Random Lock-ups, Need Help

[Martin Gill]

Hi

I've recently been getting random lock-ups. The computer freezes
completely and I need to reset.

I'm trying to determine what is causing it. But it's being rather elusive.

I thought it might be the graphics card, as the lockup happens a lot
when I start a 3D program. I thought maybe driver problems, so I
reinstalled windows, and the lockup occured during install, i.e. in very
low rez 2d mode. I started to think that wasn't the problem.

I get memtest86+ to test the memory. The first time i ran the test, it
locked up about 4 minutes in. The second time I ran the test it didn't
lock up at all. I'm not thinking it's not the memory.

Are there any tools out there to do an integrity check on my
motherboard/chip?

My system is as follows:

Athlon 64 3000+ (memtest calls it AMD Sempron 2002Mhz)
Asus K8V SE Delux
1024 mb DDR400 Kingston RAM
2x 160Gb Maxtor RAID 0 (2+0 Stripe)
Gainward Nvidia 5700FX Ultra Golden Sample.

Anyone have any ideas how i can find out what the problem is?

Thanks,

Martin

 

[Martin Gill]

Got a new symptom.

Computer reset and when it started again the powerlight was off, but the
hard disk light was locked on.

A hard powerdown and restart did nothing. I had to try a couple of times
before I got it booted again.

Things do not look good

 

[Wes Newell]

I've recently been getting random lock-ups. The computer freezes
completely and I need to reset.

Athlon 64 3000+ (memtest calls it AMD Sempron 2002Mhz)
Asus K8V SE Delux
1024 mb DDR400 Kingston RAM
2x 160Gb Maxtor RAID 0 (2+0 Stripe)
Gainward Nvidia 5700FX Ultra Golden Sample.

My first guess would be either ram or PSU. Did you set the ram down to
166MHz and try it there? If it still locked up after that, I'd say PSU.

 

[Gary]

Got a new symptom.

Computer reset and when it started again the powerlight was off, but the
hard disk light was locked on.

A hard powerdown and restart did nothing. I had to try a couple of times
before I got it booted again.

Things do not look good

I've had very similar probs with a similar config to yours (A64 3400 and
same Mobo) although it sounds from your second post as if your problem is
much more serious. I've been unable to get to the bottom of the problem, my
final thought (before I return the PC to the vendor) being that it's maybe
to do with loading huge soundfonts, which is about the only "odd" thing I do
with my A64; it's been more stable recently. I'm not remotely a techie, and
I don't pretend to have a clue, but just wondered if you used your PC in
this way as well? Also, do you find that Powerpoint animations provoke a
hang? That's what usually does it for me!

I've tried running burn in testing software, running process log monitors,
updating to dx9c, swapping mem modules around in the mobo, checking for firm
connections of cards in the mobo slots, checking for spyware, and other
stuff I can't remember. Sorry I can't really help out beyond offering
solidarity, but if you do get to the bottom of the behaviour please post!

Cheers,

Gary

 

[Martin Gill]

I've had very similar probs with a similar config to yours (A64 3400 and
same Mobo) although it sounds from your second post as if your problem is
much more serious. I've been unable to get to the bottom of the problem, my
final thought (before I return the PC to the vendor) being that it's maybe
to do with loading huge soundfonts, which is about the only "odd" thing I do
with my A64; it's been more stable recently. I'm not remotely a techie, and
I don't pretend to have a clue, but just wondered if you used your PC in
this way as well? Also, do you find that Powerpoint animations provoke a
hang? That's what usually does it for me!

I've tried running burn in testing software, running process log monitors,
updating to dx9c, swapping mem modules around in the mobo, checking for firm
connections of cards in the mobo slots, checking for spyware, and other
stuff I can't remember. Sorry I can't really help out beyond offering
solidarity, but if you do get to the bottom of the behaviour please post!

Cheers,

Gary

Alas, it's nothing like that. I've actually gone so far as to remove the
OS and start again. The problem is I get the lockup during install as well.

It's actually been getting worse all day. I'm now at the point where the
computer only starts every second or third attempt. Usually things just
power up but the powerlight is off, the hard disk lights is locked on.

I've tried swapping memory, and doing memory tests, but it locked
regardless. I've swapped my graphics card (to a GeForce 2 which does not
need the extra power) but it still locks.

I've moved my hard disks from the promise raid to the Via raid, but it
still goes. I've tried just one hard disk, or the other, but it still goes.

Sometimes the system comes up, but I get nothing on the display (which
is why I first thought it was the Graphics card), sometimes it runs for
a bit then either locks or resets.


Someone suggested it might be a PSU problem. Does this sound like one?
I've never had a PSU failure, so i have no idea how to identify one.

 

[Martin Gill]

My first guess would be either ram or PSU. Did you set the ram down to
166MHz and try it there? If it still locked up after that, I'd say PSU.

I tried removing the RAM one at time, i.e. just running with half the
RAM, as I suspected it unlikely both chips were broken.

But I got failures with both. ALso memtest found no problem with the RAM.

Do the symptoms i named in my other post sound like a PSU? I've never
had one go on me. I thought they just stopped working at all.

 

[Mirek Fídler]

1024 mb DDR400 Kingston RAM

If it is 2x512MB, try with just one module (512MB). Then, if it works, try
another.

If one module fails, you have faulty one.

If fails with both, problem is likely elsewhere (I think trying it without
RAID is a good idea too...)

If both work, but not together, raise CMD rate to 2T.

Mirek

 

[Strings.]

Check the voltage as well.

If it is 2x512MB, try with just one module (512MB). Then, if it works, try
another.

If one module fails, you have faulty one.

If fails with both, problem is likely elsewhere (I think trying it without
RAID is a good idea too...)

If both work, but not together, raise CMD rate to 2T.

Mirek

 

[General Schvantzkoph]

Alas, it's nothing like that. I've actually gone so far as to remove the
OS and start again. The problem is I get the lockup during install as well.

It's actually been getting worse all day. I'm now at the point where the
computer only starts every second or third attempt. Usually things just
power up but the powerlight is off, the hard disk lights is locked on.

I've tried swapping memory, and doing memory tests, but it locked
regardless. I've swapped my graphics card (to a GeForce 2 which does not
need the extra power) but it still locks.

I've moved my hard disks from the promise raid to the Via raid, but it
still goes. I've tried just one hard disk, or the other, but it still goes.

Sometimes the system comes up, but I get nothing on the display (which
is why I first thought it was the Graphics card), sometimes it runs for
a bit then either locks or resets.


Someone suggested it might be a PSU problem. Does this sound like one?
I've never had a PSU failure, so i have no idea how to identify one.

It certainly could be a power supply problem. What supply are you using?

 

[Brian]

My first guess would be either ram or PSU. Did you set the ram down to
166MHz and try it there? If it still locked up after that, I'd say PSU.

I've had a similar problem that turned out to be PSU related. The computer
would regularly lockup about 5 minutes in (even during memtest). This was
after i changed to a new PC case and I was using some more power with the
extra fans included in it. I disconnected the power supply from the two fans
and everything is working fine again. I have a similar setup to yours, but
without the RAID drivers.

What wattage is your supply?
Or have you solved this problem already?

Brian.

 

[Strings.]

What PS is it ?
Is it new or a reuse?
You have allot of high wattage parts and a good power supply is a must not
the cheep ones that comes in cheep cases claiming to be 500w a good enermax
350w is better than a cheep 500w.

 

[Wes Newell]

What PS is it ?
Is it new or a reuse?
You have allot of high wattage parts and a good power supply is a must not
the cheep ones that comes in cheep cases claiming to be 500w a good enermax
350w is better than a cheep 500w.

Hmmm.... My cheap, not cheep, $12 500W PSU powers my A 64 system fine, as
does my cheap $15 550W, as does my cheap $24 600W PSU. And I didn't save
allot of money, but I did save a lot of money.

 

[Brian]

Hmmm.... My cheap, not cheep, $12 500W PSU powers my A 64 system fine, as
does my cheap $15 550W, as does my cheap $24 600W PSU. And I didn't save
allot of money, but I did save a lot of money.

This may be a little off topic, discussing my problem, but it looks like my
situation was different. I just bought a microATX case and I thought that it
CANT possible be that that's causing the problems. I have a 350W PS.Here's
the situation:

Whenever I close the lid on the case, windows freezes - simple as that!!!!!

I've repeated the problem over 5 times. Is there anything I can do to stop
this 'cause i'd prefer to use the new case, and not have to run it with the
lid off.

Brian.

 

[Wes Newell]

This may be a little off topic, discussing my problem, but it looks like my
situation was different. I just bought a microATX case and I thought that it
CANT possible be that that's causing the problems. I have a 350W PS.Here's
the situation:

Whenever I close the lid on the case, windows freezes - simple as that!!!!!

If it happens immediately, then there's a short somewhere. If it happens
later as the case warms up, then you may have a cooling problem.

I've repeated the problem over 5 times. Is there anything I can do to
stop this 'cause i'd prefer to use the new case, and not have to run it
with the lid off.

Well, if it's a cooling problem or short, you should be able to fix it.
Find the short or if cooling problem add case fans til it goes away.. And
on the cooling issue, you might want to remove excww metal/plastic from
the case that restricts airflow to the fans. You also may want to duct the
cpu cooler intake to ouside air. If it's the PSU overheating and failing,
then maybe you need a larger PSU too. Personally I wouldn't use a 350W psu
no matter how much it cost. You might want to block the airflow to the PSU
while you have the case off to see if that causes a failure, but that
might be risky, so use caution.

 

[Jon Back]

This may be a little off topic, discussing my problem, but it looks like

my
situation was different. I just bought a microATX case and I thought that
it
CANT possible be that that's causing the problems. I have a 350W PS.Here's
the situation:

Whenever I close the lid on the case, windows freezes - simple as
that!!!!!

I've repeated the problem over 5 times. Is there anything I can do to stop
this 'cause i'd prefer to use the new case, and not have to run it with
the
lid off.

Brian.

Brian, does your case have an "intrusion switch?" If so, you may have it
connected to the pins on the motherboard incorrectly.
So, when you close the lid, the switch changes state (open to close or close
to open) and might be your lockup.
Otherwise, it sounds like a cable (floppy or IDE) that may not be fully
seated and is being moved when the case goes back together.

Good luck. try not to pull out all your hair

Jon