Gateway Desktop Freezes up

Try this -> http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-11319_7-6240575-1.html

However, I have ALWAYS kept my PC's in excellent repair - including reseating cards & cables, and getting rid of "dust bunnies". I guess I should have mentioned that before. Thanks again.

When I don't see dust I check two more things.

1. BAD CAPS (see google for this issue.)

2. Fresh heatsink compound. I've lost count how many times I've pulled off the CPU heatsink and found little, none or voids in the compound. When I read the above story I'll pull it, wipe off the old, drop on some new compound and reassemble it. At about one buck, cheap work.
Bob

OK, those sound like good possibilities. I'm going to try to get into that in the next few days, but unfortunately I may not actualy have the time for about a week. I found a list of CPU max operating temps at a site called HardwareSecrets.com . My BIOS does monitor the temp, but doesn't indicate what is "normal". I'll check into the state of the heatsink compound as well.

As far as the badcaps, this sounds like something that will require a visit to a local friendly neighborhood PC shop, correct? I know the basics of soldering, and I do have an iron and solder, but I think this is probably out of my league.

After awhile you learn to dismiss any "CPU temps" software or such and when you hear "this complaint" you know to do the work and inspect for BAD CAPS.

Of course if the owner doesn't want to spend the dollar then let them keep crashing. It softens them up to let you get the work done later.

Hope that helps.

More about BAD CAPS. It's a simple inspection and there are plenty of articles about it and how many deal with it when found. I never suggest a trip to a repair counter for the inspection unless I hear "what's Goggle?"
Bob

OK, I definitely get the message! I do have brain cells, and they do communicate with one another. I'll definitely try to set aside some extra time in the next few days to do some searching and hopefully implement something that works.

I'll post again when I know something, but I'll keep track of this thread so in case you need to send some other info, I'll catch it.

Thanks again.

Thanks for the kind reply. I sometimes push a little on this since it's a recurring issue with a sometimes one dollar solution. The inspection is free if we do it ourselves.

Just like car repair, not all of us will do much more than gas and air so let each owner decide how much they will tackle.

Bob

Interesting analogy, I like that. I've been around computers since 1982-3, and worked as a computer operator on PDP1170's while I was going to school. Minored in CS, but I didn't go very far with it - not because I didn't like it, but I had other interests too (like getting married!). I "ran" a Data Doctors store about 10 yrs. ago, and I've kept a slightly more than cursory handle on what's going on in the industry - I know how to handle most of the inside of a PC and keep it running well, and help friends with their PC's. I don't plan to take any other classes right now, but I'm not ruling it out. I guess that I said all that to say that I know when to ask for help! I don't know if you've had the same experience, but it seems that it's usually not too difficult to figure out who knows what they're talking about in these posts. These forums are good.

So thanks again, and I'll be letting you know what happens.

Peggy

Why do you keep saying "Yep"?

Gateway all in one PC
This is an over heating problem with a simple solution.

Step One
Go to your Bios set up by rebooting and tap the Delete Key
Step Two
use arrow key to Advance tab
Step Three
Use arrow down key to the bottom of the list to >PC Health Status then press enter
Step four
Use arrow down key to Smart Fan and press enter change it to disable
Step Five
press F10 to save and quite.

Your computer will reboot and you will here your PC fans turn on.
It should be very loud.(that's a good thing.)

Your welcome


Note: This post was edited by a forum moderator to remove promotional link on 02/07/2014 at 6:30 PM PT