Why is it Sagus and I have to re-formatt our Hard Drive every year or so? I mean, the computer starts freezing or we end up with many error messages or as soon as we start the computer it freezes and we have to re-boot over and over.

BTW, we defrag the drives all the time... we delete cookies and are very careful about how we delete programs.

We have been using computers since 1991, and have actually done most of our own upgrades without any problems.

Do you think it is simply the amount of use it gets between 4 people? It is on and online at least 14 hours a day.
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09-21-03, 04:21 PM
cattywampus
Gosh, I would say if you can go a whole year, you're doing pretty good! I've had mine done twice in the last year, and it's only 2 years old. I only spend maybe 2-3 hours a day on it, tend to forget maintainence (SP?) entirely, ignore cookies and defrag when somebody else mentions it, maybe once every 4 months.

You experts - are we lucky or what?

Catty Eek
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09-21-03, 04:55 PM
gatman
I don't get it. I've been running this E-Machine for close to 4 years now. Defrag about once every week or two. Online 24/7 except fordefrag time and cable outage. Run a program to clean the registry occasionally. Have never reformatted.
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09-21-03, 04:59 PM
Dwight

quote:

Originally posted by Sherasi:
Why is it Sagus and I have to re-formatt our Hard Drive every year or so? I mean, the computer starts freezing or we end up with many error messages or as soon as we start the computer it freezes and we have to re-boot over and over.

I wish I could just say, the problem is...

But obviously, I don't even know what Operating System you're running so all I can do is generalize.

Freeze-ups are usually caused by some conflict between running applications. You can use MSCONFIG to troubleshoot: See this page

Even if your system isn't an HP, the directions on this page are applicable to any computer running the listed Operating Systems.

Error messages are often the result of a missing or corrupted files. You can use the System File Checker utility to run a scan of your system files to try to replace missing files or corrupted system files. If you're running Windows 98, click Start/Run and type in:

msinfo32

Then click OK. Run the System File Checker from the Tools menu and allow it to replace any files it report as missing or corrupted. You can use any of the other tools you see there, too.

Note: if you're running Windows ME, the system file checker is not included. See this page to read about WinME SFP

Usually missing system files are caused by improperly deleting something, so be careful when you delete a file (know what it is that you're deleting).

Restart your computer in Safe Mode and run the Scan Disk and Defrag from there.

Also, when you first start your computer, let it start up all the way before clicking on something. When opening programs, let the program fully open before starting to use it. When you click on the wrong program shortcut, let the program fully open before closing it and then opening the one you intended. Not allowing a system or program to fully open is one of the ways that program errors are created.

Whenever you see an error message, ask for assistance here at AnswerPool. Please always include your basic system information. You can use this page to gather the system information we'll need. Little minor errors have a way of becoming big problems, so correcting them quickly can reduce the need to reformat the drive.

How much free space do you have on your system? It is best if you keep about 10% of the hard drive space free.

Finally, my computer is used in nearly the same way yours is and I don't reformat the drive very often. In the past 6 years I've probably reformatted it twice. I do suggest restarting the computer at least once or twice per day. That will restore the system resources.

I hope something here will be of some assistance.

Dwight

[This message was edited by Dwight on 09-21-03 at 05:10 PM.]

[This message was edited by Dwight on 09-21-03 at 05:10 PM.]
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09-23-03, 12:58 AM
K.K.
I just wanted to say, I also use an e-Machine, AnswerPool.com and her sisters were borne of an e-Machine. Anyone from e-Machine on the site? I feel a link swap coming on... Wink
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09-23-03, 09:43 AM
cattywampus
What on earth is an e-Machine?

Catty Confused
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09-23-03, 11:35 AM
Dwight
E-Machine is a computer brand name.
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09-23-03, 11:56 AM
cattywampus
Thank you, Dwight.

Catty Cool
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09-29-03, 10:36 PM
qualserve
I have found that a good registry cleaner (NOT a Symantec/Norton product!) is the best way to keep your computer running like new. I currently in Reg 1st Aid, not free, but very thorough.
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09-30-03, 01:36 AM
Dwight
Is this the product you're recommending Qualserve?

http://www.rosecitysoftware.com/reg1aid/
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09-30-03, 09:26 AM
LVLF
I have had to reformat only once, and that was surely because I didn't disable NA before I did an update...clearly I did not read all of the IMPORTANT NOTES before I proceeded. Frown Anyway, things got so bad my only choice was to reformat.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: DorianGreyed,