Calling techies regarding OS lockups

T

Terry R.

I've got a workstation that is randomly locking. If it locks at all, it
will usually lock in succession two or three times within a five to
fifteen minute period when first booted in the morning. Then the rest
of the day it's fine. So heat isn't the issue, as all fans are working
properly and the case vents are all clear. The power supply is pretty
new and is working within its voltage range. I've swapped out the video
card. Memory has been tested repeatedly. It is virus/malware free, I'm
absolutely sure of it.

I first attempted updating all drivers. I thought I made progress but
then it started again. Next I started removing items that would launch
on Startup. Again I thought I had found the culprit (Talkworks with
dual modem voice answering- one driver was loading with the user and the
other with SYSTEM- but if I delayed the loading both would load via
SYSTEM- I thought it made a difference). But later found it was locking
even taking things out. Then again, sometimes it works fine for days in
a row.

I'm ready to create an additional new partition and start all over again
unless I can figure it out. I work with computers, so I've taken all
seemingly obvious steps.

Does anything come to anyones mind that might assist me troubleshooting
this?

--
Terry R.

***Reply Note***
Anti-spam measures are included in my email address.
Delete NOSPAM from the email address after clicking Reply.
 
P

philo

Terry R. said:
I've got a workstation that is randomly locking. If it locks at all, it
will usually lock in succession two or three times within a five to
fifteen minute period when first booted in the morning. Then the rest
of the day it's fine. So heat isn't the issue, as all fans are working
properly and the case vents are all clear. The power supply is pretty
new and is working within its voltage range. I've swapped out the video
card. Memory has been tested repeatedly. It is virus/malware free, I'm
absolutely sure of it.

I first attempted updating all drivers. I thought I made progress but
then it started again. Next I started removing items that would launch
on Startup. Again I thought I had found the culprit (Talkworks with
dual modem voice answering- one driver was loading with the user and the
other with SYSTEM- but if I delayed the loading both would load via
SYSTEM- I thought it made a difference). But later found it was locking
even taking things out. Then again, sometimes it works fine for days in
a row.

I'm ready to create an additional new partition and start all over again
unless I can figure it out. I work with computers, so I've taken all
seemingly obvious steps.

Does anything come to anyones mind that might assist me troubleshooting
this?
Click to expand...



I'd try some different RAM

At least a few times I've run RAM tests for many hours
with no problems found...
but the problems went away after I changed RAM
 
T

Terry R.

The date and time was 10/23/2008 4:57 PM, and on a whim, philo pounded
out on the keyboard:
I'd try some different RAM

At least a few times I've run RAM tests for many hours
with no problems found...
but the problems went away after I changed RAM
Click to expand...

Hi philo,

Thanks for the response. I have additional RAM. I'll swap it out and
report back. I put the RAM into another workstation with no issues so I
thought that would be good enough. But I'll give different RAM a try.

--
Terry R.

***Reply Note***
Anti-spam measures are included in my email address.
Delete NOSPAM from the email address after clicking Reply.
 
X

Xandros

Terry R. said:
I've got a workstation that is randomly locking. If it locks at all, it
will usually lock in succession two or three times within a five to
fifteen minute period when first booted in the morning. Then the rest of
the day it's fine. So heat isn't the issue, as all fans are working
properly and the case vents are all clear. The power supply is pretty new
and is working within its voltage range. I've swapped out the video card.
Memory has been tested repeatedly. It is virus/malware free, I'm
absolutely sure of it.

I first attempted updating all drivers. I thought I made progress but
then it started again. Next I started removing items that would launch on
Startup. Again I thought I had found the culprit (Talkworks with dual
modem voice answering- one driver was loading with the user and the other
with SYSTEM- but if I delayed the loading both would load via SYSTEM- I
thought it made a difference). But later found it was locking even taking
things out. Then again, sometimes it works fine for days in a row.

I'm ready to create an additional new partition and start all over again
unless I can figure it out. I work with computers, so I've taken all
seemingly obvious steps.

Does anything come to anyones mind that might assist me troubleshooting
this?
Click to expand...

Overclocked CPU or overheating CPU can cause lockups. Also examine the mobo
to see if any caps appear to be bulging. If so you may need to replace the
mobo.
 
T

Terry R.

The date and time was 10/23/2008 6:09 PM, and on a whim, Xandros pounded
out on the keyboard:
Overclocked CPU or overheating CPU can cause lockups. Also examine the mobo
to see if any caps appear to be bulging. If so you may need to replace the
mobo.
Click to expand...

Hi Xandros,

No overclocking. I have checked the motherboard and everything appears
normal.

Appreciate the input,

--
Terry R.

***Reply Note***
Anti-spam measures are included in my email address.
Delete NOSPAM from the email address after clicking Reply.
 
P

philo

Terry R. said:
The date and time was 10/23/2008 4:57 PM, and on a whim, philo pounded
out on the keyboard:


Hi philo,

Thanks for the response. I have additional RAM. I'll swap it out and
report back. I put the RAM into another workstation with no issues so I
thought that would be good enough. But I'll give different RAM a try.
Click to expand...


It's worth a try...
btw: You may also want to try a different data cable for your HD...
I've seen at least a few bad ATA cables in my time
 
H

HeyBub

Terry said:
I've got a workstation that is randomly locking. If it locks at all,
it will usually lock in succession two or three times within a five to
fifteen minute period when first booted in the morning. Then the rest
of the day it's fine. So heat isn't the issue, as all fans are
working properly and the case vents are all clear. The power supply
is pretty new and is working within its voltage range. I've swapped
out the video card. Memory has been tested repeatedly. It is
virus/malware free, I'm absolutely sure of it.
Click to expand...

Heat COULD be the issue - or rather the lack of heat.

For example, a cold-solder joint may not be making contact until it expands
ever-so-slightly due to enviornmental warmth. Another possible culprit is a
socket contact.

The former can be detected by judicious use of cold-in-a-can spray available
at Radio Shack. The latter - which I'd try first - is to re-seat everything
possible: cards, electrical connections, RAM.

I recall an old Ann Landers bit of advice to the woman who complained her
husband just lay in the bed listening to the ball game instead of paying
attention to her. Ann said: "Maybe the radio* warms up faster than you do."
 
T

Terry R.

The date and time was 10/23/2008 4:46 PM, and on a whim, Terry R.
pounded out on the keyboard:
I've got a workstation that is randomly locking. If it locks at all, it
will usually lock in succession two or three times within a five to
fifteen minute period when first booted in the morning. Then the rest
of the day it's fine. So heat isn't the issue, as all fans are working
properly and the case vents are all clear. The power supply is pretty
new and is working within its voltage range. I've swapped out the video
card. Memory has been tested repeatedly. It is virus/malware free, I'm
absolutely sure of it.

I first attempted updating all drivers. I thought I made progress but
then it started again. Next I started removing items that would launch
on Startup. Again I thought I had found the culprit (Talkworks with
dual modem voice answering- one driver was loading with the user and the
other with SYSTEM- but if I delayed the loading both would load via
SYSTEM- I thought it made a difference). But later found it was locking
even taking things out. Then again, sometimes it works fine for days in
a row.

I'm ready to create an additional new partition and start all over again
unless I can figure it out. I work with computers, so I've taken all
seemingly obvious steps.

Does anything come to anyones mind that might assist me troubleshooting
this?
Click to expand...

I changed out the RAM and someone suggested. No change. Re-seated
everything.

Randomly I unplugged the lengthy PS/2 keyboard adapter that appeared to
be drooping a bit and plugged the keyboard into a USB port. It's now
been running for four days without a freeze.

In all my years of t-shooting, that one is a first for me.

--
Terry R.

***Reply Note***
Anti-spam measures are included in my email address.
Delete NOSPAM from the email address after clicking Reply.
 

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