Lockups continue

[Tom Richards]

This may be bad form but I'm reaching new levels of desperation. I started a
thread (full string below) in the help_and_support group 5 days ago and was
engaged in a dialogue with Ronnie Vernon but haven't heard back from him for
a few days. Anyway, my machine is still freezing up intermittently and with
no pattern at all and for the first time in my semi-geeky pc life, I'm
baffled. Here's my dilemma. Thanks for reading:

===============================================

For 2 months I've been plagued by intermittent lockups on my xp pro machine.
There are no error messages when this occurs - the pc just freezes. I've had
the machine out for 2 weeks for repair and the tech returned it and
recommended removing my partitions (which I did) and reformatting (also
did). I've tried all software fixes as well as some hardware fixes: reseated
memory sticks, reseated video and sound cards and replaced the hard drive.
Would the next step be replacing the motherboard? Or does anyone have any
other ideas?

Gateway Performance 1500
386 MB RDRAM

--

Tom Richards
(e-mail address removed)

==============================================
Go to Start/Run and type eventvwr.msc and press OK. In the Event Viewer,
click on Applications in the menu and look for any X error messages that
coincide with the time the error occured. Double click the error message to
see the details. At the top/right of the details dialog box, click the small
icon that looks like 2 text pages to copy the error message and paste the
message back here in a reply to this post.

Another thing to look at is Start/Run, type: msinfo32 and press OK.
Expand the Components item and click on the
Problem Devices item. If there is an entry for a hardware device there, it
could be where the problem is coming from.

--
Ronnie Vernon
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup so all may benefit.
===================================================
Here is the error message from the Event Viewer that seems to coincide with
one of the lockups:
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Event Type: Error
Event Source: Application Hang
Event Category: (101)
Event ID: 1002
Date: 2/14/2004
Time: 8:17:31 AM
User: N/A
Computer: SAL
Description:
Hanging application IEXPLORE.EXE, version 6.0.2800.1106, hang module
hungapp, version 0.0.0.0, hang address 0x00000000.

For more information, see Help and Support Center at
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.
Data:
0000: 41 70 70 6c 69 63 61 74 Applicat
0008: 69 6f 6e 20 48 61 6e 67 ion Hang
0010: 20 20 49 45 58 50 4c 4f IEXPLO
0018: 52 45 2e 45 58 45 20 36 RE.EXE 6
0020: 2e 30 2e 32 38 30 30 2e .0.2800.
0028: 31 31 30 36 20 69 6e 20 1106 in
0030: 68 75 6e 67 61 70 70 20 hungapp
0038: 30 2e 30 2e 30 2e 30 20 0.0.0.0
0040: 61 74 20 6f 66 66 73 65 at offse
0048: 74 20 30 30 30 30 30 30 t 000000
0050: 30 30 00
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The only Problem Device listed in System Information is a PS/2 Mouse and it
says "This device is not present, not working properly or does not have all
it's drivers installed." I use a USB mouse - MS Explorer - and it's
functioning properly according to System Information.


--

Tom Richards
(e-mail address removed)
=====================================================
Tom

Check Internet Explorer for any "extras" like third party toolbars that may
have been installed. If any are present, even the Google toolbar, remove it.

Many problems with Internet Explorer are caused by spyware applications that
invade the browser. You should get the free version of AdAware and Spybot to
help remove these applications.

AdAware
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/support/download/

Spybot
http://security.kolla.de/

If the problem is still there after these procedures, go to the following
website and follow the instructions for reinstalling Internet Explorer.

How to Reinstall or Repair Internet Explorer and Outlook Express in Windows
XP:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q318378

Post back with the results.
==================================================
I've used Ad Aware regularly for a year or 2. The freeze-ups have occurred
after (and during) a clean install and wiping of my main drive. The "during"
part was 2 lockups during the clean install - I had to power boot twice to
resume the installation. I have 2 hard drives installed and have even tried
disconnecting the slave and it still freezes. So I'm not sure that 3rd party
apps/spyware/Google Toolbar (which I have installed) could come into play
here - or am I wrong Ronnie? And reinstalling IE and OE is also something
that I've tried, also to no avail.

There is no pattern to the freeze-ups -- no correlation between what apps
are open and when the freezes occur. Sometimes the machine freezes during
booting. Ack....

The machine just locked up, I went to Event Viewer and there was no error
message present.

 

[Al]

The Google toolbar has been reported to cause lockups on IE 6. Worth
looking into.
Check this thread http://www.anetforums.com/posts.aspx?ThreadIndex=7861
Al

 

[Nick Burns]

Swap in new memory. What is the temp of your cpu. I have had more than one
bad cpu cause lock ups, corrupt data, corrupt reg files even when the cpu
temp is ok.

 

[Tom Richards]

The lockups also occured during my reinstallation of windows, before
installing the google toolbar.

 

[Tom Richards]

I've tried swapping in new memory - no change. How can I check the cpu temp
and what is too high?

 

[Nick Burns]

Go into your bios and look through your settings for something
like,"Health", it shows the temp of your cpu and other things. Temp depends
on the chip you have and it's clock speed that it runs on.

 

[djcurtis7]

Tom i also had lockups at random anytime anyplace...spent hours in the
newgroups trying to find an answer
finaly i found the solution...cpu overheating freezing my computer...
solution install a 4 inch fan in the computer right over the cpu
cools it down and now not one problem....everthing running smooth... try it
you won t be disapointed...

 

[Tom Richards]

Thanks...I'm going to run down to microcenter and get a fan.

 

[Tom Richards]

Thanks Nick.

 

[Don]

Reasons for intermittent freeze ups:

1: Power Supply unit on way out or not large enough to handle load.
2: Ram configured incorrectly or incompatible with M/board.
3: Problems with Video card and/or sound card
4: Overheating inside the case, the most common cause of hardware freezes.
The best way to deal with this is to install 1 fan aimed at the CPU and Ram
and 1 extraction fan to take away excess heat from the system.

Don

<snip>

 

[Tom Richards]

I went down to Staples to buy a fan and got into a conversation with one of
their employees about my problem. He asked when was the last time I cleaned
out the insides of my pc case. I told him that I never had. He recommended a
fan, which I purchased and a spray bottle of air propellant. I came home and
inspected the fan over the cpu. It was encrusted with huge clumps of dust
under the fins - it seemed almost totally obstructed. I blew the crud out
and am waiting to see if this was the cause of my problem.

 

[Tom Richards]

Cleaning the cpu and fan didn't work and neither did installing 1 extraction
fan in a pci slot. I'm going to install a second fan aimed at the cpu and
ram. :-(

 

[Tom Richards]

I installed an extraction fan and another fan blowing directly on the cpu
and memory sticks. Still locked up. I'm going to try a new power supply
tomorrow. :-(