Expert: Ramon Zammit - 9/28/2009

Question
QUESTION: hi
My PC is producing a screeching sound when am downloading data from my ROM and am as well trying to play a movie from my HDD.When am burning a disk using alcohol it indicates that there is no enough memory(and its the only program that is running) but it eventually burns.i have enough ram to support the burning.  i have been having this problem for a long but it disappear after i format HDD and i have enough ram to support everything.am using XP and avg antivirus.

i would like also to know where viruses hide in the registry so that i can be able to be doing a routine check once in a while.
Tinito


ANSWER: hey tinito

ROM? you mean DVD-ROM? can you please elaborate more...

thanks

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Yes i mean dvd rom

ANSWER: hey tinito

i suspect that the dvd-rom drive might be the component which is producing that sound. you can confirm this by using a different dvd/cd. if you change disc and it still produces the sound then the drive might be degrading. sometimes the internal motor of the drive creates such sounds when it starts to fail. you might also have some dirt inside it.

as for the memory i think you might have low virtual memory. follow these simple steps to increase it:

In Windows XP

1.Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
2.Click Performance and Maintenance, and then click System.
3.On the Advanced tab, under Performance, click Settings.
4.On the Advanced tab, under Virtual memory, click Change.
5.Under Drive [Volume Label], click the drive that contains the paging file that you want to change.
6.Under Paging file size for selected drive, click to Custom size check box. You can enter the amount of memory you would like to reserve for Virtual memory by entering the initial and maximum size.
7.Click Set
When you are prompted to restart the computer, click Yes.

Special Note: You should choose the same amount for the initial size and maximum size. This will Stop your CPU from constantly changing the paging file.


Viruses do not actually reside in the registry but rather leave commands and keys in the registry, to execute themselves. Viruses could store themselves anywhere on your drive and even on your memory. The best way is to get into safe mode and perform a thorough scan of the whole system with an updated anti virus.

hope it was of help and pls rate me thanks

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank for the solution but my issue now is why does that happen after some time and it doesn't happen when its fully formatted and loaded with all the programs because it performs well when its in that state and dont have to change the paging file.and how can i remove a virus that is in my memory,removal toll that you recommend??????

Answer
You have to understand that when you format a PC it is 'fresh' and performs much better than after using it for some time. By time, and after installing some programs the system's performance may eventually degrade. Did you try perhaps checking the RAM memory? maybe you have a faulty chip?

I recommend Avira AntiVir, its free and extremely effective!