Computer locks up or drops to desktop

[rapscallion]

I'm having similar problems as smhyde (another thread here), but not
wanting to hijack his thread and having tried different things to try
and solve the problem I thought I'd post a separate thread.

My dad's been having some issues with a computer I built for him a
couple of years back.
He says that when he's in the middle of a game (Morrow Wind: ES III at
the moment) the game either locks up or gets minimized and he gets
dropped to the desktop.

I replaced the rear exhaust fan with a new one, but it didn't fix it.
I added a front intake fan. Didn't fix it either.
I upgraded the drivers for his video card. No go.
I changed his power supply from a 350W to an Antec 450W. Still locks
up.
I swapped out the RAM and added another 512 stick. Didn't work.

He took it to a tech who told him his video card was too weak and was
straining under load. So he upgraded his 9200 to a 7600GS, and the
tech did a fresh install of Win XP.
That didn't work either.

So last night I went over and changed the CPU heat sink/fan as a last
resort, and left the computer running without the side panels to get
some ventilation. He called me a couple of hours later and told me
the problem is still there.

My dad is thinking he probably wants to upgrade soon anyway, but at
the moment I really don't have the time to build a new rig. I'd
rather patch up his current one for now.
Do any of you have any ideas of what else it could be? I'm fresh out
of clues.

System:
AMD 2600 (had it mildly overclocked before the reinstall)
EPoX EP-8RDA+Pro Socket A motherboard
Nvidia 7600GS (XFX, I think)
Antec 450W PS
1 gig of Corsair value select RAM
120 gig WD hd
Windows XP sp2

 

[OSbandito]

the tech did a fresh install of Win XP.

I doubt he did a total wipe and clean install. I've found that with both
Macs and Windows, system software should be re-installed every six
months. There's too much corruption that goes on to make easy repairs
possible after two years. I'd backup your stuff, zero-out the harddrive,
then do a fresh install MINUS SP2. ~peace & prosperity

 

[Rod Speed]

I doubt he did a total wipe and clean install. I've found that with both Macs
and Windows, system software should be re-installed every six months.

That isnt necessary with XP.

There's too much corruption that goes on to make easy
repairs possible after two years. I'd backup your stuff,
zero-out the harddrive, then do a fresh install MINUS SP2.

Or that.

 

[JAD]

game patch?

 

[JAD]

bios video settings out of wack? Aperture...fast writes

 

[Paul]

I'm having similar problems as smhyde (another thread here), but not
wanting to hijack his thread and having tried different things to try
and solve the problem I thought I'd post a separate thread.

My dad's been having some issues with a computer I built for him a
couple of years back.
He says that when he's in the middle of a game (Morrow Wind: ES III at
the moment) the game either locks up or gets minimized and he gets
dropped to the desktop.

I replaced the rear exhaust fan with a new one, but it didn't fix it.
I added a front intake fan. Didn't fix it either.
I upgraded the drivers for his video card. No go.
I changed his power supply from a 350W to an Antec 450W. Still locks
up.
I swapped out the RAM and added another 512 stick. Didn't work.

He took it to a tech who told him his video card was too weak and was
straining under load. So he upgraded his 9200 to a 7600GS, and the
tech did a fresh install of Win XP.
That didn't work either.

So last night I went over and changed the CPU heat sink/fan as a last
resort, and left the computer running without the side panels to get
some ventilation. He called me a couple of hours later and told me
the problem is still there.

My dad is thinking he probably wants to upgrade soon anyway, but at
the moment I really don't have the time to build a new rig. I'd
rather patch up his current one for now.
Do any of you have any ideas of what else it could be? I'm fresh out
of clues.

System:
AMD 2600 (had it mildly overclocked before the reinstall)
EPoX EP-8RDA+Pro Socket A motherboard
Nvidia 7600GS (XFX, I think)
Antec 450W PS
1 gig of Corsair value select RAM
120 gig WD hd
Windows XP sp2

"a tech who told him his video card was too weak and was straining
under load"

That is just plain silly. A video card can run at 0% or it can run
at 100%, and it cannot go any faster than that. The cooler on the
card is designed to cool it, when it is running at 100%. It is not
like a car engine. There is no "strain". I can game for 12 hours
straight with my shitty FX5200 and there is not a wimper from the
card.

In terms of diagnostics, the best things in life are free. You
cna use memtest86+ (memtest.org), Prime95 torture test (mersenne.org)
and various versions of 3DMark (available various places, and I
like 3DMark2001SE build 330, because it makes even my poor video
card, look like a hero).

The purpose of tests like that, is to establish whether it is
memory, processor, or video that might be at fault. By video,
it might be video card itself (which you've replaced) or it
could be the video card slot on the motherboard (poorly designed
Northbridge AGP interface for example, like my TUA266).

You claim to have overclocked the processor. Prime95 is the
arbiter of whether you did a good job or not. If Prime fails in
minutes, then you have a processor stability problem. It could
be that the processor needs more voltage (up to a point - if
the voltage is not helping, turn it back down - excess voltage
only makes things run hotter). It could be that the processor
really cannot manage the speed you are using.

EPoX EP-8RDA+Pro
http://www.epox.nl/products/?product_cat_id=1&product_type_id=4

The Epox board is Nforce2. Mforce2 is picky about RAM. My Nforce2
board only worked well, wnen I installed DDR400 CAS2 memory. If I
turn my other memory down a notch, like between 166Mhz and 180MHz
(DDR333 to about DDR360), it would be OK. But the memory would not
run full speed.

Usually Nforce2 BIOS, have a manual memory adjustment. I believe the
Nforce2 has internal clock synthesis, at least it seems like it, and
offers settings like "83%" as a manual setting. You could try turning
down the memory speed, as part of your debugging activities. (I bought
my CAS2 memory, because I wanted to run at full speed. It is not
essential to do that, but I also wanted the CAS2 so I could
experiment with the settings some more.) So with Nforce2, spend
some time with the memory subsystem.

You've also received good advice, like a game patch. It is always
a good idea, to investigate that aspect of the problem. Some games
have a history of being nothing but trouble.

You can also download other game demos, and test with those. ADSL
or cable modem, makes that a reality. If you are on dialup, that
is not much of a test strategy. The download time would be too long
to be practical. BF2 demo is one you can try, and that should run
on the 7600GS. If you error out in a short interval, with a program
like that, then some of your hardware is not stable or adjusted so
it will work best.

The tech you took the machine to, should have recognized the
Nforce2 chipset, and offered advice. "Straining" is not much
in the way of useful feedback. But displaying some knowledge
of the quirks of the chipset, would have been helpful, such
as the "picky RAM" issue.

Paul