Missed your other post. Great job! Thanks for posting back.

The ticking could be the valves. As the engine materials heat up, the valve clearance will become smaller and thus clicking noise. Given the valves use shims to adjust clearance, valve adjustment is time consuming. You can however check clearance yourself and decide if it is too much. There is spec for the clearance range.

Doubt it was an oil issue. The oil pump should be capable of flowing enough oil provided the oil pan filter screen is not plugged up. This only occurs if the engine has sludging problems (an internet search will find lots of hits on this subject). It even has a bypass valve to keep the oil pressure down when oil is cold.

Computers ah.

What do you know about about browsers. From time to time Google Chrome posts a "No Data Sent" message" or get a Flash Player Crashed message. The computer worked fine until few months ago. No programs added. An internet search states to try this and that, but nothing seems to help much.

One day the computer works find, another day the "No Data Sent" messages to the extent using email is pointless. The machine has a firewall and antivirus software.

As stated nothing has changed in terms of programs, ISP, etc.

Also looking for a low cost, as in cheap desk top computer. Thought about a used Dell GX680 or other model. I only need more speed and RAM, already have a monitor, hard drives, etc. I don't play video games, etc just basic use.

With bloatware software may be now reaching the limits of this computers speed and RAM. Is Dell still a decent brand? At one time they were having issues of capacitor failure due to bad manufacturing assume in China.

Thanks for any insights.

 

Toyo,

most of what I see is Malware/Spyware/Adware- and all kinds of crap like this.
There is SO much that can happen, knowing OR not, drive-by downloads,
known/good websites all of a sudden give you a browser hijack, Java hacks,
etc. etc.

All the advertisements that are just viruses....... its endless. :/
Try this- Malwarebytes Anti-Malware - Free download and software reviews - CNET Download.com

I use CNet.com (download.com) to check most anything I want
to use, apps, media stuff. etc. They use and rate a LOT of stuff
they try out, and along with lots of reader comments added into
their ratings- for us John Q Public's.

MalwareBytes is a #1 rated program by the site, and has darn
good reader feedback for helping to clear out the crappola.

From my experience, if your computer is heavily infected with
a lot of this spyware ................. the truly best/most effective
way is to save ALL your stuff, re-install the operating system,
re-install all the programs you use/all your files/photos/etc.-
then ghost/image the hard drive AND save all your personal
stuff again on a flash drive and/or external hard drive or similar.

After running Malewarebytes once, restart the computer and run
it again!

And for a good used computer, just make sure it has a decent
amount of RAM, like 4gb should be good for what you want it for-
more is always better of course!! The more RAM, the more the
computer can better "juggle" different things open at one time.
As long as you have a fairly modern processor/computer, and you
have 2/4gb of RAM (for a basic system were talking)- you should
be fine!!

I've always thought Dells were alright, they are usually pretty
easy to work on, no real issues with them, and most of the support/
driver downloads are available on their website.

 

Thanks a lot for the info.

Suspect RAM is way too low. Worked fine in olden days but with bloatware, spyware, etc it is not enough. This computer is maxed out on RAM and uses a Pentium III which Google Chrome is not supporting.

Thus time for something faster with more RAM.

I am using Windows XP which works extremely well and I like it! Thought about going to Windows 7 which appears compatible with MS Office products older the 2007. Windows 8 or 8.1 is out of questions as need new Office products plus of course it download only. Have used 8.1 and just not my style.

Then just buy a new hard drive as they are low cost and reload programs onto this. Can then set current master disk to slave and use this for access various files.

Had thought about setting up two computers, one online the other off. Then swapping any needed files via flash drive.

A one time checked out ghost imaging but some complained this too had problems. Any recommendations for a program to use?

Dell does seem to support it products well and although not the best and brightest, work fine for my needs.

Thanks again for the info.

 

N.P.!!
Thank you for all the car info along the way kind sir!!!!!

And yeah, today a half to one gb of RAM wont get you much.
Especially once you have a bunch of stuff on the computer.

And yeah, Win XP is my fav overall too! Win 7 can be streamlined
a bit to run pretty good though- plus it does help sometimes to
have a newer operating system.......

And yeah, there are many reports in the computer mags, telling
people exactly how to downgrade to Win 7 from Win 8................
They are trying to be more "Apple" I think- with Win 8?!

And you should check out- Apache OpenOffice - The Free and Open Productivity Suite
Its basically a free Office Suite................. operates just
like Office. Each program is titled a "little" different than
Microsoft. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc. etc. ALL just like Windows
stuff- but no license needed- and completely free!!!!!!!!!!!!

Windows 7 has a built-in drive image program- nice nice!!
I have always used a slightly older Norton Ghost myself-
but I also have used this-

Macrium Reflect Free - Free download and software reviews - CNET Download.com

Rated #1 in free backup software, I've used it, and then restored a
computer with it- went fine! this is like a backup for me/my Norton Ghost.


And yep on the Dells, etc. I don't need to "keep up with the Jones's"............
It basiclly comes down to just WHAT are you USING the computer for!!

You could have the 2 drives as you say, and boot-up either....... Like I
have a dual boot system (on just one big HD- but your 2 drive thing
would work fine too), when the computer starts up- I pick either XP
OR Win 7- depending on what I need/want.

If your doing video editing, running engineering software like SolidWorks, etc. etc.
THEN you need a reallllly FAST machine..................... otherwise- no.

But they would just LOVE to sell you something newer.....................................
:/