Computer help

[cornerofmadness]

I'm mostly looking at Penguin Boy and DL....I'm suddenly have strangeness with my computer which may be two unrelated things and one I fear might be viral that my system can't find.

Lately since I've switched back to dial - up whenever I'm working on line, even just answering emails, I can hear the computer tower churning like the hard drive is thinking hard about doing something and I don't recall that happening before (could be I wasn't paying it any mind) and I'm not sure why it would be drawing from the hard drive.

secondly and this could be just a mouse problem, but very suddenly this week, left click doesn't really want to work. It takes many tries. God forbid I want to highlight something. It'll automatically cut it if I'm in Word and if I'm on line say answering an LJ post or my email it'll just kick me back a few spaces after hesitating like it's stuck. I'm no where near the back button and suddenly I'm back three pages. I try to X-out one thing and the whole system goes down lke the button engaged several times (this is on line and not on line)

Suggestions?

Oh and since I'm a moron...I can't figure out how to label my nice new icon so I can tell everyone they can go look at the lovely stuff  at Due Uomini e una Gatta I managed to say so in the key notes but how do I actually honestly credit an icon?

Comments

[adeliedreams.livejournal.com]

Let's see...

Switching to dial up, and a strange sound... The most likely cause of this is the type of modem you're using. Unless you're using a rather old modem, the central processor is doing the majority of the work for the modem, translating the audio signal into data. The extra work on the processors part can actually make noise, kind of a churning, grumbling sound, which is probably even more noticable if you're actively listening for it. If it's especially loud, kind of a grinding or buzzing noise, it could be a cooling fan that's clogged or tossed a bearing.

So. Soft churning noise is probably paranoia, loud grinding noise is probably a fan. In the latter case, if you aren't afraid to open the box, do so, and blow out the dust.

There are other possibilities, but those are the two most likely.

Mouse. Does your system get really slow when you experience this particular problem, or does it seem about as responsive as normal? If it's not accompanied with slowness, my bet would be you've got a dirty little mouse on your hands. Depending on the way your mouse is constructed, you can try unbending a paperclip and running it beneath the problematic button. Or just buy a new mouse.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

I dunno. It's the modem that came with the Dell which is 1 1/2 yrs old so it's not tremendously old but it was never used until I came here. I had cable in FL.

I'll check that fan as soon as the bruises heal and I can get under this work station and get the cpu off the bottom shelf.

It's always slow but it doesn't appear to be too much slower (it IS much slower going from word perfect to yahoo when I'm flipping back and forth) mostly the left click won't highlight or it'll hightlight and cut without you wanting it to. Several clicks are needed to do anything OR one click will make you jump several screens backwards wheen you click the back button once

[adeliedreams.livejournal.com]

It probably is a software (processor driven) modem then. They've been pretty standard for at least the last 6 years or so.

If you're going to check the fans, then also double check to make sure that no wires are getting into the fan as well. Sometimes they do, can cause a sound, and eventually lead to something getting damaged.

[laugh] If there were any way that I could listen to the machine, I'd be able to tell exactly what it was in a heartbeat.

As for the mouse, it seems pretty likely that it is just a gummed up button. They like to do that, especially in Florida. Mice are cheap, at least.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

will do in regards to the fan.

The mouse probably hates not having a mouse pad too. But since I like the ones with the scroll button, nothing fancy I can replace it easily and cheaply

[adeliedreams.livejournal.com]

Let me know how things go when everything is cleaned or replaced. Trying to get the simple stuff out of the way.

Before I end up having to ask you to call me while the modem is running. ;)

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

yes calling would be hard. Taping the noise and playing it back on the other hand.

took apart the mouse, removed blobs of hair and dust. Put it together. Still doesn't work right.