Computer Crashes After Startup?

[abisert]

Hello Vista Forums,
I've had this problem with my computer crashing for over a year now. Last fall, I've started to use Safe Mode daily as I noticed that "normal mode" felt slow. In the middle of using my computer, my screen would go black, make this tick sound, and restart my computer.

I have also been getting BSODs for the first time. The ones I've been getting are:
irql_not_less_or_equal
memory_management

I'm not sure what caused this, but around the time, I followed this tutorial on getting my speakers working on Safe Mode. Soon after that, the problems came. And for a while, it stopped and worked perfectly. And then it happened again.

I now get crashes when I get to the log-in screen, desktop, or the browser. It would keep crashing every time I tried to start up Safe Mode, or freeze on or before the F8 booting screen.

Now, I've been looking for a way to wipe my hard drive right at home so I can start again fresh and make Vista run like new. But, is it Vista itself or a problem with my computer?

I have my computer specs in my profile, and I have a Emachines W5243 which is over 10 years old.

 

[richc46]

I do know that a tick(ing) sound may be the hard drive. Check it out.

 

[abisert]

I do know that a tick(ing) sound may be the hard drive. Check it out.

How do I do that? Do I take the computer apart or?

Most times, the crashes happen before the log-in screen when I try to load Safe Mode, and most of the crashes are quiet. It either crashes, or freezes at start-up.

 

[townsbg]

How do I do that? Do I take the computer apart or?

Download the hard drive manufacturer's diagnostic tools and run the detailed scans. Try to determine where the ticking sound is coming from. If it is the hard drive then back up your data.

 

[abisert]

Download the hard drive manufacturer's diagnostic tools and run the detailed scans. Try to determine where the ticking sound is coming from. If it is the hard drive then back up your data.

Alright. I'll see what I can do.

Backing up my data, should I then factory reset my computer? I only seem to have one hard drive (C and doesn't have the option for a new simple volume.

 

[richc46]

You may want to check this out
Check Disk - chkdsk

 

[abisert]

You may want to check this out
Check Disk - chkdsk

Alright.

 

[townsbg]

Alright. I'll see what I can do.

Backing up my data, should I then factory reset my computer? I only seem to have one hard drive (C and doesn't have the option for a new simple volume.

If your hard drive is making a clicking sound, then it is quite possibly failing. Hence my recommendation for backing up your data as well as scanning with the diagnostic tools from the drive's manufacturer and trying to determine where the sound is coming from. If the hard drive is going bad then you will need to replace it.