[Channeal]

Hello GTG people,

I have an Acer Aspire XC-830 computer and am running Windows 11.

For several months now, I have had a problem when I first turn on the computer with it telling me that the profile could not be loaded. If I proceed in loading Windows, I eventually get a desktop with a blue Windows background and a reduced number of icons. If I then restart the computer, it then usually all starts up normally (although I can remember one or two occasions when it took a few attempts). I would estimate that this happens roughly once every 7 to 14 days.

Not sure if there is any connection, but the screen also sometimes randomly goes black when I am using the computer. It either comes back after a few seconds or the computer goes into sleep mode, so that I have to put in the code/password to proceed to the desktop. Whatever I was doing when this happens then comes back and I can just carry on as if nothing has happened. I assumed this might somehow be to do with my monitor, but I don't really know. As far as I can tell, there do not seem to be any loose leads or anything.

Please can anyone throw any light on why these two things might be happening?

 

[Advertisements]

Hello Chris,

 

Download MiniToolBox and save the file to the Desktop.

 

Close the browser and run the tool, check the following options;

 

Flush DNS
List last 10 Event Viewer Errors
List Installed Programs
List Devices (Only Problems)
List Users, Partitions and Memory size

Click on Go.

Post the resulting log in your next reply for us if you will.

[phillpower2]

Hello Chris,

 

Download MiniToolBox and save the file to the Desktop.

 

Close the browser and run the tool, check the following options;

 

Flush DNS
List last 10 Event Viewer Errors
List Installed Programs
List Devices (Only Problems)
List Users, Partitions and Memory size

Click on Go.

Post the resulting log in your next reply for us if you will.

[Channeal]

Hello Phill & thank you for replying.

 

Am attaching the MiniToolBox file as requested

 

 MTB.txt   31.01KB   30 downloads

 

Chris

[phillpower2]

You are welcome 

 

For you to do while we look at your MTB log;

 

From a DOS Command Prompt from START | type cmd.exe into the start search box | RIGHT-click on cmd.exe | select "Run as Administrator" then Copy/Paste --> :

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth command then press Enter.

 

If you see(Completed Successfully;

 

Reboot the PC, see the below;

 

Once the above has been done; Open another Admin Command Prompt and please run Copy/Paste --> SFC /SCANNOW into the Dos window or Powershell then press Enter.-  Reboot.

 

Let us know any/all results from the above.

 

 

Edit to add: A few problems going on there + for some reason only 4GB of RAM is being reported when there should be 8GB.

[Channeal]

I tried the first thing you said. I got the white thing flashing after a time, but although I left it quite a while there was no progress bar or anything. I decided to restart and try again, but it told me it was doing updates and has been doing this for quite a time now.  Am feeling a bit concerned!

 

Chris.

 

UPDATE

 

Panic over! The computer finally restarted. I thought I had messed it up by attempting the 'RestoreHealth' thing - and also I was not expecting it to do a Windows Update on a Tuesday evening! It seems to be ok though.

 

Bye for now. I will try again another day! 

 

 

 

for some reason only 4GB of RAM is being reported when there should be 8GB.

 

With regard to the RAM, I can confirm that I do only have 4GB installed. At the time of purchasing, you told me to contact Box.co.uk and ask them if they could supply the computer with the RAM upgraded to 8GB. I emailed them but they replied that this was not a possibility. 

 

In the end, I never did anything further with regard to upgrading the RAM. Tbh I have not even looked inside the computer - have been very much occupied in dealing with other problems that life has thrown at me since purchasing it.

 

I have not been able to attempt the RestoreHealth repair again today. Will try another day.

Edited by Channeal, 19 March 2025 - 12:44 PM.

[phillpower2]

Apologies for the delay getting back to you, no time for the forums for me yesterday 

 

You only having the 4GB of RAM is causing you problems;

 

 

========================= Memory info: ===================================

 

Percentage of memory in use: 89%

 

[Channeal]

No problem at all re not replying immediately! 

 

Arrgh! That's very frustrating regarding the memory, especially as I was really hoping to buy a computer with ample memory already installed! 

 

When I finally get some time during which I am unlikely to be interrupted, I will attempt to take the casing off and have a look around (I still miss my old Dell which I found easy to open up).

 

Many thanks.

 

PS I ran a Crucial scan and it said they do not currently have any suitable memory upgrades for my system which really surprised me.

[phillpower2]

Sorry but in a bit of a rush so need to keep it brief I`m afraid 

 

Acer Aspire Desktop XC-830 Compatible Memory / RAM Upgrades

[phillpower2]

Post separately so that you get notification;

 

Poor show on the behalf of Box and being honest they would not have got my business being that they were so unhelpful.

 

Arrgh! That's very frustrating regarding the memory, especially as I was really hoping to buy a computer with ample memory already installed!  

 

 

With the suggested 2 Xs 4GB sticks you would have more than enough RAM for your usage + you would have had the extra speed of the RAM, 2400MHz in dual channel as opposed to the present single channel speed of 1200MHz.

 

Noticed that you have a VPN and Spybot S&D installed, being a responsible person that does not download torrents or other illegal content you do not need a VPN and while Spybot S&D was okay many years back it is pretty much useless by todays standards, suggest that you get rid of both as it will free up resources and should improve browser speed.

 

Side not, not all users of VPNs are up to no good, many travel country to country along with their portable computers and on occasion they may need to use a VPN to be able to log into a program or media channel that is not recognised in the country that they are visiting.

[Channeal]

Hello Phill and thank you for both your messages.

 

When I looked at the Mr Memory link, I saw that it was suggesting 2x8 GB of memory and so I went ahead and ordered that straight away. Better too much than not enough, methinks!   

 

Am amused at your comment about the VPN. Before I ran the MTB scan, I spotted that the VPN was still there and thought you would wonder why I had it....... so I deleted it, or at least I thought I did. Maybe there are traces of it left though.

 

The story behind the VPN is actually a very silly one. Around ten years ago, I somehow stumbled upon a webcam for some falcons nesting on top of a tall building in Omaha, U.S.A. I do not usually have any interest whatsoever in ornithology, but for some reason these captured my imagination and I have been tuning in to the webcam every spring since then to see the eggs hatch etc. There was a website too where I could see commentary on what was going on. However, I then stopped being able to access the website, I think because I am in the UK and there were some new laws which mean we cannot see all U.S.A. sites. Anyway, I was especially keen to see the website as for the last couple of years the eggs have not been hatching out and I wanted to know the reason, so I downloaded the VPN. I still did not manage to see the website though and should have deleted the VPN ages ago. The whole thing is crazy as I was not trying to steal state secrets, just wanted to read about some birds laying eggs!

 

I will delete Spybot as suggested and will be in touch again once the new memory arrives.

 

Thanks very much for your help.

[phillpower2]

You are welcome Chris and thanks for the update 

 

As you have found VPNs can be like certain AVs in that they are problematic to get rid of.

 

We will  look out for your update when you have the new RAM onboard or if you have any questions along the way of course, any further problems with the VPN let us know and we will help you get rid of it.

[Channeal]

Hi Phill,

 

Regarding the VPN..... was the one you were talking about Express VPN or Proton VPN?

 

The one I deleted was Proton. It appears that I might have the Express one too and that it was installed by Acer. Is this something they would usually do?

 

Am a tad confused!

[phillpower2]

Express VPN, whether or not Acer would pre install it I have no idea I`m afraid as I never purchase OEM desktop computers.

[phillpower2]

Not heard back from you Channeal, do you still require assistance or is the issue now resolved, an update would be appreciated.

[Channeal]

Hello Phill,

 

Really sorry for the delay in replying. The new memory arrived on Wednesday and I was originally hoping to have been able to have attempted to install it by now. It was a really horrible week though; we had some bad news regarding my husband's health and as a result I have not really been feeling like playing around with the computer. I should have a couple of hours to myself tomorrow though so might possibly be able to look at it then.