Computer shuts down and freezes

[pichu]

Hello

I am having some very bad computer problems and would be eternally grateful if anyone here could help me.

My PC is constantly shutting itself down (complete power down) or freezing (I have to restart it, its completely frozen and nothing works. The temperatures of the CPU ranges between 50-61 Celsius when it freezes, which I don't think is too hot. Alot of the freezes happen when I am watching a video or playing a game, although not just then, it can freeze while doing anything. I have tried to download the latest drivers for my video card, this hasn't worked, but made it worse. And I have tried downloading my latest chipset drivers from MSI, this causes the computer not to get past the XP loading bar. I am very irritated by this problem, and if I could only know what the problem is so I can fix it, it would be great.

I have made an everest report, it is here.

I think it is also worth mentioning that while running this report, my computers fan speed was reduced to 150 rpm, im not sure how normal this is.

--------[ Summary ]-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Computer:
Computer Type ACPI Multiprocessor PC
Operating System Microsoft Windows XP Professional
OS Service Pack [ TRIAL VERSION ]
Internet Explorer 7.0.5730.13 (IE 7.0)
DirectX 4.09.00.0904 (DirectX 9.0c)
Computer Name COMPY
User Name jonesy
Logon Domain [ TRIAL VERSION ]
Date / Time 2008-09-01 / 14:17

Motherboard:
CPU Type DualCore Intel Pentium Extreme Edition 840, 3200 MHz (16 x 200)
Motherboard Name MSI P4N Diamond (MS-7160) (2 PCI, 1 PCI-E x1, 2 PCI-E x16, 4 DDR2 DIMM, Audio, Dual Gigabit LAN, IEEE-1394)
Motherboard Chipset nVIDIA nForce4 SLI Intel Edition
System Memory [ TRIAL VERSION ]
BIOS Type AMI (04/06/06)
Communication Port Communications Port (COM1)
Communication Port Printer Port (LPT1)

Display:
Video Adapter NVIDIA GeForce 6600 GT (256 MB)
3D Accelerator nVIDIA GeForce 6600 GT PCI-E
Monitor Samsung SyncMaster 150s/151s/155s/MagicSyncMaster CX151S [15" LCD] (HJGW301686)

Multimedia:
Audio Adapter Creative SB Live! 24-bit (CA0106) Integrated Audio Processor on MSI motherboard

Storage:
IDE Controller Standard Dual Channel PCI IDE Controller
IDE Controller Standard Dual Channel PCI IDE Controller
IDE Controller Standard Dual Channel PCI IDE Controller
Storage Controller ACDZGMZC IDE Controller
Storage Controller MagicISO SCSI Host Controller
Floppy Drive Floppy disk drive
Disk Drive Maxtor 6V250F0 (250 GB, 7200 RPM, SATA-II)
Optical Drive HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GSA-4167B (DVD+R9:8x, DVD-R9:4x, DVD+RW:16x/8x, DVD-RW:16x/6x, DVD-RAM:5x, DVD-ROM:16x, CD:48x/32x/48x DVD+RW/DVD-RW/DVD-RAM)
Optical Drive OM1356E KSE755C SCSI CdRom Device
Optical Drive SONY DVD-ROM DDU1615 (16x/48x DVD-ROM)
SMART Hard Disks Status OK

Partitions:
C: (NTFS) [ TRIAL VERSION ]
D: (NTFS) 16002 MB (549 MB free)
E: (NTFS) 72190 MB (3189 MB free)
Total Size [ TRIAL VERSION ]

Input:
Keyboard HID Keyboard Device
Keyboard Logitech HID-Compliant Keyboard
Mouse HID-compliant mouse
Mouse Logitech HID-compliant Cordless Mouse

Network:
Primary IP Address [ TRIAL VERSION ]
Primary MAC Address 00-13-D3-13-59-74
Network Adapter Marvell Yukon 88E8053 PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet Controller
Network Adapter NVIDIA nForce Networking Controller - Packet Scheduler Miniport (192. [ TRIAL VERSION ])

Peripherals:
Printer Adobe PDF
Printer Microsoft XPS Document Writer
Printer Send To OneNote 2007
FireWire Controller VIA VT6306 Fire II IEEE1394 Host Controller (PHY: VIA VT6307)
USB1 Controller nVIDIA MCP04 - OHCI USB Controller
USB1 Controller nVIDIA MCP04 - OHCI USB Controller
USB2 Controller nVIDIA MCP04 - EHCI USB 2.0 Controller
USB Device Habu Mouse
USB Device USB Audio Device
USB Device USB Composite Device
USB Device USB Composite Device
USB Device USB Composite Device
USB Device USB Device
USB Device USB Human Interface Device
USB Device USB Human Interface Device
USB Device USB Human Interface Device

DMI:
DMI BIOS Vendor American Megatrends Inc.
DMI BIOS Version 080012
DMI System Manufacturer MSI
DMI System Product MS-7160
DMI System Version 100
DMI System Serial Number [ TRIAL VERSION ]
DMI System UUID [ TRIAL VERSION ]
DMI Motherboard Manufacturer MSI
DMI Motherboard Product MS-7160
DMI Motherboard Version 100
DMI Motherboard Serial Number [ TRIAL VERSION ]
DMI Chassis Manufacturer To Be Filled By O.E.M.
DMI Chassis Version To Be Filled By O.E.M.
DMI Chassis Serial Number [ TRIAL VERSION ]
DMI Chassis Asset Tag [ TRIAL VERSION ]
DMI Chassis Type Desktop Case
DMI Total / Free Memory Sockets 4 / 2

 

[Ian]

Your CPU temp doesn't appear to be high enough to cause crashing - although it is warm. However, as your PC shuts down sometimes instead of just crashing then it would suggest an overheating problem.

Is the inside of your PC clean, with good airflow? Also... what type of PSU have you got?

 

[pichu]

Your CPU temp doesn't appear to be high enough to cause crashing - although it is warm. However, as your PC shuts down sometimes instead of just crashing then it would suggest an overheating problem.

Is the inside of your PC clean, with good airflow? Also... what type of PSU have you got?

I dont think its a PSU problem, I have a Tagan TG580-U22, 580 Watts. This problem isnt new or anything, it has existed for about 3 years, but I am using my PC for more work now and I am losing alot of time and work to this problem.

 

[murdoch]

This problem isnt new or anything, it has existed for about 3 years.

Seems strange you did not try to sort the problem out sooner & may be under warranty?

 

[pichu]

Seems strange you did not try to sort the problem out sooner & may be under warranty?

The pc was never under warranty, since I put it together.

 

[Ian]

Have you formatted the PC in that time, as that would reduce the likelihood that it's a software problem.

 

[pichu]

Yes, it has been formatted many times, the problem persisting each time.

 

[Madxgraphics]

Yes, it has been formatted many times, the problem persisting each time.

Sounds like a hardware fault to me, try stripping it down and giving it a good clean out and reseating everything..New thermal paste on CPU etc and see how you go from there...

 

[pichu]

Sounds like a hardware fault to me, try stripping it down and giving it a good clean out and reseating everything..New thermal paste on CPU etc and see how you go from there...

Ok I will try this. Does anyone recommend any thermal paste which works well? Also, I am using stock CPU cooler and it gathers alot of dust, anyone recommend an alternative which doesent.

Also, assuming this doesent work, is there anything else I can do to fix the problem? Like, actually find out whats going wrong inside the system.

 

[guest_9323wk]

Ok I will try this. Does anyone recommend any thermal paste which works well? Also, I am using stock CPU cooler and it gathers alot of dust, anyone recommend an alternative which doesent.

Also, assuming this doesent work, is there anything else I can do to fix the problem? Like, actually find out whats going wrong inside the system.

This thermal paste will be fine. http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=AC-000-AC

Every CPU fan will get dust in it however this all depends on the fans intake of air, how amy fans are you running in the system?

Thanks

Wiz

 

[pichu]

There is one large intake and one large exhaust, aswell as a much smaller intake directly above the cpu cooler.

 

[Adywebb]

I would agree with Madx that it looks like hardware....most likely RAM, Video card or Mobo....go for the clean and reseating options first, then you will have to look at playing the 'swop-out game' starting with the RAM

 

[pichu]

Is there any way I can find out what is going wrong without swapping out everything, I dont have parts to swap out with.

 

[Madxgraphics]

Is there any way I can find out what is going wrong without swapping out everything, I dont have parts to swap out with.

What is meant by the term Swop out, is not to actually swap with different parts, but to start with the bare essentials..For instance if you have 2 gig of memory using two different memory modules start with only one module..

 

[Abarbarian]

You can test some parts of your system with EVERST HOME. You can find thie easily on-line and it is free.

 

[pichu]

You can test some parts of your system with EVERST HOME. You can find thie easily on-line and it is free.

Ok I downloaded it, any idea how i can do the testing?

 

[Madxgraphics]

Ok I downloaded it, any idea how i can do the testing?

Having not used Everest Home before I wouldn't be able to tell you..But i'm pretty certain there must be some form of help guide that came with it..

 

[pichu]

Ok, I have done everyone now and the problem still exists, I even brought new fans to help air flow. Any idea what I can do now? Could it be a HDD problem at all?

 

[Abarbarian]

I'm using a linux os at the moment so no Everest, but I seem to remember that if you look at the top toolbar you should be able to find the testing tools. If you think it is hdd related Ultmate Boot Disc has tools for testing most manufacturers hdd.
http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/

You can of course use a torrent client to download The Ultimate Boot CD. This is quite legal and helps to keep down the cost of the donor site.

 

[pichu]

Ok, so now my PC shut down like it always does, I rebooted it but the bios had reset. I dident bother to change it back, so my processor is running at 2800 mhz, rather than the usual 3200, and under device manager and task manager only one core is running, rather than 4 cores. But, the freezing and shutting down has completely stopped. However I dont want to use this PC with only 1 core running, with it running at 400mhz less than its intended to be run at. Anyone think this can narrow down the problem? Is it still heat?

I havent tested the HDD yet, but I will do it soon and see what comes up.