half awake

Dell optiplex running winXP pro will only partially run after overnight screensaver/slideshow.
HDs set to never turn off
Some programs run normally
some run half way
some sound the error chord.
IT swapped machines..same HD
Restart fixes, but as usual I am on the run and need the computer early in morning, do not have time to wait for reboot.
My home machines do not do this

 

What do you mean exactly? The screensaver is a slideshow? They often don't work for long periods. Is it a Windows screensaver (or slideshow screensaver) or a third-party screensaver program? Try testing by setting the screensaver to Blank.

Matt

 

it's windows

yes, windows slideshow screensaver.
I have been told to never shut off HD by IT.
It seems the OS only wakes half way
My home machine does just fine

 

In addition to Mattman's suggestion please answer these questions:

This problem was the same on the old PC but you are still using the same hard drive? y/n

Please ask IT why you should not turn off the HD (that is a strange request).

What happens if you do turn it off?

Does the PC run normally if you reboot it?

Apart from the hard drive is the PC new or has it had previous use?

Do you have the Windows XP disc?

Do you know the make of your hard drive? If so go to the manufacturers site and download the disc diagnostics.
You will need to burn this as an image file (.ISO) to a CD and then reboot the PC with the disc in the drive. This will test your hard drive which I suspect may be showing the early signs of failure. If you have any important files on the HD I would back them up to an external drive or DVD's as soon as possible.

 

You need to find out if it is directly related to the slideshow.

You can look in Event Viewer to see if there were errors overnight.

If you open some of the photos with Photo Editor and click the Actual Size button, you will see that they will probably be huge. The slideshow program needs to resize the photos to show them on the screen. You could try making resized copies of the photos that are easy for the slideshow to put onto the screen. One way that may be easy to make resized copies of the photos is to right-click the photo file and choose Send To -> Mail Recipient. You will see that it will offer a selection of various resolutions. You don't need to send the email, just go to File -> Save Attachments. See if a slideshow of resized photos will run correctly.

You could try taking the photos to another one of the workstations and ask the owner to try the running the same slideshow overnight, my guess is the same thing or something similar will happen.

You could try all sorts of tests and checks, my suggestion is to try making it easier for the system to run the slideshow.

Matt

 

1) old HD, different everything else (took my DVD burner, so sad, need it, workaround)
2) I do not have the Win XP disc
I can fill screens after screens of DICOM errors, I send screenshot to a tech.

 

To see what we are dealing with please follow the instructions below.

Plase use the SIW software to produce a report of your software and post it here.