Hi all,

Ok so I have a Dell Dimension desktop and I have been having problems with it. I have called for technical support numerous times and on different occasions with the same problem occuring. My computer will work fine, but the next day when i try to turn it on i get a message saying, "Alert thermal event has occured!" I assume this is some sort of hardware issue, but Dell tries everything other then replacing the needed parts. One time they actually had me open it and try to move a micro processor or something like this.

It is working again but I am now trying to clean it up so it runs a little better since this is what they suggested. I deleted limewire off of my computer but i know the songs are still on there somewhere, I need to know how to get them off of my computer. I can't find them.

Cliff notes:
-computer is a piece of shit
-dell costumer service is useless
-tried cleaning up the hardrive
-removed limewire but need to know how to get all the songs off of my computer.

Thanks in advance for any help you guys can provide.

 

Do a search of your harddrive for one of the songs that you know is on there using the windows folder search thing and look at the file directory

 

Format. Reinstall windows or as the mac fans will say, get a mac and you won't have problems.

 

i want a mac but I'm a college student with no money. Thanks for all the advice so far.

 

Dell has had a LOT of problems with motherboards, overheating, and leaking capacitors for like two years now. "Thermal" event doesn't sound good. Heat=bad.
not sure what to tell you to do about this other than keep trying Dell.
Your limewire files are in the shared folder for the particualr user who was logged on during installation.
Go to my computer, c drive (assuming), documents and settings, find the user (you more-than-likely) and there will be a "shared" folder with yo stuff ( :

 

If you can't remember the name of a song, just search for ".mp3" or whatever format your music is in.

 

Try running the PC with the cover opened or off completely to disapate the heat. That is a strange error, with the cover opened / off check all of the system fans to see that they're working. There should be one in the back, next to the power supply and another in the front, also one on the heatsink over the CPU. You may also have one on your video card. Also, does the PC "blue screen" or crash if left on for long periods of time?

If one of your system fans is toast, they're very cheap to purchase and easy to replace. If it's the heatsink/fan over the CPU that is very dangerous to the life of your CPU. You can check the CPU temperature by downloading shareware diagnostics or within your BIOS. Usually 35-37 Celcius is about right.

If the PC isn't crashing or suffering blue screens of death I'd look into flashing the BIOS to see if makes the error upon boot-up disappear.

I'll be happy to reply if you provide some more info.

G

 

^^

Thumbsdown to the knuckleheads above him....

Yes, the PC is running hot. Remove the cover and see if that help. Also, is the PC is an open area (are the vents and fans clear, if not clear them.....If all else fails, get a better fan.

The fan is working, right?

 

Thanks guys...yea the fans working, I can hear it. There is only one fan though. Probably because its a smaller unit. I'm just frustrated because I have called Dell a few times with this problem and they are pretty much useless. I have the extended warranty and maintness plan (or w/e it is called) and they try to instruct me how to fix it over the phone. I think bs they should have me send it in or come an dfix it. I want to have these problems resolved before school starts, I need my computer at school.

Also the computer makes a loud quickly repeating clicking noise. Anyone know what that could be?

 

Clicking sound you hear is your system hard drive dying, if you can, backup your data to CD, DVD, flash drive, etc. They can replace the hard drive but your data is toast unless you have it backed up. If you can afford one buy a USB 2.0 external Hard Drive and move your vital data to that.

Good luck.

G

 

knucklesheads?!!??!

i resemble that remark

 

He doesn't really want a Mac, he's just getting fooled by the guy in the Apple commercials that gets the Japanese girl.

 

I did the diagnostics test of the hard drive and its says it passed so I don't think it is a problem with the hard drive. Dell told me that, "some hard drives are simply louder then others." I don't know much about this stuff so to me that can be the truth while he is completly lieing to me.

 

just cuz the fan is spinnin dont mean it is working you may need to reapply your fan heat sink i use a silver heat sink compound works great

 

some computer places can get the info off of crashed drives i think compusa charges about 50 to do it and you pay wheather the data is usuable or not

 

I advise you to seek advice.