Random Freezes?

[Solesurfer]

Hello,
I am running an Athlon XP 2200 on Window XP Home with 512MB.

I recently reformated my HD with a fresh install of XP Home. Everything has been running fine, but recently it just randomly locsk up. Sometimes it happens after i play a video file, transferring a file, or during a song, or sometimes just sitting there it locks up.

I wish i could find out what is making this happen, but Windows doesn't make a log. What can i do?

Thank you,
Tom

 

[stduc]

Have you checked for Malware/Virus's using more than one product to check?

When you say windows doesn't make a log, are you referring to the event log?

Can you bring up task manager and see if something is consuming 100% CPU - which may give you a clue?

 

[garebo]

Further on what stduc is saying, you could, maybe should, go to trend-micro and let them do an on-line scan of your system. It will scan for virus and malware and let you know if it finds any.

Definitely report back on what you find in the way of cpu usage in task mgr, again as stduc says. This will give us a clue if you are being hijacked or not.

Once trend-micro online scan is done you should run some combo of updated:
AV
adaware
spybot search and destroy
CWShredder
microsoft antispyware
stinger (Mcafee)
hijack this

All of the above can be googled and are free.


Good advice + great people = tek-tips

 

[Solesurfer]

I have AVG, ADaware, Spybot, and MS Antispyware. They've all come up with nothing. I ran Trend-Micro for 10 minutes by my system froze. It didn't come up with anything so i didn't continue the scan.

I think it's a hardware problem. I have a 420 Watt power supply. Do power supplies go bad after a while?

I forgot to mention about a month ago, my computer would randomly restart whenever. I opened the case and touched the heat sink on my CPU and it was really hot. I remember that on my mobo, it had a feature that would turn the computer off when it gets too hot. I turned the computer off and let it cool down and now i only use the computer and turn it off when i'm not using it instead of putting it on standby.

I also think that it might have something to do with the video card. I tried updating the drivers, but the program that i got from nvidia was corrupted and i can't find any other sites with drivers.

Thanks for the help.

 

[garebo]

I would suggest going back to trend-micro and see if it can finish the job as it is good at trojans and the others you mentioned arent. A fellow here had 6 trojans just today and his AV said there was nothing but trend-micro found 6 trojans! You can see his thread here.

420 watts is good only if its a good quality power supply.
What brand is it?
Did it come with a case or did you buy it separately?


Good advice + great people = tek-tips

 

[Solesurfer]

I'll run trend-micro again.

I bought an Antec case whcihc came with the power supply. It says it's a Turbolink switching power supply.

 

[garebo]

http://www.pcguide.com/vb/archive/index.php/t-15876.html

These people say the power supply is actually made by Channellwell. I cant remember if they are good or bad.
I see that directron is selling your power supply for $20, which would likely make them kind of middle of the road, not junk but not a real good power supply either.
A good power supply should start around the $40 range unless its on sale.
Should be ok with the xp2200 but i wouldnt suggest you load it to the hilt because the rating on some of these cheaper models is suspect to say the least.
I hope you dont think im purposely running the power supply down, just giving what is likely a fairly accurate opinion. And again, its certainly probably not among the list of "junk" power supplies, more in the middle of the pack i would say.



Good advice + great people = tek-tips

 

[Aussie2]

Might also be worth removing and cleaning heatsink and fan and refit with fresh thermal grease

 

[ceh4702]

If the CPU Overheats then you can expect to see this kind of activity. I have completely burned up an XP2400+ in my sons computer. Dust is a known killer of processors. It collects on the CPU Cooler and then the CPU Cooler can not cool off the CPU effectively.

If you have a switching power supply sometimes it is better to run it in such a way as it does not control the fan at all. While the power supply is not switching the CPU can burn up or just get hot enough to cause problems. This can cause problems. If you have a quiet running cooler just let it run all the time.

You might take the cover off the computer and see if the fan keeps running or what is going on. Sometimes fans ware out. You may have a Video Card Fan, a CPU Fan, and a Chipset Fan, all of which if they do not work can overheat your system. You may also have an intake and an exhaust fan on your case.

If you do not like my post feel free to point out your opinion or my errors.

 

[garebo]

Heres a way to see if the problem is heat related. Take the side off your computer and then get the biggest house fan you have and set the fan to blow right on the motherboard, on the highest speed you can stand. If your computer works fine under these conditions then you know the problem is heat related.

If all is well with the fan blowing, then you, as others have suggested, take the cpu\heatsink\fan apart and clean the old thermal grease off (dont use metal), clean heatsink and fan, and put it all back together with fresh thermal grease on the shiny metal part of the cpu. Make sure the fan is re-connected!
Check all fans you have on the mobo, northbridge, southbridge, (if any), video card. For case fans you should have one in the bottom front blowing in and one at the top rear blowing out. If your power supply doesnt blow out, you can take it apart and turn the fan around so it blows out, but be careful as there is power inside the power supply even when its apart and no power to it.
For noisy or otherwise damaged fans peel back the label a bit and put a mixture of small amount of oil and powdered graphite in the "hole" under the label and tape the label back on after with duct tape (small amount) if needed.
You can skip the powdered graphite part for now but oil dissipates over a short time and fan will need to be oiled again, whereas powdered graphite, mixed with oil, should last for many years. I know this from experience with it!
YOu can get the graphite at auto or hardware stores in a small round tube for about $2.
For oil, try to get at least a mid-weight, not a thin oil.
There are "oiling pens" with are very good for this job.


Good advice + great people = tek-tips

 

[Ampersander]

It could be related to something else as well. Try using different drivers, if you installed them through Windows Update, try them off your original CD, or vice-versa.

If it was working fine and the problem started only immediately after the reformat, it could be related to a software problem from that. Maybe redo the format and installation if different drivers don't solve your problem.

 

[Solesurfer]

I bought a new 430 watt Antec power supply and i still have the same problem.

I tested it by opening Ulead and importing a video file to make a dvd.

Could it have something to do with my video card?

 

[paparazi]

Solesurfer
Shame, CWT make great power supplies, amongst the best in the business, lets put it this way, if Antec have some of theirs made by CWT that tells you loads about the quality of the units.
Infact CWT make PSU's for many of the top brands.

I would be more concerned about your CPU temperatures and the possibility of upgrading your CPU cooler and adding a couple of case fans.

Also check memory, if you have two or more sticks then run with one at a time and see if your lockups disapear (it would be rare for all ram strips to go bad at once)

Martin

We like members to GIVE and not just TAKE.
Participate and help others.

 

[Solesurfer]

I had the idea to try burning in safe mode and it worked.

So i know it's not a heat problem or the power supply.