Do Computers Get Tired?

I've also noticed that after a few days, if I run the windows recovery console, i.e., chkdsk /r Windows XP always finds errors on at least one drive, and when it finishes, XP runs faster and better than before. I've used it for recovering from errors resultin g from a faulty keyboard and faulty mouse. When I had the mouse problem, I couldn't even get XP running, but after running the Recovery Console, XP completely recovered as if nothing had happened. An SEU seems like a good explanation.

It may seem like a hassle but I also notice that when turning off the PC and Modem and printer I will wait about 2 minutes then take apart the tower and PROPERLY give it a cleaning.
I can look over all the board items and make sure all is ok and viola.
It really does seem to help.

I feel validated finally. I've used this "unplug-replug and restart" method for several years and knew it worked, but didn't know why it worked. Now I know!

I have a Xerox DocumentCentre 440 ST sitting here in my office. Whenever I have a problem with rollers or kicker motors not working right, or even just the machine not booting up right, the first thing the Xerox support people tell me to do it power the system down, unplug for 60 seconds, and then re-plug. Now it makes sense.

I work for a company that provides subscription support for computer users and second-level support for a warranty provider. You would be amazed at the number and variety of problems that are resolved by a power disconnect (not a switch-off), two-minute interval to drain memory, and system reset.

I believe temporary files are the electronic gunk of my computer. Temporary files are supposed to speed up processing so the system will not have to search HD for data when needed. Since I don't find temporary files accumulating on my HD, I figure they are either invisible files or are resident in RAM. If the temporary files are stored in RAM, less RAM is available for processing as more temporary files are stored. I suppose the more RAM challenged a computer, the sooner problems appear. Turning off the computer eliminates those temporary files.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Usually "temporary files" refers to the web browser cache, and these are real files on the disk, not in RAM. Their purpose is to speed up web page loading by storing a local copy so the file does not have to be retrieved from the internet. Your operating system also keeps a RAM cache, which sometimes holds a copy of a commonly used disk file for fast access. It's possible the RAM cache could get mucked up, but Windows XP seems to do a good job of managing the cache to balance the tradeoff between available RAM and faster access to files.

You are spot-on with the 'unplug your modem' bit. As someone who works for a cable company, let me pass along this advice:
Any time your cable modem seems slow, or you lose connection altogether, unplug all of your devices. Modem, router (and for the record, a 'wireless device' really is a router!), and computer. Disconnect all cables from the modem, and let thigs sit for five minutes. Plug things back to the modem, and wait for another five. Then, do the same for the router, if you have one. Once both of them are humming along, plug the computer back in and restart it.
Eighty percent of the time, this routine will save you a call to tech support!

You really should clean out the dust bunnies and roach nests in your computer once a year (twice if you have a lot of pets). Fred Langa gives details on cleaning your computer, with photos of enough dust to make a whole 'nuther squirrel, at http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=60403472

Unplug and reseat all the cables and cards while you are at it. This helps because the connections get a thin coat of oxides &c; the friction from unplugging and plugging back scrapes off the gunk and makes a better connection. Be sure to discharge your own static buildup by touching the metal framework before you touch the circuits.

I too had problems with my cable modem, Bob. It's a long story but I found that my orignal modem had a known sync issue (Toshiba 1100) and my connection was dropping at least 3 or 4 times a day that I knew of. RoadRunner refused to adknowledge the issue.

I wound up swapping out my modem and got a much older modem. During the first couple of weeks, my connection would drop once in a while. After a few calls to tech support they pushed another firmware. My connection has been solid ever since. It seems to get "bogged down" every once in a while I just unplug it and everything is back to normal. I have to do the same with my router once in a while.

EDITOR'S NOTE: I had a 6-year-old Toshiba cable modem on RoadRunner too! I swapped for a new modem and all is well.

Be very careful when cleaning inside your case, though. Just recently I accidentally sucked a capacitor off the motherboard, thought it was a loose screw at the time, and was greeted by a very odd smell when I powered up the box again...

Needless to say, I won't be using the upright vacuum's hose attachment to clean cases anymore...