Preface: Compared to most people here, I don't know shit about PCs/laptops...especially when it comes to problems and fixing them. But I can fix general stuff, I know when its a virus or something is just wrong with the computer, and I definitely know when I need to leave it up "experts."

Well this current problem is baffling me:

I've got a 3-year old Sony Vaio laptop. I use it all the time. I've been in law school for three years and I'm studying for the bar right now, so its probably in operation for at least 6 to 8 hours a day. So its got some miles on it, but nothing abnormal. I don't keep it in the best physical condition, but other than that I treat it pretty well. I still have about half my storage left and updated virus protection software.

The laptop has been slowing down a little bit as far as opening applications up and performing regular tasks, but its still relatively sufficient, and its "slowing down" hasn't been a burden. I figured the slowing down is just normal wear and tear of a laptop getting older. Recently, however, it's been freezing up on me....but here's the thing....ONLY WHEN I'M AT HOME. I do a lot of studying at a local coffee shop and in our law school library...but the laptop doesn't freeze up there. And this past weekend while at home, it froze so early that it wouldn't even get to the startup screen. The more I would turn it off and on, the worse it would get.

So I take it to Best Buy (I still have one month left on the warranty)...and it turns right back on and operates as if nothing is wrong. She runs a quick check and sees nothing wrong. So I take it back home, and it goes for about 10 seconds and freezes again. Now I'm in the coffee shop and it's been working fine for a couple hours.

Basically....WTF? Why won't my laptop work at home. Does this make any sense whatsoever? There's is nothing I do differently at home that I do in other places.

7/13/2008 9:28:25 AM

does it get really really hot? does it happen while it's plugged in and while it's only on battery or only when it's plugged in?

7/13/2008 9:38:06 AM

I've done it plugged in and not plugged in (at home and in other places). So that doesn't seem to be a problem.

And it always get a little warm...but never really "hot".

7/13/2008 9:41:18 AM

any peripherals you use only at home?

7/13/2008 9:53:19 AM

Nope. Just so nobody keeps asking the same questions...

There's nothing I do different at home that I do when using the laptop at other places. I visit the same websites, use the same applications. I even moved the laptop around the house (its a tiny house). I use it in my room and in the den...and I tried to use it in both places and it acted the same. I had it plugged in with different outlets and kept it unplugged in both places too.

Just wondering if anyone has heard of a similar problem like this? I feel like I've got a fucking electromagnetic/somethingoranother field around my house that is fucking with my computer.

7/13/2008 10:00:09 AM

[Edited on July 13, 2008 at 10:02 AM. Reason : except in your house?]

7/13/2008 10:02:15 AM

^Exactly

7/13/2008 10:03:34 AM

Do you use it more at home than other places? I'm just wondering if it is a probability thing. Is your house hot so the ambient temp is high and it overheats? Either way be sure to blow some compressed air through the fan/heatsink to get rid of the dust bunnies. I really have no idea. I would say you should back up your data ASAP.

7/13/2008 10:29:26 AM

you're gonna need to get a machine from a man named Egon Spengler and he'll tell you if there is some "interference" going on in your house

7/13/2008 10:31:14 AM

I'd say I use both pretty equally...actually, lately I've been doing all my studying in the coffee shop and Barnes and Noble, so probably less so at home.

House is pretty cool...its fucking hot down here in Charleston, so we keep it at around 73/74.

I'm in the process of backing up all my data. I think I'm going to get a new laptop after I take the Bar exam...but I want to make sure this lasts until then and I might take it with me when I go backpacking in Europe in September.

It's just driving me nuts. Its acting like a brand new computer while I'm at the coffee shop....then reverts back to being a piece of shit when I get back home. Interested to see what happens when I get back home later tonight.

7/13/2008 10:34:35 AM

do you use it on carpet/pillow/bed at home? meaning do you use it on some sort of surface that conforms to the shape of the laptop and subsequently blocks bottom opening vents? this seems likely as the surfaces that would block the vents are relative "home" comforts.

7/13/2008 2:46:50 PM

Quote :

"I figured the slowing down is just normal wear and tear of a laptop getting older."

For the record, the slowing down has NOTHING to do with it getting older, it has entirely everything to do with needing a reinstall of Windows. I mean, there are many other steps you could take to avoid reinstalling Windows, but this is by far the easiest and quickest method to making your laptop suddenly "feel like new" again.

The important thing to remember is to backup all files you plan on keeping to DVDs or an external hard drive.

But yea, Windows is what slows down after years of use. Your computer's hardware is likely just fine. Although, the hard drive can also fail after a few years, so a new one of those is sometimes a good idea.

7/13/2008 2:55:42 PM

Mostly on hard surfaces (desks and coffee tables). Although occasionally I will use it on my bed...I'll usually only move it to that place if its friggin working.

7/13/2008 2:55:53 PM

yea, first off backup everything so you dont have to worry about it. i imagine you have a shitload of stuff you'd hate to lose given the whole law school thing and studying for the bar..

my only idea is heat.. hard to say though really, maybe try one of those $5 laptop cooler pads and see if it helps. if not then you can always take it back

i think theyre more like $20 really but still, it's worth a shot

7/13/2008 3:08:42 PM

Here's something a friend mentioned to me last night...

I live at the beach...like one street over from the beach. He said the salt in the air could possibly be preventing my laptop from operating at home??

At the same time...when I'm downtown, that's only like 15 miles from my place on the beach. And I'm on a friggin peninsula (Charleston)...so it's not like I'm directly inland.

Oh...and it wouldn't work at home last night...but it working fine this morning in the coffee shop...WTF?

7/14/2008 8:06:35 AM

i don't see how "salt" air could be keeping it from working

here's a thought - what's your internet situation at home? could it be that something wonky with your wireless network is causing the computer to freeze?

7/14/2008 9:28:19 AM

^Possibility...but I don't know how that would get to it while my computer is starting up. And my roommate's laptop is working fine.

I think I've got a bad karma thing going on. My fucking ipod got stolen out of my car last night.

7/14/2008 11:17:03 AM

I'm siding with the Bermuda Triangle theory.

7/14/2008 11:19:51 AM

high temp and or humidity in your house? there's gotta be something different. turn wireless card off, run on battery only. any fans coming on more than usual??

7/14/2008 11:23:16 AM

my work pc the monitor won't work if the cpu is next to it... the cpu has to be on the floor or no dice

7/14/2008 11:24:31 AM

^^^^ I would guess it's an issue with your network adapter driver and the network you're connecting to from your house. Disable your network adapters before you go home. Then see if it will run when you get there.

7/15/2008 5:24:09 PM