COMPTER FREEZES/CRASHES in minutes IF TOO MUCH USE

[John]

USING: ABIT BH6 motherboard with 1.3GHz Intel Tualatin processor using
an adaptor. WD 250GB & WD 200GB harddrives connected to motherboard
with Promise Ultra 100 IDE controller card that came with the WD 200GB
Hardrive. Video Card - Ati AIW 128 PCI 16MB.

BEFORE: Windows 98(not SE) was loaded onto WD 8GB hardrive, attached
directly to the motherboard, no Promise Controller card needed.
Everything worked great. The larger harddrives did have to be attached
thru the Promise controller to be recognized by the older motherboard,
and they were used for storage backup only. Was a perfect setup, worked
flawlessly

NEXT: Wanted to get rid of old WD8GB harddrive, so loaded new
Windows98SE onto larger 200GB harddrive, which has to be attached to
motherboard with Promise ATA controller to be recognized.

NOW -Problem: computer freezes/crashes, blue screens, or green screens
when using any application too long (within the hr), or worse if using
many applications at once -multitasking (within minutes). If have too
many IE windows open will crash immediately. Also if trying to download
something too large (10-50MB, depending) will freeze before completion.
If downloading attachment from Outlook Express will usually crash if
attachment is 3MB or more. Sometimes less. Also crashing is never the
same. Sometimes can squeek more usage out of computer, other times
crashes quickly. Also if trying to transfer/move any large file (100MB,
sometimes only 50MB, sometimes 200MB) from one location to another in
Windows Explorer, will freeze/crash computer. Then when restarting
computer after the crash, Scandisk (i use Norton Disk Doctor) always
says some files or structures are in error and I end up having major
problems, like apps not starting, or email completely deleted, then
have to use Go-Back to recover, then start over. What a pain in the
butt. NOTE: NONE of this EVER happened "before"(see top -"BEFORE").

WORK-AROUND: The only way I'm able to get anything done is to manually
restart the computer before I "feel" it's about to freeze/crash. This
"buys" me more computer use. If I do this every 10-20minutes or so,
depending on usage, I can use the computer all day or forever without
crashes. This is EXTREMELY annoying to have to do -close all apps, save
everything, then restart, open apps, continue working, REPEAT IN
10-20MIN. PLEASE HELP.

 

[htnakirs]

When computing load increases, the CPU gets hotter. The symptoms you
have described are the result of a overheated CPU. The next time you
restart check the CPU Temps in BIOS.
It is also a possiblility that one of hard disks have a loose
connection. Refix all connections - data and power.
Blue screens are also a result of corrupt RAM. Use memtest (google for
download location) to ascertain RAM status. REfix RAM modules.

The reasons all this is happening now is because the PC is growing old
and components are approaching their "end". Also the removal of the
hard disk could have caused loose contacts.

 

[gfretwell]

USING: ABIT BH6 motherboard with 1.3GHz Intel Tualatin processor using
an adaptor. WD 250GB & WD 200GB harddrives connected to motherboard
with Promise Ultra 100 IDE controller card that came with the WD 200GB
Hardrive. Video Card - Ati AIW 128 PCI 16MB.

BEFORE: Windows 98(not SE) was loaded onto WD 8GB hardrive, attached
directly to the motherboard, no Promise Controller card needed.
Everything worked great. The larger harddrives did have to be attached
thru the Promise controller to be recognized by the older motherboard,
and they were used for storage backup only. Was a perfect setup, worked
flawlessly

NEXT: Wanted to get rid of old WD8GB harddrive, so loaded new
Windows98SE onto larger 200GB harddrive, which has to be attached to
motherboard with Promise ATA controller to be recognized.

NOW -Problem: computer freezes/crashes, blue screens, or green screens
when using any application too long (within the hr), or worse if using
many applications at once -multitasking (within minutes). If have too
many IE windows open will crash immediately. Also if trying to download
something too large (10-50MB, depending) will freeze before completion.
If downloading attachment from Outlook Express will usually crash if
attachment is 3MB or more. Sometimes less. Also crashing is never the
same. Sometimes can squeek more usage out of computer, other times
crashes quickly. Also if trying to transfer/move any large file (100MB,
sometimes only 50MB, sometimes 200MB) from one location to another in
Windows Explorer, will freeze/crash computer. Then when restarting
computer after the crash, Scandisk (i use Norton Disk Doctor) always
says some files or structures are in error and I end up having major
problems, like apps not starting, or email completely deleted, then
have to use Go-Back to recover, then start over. What a pain in the
butt. NOTE: NONE of this EVER happened "before"(see top -"BEFORE").

WORK-AROUND: The only way I'm able to get anything done is to manually
restart the computer before I "feel" it's about to freeze/crash. This
"buys" me more computer use. If I do this every 10-20minutes or so,
depending on usage, I can use the computer all day or forever without
crashes. This is EXTREMELY annoying to have to do -close all apps, save
everything, then restart, open apps, continue working, REPEAT IN
10-20MIN. PLEASE HELP.

I assume you have looked al all the fans and they are turning at a
good clip ?? (including the CPU fan)
You can download a free memory test from simmtester.com
Crank that up in burn in mode and let it run for a while.

 

[Neil Maxwell]

Blue screens are also a result of corrupt RAM. Use memtest (google for
download location) to ascertain RAM status. REfix RAM modules.

The OP didn't state their RAM configuration, but the BH6 could be
problematic with all 3 memory banks populated, especially if
overclocked. It's always worth trying it one slot/stick at a time to
see what the problem does.

Don't forget to blow all the dust out of the power supply and CPU fan
if you haven't done so already.

 

[Rod Speed]

When computing load increases, the CPU gets hotter. The symptoms
you have described are the result of a overheated CPU. The next time
you restart check the CPU Temps in BIOS.

It is also a possiblility that one of hard disks have a loose
connection. Refix all connections - data and power.

Blue screens are also a result of corrupt RAM. Use memtest (google
for download location) to ascertain RAM status. REfix RAM modules.

The reasons all this is happening now is because the PC
is growing old and components are approaching their "end".

Wont be that, its certainly fixable.

Also the removal of the hard disk could have caused loose contacts.

Unlikely too. That wont usually produce that too much use effect.

 

[nobody]

USING: ABIT BH6 motherboard with 1.3GHz Intel Tualatin processor using
an adaptor. WD 250GB & WD 200GB harddrives connected to motherboard
with Promise Ultra 100 IDE controller card that came with the WD 200GB
Hardrive. Video Card - Ati AIW 128 PCI 16MB.

BEFORE: Windows 98(not SE) was loaded onto WD 8GB hardrive, attached
directly to the motherboard, no Promise Controller card needed.
Everything worked great. The larger harddrives did have to be attached
thru the Promise controller to be recognized by the older motherboard,
and they were used for storage backup only. Was a perfect setup, worked
flawlessly

NEXT: Wanted to get rid of old WD8GB harddrive, so loaded new
Windows98SE onto larger 200GB harddrive, which has to be attached to
motherboard with Promise ATA controller to be recognized.

NOW -Problem: computer freezes/crashes, blue screens, or green screens
when using any application too long (within the hr), or worse if using
many applications at once -multitasking (within minutes). If have too
many IE windows open will crash immediately. Also if trying to download
something too large (10-50MB, depending) will freeze before completion.
If downloading attachment from Outlook Express will usually crash if
attachment is 3MB or more. Sometimes less. Also crashing is never the
same. Sometimes can squeek more usage out of computer, other times
crashes quickly. Also if trying to transfer/move any large file (100MB,
sometimes only 50MB, sometimes 200MB) from one location to another in
Windows Explorer, will freeze/crash computer. Then when restarting
computer after the crash, Scandisk (i use Norton Disk Doctor) always
says some files or structures are in error and I end up having major
problems, like apps not starting, or email completely deleted, then
have to use Go-Back to recover, then start over. What a pain in the
butt. NOTE: NONE of this EVER happened "before"(see top -"BEFORE").

WORK-AROUND: The only way I'm able to get anything done is to manually
restart the computer before I "feel" it's about to freeze/crash. This
"buys" me more computer use. If I do this every 10-20minutes or so,
depending on usage, I can use the computer all day or forever without
crashes. This is EXTREMELY annoying to have to do -close all apps, save
everything, then restart, open apps, continue working, REPEAT IN
10-20MIN. PLEASE HELP.

Classic overheat picture. Promise eats a lot of CPU cycles, hence
higher CPU load when you switched your system drive to Promise. If
you ran NT/2k/XP, you would see it in Task Manager.
Recipy:
1. Apply fresh thermal compound to heatsink. Clean up the dust,
dirt, etc. Make sure both CPU and PSU fans are doing their job
2. Try to run with the cover off the case. If it's more stable this
way, add a case fan.
3. Find and install some software that keeps CPU cool when idle - the
first that comes to mind is "Waterfall" IIRC, OR:
4. Install 2k||XP - they make a better job at keeping the CPU cool.
5. Crank up the AC - it makes a difference when the system is
marginal.
6. Wait until fall - when the ambient temp goes down, the cooling
gets improved.
7. If all else fails, bring back your 8GB.

NNN

 

[Alexander Grigoriev]

Windows 9x have problems with big RAM. They reserve too much of a kernel
memory space for file cache (as much as RAM size). In the system.ini, add:

[VCACHE]
MaxFileCache=128

 

[Alexander Grigoriev]

Correction:
The value should be in kilobytes, for example:

MaxFileCache=65536

Windows 9x have problems with big RAM. They reserve too much of a kernel
memory space for file cache (as much as RAM size). In the system.ini, add:

[VCACHE]
MaxFileCache=128

USING: ABIT BH6 motherboard with 1.3GHz Intel Tualatin processor using
an adaptor. WD 250GB & WD 200GB harddrives connected to motherboard
with Promise Ultra 100 IDE controller card that came with the WD 200GB
Hardrive. Video Card - Ati AIW 128 PCI 16MB.

BEFORE: Windows 98(not SE) was loaded onto WD 8GB hardrive, attached
directly to the motherboard, no Promise Controller card needed.
Everything worked great. The larger harddrives did have to be attached
thru the Promise controller to be recognized by the older motherboard,
and they were used for storage backup only. Was a perfect setup, worked
flawlessly

NEXT: Wanted to get rid of old WD8GB harddrive, so loaded new
Windows98SE onto larger 200GB harddrive, which has to be attached to
motherboard with Promise ATA controller to be recognized.

NOW -Problem: computer freezes/crashes, blue screens, or green screens
when using any application too long (within the hr), or worse if using
many applications at once -multitasking (within minutes). If have too
many IE windows open will crash immediately. Also if trying to download
something too large (10-50MB, depending) will freeze before completion.
If downloading attachment from Outlook Express will usually crash if
attachment is 3MB or more. Sometimes less. Also crashing is never the
same. Sometimes can squeek more usage out of computer, other times
crashes quickly. Also if trying to transfer/move any large file (100MB,
sometimes only 50MB, sometimes 200MB) from one location to another in
Windows Explorer, will freeze/crash computer. Then when restarting
computer after the crash, Scandisk (i use Norton Disk Doctor) always
says some files or structures are in error and I end up having major
problems, like apps not starting, or email completely deleted, then
have to use Go-Back to recover, then start over. What a pain in the
butt. NOTE: NONE of this EVER happened "before"(see top -"BEFORE").

WORK-AROUND: The only way I'm able to get anything done is to manually
restart the computer before I "feel" it's about to freeze/crash. This
"buys" me more computer use. If I do this every 10-20minutes or so,
depending on usage, I can use the computer all day or forever without
crashes. This is EXTREMELY annoying to have to do -close all apps, save
everything, then restart, open apps, continue working, REPEAT IN
10-20MIN. PLEASE HELP.

 

[Tony Hill]

Windows 9x have problems with big RAM. They reserve too much of a kernel
memory space for file cache (as much as RAM size). In the system.ini, add:

[VCACHE]
MaxFileCache=128

A much easier and more effective solution is to delete Win9x and
install an operating system instead.