On 07/06/2011 11:47, Ret. wrote:


ISTM that computers are now becoming so ridiculously cheap that it is
barely worth bothering with trying to get one repaired...


Ain't that the truth....

I'd been suffering from system 'lock-ups' here on this XOP / Dell box.
Had some good suggestions on here (thanks folks!) -
and enlisted the help of the local Dell subcontract 'fixit-fella'.

Have changed....
the ram (twice!)
the hard disk (cloned)
run various checks and tests
all the usual updates
anti-spyware / malware software


Til ..... eventually..... after all this time and Googling in
desperation late at night....

....I discovered an updated driver for the ATI Radeon pro 2400 video card
driver - which seems to have solved the lock-up problems (over a
fortnight running 24/7 now with no repeat of the lock-ups) - and doing
the same things that used to break it.

Based on an hourly rate, I could have bought a couple of new PCs for the
price! - but where's the satisfaction in that? g

Adrian