Need Computer Advice Pleeeease!

[danaf]

My wonderful dell desktop that I've had since 2001 is having issues. I think it's the fan & the video card. Luckily I've got a newer laptop that I'm ramping up now. But I'd like to save this system if possible. It's a good computer. My husband has a much newer system which doesn't perform half as well as mine.

Anyway - Does anyone recommend Best Buy's Geek Squad to do a diagnostic? And I've got a ton of crap on my computer. I've got a key thingy that I save current things on. But how do I protect info? Should I delete all cookies and caches? Should I get some cd's and save all my stuff on them and then delete it off my computer? I also log onto my bank accounts online - how do I deal with that? Am I being too paranoid? How do I deal with this?

[Keebler]

My wonderful dell desktop that I've had since 2001 is having issues. I think it's the fan & the video card. Luckily I've got a newer laptop that I'm ramping up now. But I'd like to save this system if possible. It's a good computer. My husband has a much newer system which doesn't perform half as well as mine.

Anyway - Does anyone recommend Best Buy's Geek Squad to do a diagnostic? And I've got a ton of crap on my computer. I've got a key thingy that I save current things on. But how do I protect info? Should I delete all cookies and caches? Should I get some cd's and save all my stuff on them and then delete it off my computer? I also log onto my bank accounts online - how do I deal with that? Am I being too paranoid? How do I deal with this?

The places like Geek Squad tend to follow the saying "If your only tool is a hammer. every problem looks like a nail." They aren't very creative at solving problems and they charge alot for what you get.

Keep in mind that you can frequently replace a computer through the Dell Outlet for less than $300. Places like Geek Squad seem to cost $100 no matter what they do and $300 would be easy to hit if they actually replace parts and do any real work.

I'm well qualified to work for a computer repair shop but I'm fortunate enough to have a better job. Obviously it'll be a little difficult without seeing it in person, but I'd be happy to do what I can to help you solve your problem in the least expensive way.

Other Dells I've repaired near the vintage of yours had problems with failed capacitors on the video card. The video would act funny and sometimes the computer would mysteriously crash and need to be re-started. What clues are you seeing that makes you suspect the video card?

[BigJohn]

I went to the Geek Squad and it was a nightmare.

They claimed they could not do the work in-house and had to send the work out. I had to pay for in-house check and pay for out-house check. A total of $350.00. It turned out their out-house work was actually done by themselves. They tried charging me for the same work twice. They backed my hard drive onto an external hard drive. I asked them why did the external hard drive cost so much because that store sold the same drive for half the price I was charged. They claimed they could charge anything they wanted to and that also applied to labor. When I went to finalize the payment, they claimed the initial down payment could not be used toward the bill. They claimed if I wanted the data, I had to pay the amount thy claimed and the deposit could not be used toward the bill. I paid them and then turned around and got most of my money back. Never again.

[lillaimof2kids]

Check around and see if you have an independent computer store. The customer service is usually much better!! Our local computer store repairs all pc's and builds whatever you want. Laptops are a different story, they say they are hard to work on.

[BROKENN]

My wonderful dell desktop that I've had since 2001 is having issues. I think it's the fan & the video card. Luckily I've got a newer laptop that I'm ramping up now. But I'd like to save this system if possible. It's a good computer. My husband has a much newer system which doesn't perform half as well as mine.

Anyway - Does anyone recommend Best Buy's Geek Squad to do a diagnostic? And I've got a ton of crap on my computer. I've got a key thingy that I save current things on. But how do I protect info? Should I delete all cookies and caches? Should I get some cd's and save all my stuff on them and then delete it off my computer? I also log onto my bank accounts online - how do I deal with that? Am I being too paranoid? How do I deal with this?

Hi Danaf, Geek Squad is terrible and expensive. You could see if there is a young person around that is knowledgeable and pay them $30 - $60 bucks for help.

You have a few options to fix it yourself. Go to Dell online and find the parts section. If you use your Dell Desktop it will come up with your system list and you could purchase a new video card/fan. (You could get a fan most anywhere too.)

To move your data, you can copy to CD or use your USB drive (thingy) and copy the data to your new laptop. Export your mail if not using the web too.

If you keep your desktop to use for something else, no problems with cookies etc. Usually not worth it to anyone. If you trash it or give it away, format the drive. Its easy, you can Google.

Hope this helps

[cupcake]

My wonderful dell desktop that I've had since 2001 is having issues. I think it's the fan & the video card. Luckily I've got a newer laptop that I'm ramping up now. But I'd like to save this system if possible. It's a good computer. My husband has a much newer system which doesn't perform half as well as mine.

Anyway - Does anyone recommend Best Buy's Geek Squad to do a diagnostic? And I've got a ton of crap on my computer. I've got a key thingy that I save current things on. But how do I protect info? Should I delete all cookies and caches? Should I get some cd's and save all my stuff on them and then delete it off my computer? I also log onto my bank accounts online - how do I deal with that? Am I being too paranoid? How do I deal with this?

What is your computer doing (or not doing) that makes you think it's a fan or video card issue?

When I've had computer issues in the past that I cannot fix myself I usually take it to a local small computer store who does a great job. I trust them a lot more than I'd trust the Geek Squad. And, the Geek Squad is way overpriced in my opinion. They charged my mom $150 to wipe off a bunch of malware.

[AngelinaCatHub]

Helloo there. I have a combined 40 years with business machines, mainframes and minnies and I build computers as well as I am a software trainer.

Now so much for the bragging, here is what I would do, first, hard drives are getting cheaper, get one that simply plugs into a USB unless you are still using Windows 98. If you can get Norton's Ghost, you copy your whole old hard drive to another disk. A machine with important data and it's age, is borrowed time. Open the cover and find out what noise. Fan? Hard drive? Make sure the heat sink over the cpu is clean. Do not vacuum but blow the dirt out. Or purchased a can of compressed air. That is important. Make sure the fan over that heat sink is running well. What I would need further in information is: What Operating system, size of hard drive, memory size, and cpu speed. Then what flaky stuff other than noise is it doing? Anything?

I cannot impress on you more, to get your data off. If you bring your machine to any service place, they possibly can get your passwords. I have done this forensically but not dishonestly. Tell me more and I can help you, or PM me. 'Hub

[danaf]

I think it's the fan & maybe the video card for the following 2 reasons.

1. I used to be able to hear the fan. Now I can't.
2. I have strange markings on the monitor, best described as static. Some icons are static now or nearly invisible. There's static ontop of my arrow or pointer and it moves with it.

I did unhook it before I posted and cleaned it out the other day hoping it would help. But it didn't.

I have a friend that works in my IT dept who is good with this stuff. I can use him (pay him). The only thing - we work in same company and although I've nothing to hide, I don't want him seeing my life either.

I use XP so I will look into an external hard drive. I think it's wise in this day and age anyway. I've got my laptop back up and working now so at least I'm not desparate. But the laptop isn't shutting down or restarting the way it should. At least it wasn't this morning. Another problem. Any suggestions for this Hub?

ps. thank you everyone for the responses.

[Keebler]

This is good advice for anyone with an older computer because its a common problem. There are components on almost every circuit in your computer called capacitors. Capacitors are the electronic equivalent of shock absorbers and your computer uses electricity in high frequency bursts and fits. The capacitors are there to smooth out the voltages and keep everything operating normally. When capacitors fail, they generally don't make your computer stop. It is very common for them to degrade and cause the normally smooth operation of your computer's power to be unstable and noisy. Since it's hard to say exactly how this extra chaos will manifest itself inside your computer, it's hard to say how you'll know you have a problem.

Any time you have your computer open or you suspect something is wrong, it doesn't hurt to take a flashlight and snoop around inside. The faulty capacitors aren't so difficult to spot. Refer to the photos below...

The capacitors in question look similar to a small battery with a metal cylinder covered by a plastic label. They can be various colors and sizes.

The short capcitor on the left side of the photo is healthy. Notice the metal can is flat on the end.

The tall capacitor on the right is VERY BAD. When these capacitors begin to fail they get hot. The first signs of trouble can be a slight buldge in the metal cylinder and eventually they rupture and spill electrolyte like the on in the photo.





Not shown in the photo is when the seal at the bottom of the capacitor fails. You will be able to see signs of the fluid clinging around the base of the capacitor where it meets the circuit board.

If you've got an older computer it deserves to be checked. You'll ocassionally find bad capacitors before you even know your computer is malfunctioning.

The picture below shows capacitors in the early stages of failure. There's a row of five capacitors across the top of the photo. Notice the right four show a slight buldge to the metal cylinder -- these capacitors are failing. The capacitors at the bottom of the photo aren't buldging and look normal.



The picture below shows a leaking capacitor on the left and a buldging capacitor on the right. In the case of the capacitor on the left, it got hot and the seal near the circuit board failed and spilled electrolyte. The seal on the cap on the right held but the pressure made the capacitor buldge. Both are bad.



I'll bet if enough people inspect thier computers, we'll have a few suprises reported here soon.

[AngelinaCatHub]

[AngelinaCatHub]

Oh, one other thing, attempt to change the display properties to a lower resolution and see if the static changes. Then change back or above if your card will allow.

About your laptop, that is a very different animal. Report back on that. 'Hub and/or Keebler. LOL

[danaf]

First thank you so much Keebler and Hub.

All is now well in computerland. Turns out I still had dell warantee service on my laptop. So I got that issue resolved for free.

My desktop - well....I can't afford to deal with it right now so it's on the backburner. I don't really want to let this guy at the office deal with it because I keep my personal life & office life very separate. I let him fix my laptop when I got a virus because the laptop was a backup and I didn't have my entire life on it. But he was also the one who caused the problem of it not shutting down properly. So another reason not to let him fix my desktop.

So I put old faithful away in a closet and decluttered my desk. As long as I have a puter that works - I'm happy. And it's sort of nice having the space on my desk cause' a laptop takes up a lot less room.

thanks again!!!

[BROKENN]

I am glad you still have a computer! I shudder at the thought of being **disconnected**!

[Mi Bankruptcy]

Nice to know I am among other fellow geeks. She did make one important statement.
"she used to hear the fan and now she doesn't. If that's the case the fan may have died and it would cause some of the symptoms you described. When I first started building computers that was one of the first lessons I learned ( from personal experience) LOL

[HRx]

It almost seems as though 99% of the IT folks that specialize in Network Technology are clueless and cannot effectively fix PC problems that are placed in front of them. lol I've been dealing with a local guy to work on issues that I cannot fix myself, and he does a pretty good job for the price. But it seems as though there are times I need to go behind him to install various drivers, etc to get my PC 100%. (sigh)