Computer Experts

[+ Lucky]

I was wondering who are the computer experts here. Being a little older, I missed out on all of the computer education that came as the products were developed. Sure, I can surf the internet and make a post on a web forum, but there's a lot I don't know. So I wonder who here does know, and how you gained that education.

 

The question stems from an incident earlier today where my computer was so loud it seemed on overdrive. So I restarted it, which meant the password box came on. I didn't fill it in right away, but when I finally went to do it, there was a note saying that the password I entered was invalid. But I had not entered a password yet. So who did? I had to shut the computer down for awhile and then restart to stop the overdrive action.

[Lankypeters]

Lucky, how long have you had your computer? The loud noise may indicate an imminent crash. If your computer is over four years old -- even three -- this may be a possiblity. Often, just before a crash, they also start doing s-t-r-a-n-g-e things -- like refusing passwords, etc.

 

Back up, back up, back up.

 

And I hope I'm wrong.

[+ honcho]

Can be expert at something, dimwit at another . . .

 

I work providing technical support to *professors of computer science* at a west coast university. It is possible to be an absolute authority on some aspects of computers, and a complete novice about some practical matters.

 

I certainly don't claim to be knowledgeable about everything.

 

I agree on the comment about the load screaming noise being a portent of

imminent demise of your hard drive. (could be lack of lubrication of a bearing, or one that has worn unevenly.) You might want to back up the drive as soon as possible if you don't do regular backups (no preaching here).

[Guest greatness]

hmm

 

I don't think it's something you have to worry about security wise. Old PCs get slow and crash a lot.

 

I was wondering who are the computer experts here. Being a little older, I missed out on all of the computer education that came as the products were developed. Sure, I can surf the internet and make a post on a web forum, but there's a lot I don't know. So I wonder who here does know, and how you gained that education.

 

The question stems from an incident earlier today where my computer was so loud it seemed on overdrive. So I restarted it, which meant the password box came on. I didn't fill it in right away, but when I finally went to do it, there was a note saying that the password I entered was invalid. But I had not entered a password yet. So who did? I had to shut the computer down for awhile and then restart to stop the overdrive action.

[Romann]

I don't have a lot of formal training on computers but I have always been pretty good with them and have learned my way around and through them quite well. Plus, I've had a number of machines actually crash on me which has helped because it has forced me to learn why and sometimes how.

 

The one thing that comes to mind with the sound is that your processor was working way beyond it's capacity and the internal cooling system was trying to compensate. Were you running a number of applications at once, ones that typically require a lot of RAM and processor power? Also, along with applications, were you using any other hardware devices such as DVD/CD ROM? Plus, what year was your computer issued?

 

Feel free to private message me and we can discuss more some answers to these questions may help more.

 

Hope this helps.

 

I was wondering who are the computer experts here. Being a little older, I missed out on all of the computer education that came as the products were developed. Sure, I can surf the internet and make a post on a web forum, but there's a lot I don't know. So I wonder who here does know, and how you gained that education.

 

The question stems from an incident earlier today where my computer was so loud it seemed on overdrive. So I restarted it, which meant the password box came on. I didn't fill it in right away, but when I finally went to do it, there was a note saying that the password I entered was invalid. But I had not entered a password yet. So who did? I had to shut the computer down for awhile and then restart to stop the overdrive action.

[Guest ryan2552]

Lucky not an expert but just a little common sense. As several mentioned be certain to back everything up. If you currently do not do so there is a very simple simple simple tool called Seagate. Not only does it back up your files it also backs up your programs.

 

I purchased mine at qvc as the price was less than anywhere else I could find including the Seagate site. The direct link is http://www.qvc.com/qic/qvcapp.aspx/view.2/app.detail/params.item.E07309.desc.Seagate-Replica-500GB-External-Backup-Restoration if you're interested.

[+ Lucky]

I will back up my files, but for those who thought my computer was old, it is - five months old. After I shut it down, the noise stopped. If it happens again, I will look into it further. But I do wonder who tried to log in!

 

Thanks for the advice guys, I appreciate your help.

[jackhammer91406]

I have a new tower purchased by my company a few months ago. I am still getting used to it and everyday there is some new trick or whistle that I learn about.

I do notice that periodically I hear a loud noise which sounds like a cooling fan. It is possible it is the hard drive doing whatever hard drives do when they need to make a loud noise that reminds the user (me) that he knows little or nothing about what is really going on inside that tall narrow box.

 

Hope that helps.

[+ purplekow]

I don't know much but I do know that my dog's hair caused some problem with my computer which was simply fixed by removing the dog hair and giving the technical guy $80. I find that giving the technical guy at least $80 has solved every problem I have had right up until he tells me I need a new computer.

[Guest greatness]

well

 

I don't think someone tried to log in but if you run or work for a business without an IT security team and really worried about hacking then read these instructions.

 

http://www.bmighty.com/security/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=207601107&cid=sem_ws_buscar_ypi

 

I will back up my files, but for those who thought my computer was old, it is - five months old. After I shut it down, the noise stopped. If it happens again, I will look into it further. But I do wonder who tried to log in!

 

Thanks for the advice guys, I appreciate your help.

[Guest ryan2552]

But I do wonder who tried to log in!

 

.

 

Ghosts in the machine

[Rick Munroe]

The answer to all computer problems is: get a Mac.

[Lookin]

I was wondering who are the computer experts here. Being a little older, I missed out on all of the computer education that came as the products were developed. Sure, I can surf the internet and make a post on a web forum, but there's a lot I don't know. So I wonder who here does know, and how you gained that education.

 

The question stems from an incident earlier today where my computer was so loud it seemed on overdrive. So I restarted it, which meant the password box came on. I didn't fill it in right away, but when I finally went to do it, there was a note saying that the password I entered was invalid. But I had not entered a password yet. So who did? I had to shut the computer down for awhile and then restart to stop the overdrive action.

Not an expert here, but I bought my first Apple computer in 1980 to see what all the fuss was about. Soon learned I was more interested in what they could do, rather than how they did it. I've had mostly Macs since 1984.

 

As Romann said, it's likely the loud noise you heard was the fan trying to cool off the processor. When you shut down the computer, the processor stopped whatever it was doing that got it hot, so the noisy fan went off duty too.

 

If you ever hear your hard drive making a loud noise, it's almost certainly too late.

 

The log-in routine which presented your password box probably has a time-out function. If it doesn't get the password it's looking for in a certain amount of time, it gives you an error message.

 

Actually, the folks who wrote your operating system gave you the error message, and they didn't bother to distinguish between someone who enters an invalid password and someone who takes too long to enter a valid one. No reason they couldn't give you an error message that says "You seem to be taking your sweet time and, if you don't get cracking, we're going to freeze this thing up like an Al-Qaeda bank account."

 

But that would lead to code bloat. http://www.abfnet.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_eek.gif

[Guest AndrewJames]

Most likely source for noise is one of the cooling fans. Always have your important files backed up in a place outside your computer. The easiest way to do this is to store all your personal files in the My documents folder and to back up the entire Documents and settings folder to a Thumbdrive. If you download many videos and photos, it is better to burn them to CD, they do not need to be on your harddrive forever, and they add up fast.

If there was no one else in the house, there is the possibility that the password field was timed out, or that you left the mouse pointer on the enter button and something registered as a click. or your cat walked across your keyboard.

 

If you are having problems with your fan, with a relatively new computer, you should bring it in to have it fixed. be sure to back up your files before taking it to be repaired, and move anything you would find embarrassing to cd or DVD, because computer repair geeks do tend to get voyeuristic when given a strangers computer. To be fair they do have to look at files to diagnose problems.

This is pretty general advice, but there are many questions that need to be asked to diagnose your specific problem. Plus I do not really want to go back to being an IT consultant.

 

 

 

I was wondering who are the computer experts here. Being a little older, I missed out on all of the computer education that came as the products were developed. Sure, I can surf the internet and make a post on a web forum, but there's a lot I don't know. So I wonder who here does know, and how you gained that education.

 

The question stems from an incident earlier today where my computer was so loud it seemed on overdrive. So I restarted it, which meant the password box came on. I didn't fill it in right away, but when I finally went to do it, there was a note saying that the password I entered was invalid. But I had not entered a password yet. So who did? I had to shut the computer down for awhile and then restart to stop the overdrive action.

[Romann]

I 2nd that motion! I purchased my first MacBook a few months ago and honestly, this thing runs with NO sound what-so-ever that half the time, I can't even tell that it's running and working hard for me.

 

The answer to all computer problems is: get a Mac.

[+ Charlie]

Unfortunately, the answer to all PC problems is not getting a Mac. My partner bought a very expensive iMac a little over a year ago, and has had nothing but problems with it. A couple of weeks ago he had the hard drive replaced, and so far everything is working properly.

 

The only times I have ever had noise problems with my computers, the culprit has been the fan, which was relatively simple to replace.

[+ Lucky]

Since it was the fan acting up in a rare moment, I guess I can overlook it for now. I also agree to the need to back up files. Lookin had the best idea on the phantom sign-in, since it would be hard to believe that anyone else would try to sign-in, thus giving themselves away, unless they already knew the password.

[Guest greatness]

well

 

it would be hard to believe that anyone else would try to sign-in, thus giving themselves away, unless they already knew the password.

 

It is not how hacking a computer is done.

[EXPAT]

I agree that getting a MAC is the answer. I used to be a product manager for an intel, windows-based PC at a major computer company and I wouldn't touch a windows based machine again. I switched to an iMac and Macbook this year and I will never look back. It's the easiest operating system without all of the crap working in the background.

[KMEM]

I don't know much but I do know that my dog's hair caused some problem with my computer which was simply fixed by removing the dog hair and giving the technical guy $80. I find that giving the technical guy at least $80 has solved every problem I have had right up until he tells me I need a new computer.

 

PK-

 

What do you think about just sending $80 periodically to your technical guy? You could consider it a bribe to the computer gods or just a simple superstition, like, don't step on a crack, it will break your mother's back.

 

Or, you could compare it to the guy who had been divorced 8 times who was looking for an ugly woman to give $100,000 to just to keep in practice and possibly cut out the middle man (I assume an attorney or two.)

 

Best regards,

KMEM