Computer Issues

[Eschatos]

Starting today, when I turn on my computer, before it gets to the login screen it asks to run a checkdisk on my C: drive.  If I say no, the computer blue screens with an "IRQL NOT LESS OR EQUAL" error.  If I hit yes, it spends about 5 minutes checking the disk, then I can log in just fine.  Also my computer has been running quite slowly.  When I try to run any system intensive game about half the time it freezes and I have to restart my computer.  To me it sounds like my main hard drive is failing.  Am I right or wrong, and is there any way to fix it without replacing the hard drive?

[HeK]

That error is generally from bad drivers...

Wanna post your OS and system specs?

You may wanna rule out your HDD by using your HDD manufacturers diagnostic disc and then testing your memory with Memtest: http://www.memtest86.com/



Otherwise, try updating various drivers?

[Eschatos]

But I haven't even updated any drivers for a while.  Unless they were super secret auto update drivers.

[Eschatos]

Updated drivers and memtested.  No more blue screens, but my computer is super slow.  I can't get any system intensive games to play properly, and everything else randomly hangs a lot of the time.  Virus scans aren't picking up anything. 

System specs:
550W BFG PSU
Windows:            Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition 5.1.2600 Service Pack 3
Internet Explorer:  6.0.2900.5512
Memory (RAM):      1024 MB
CPU Info:          AMD Phenom™ 9600 Quad-Core Processor
CPU Speed:          2297.7 MHz
Sound card:        Realtek HD Audio output
Display Adapters:  NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250
CD / DVD Drives:    D: TSSTcorpDVD-ROM TS-H352C | E: HL-DT-STDVD-RAM GH22LP20
Hard Disks:        C:  149.0GB | F:  298.1GB
Hard Disks - Free:  C:  6.5GB | F:  12.3GB
Motherboard:        FOXCONN A7GM-S 2.0

That's weird, only 1 GB of RAM is showing up.  But still, I should be able to run stuff just fine with 1 stick.

[Gump]

Updated drivers and memtested.  No more blue screens, but my computer is super slow.  I can't get any system intensive games to play properly, and everything else randomly hangs a lot of the time.  Virus scans aren't picking up anything. 

System specs:
550W BFG PSU
Windows:            Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition 5.1.2600 Service Pack 3
Internet Explorer:  6.0.2900.5512
Memory (RAM):       1024 MB
CPU Info:           AMD Phenom™ 9600 Quad-Core Processor
CPU Speed:          2297.7 MHz
Sound card:         Realtek HD Audio output
Display Adapters:   NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250
CD / DVD Drives:    D: TSSTcorpDVD-ROM TS-H352C | E: HL-DT-STDVD-RAM GH22LP20
Hard Disks:         C:  149.0GB | F:  298.1GB
Hard Disks - Free:  C:  6.5GB | F:  12.3GB
Motherboard:        FOXCONN A7GM-S 2.0

That's weird, only 1 GB of RAM is showing up.  But still, I should be able to run stuff just fine with 1 stick.

bad sign

Looks like bad RAM might be causing it.

Try booting with each individual stick of RAM to see which one(s) are bad and which one(s) are good and try booting like normal with the good stick(s).

[DragonEkarus]

That's weird, only 1 GB of RAM is showing up.  But still, I should be able to run stuff just fine with 1 stick.

Last time I was missing a gig of RAM I had hit the computer and dis-lodged a stick (The fan was making a bad noise and I noticed the noise stopped when I hit it.. Yeah I know, bad idea... Computer's run slow since) you may wana check to make sure they're still locked in place, maybe someone bumped it or something...

[Kirby]

Check SMART for Reallocated Sector Count, Seek Error Rate, Ultra ATA CRC Error Rate and Offline Uncorrectable Sector counts, any one of these besides ATA CRC Error Rate being anything but 0 indicates possible mechanical problems w/ drive, quick way to figure out if HDD may be going out.