Y'all would have been laughing if you were here today. I tried to solve a problem with a corrupted non-OS program on old and slow computer. The computer is mainly used for crunching (distributed computing), but is also my third backup computer. Keeping the computer running has become a "game" as it's pushing 10 years old; computer is a Dell P3 originally 500 MHz and I upgraded the CPU to 1 gig years ago. RAM is max for the board -- 768! Original MB, PS, and HD. Video card was replaced years ago, NIC added, and CD burner added.
First thought was Acronis disk image backup, but it was corrupted. (I did do a new image backup that was valid after I discovered the problem and before I started messing with the computer to solve the problem.) My second thought was system restore, but I forgot how old and slow the 'puter is and started banging on keys before everything came back up after the restore and fried the OS: The computer went into a endless loop of rebooting. Tried system restore from safe mode many time, no joy. Tried system repair -- still no joy.
I finally restored the disk image backup that I did today to get the system back, then I used Windows system restore to get to a point before the original software problem. I stayed away from the computer during the Windows system restore to make sure it was done "doing it's thing" before I touched the keyboard. Yeah! Three or four hours later my system was running again with the problem solved. I created a new Windows system restore point and then created a new disk image backup.
*****Note to self: do disk image backups and set system restore points once a month all my "important" computers! I have five computers and one laptop.*****
At one point today, I thought about nuking the computer and reinstalling the OS from scratch, but that's no fun and I would have spent more time downloading Windows updates, getting programs loaded back, and messing with services and the various tweaks I always do.
Bottom line is that I am a happy girl now and pleased that I was able to get the system back without a clean install.
#1. "RE: [giggles] Tried to killl a computer today ..." In response to marti (Reply # 0) Sat Mar-29-08 11:41 AM by KJT
Glad you got it sorted out. I need to do backups more often, too, though I do have GoBack installed which would have easily fixed a "banging on the keys" problem.
By the way, my "oldie" will be 10 years old in May. It came with Win95 plus a free upgrade to Win98, which arrived in late June '98. It's a Dell, P-II, 400mhz, with 348GB RAM (the max), a 200 watt power supply, and CD, floppy, and Iomega Zip drives. I replaced the original 8 GB hard drive after a few years and added two more, all WD's. At some point, I installed XP - dual booting it with Win98.
I've still got the old 8GB drive laying around in case I ever get senile and want to reminisce. I used the computer full time until last summer.
I still keep the usual battery of anti-malware programs updated, as well as all applicable MS updates. I've never had a single mechanical problem with it but there have been almost innumerable user-caused issues over the years. I've considered handing it down but so far can't bring myself to do it.
#3. "RE: [giggles] Tried to killl a computer today ..." In response to Shelly (Reply # 2)
It's also got the original 200 watt power supply - which according to what I've read shouldn't be sufficient for all the hardware - but it is. Apparently not all 200 Watt PSU's are equal.
#5. "RE: [giggles] Tried to killl a computer today ..." In response to Shelly (Reply # 4) Sat Mar-29-08 09:45 PM by KJT
I don't know about the "ripple", but as everything has run for many years without a single hardware failure, or other observed problem, I'd guess it was not a significant factor.
I just updated all the anti-malware programs on it and did a little surfing. If my over-clocked (3600Mhz) E6750-equipped home build should ever have any problems, it really wouldn't be that much of a hardship to return to the 10 year old Dell. It really is quite fast for its age - probably very nearly the equal of my 1.6Ghz Dell laptop. And no, my laptop's not slow.
#6. "RE: [giggles] Tried to killl a computer today ..." In response to marti (Reply # 0)
My old Dell is still truckin' after me messin' with it's software the other day. It is a great learning tool for me. After I finally moved up in the world and built a faster computer, I used the old the Dell to learn how to set up file sharing and wireless. Of course you don't need wireless when computers are sitting within feet of each other, but I had it set up that way for awhile to learn.
That old Dell is still a learning tool, as I learned that I can still bring the software back when it has one step in the "big bit bucket" and get it back to life.
As to PS on the old Dell, I'm not sure what "ripple" means.
#7. "RE: [giggles] Tried to killl a computer today ..." In response to marti (Reply # 6)
Ripple is poor regulation of voltage and/or current from a regulated supply. It is the Hallmark of a poor quality or inadequate power supply, and is often aggravated by placing too heavy a load on the supply overtaxing it.