 2007 6:24 pm

Sounds like one of your apps is having problems and needs re-installed or replaced. Task manager will tell you where all the resources are going. I have no idea what your AV software is like but AV software can use a huge amount of resources when they arent supposed to. If you want a good base line then go get a copy of AVG free edition http://free.grisoft.com/doc/avg-anti-vi ... /us/tpl/v5 . I know this product well and it does a good job.
What are you using to rip cd's?
What are you using to play cd's?
If its media player 11 you might want to think about uninstalling the upgrade and going back to 10.

Catch me on MSN messenger later tonight if you want and I can talk you through a few things to check or PM me and I will send you my phone number.

ppyvabw · Post by **ppyvabw** » Sat Feb 03, 2007 7:39 pm

Thanks Marki, I might just do that.

Ok, well task manager says CPU usage is about 11% with the CD playing and antivirus off. Switching the AV off made no difference.

However, I plugged the drive into the other connector on the ribbon cable, it found the drive, and it worked perfectly. So I then plugged it back into the previous connector, unisntalled the drives, switched off and switched back on again. It found the drive and said, "new hard ware found", but its the same problem. I want to keep on that connector because presumably its an integral drive isn't it?

Could it be the cable thats knackered?

When I rip CDs I just click on add music on media centre and play them through media centre. I have media player 10, and also media player classic. Tried unistalling classic but made no difference

ChrisJC · Post by **ChrisJC** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 10:14 am

You may still be riddled with spyware. Have you tried Spybot-Search & Destroy?

I had some spyware, and the Anti-virus scanner didn't pick it up.

Chris.

'Course you could always torch the Windows stuff and put on Linux.....

Ian Anderson · Post by **Ian Anderson** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 10:19 am

Probably get slated for this

Try Itunes for burning and playing your music.

Free download from the apple site

Ian

ppyvabw · Post by **ppyvabw** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 11:23 am

i was riddled with spyware and the AV didnt pick it up so have used spyware doctor or suminc that found 160+ spyware things. That didn't fix th problem though.

I have fixed it now. I plugged the drive into the other plug on the ribbon cable, Switched on, it said found new hardware, and it works absolutely fine now. Might have been a dodgy cable maybe, but as long as it works.

Thanks again to marki for his help on saturday night.

Post by **katanaman** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 6:24 pm

Ian Anderson wrote:Probably get slated for this

Try Itunes for burning and playing your music.

Free download from the apple site

Ian

consider yourself slated, that's a horrible bit of software

Your welcome Adam, didn't do much just comfirmed what you thought anyway. Good to chat to you though even if me and Tony did confuse you a bit lol.

Ian Anderson · Post by **Ian Anderson** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 6:27 pm

Strange but it is brilliant on the Mac at home!

Ian

Post by **Coops** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 6:46 pm

katanaman wrote:
Ian Anderson wrote:Probably get slated for this

Try Itunes for burning and playing your music.

Free download from the apple site

Ian
consider yourself slated, that's a horrible bit of software

Your welcome Adam, didn't do much just comfirmed what you thought anyway. Good to chat to you though even if me and Tony did confuse you a bit lol.

who confused who

Post by **katanaman** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 6:52 pm

Ian Anderson wrote:Strange but it is brilliant on the Mac at home!

Ian

Could well be better on a mac I have no idea although I doubt the fact that it tags everything wrong unless you have an ipod will be any different.

I think we confused him more T, maybe your emotes are too subtle or something

Post by **Coops** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 6:59 pm

mmmm i never knew i had the ones that appeard though

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