Weird PC

[TakalQc]

Hi Blind , it's been a long time I haven't posted

First of all, I thought about posting this issue a long time ago, but I told myself : "Bah, it may just be temporary.". But I found out that it wasn't.

It all started a few weeks after I installed my new computer parts (There's a whole topic about those). At this moment, my computer began acting strangely. When I boot my PC, half the time it gets stuck at the Windows loading, so I have to reboot it. It then tells me that the computer didn't start properly, all on a nice black screen. I actually got a blue error screen one time. That was the first blue error screen I ever had.
Also, some of my games seem to be the victims of this:

Warcraft III
-Sometimes, in the loading screen, my computer freezes and I have to reboot.
-Sometimes, while playing a map, my computer starts doing "Tic tic... (1 sec) tic tic... (1 sec) tic tic..." for like 15 seconds and then it freezes and I have to reboot. What scares me is that this sound actually comes from the case.

WolfTeam and World of Warcraft
-My computer randomly reboots, telling me it has recovered from a critical error. It actually happened 2 times in 5min yesterday.

None of this ever happened before the two addons. Could it be the cause?

[Blín D'ñero]

Could be so many reasons. The ticking most likely comes from the harddiskdrive, having trouble seeking the right spot. Could be a software cause or mechanical cause. I'd suggest the easiest way around, the drive being quite old anyway, is adding a new hdd, make that C:\ start a new Windows installation on it and make this your second drive.

[TakalQc]

So, if I understand well, you're suggesting me to buy a new harddiskdrive and use my actual one as backup, right?

[Blín D'ñero]

Yes that's what i meant. A new larger drive, that also has larger cache. And a fresh Windows on it. You'll lose nothing because you still have the old drive. Once you are ready with the new installation, reconnect the old drive. Keep all the documents but delete the Windows that's still on it.

Western Digital SE16 500GB SATA2 7200RPM 16MB Cache 8.9MS NCQ Hard Drive OEM 3YR MFR Warranty Reg. Price: $61.76 CAD

[TakalQc]

Are there 250GB drives with similar quality and size/price ratio? I have a 80GB and it's 25% free with almost all the stuff I need, so 500GB would be too much for me. I guess if it's smaller, it'll cost less, no?
But if a larger one is very worth it, I think I would go for it.

[Blín D'ñero]

Well,

1. below 500 GB they get relatively more expensive, so you pay about 59 bucks for a 250 GB but paying 2 bucks extra will get you 500GB!
2. Those drives are much more refined, even smaller bits on the same size platters to hold much more data makes them speedier, snappier, less movements for the reading head's neck to do
3. it also lives longer because of that
4. the larger cache (16 MB!) on the drive greatly reduces hiccups stutterings while searching and reading also while booting up.

:thumbup:
I would in fact recommend the Black Edition 640 GB: 32MB cache and even speedier. Gets the highest Vista rating 5.9. One day you'll upgrade the computer, then you won't have to replace this top-class drive.

[EDIT]
Western Digital Caviar SE16 250GB SATA2 7200RPM 16MB 8.9MS Hard Drive OEM 3YR MFR Warranty $58.91 CAD
Western Digital SE16 500GB SATA2 7200RPM 16MB Cache 8.9MS NCQ Hard Drive OEM 3YR MFR Warranty $61.76 CAD
Make sure to choose one from the WDxxxxAAKS series (or AALS, the Blacks)

[TakalQc]

Ooh! I haven't seen this! 2 extra bucks for two times the space... why not?

I didn't found the "Black Edition" you were talking about, neither on NCIX or google

Also, are the Western Digital drives that good for only proposing them, or other brands would be a good choice too?
Like this one : http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php? ... omoid=1055

And the most important thing: will a new drive like those would fit in my current system? I still have all the original parts on it, exept the two parts mentionned in the previous posts. That means I have the Compaq mobo and all that. I don't plan to tough more than a year with it, but I'd like the drive to work on it until then.

[Blín D'ñero]

Ah, yah they are called Caviar Black. Like : this one

The NCIX lists are so confusing, badly ordered.

Yes they would fit. They are all 3.5", universal, so exactly same size as what you currently have.

Ok i see what you mean.
But that Seagate isn't so good: https://techreport.com/articles.x/16472/12

Don't forget you're also trying to eliminate the hdd as cause for your troubles. So take one that's absolutely reliable.
Then take the cheapest (i could recommend): Western Digital Caviar SE16 250GB SATA2 7200RPM 16MB 8.9MS Hard Drive OEM 3YR MFR Warranty $58.91 CAD

[TakalQc]

Ok. This is strange.
My mouse recently broke. Well, I hasn't broke in fact. It just started acting weird, like my PC ^^ It was disconnecting all the time at random moments, and sometimes it wasn't working at all.

Why am I telling you this?

Be cause since I changed for another mouse, all the problems I mentionned disappeared!!! Like I said, my PC was usually rebooting by itself after 5 mins of playing WolfTeam and twice in 15 mins, but now... Nothing! It doesn't even get stuck at the Windows loading!!!
I remember changing my previous previous mouse for this "glitched" one in the same week I added my two parts (PSU + GPU), around the time the problems appeared.

So...

[Blín D'ñero]

What mouse exactly do you have, Takal?