computer feezing during gaming

[Guest]

i can surf the web all i want but anytime i try to play a game or do anything
higher end my puter freezes up. i am running xp home and have plenty of ram.
have an amd athlon 1800. thought maybe it was the video card so bought a
new one and that didn't work either. have webroot spy sweeper so there is no
spyware running in the backround. have norton virus scan which by the way
won't complete a full system scan because the puter freezes up. managed to
scan it last month so it hasn't been to long. have all the updates for
windows and norton. the guys at geek squad couldn't even figure it out. any
help would be greatly appreciated.

pete

 

[Jimmy S.]

Hi pete,

Perhaps your installation of Norton's is corrupted and causing these issues..
Uninstall Nortons
Turn on Windows SP2 firewall
Reboot
Test Windows to see if it freezes up on you

--
Cheers, *Windows_XP_MVP_Shell/User*
Jimmy S. http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

Visit my MSN Zone.com and Gaming Help Site: http://mvps.org/nibblesnbits
MS Games Help and Support Center: http://support.microsoft.com/?pr=gms
My advice is donated "AS IS" without warranty; nor do I confer any rights.
_________________________________________________________

pete Wrote:
=================
| i can surf the web all i want but anytime i try to play a game or do anything
| higher end my puter freezes up. i am running xp home and have plenty of ram.
| have an amd athlon 1800. thought maybe it was the video card so bought a
| new one and that didn't work either. have webroot spy sweeper so there is no
| spyware running in the backround. have norton virus scan which by the way
| won't complete a full system scan because the puter freezes up. managed to
| scan it last month so it hasn't been to long. have all the updates for
| windows and norton. the guys at geek squad couldn't even figure it out. any
| help would be greatly appreciated.
|
| pete

 

[Guest]

Try to update your video card at
http://update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/v6/default.aspx?ln=en

Reboot your computer and see if it works.


TJ

 

[ragav.payne]

i can surf the web all i want but anytime i try to play a game or do anything
higher end my puter freezes up. i am running xp home and have plenty of ram.
have an amd athlon 1800. thought maybe it was the video card so bought a
new one and that didn't work either. have webroot spy sweeper so there is no
spyware running in the backround. have norton virus scan which by the way
won't complete a full system scan because the puter freezes up. managed to
scan it last month so it hasn't been to long. have all the updates for
windows and norton. the guys at geek squad couldn't even figure it out. any
help would be greatly appreciated.

pete

If _Nothing_ just nothing at all works, just format your hard drives,
that can be they only solution for this kind of a problem. Jus' make
sure you've tried all possible solutions before trying this, because,
what you basically do is erase your hard disk and install the OS
freshly. After this you may have to reinstall all the softwares again.
You don't have to erase your other drives(i.e other than 'c drive' if
that is your system drive) you may have your music collection and
movies in the other drives, but you may have to reinstall the games. if
possible, back up your save games before doing this.

 

[ChrisC]

Hi, we really need full system specs to give a 'proper' solution. Other than
that make sure all your drivers, patches and updates are up to date...
ChrisC

 

[Thomas Kuck]

This is what Jimmy posts in most of these cases (Jimmy, hope you don't
mind O )


Hardware issues can cause freezing, black screens and other errors.
Also, your drivers should always be kept up to date. Try the following
steps one at a time to try and resolve the issue. I hope this helps.
Please post back if you have any questions!

1. Update DirectX and your Chipset, Sound, &Video Drivers: For all Video
/ DirectX / Game and Hardware Issues, I have a Checklist of Solutions
at: http://NibblesNbitsVideo.tk
2. Dust your fans, vents and components using a 1/4" paintbrush and a
hose vacuum. Use compressed air for hard to reach places. Set a housefan
to blow cold air into your case to expose an over- heating issue.. If it
works add more fans or replace defective ones. Use this Motherboard
Monitor Utility: http://mbm.livewiredev.com
3. A faulty power supply can cause STOP errors, random reboots, and
black screen lockups. One way to test for that is to check the wattage
sticker on your power supply and then calculate your need
http://www.jscustompcs.com/power_supply/ (Min. 350 for gaming)
4. Test your RAM using: http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp

-- Cheers, *Windows_XP_MVP_Shell/User* Jimmy S.
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com Visit my MSN Zone.com and Gaming Help
Site: http://mvps.org/nibblesnbits MS Games Help and Support Center:
http://support.microsoft.com/?pr=gms My advice is donated "AS IS"
without warranty; nor do I confer any rights.
_________________________________________________________

i can surf the web all i want but anytime i try to play a game or do anything
higher end my puter freezes up. i am running xp home and have plenty of ram.
have an amd athlon 1800. thought maybe it was the video card so bought a
new one and that didn't work either. have webroot spy sweeper so there is no
spyware running in the backround. have norton virus scan which by the way
won't complete a full system scan because the puter freezes up. managed to
scan it last month so it hasn't been to long. have all the updates for
windows and norton. the guys at geek squad couldn't even figure it out. any
help would be greatly appreciated.

pete

---
avast! Antivirus: Outbound message clean.
Virus Database (VPS): 0601-2, 01/05/2006
Tested on: 1/6/2006 9:12:30 AM
avast! - copyright (c) 1988-2004 ALWIL Software.
http://www.avast.com

 

[Jimmy S.]

Hi Thomas Kuck,

Happy New Year!

Thomas Kuck Wrote:
=================
| This is what Jimmy posts in most of these cases (Jimmy, hope you don't
| mind O )
|
|
| Hardware issues can cause freezing, black screens and other errors.
| Also, your drivers should always be kept up to date. Try the following
| steps one at a time to try and resolve the issue. I hope this helps.
| Please post back if you have any questions!
|
| 1. Update DirectX and your Chipset, Sound, &Video Drivers: For all Video
| / DirectX / Game and Hardware Issues, I have a Checklist of Solutions
| at: http://NibblesNbitsVideo.tk
| 2. Dust your fans, vents and components using a 1/4" paintbrush and a
| hose vacuum. Use compressed air for hard to reach places. Set a housefan
| to blow cold air into your case to expose an over- heating issue.. If it
| works add more fans or replace defective ones. Use this Motherboard
| Monitor Utility: http://mbm.livewiredev.com
| 3. A faulty power supply can cause STOP errors, random reboots, and
| black screen lockups. One way to test for that is to check the wattage
| sticker on your power supply and then calculate your need
| http://www.jscustompcs.com/power_supply/ (Min. 350 for gaming)
| 4. Test your RAM using: http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp
|
| -- Cheers, *Windows_XP_MVP_Shell/User* Jimmy S.
| http://mvp.support.microsoft.com Visit my MSN Zone.com and Gaming Help
| Site: http://mvps.org/nibblesnbits MS Games Help and Support Center:
| http://support.microsoft.com/?pr=gms My advice is donated "AS IS"
| without warranty; nor do I confer any rights.
| _________________________________________________________
|
| pete wrote:
|
|| i can surf the web all i want but anytime i try to play a game or do anything
|| higher end my puter freezes up. i am running xp home and have plenty of ram.
|| have an amd athlon 1800. thought maybe it was the video card so bought a
|| new one and that didn't work either. have webroot spy sweeper so there is no
|| spyware running in the backround. have norton virus scan which by the way
|| won't complete a full system scan because the puter freezes up. managed to
|| scan it last month so it hasn't been to long. have all the updates for
|| windows and norton. the guys at geek squad couldn't even figure it out. any
|| help would be greatly appreciated.
||
|| pete
||
||
|
|
|
| ---
| avast! Antivirus: Outbound message clean.
| Virus Database (VPS): 0601-2, 01/05/2006
| Tested on: 1/6/2006 9:12:30 AM
| avast! - copyright (c) 1988-2004 ALWIL Software.
| http://www.avast.com

 

[Thomas Kuck]

Hi Jimmy,

A happy New Year to you and all the other MVPs that keep this site going
and informative. Keep it up. (Hope you don't mind if I put in my 5 cents
worth every now and then)

Hi Thomas Kuck,

Happy New Year!

Thomas Kuck Wrote:
=================
| This is what Jimmy posts in most of these cases (Jimmy, hope you don't
| mind O )
|
|
| Hardware issues can cause freezing, black screens and other errors.
| Also, your drivers should always be kept up to date. Try the following
| steps one at a time to try and resolve the issue. I hope this helps.
| Please post back if you have any questions!
|
| 1. Update DirectX and your Chipset, Sound, &Video Drivers: For all Video
| / DirectX / Game and Hardware Issues, I have a Checklist of Solutions
| at: http://NibblesNbitsVideo.tk
| 2. Dust your fans, vents and components using a 1/4" paintbrush and a
| hose vacuum. Use compressed air for hard to reach places. Set a housefan
| to blow cold air into your case to expose an over- heating issue.. If it
| works add more fans or replace defective ones. Use this Motherboard
| Monitor Utility: http://mbm.livewiredev.com
| 3. A faulty power supply can cause STOP errors, random reboots, and
| black screen lockups. One way to test for that is to check the wattage
| sticker on your power supply and then calculate your need
| http://www.jscustompcs.com/power_supply/ (Min. 350 for gaming)
| 4. Test your RAM using: http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp
|
| -- Cheers, *Windows_XP_MVP_Shell/User* Jimmy S.
| http://mvp.support.microsoft.com Visit my MSN Zone.com and Gaming Help
| Site: http://mvps.org/nibblesnbits MS Games Help and Support Center:
| http://support.microsoft.com/?pr=gms My advice is donated "AS IS"
| without warranty; nor do I confer any rights.
| _________________________________________________________
|
| pete wrote:
|
|| i can surf the web all i want but anytime i try to play a game or do anything
|| higher end my puter freezes up. i am running xp home and have plenty of ram.
|| have an amd athlon 1800. thought maybe it was the video card so bought a
|| new one and that didn't work either. have webroot spy sweeper so there is no
|| spyware running in the backround. have norton virus scan which by the way
|| won't complete a full system scan because the puter freezes up. managed to
|| scan it last month so it hasn't been to long. have all the updates for
|| windows and norton. the guys at geek squad couldn't even figure it out. any
|| help would be greatly appreciated.
||
|| pete
||
||
|
|
|
| ---
| avast! Antivirus: Outbound message clean.
| Virus Database (VPS): 0601-2, 01/05/2006
| Tested on: 1/6/2006 9:12:30 AM
| avast! - copyright (c) 1988-2004 ALWIL Software.
| http://www.avast.com

---
avast! Antivirus: Outbound message clean.
Virus Database (VPS): 0601-3, 01/06/2006
Tested on: 1/7/2006 8:54:45 AM
avast! - copyright (c) 1988-2004 ALWIL Software.
http://www.avast.com

 

[Jimmy S.]

Hi Thomas Kuck,

You're more than welcome to!

Thomas Kuck Wrote:
=================
| Hi Jimmy,
|
| A happy New Year to you and all the other MVPs that keep this site going
| and informative. Keep it up. (Hope you don't mind if I put in my 5 cents
| worth every now and then)
|
| Jimmy S. wrote:
|
|| Hi Thomas Kuck,
||
|| Happy New Year!
||
|| Thomas Kuck Wrote:
|| =================
||| This is what Jimmy posts in most of these cases (Jimmy, hope you don't
||| mind O )
|||
|||
||| Hardware issues can cause freezing, black screens and other errors.
||| Also, your drivers should always be kept up to date. Try the following
||| steps one at a time to try and resolve the issue. I hope this helps.
||| Please post back if you have any questions!
|||
||| 1. Update DirectX and your Chipset, Sound, &Video Drivers: For all Video
||| / DirectX / Game and Hardware Issues, I have a Checklist of Solutions
||| at: http://NibblesNbitsVideo.tk
||| 2. Dust your fans, vents and components using a 1/4" paintbrush and a
||| hose vacuum. Use compressed air for hard to reach places. Set a housefan
||| to blow cold air into your case to expose an over- heating issue.. If it
||| works add more fans or replace defective ones. Use this Motherboard
||| Monitor Utility: http://mbm.livewiredev.com
||| 3. A faulty power supply can cause STOP errors, random reboots, and
||| black screen lockups. One way to test for that is to check the wattage
||| sticker on your power supply and then calculate your need
||| http://www.jscustompcs.com/power_supply/ (Min. 350 for gaming)
||| 4. Test your RAM using: http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp
|||
||| -- Cheers, *Windows_XP_MVP_Shell/User* Jimmy S.
||| http://mvp.support.microsoft.com Visit my MSN Zone.com and Gaming Help
||| Site: http://mvps.org/nibblesnbits MS Games Help and Support Center:
||| http://support.microsoft.com/?pr=gms My advice is donated "AS IS"
||| without warranty; nor do I confer any rights.
||| _________________________________________________________
|||
||| pete wrote:
|||
|||| i can surf the web all i want but anytime i try to play a game or do anything
|||| higher end my puter freezes up. i am running xp home and have plenty of ram.
|||| have an amd athlon 1800. thought maybe it was the video card so bought a
|||| new one and that didn't work either. have webroot spy sweeper so there is no
|||| spyware running in the backround. have norton virus scan which by the way
|||| won't complete a full system scan because the puter freezes up. managed to
|||| scan it last month so it hasn't been to long. have all the updates for
|||| windows and norton. the guys at geek squad couldn't even figure it out. any
|||| help would be greatly appreciated.
||||
|||| pete
||||
||||
|||
|||
|||
||| ---
||| avast! Antivirus: Outbound message clean.
||| Virus Database (VPS): 0601-2, 01/05/2006
||| Tested on: 1/6/2006 9:12:30 AM
||| avast! - copyright (c) 1988-2004 ALWIL Software.
||| http://www.avast.com
||
||
||
||
|
|
| ---
| avast! Antivirus: Outbound message clean.
| Virus Database (VPS): 0601-3, 01/06/2006
| Tested on: 1/7/2006 8:54:45 AM
| avast! - copyright (c) 1988-2004 ALWIL Software.
| http://www.avast.com

 

[Guest]

well guys i figured out my puter freezing up problem. went to my sisters to
reformat, she has high speed and i have dial up. had a heck of a time trying
to do that as it kept freezing up during that. finally we got an error
message and she looked it up on the net and it had to do with overheating.
so we stuck the puter outside it was like 34 degrees out and never had
another problem. when i got home i pulled off the processer fan and there
was a ton of dust built up under it. i couldn't even see the cooling fins
below the fan. bought 2 new fans, one for the front of the box and one for
the rear, put the sides back on and haven't had a problem since. thanks for
the tips though guys, probably not what you were expecting.

pete

 

[Jimmy S.]

Hi pete,

Glad we were able to help you fix that problem.
#2 on the list: Dust / Overheating.


--
Cheers, *Windows_XP_MVP_Shell/User*
Jimmy S. http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

Visit my MSN Zone.com and Gaming Help Site: http://mvps.org/nibblesnbits
MS Games Help and Support Center: http://support.microsoft.com/?pr=gms
My advice is donated "AS IS" without warranty; nor do I confer any rights.
_________________________________________________________

pete Wrote:
=================
| well guys i figured out my puter freezing up problem. went to my sisters to
| reformat, she has high speed and i have dial up. had a heck of a time trying
| to do that as it kept freezing up during that. finally we got an error
| message and she looked it up on the net and it had to do with overheating.
| so we stuck the puter outside it was like 34 degrees out and never had
| another problem. when i got home i pulled off the processer fan and there
| was a ton of dust built up under it. i couldn't even see the cooling fins
| below the fan. bought 2 new fans, one for the front of the box and one for
| the rear, put the sides back on and haven't had a problem since. thanks for
| the tips though guys, probably not what you were expecting.
|
| pete
|
| "pete" wrote:
|
|| i can surf the web all i want but anytime i try to play a game or do anything
|| higher end my puter freezes up. i am running xp home and have plenty of ram.
|| have an amd athlon 1800. thought maybe it was the video card so bought a
|| new one and that didn't work either. have webroot spy sweeper so there is no
|| spyware running in the backround. have norton virus scan which by the way
|| won't complete a full system scan because the puter freezes up. managed to
|| scan it last month so it hasn't been to long. have all the updates for
|| windows and norton. the guys at geek squad couldn't even figure it out. any
|| help would be greatly appreciated.
||
|| pete