computer problems
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Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2000
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From: Montana
computer problems
Ok, now this is for all you computer smart people (I only know this and how to lose at solitare) Anyway this computer is doing some very funny things. For instance the "thinking" light stays lit, even when doing nothing it never did this before. I don't know much but my dad thinks it is the PCI Systems Managment Bus...what ever that is. Can anyone give me some info on this and how I can correct it, is it a driver or what, can it be upgraded?? Any help would be appriated.
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Joined: Sep 2001
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From: Laramie, WY
my light comes on all the time and the comp. does stuff when i'm not using it. Most of it is just basic maintenance that the system does on itself. I wouldn't worry about it. I have Win ME also.
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 17
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From: Baldwin City, KS, 66006
Usually this means that you hard drive is trying to do some thing. There can be several different problems when it comes to this type of situation. It could be anything from Norton (if you have it installed) doing something in the background to a damaged boot sector on the drive.
These are from one extreme to the next. But the first thing to start off with is running a disc repair utility like Norton Disc/win Doctor. This will help find problems with the windows os and problems with the hd.
One other thing to remember is that Windows is an os that requires shutting down often. If you leave the system on for several days, the system resources will begin to fill up, and it takes longer to process info. But restarting the system will fix that problem.
These are from one extreme to the next. But the first thing to start off with is running a disc repair utility like Norton Disc/win Doctor. This will help find problems with the windows os and problems with the hd.
One other thing to remember is that Windows is an os that requires shutting down often. If you leave the system on for several days, the system resources will begin to fill up, and it takes longer to process info. But restarting the system will fix that problem.
Member
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Baldwin City, KS, 66006
Usually this means that you hard drive is trying to do some thing. There can be several different problems when it comes to this type of situation. It could be anything from Norton (if you have it installed) doing something in the background to a damaged boot sector on the drive.
These are from one extreme to the next. But the first thing to start off with is running a disc repair utility like Norton Disc/win Doctor. This will help find problems with the windows os and problems with the hd.
One other thing to remember is that Windows is an os that requires shutting down often. If you leave the system on for several days, the system resources will begin to fill up, and it takes longer to process info. But restarting the system will fix that problem.
These are from one extreme to the next. But the first thing to start off with is running a disc repair utility like Norton Disc/win Doctor. This will help find problems with the windows os and problems with the hd.
One other thing to remember is that Windows is an os that requires shutting down often. If you leave the system on for several days, the system resources will begin to fill up, and it takes longer to process info. But restarting the system will fix that problem.
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Joined: Mar 2000
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From: Montana
Well, I didn't think I would get this much response. Thanks all. I know what you are talking about with the drive operating thing, but usually you can hear something and the light just "flutters". In this situation the light stays on till you shut it down and the computer is quiet. The computer is a HP pavilion 6545c, 159mb ram, and a pentium II. I hope it helps.
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From: NY
It is probably just the "swap file" being used. Windows based PCs use this as a form of "virtual memory". System commands and such are moved from RAM to the swap file, and vice versa when not being used. Every PC does this. The swap file resides on the hard drive, hence why you see activity. By turning your PC off, Windows clears the file. and starts with a new one on the next boot up. It is required, and it's not recomended that you turn it off.
It could also be system maintenence, like some one else pointed out. If you are using "task scheduler" that has Scan Disk and Defrag set to run at times of inactivity, this could cause the hard drive to run. The "thinking" LED is actually the hard drive activity light, and during high utilization of the HD, it will stay on.
On the "worst side", you may have a virus. Make sure you have up to date antivirus s/w with recent signature files. Do a full scan of your PC. If you complete this, and no viruses are found, then don't worry about it.
You don't mention if you are locking up during these times, if so, describe what you are doing at the time, along with a list of all open applications. Good luck!
It could also be system maintenence, like some one else pointed out. If you are using "task scheduler" that has Scan Disk and Defrag set to run at times of inactivity, this could cause the hard drive to run. The "thinking" LED is actually the hard drive activity light, and during high utilization of the HD, it will stay on.
On the "worst side", you may have a virus. Make sure you have up to date antivirus s/w with recent signature files. Do a full scan of your PC. If you complete this, and no viruses are found, then don't worry about it.
You don't mention if you are locking up during these times, if so, describe what you are doing at the time, along with a list of all open applications. Good luck!
