My computer died

[ritaxis]

I've been getting a frequent warning that I have low virtual memory. But I don't. I've raised it as high as the computer will accept, and I've moved all the crap off the drive that has windows, and I still get this warning from time to time. It's not a new computer in computer life span terms, but it wouldn't be, since it's runnign xp pro. I don't have the wherewithal to replace the compuet and I don't think I want to, since I'm running all ancient (in computer lifespan terms) programs -- Word Perfect 10, Paintshop 9, Sims 2, various fanmade auxiliary programs for the Sims 2.


System information:
xp pro 5.1.26, service pack 3
2 Gb RAM
Processor: Intel Core Duo CPU E4600 @ 2.40GHz/ Version:x86 Family 6 Model 15 Stepping 13/Speed:2393 MHz

The drive that windows is on has 80 Gb used, 69 Gb free, while all the drives have 302 Gb free and 387 Gb free

As for the virtual memory, it's currentlhy set, apparently, at the highest the computer will recognize, because I tried to set it higher and this is what it actually did:

Drive C is set at 4995, and the other two drives are "system managed size" because trying to set them at a numerical value caused the computer to flip out and insist that the virtual memory is low. The "recommended" size for the C drive was 3039, but that resulted in constant low virtual memory warnings and program slowdowns, hangs and crashes, as opposed to the occasional ones I get now.

I got an apparenly non-genius idea to change the instructions to "clear virtual memory pagefile at shudown" because i sounded like maybe there was an accumulation issue goin on and I didn't bother to find ou what this really means (not that). So now I know it wouldn't have helped.

But the next thing that happened is that I tried to restart the computer and . . . i just didn't. Not a peep. Well, the motor turns on, bu the drive doesn't read, and the operating system doesn't load. It doesn't load from a system disk either. And none of the shenanigans I have encountered to get to the menu work either.
The computer just sits there.

I do have this battered laptop that Frank took back and forth to Prague for four and a half years, so I can write. And all my work is backed up and off the dead computer.

But no moe sims for a while, I guess.

Comments

[heleninwales.livejournal.com]

Is there anywhere local that sells cheap refurbished computers? There are a couple of places near here that recycle old machines. I bought my laptop (running Windows XP) second hand when my desktop computer started struggling about 18 months ago. Or, as you're quite computer savvy, you could try Freecycle.

As you know, I'm struggling through the move from the Windows XP machine to a brand new desktop running Windows 8 and I was surprised to find that far more of my old software worked than I expected. The only thing I'm having to abandon is the email program.

I realise that you may not be in a position to go the brand new computer route, but I understand that due to the mad rush to buy tablets, the demand for desktops has slumped and there are some good bargains to be had if you do have the funds available. Prices will probably rise again in the future once manufacturers readjust their output. Of course the sudden popularity of tablets also means that more people may be getting rid of old desktop machines that still have plenty of life left in them. Any chance of finding anything on Freecyle or similar?

[green-knight.livejournal.com]

Definitely not an expert, but this sounds as if it may be a motherboard problem to me :-(

I hope that you can manage a fix/replacement computer soon - it's a worrying time when they don't work.

<sends vibes>

[lilith-lucifer.livejournal.com]

Not an expert either...but at first it sounded like a hardware problem or buggy software. Maybe your RAM is broken? I have no idea why you can't boot your computer now though...I was also under the impression it is safe to clear your virtual memory at shutdown, especially if there's an option to do that in the first place.

Sorry, in the end I did not provide any helpful insight...

[tavella.livejournal.com]

Craigslist too, maybe. There's a decent chance you can find an old XP machine somewhere for cheap or even for free.

[pameladean]

I just wanted to express my sympathy. It's very disconcerting to have one's routines interrupted.

P.

[genlisae.livejournal.com]

I would almost lay money on the problem being the motherboard :( I'm sorry. Computer issues suck. At least you aren't without a computer entirely.

[thomasyan.livejournal.com]

My sympathies.