Malfunctioning Computer

[emiloch]

I left my computer on all day on Saturday and when I returned much later that night, the monitor was frozen and moving the mouse or tapping the keyboard did nothing to turn it on. This has happened before, so I promptly turned off the computer and turned it back on. Each time, the computer would get to the main screen just fine, but would then either freeze or the monitor would lose power (the screen would turn black and could not be restored, even though the computer itself appeared to be on).

The next day, I again turned on the computer, but an error box appeared on the screen telling me of a system32/services.exe and a status code 1073741819. It gave me a countdown and told me the system was going to shut down. I have never seen this before. I suspect this to be a virus, but my research on the Internet seems to say it's either a worm or a hardware problem.

This makes me think I have both a virus AND a power supply problem, because the monitor appears to not get a signal from the computer. I only saw this error box once, but either way, the computer and/or monitor will not stay on for more than five minutes.

I am going to attempt to forcibly turn off the automatic shutdown by going to Start-Run-shutdown - a, but am not sure what else to try.

By the way, I am running Windows XP on a five-year-old Compaq Presario desktop. I have not recently installed any new programs aside from an anti-virus program. The computer was working fine for a month before this happened.

Any advice is appreciated.

 

[ememdee19]

Go buy a new modem, router, and cat5. It worked for me. :shrug:

 

[itsbob]

Am thinking a corrupt HD.. if you have a windows disk you may be able to do a repair

 

[Jameo]

I left my computer on all day on Saturday and when I returned much later that night, the monitor was frozen and moving the mouse or tapping the keyboard did nothing to turn it on. This has happened before, so I promptly turned off the computer and turned it back on. Each time, the computer would get to the main screen just fine, but would then either freeze or the monitor would lose power (the screen would turn black and could not be restored, even though the computer itself appeared to be on).

The next day, I again turned on the computer, but an error box appeared on the screen telling me of a system32/services.exe and a status code 1073741819. It gave me a countdown and told me the system was going to shut down. I have never seen this before. I suspect this to be a virus, but my research on the Internet seems to say it's either a worm or a hardware problem.

This makes me think I have both a virus AND a power supply problem, because the monitor appears to not get a signal from the computer. I only saw this error box once, but either way, the computer and/or monitor will not stay on for more than five minutes.

I am going to attempt to forcibly turn off the automatic shutdown by going to Start-Run-shutdown - a, but am not sure what else to try.

By the way, I am running Windows XP on a five-year-old Compaq Presario desktop. I have not recently installed any new programs aside from an anti-virus program. The computer was working fine for a month before this happened.

Any advice is appreciated.

Norton?

 

[itsbob]

Norton?

You saying his real name is Norton?? And you've seen him post his before??

 

[Jameo]

You saying his real name is Norton?? And you've seen him post his before??

Yup

 

[mainman]

Could be any number of things.. 1st off you do have some type of virus (with the whole countdown thing)

The freezing up could be heat related... (bad heat sync) bad fan, bad ram stick, HD going bad, bad power supply.... Have fun troubleshooting that one...

 

[itsbob]

Could be any number of things.. 1st off you do have some type of virus (with the whole countdown thing)

The freezing up could be heat related... (bad heat sync) bad fan, bad ram stick, HD going bad, bad power supply.... Have fun troubleshooting that one...

I think his FAT or his Boot Sector has been corrupted..

Unplug your PS/2 cables, drip a little bit of coke into them and plug them back in, you'll be good to go..

Or he could run the Motherboard through the dishwasher.. that should clean it all up..

(notice the reference to being blonde)

 

[emiloch]

I hate Norton. I use Norman Anti-Virus and Zone Alarm.

I am leaning toward it being a power supply problem because my boyfriend had a similar problem with his computer, which is an entirely different system. We checked the voltage in our place, and it was running at 125, whereas my Compaq manual suggests it be at 115. The top of my monitor does seem to be running hot, but no more so than it did where I used to live.

I agree that the countdown smacks of a virus, so I will try to scan for that if I can get it to stay on. Otherwise, I am looking at buying a new system. After all, a five-year-old computer ain't that great anymore.

 

[itsbob]

I hate Norton. I use Norman Anti-Virus and Zone Alarm.

I am leaning toward it being a power supply problem because my boyfriend had a similar problem with his computer, which is an entirely different system. We checked the voltage in our place, and it was running at 125, whereas my Compaq manual suggests it be at 115. The top of my monitor does seem to be running hot, but no more so than it did where I used to live.

I agree that the countdown smacks of a virus, so I will try to scan for that if I can get it to stay on. Otherwise, I am looking at buying a new system. After all, a five-year-old computer ain't that great anymore.

Have you tried to start it in "Safe Mode"??

This will not load any of the services, and should get you to the desktop where you can do your scan.. Try a diskscan see if it shows any problems, and if there is, it may fix them for you..

 

[emiloch]

Have you tried to start it in "Safe Mode"??

This will not load any of the services, and should get you to the desktop where you can do your scan.. Try a diskscan see if it shows any problems, and if there is, it may fix them for you..

I actually don't know the keystroke for Safe Mode for a Compaq. :shrug: I know that's a lame answer, but there it is. I couldn't find it in my manual, either.

How do you do a disk scan? Is it Run/sfc: scannow?

 

[itsbob]

I actually don't know the keystroke for Safe Mode for a Compaq. :shrug: I know that's a lame answer, but there it is. I couldn't find it in my manual, either.

How do you do a disk scan? Is it Run/sfc: scannow?

Click on "My COmputer" on your desktop

Right Click on C:\ select Properties..

In the properties window select the "Tools" tab.. Under "Error Checking" select "Check Now"

AS for safe Mode.. I believe on a Dell it's F8 during the first start up screen..

 

[Hawk]

There was a Worm that went around about 2 years ago, and yes its still about today, that forced Windows XP to shut down, usually it gave an error then said, 20 seconds to shut down, and it just looped this,

If your system doesnt reboot, i would run an antivirus, and malware/spyware program too

www.ewido.com is a good one.

If this yeilds no results i would look at PSU failing, but that can check that later if needed.

 

[emiloch]

Monitor does not receive signal

Well, last night I went to turn on my computer to try some of your hints, but once again, the monitor went kaput. This time, the monitor light was orange and the screen remained black. The computer itself appeared to be on. Nothing I tried could get the monitor to turn on.

I tried it with another monitor and got the same result. Perhaps I need a new video card?

 

[juggy4805]

I hate Norton. I use Norman Anti-Virus and Zone Alarm.

I am leaning toward it being a power supply problem because my boyfriend had a similar problem with his computer, which is an entirely different system. We checked the voltage in our place, and it was running at 125, whereas my Compaq manual suggests it be at 115. The top of my monitor does seem to be running hot, but no more so than it did where I used to live.

I agree that the countdown smacks of a virus, so I will try to scan for that if I can get it to stay on. Otherwise, I am looking at buying a new system. After all, a five-year-old computer ain't that great anymore.

Those voltages for your monitor are suitable. If they weren't you would not get to the startup screen.

 

[juggy4805]

Well, last night I went to turn on my computer to try some of your hints, but once again, the monitor went kaput. This time, the monitor light was orange and the screen remained black. The computer itself appeared to be on. Nothing I tried could get the monitor to turn on.

I tried it with another monitor and got the same result. Perhaps I need a new video card?

It is not your monitor. It is a system file problem. One of the system files needed to boot is corrupt. If you have the original Windows XPdisk it came with put it in your drive and start to boot up. If the XP software is backed up on your hard drive(Alot of HP and Compaq computers are) there should be a statement on the welcome screen to recover. It should be like F12 or F11

 

[FastCarsSpeed]

No it has nothing to do with the brand of computer. On boot up just keep hitting F8 this should get you to a prompt to boot into safe mode. Windows also has a OLD dos style prompt with a countdown if your system does not boot up properly. If your system was on and then turned off by itself either you took a power hit which possibly messed something up on the computer and it didnt shut down properly or a component has heated up causing it to fail.

Since your monitor turns off by itself it is losing signal from the board which would leave me to believe that your video controller is possibly bad.

 

[wxtornado]

The whole countdown-thing sounds like the Sasser or Blaster worm from a few years back - there's tons of info (and fixes) out on the net.

 

[vanbells]

It's F10 to get into a Compaq BIOS.

Pressing F8 before the Windows XP logo splash screen gets you into safe mode any brand name computer.

Try unplugging the monitor. Do you get an error that says no signal or something to that nature? Also, look at the NUM lock key on the keyboard when you boot up. Does it constantly flash? And finally, Do you hear a series of beeps codes during the POST?

If you can find that out, we can help you.

 

[itsbob]

It's F10 to get into a Compaq BIOS.

Pressing F8 before the Windows XP logo splash screen gets you into safe mode any brand name computer.

Try unplugging the monitor. Do you get an error that says no signal or something to that nature? Also, look at the NUM lock key on the keyboard when you boot up. Does it constantly flash? And finally, Do you hear a series of beeps codes during the POST?

If you can find that out, we can help you.

Correct, I couldn't remember which was the BIOS and which was the Safe Mode.. I know on different brands of computers the BIOS is different.