Freezing In XP

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Guest

Hi, in need of some help as I am at my wits end.

I am running an amd duron 700mhz processor with about 256 RAM, Nvidia TNT graphics and a generic (read: cheap) pci sound card.
I installed windows xp onto this machine and reduced ALL the visual effects down to "best performance" then installed norton 2003 and updated it, then installed spybot and ALL the updates for windows xp.
It's been purring like a kitten for 2 days and all of a sudden yesterday it started to HANG and then freeze. I have no spyware, I have performed a full virus check, the power saving options are off, the screensaver is a system saver not downloaded or third party.
Yet still (normally after a period of inactivity of 20 minutes or more) the computer will FREEZE dead, i cant move the mouse, or ctrl+alt+del, or press the windows key to access the start menu. The only way out of it is to restart, and then it starts all over again after any period of inactivity.

I have read a lot of the forum answers to this but this is becoming a pain in the backside. The system specs have been running XP fine for days and all of a sudden this happens. I recently updated my webcam drivers from the creative site, and performed a windows update yesterday, but other than that, I really can't think of what may have triggered this freezing. Please help, I do not want to have to reformat the drive and reinstall EVERYTHING again just to have the same problem occuor.
I have looked in the system error log, but not being of ADVANCED technical knowledge I can't even tell what I'm looking for.
 
I would just like to add to this that shortly after writing this question my computer froze AGAIN when I was just trying to open a new explorer window.
 
I know I'm filling up this entire thread by myself here, but I think I found the correct error in the admin error log.

Event Type: Error
Event Source: ACPI
Event Category: None
Event ID: 5
Date: 03/07/2004
Time: 12:11:58
User: N/A
Computer: HOLLYNOPERSOCOM
Description:
AMLI: ACPI BIOS is attempting to write to an illegal IO port address (0xcf8), which lies in the 0xcf8 - 0xcff protected address range. This could lead to system instability. Please contact your system vendor for technical assistance.

For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.
Data:
0000: 00 00 00 00 04 00 52 00 ......R.
0008: 00 00 00 00 05 00 05 c0 .......À
0010: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ........
0018: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ........
0020: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ........


Does this mean anything to anyone? This specific error is logged for every time the system has frozen.
 
This is the critical line:

"AMLI: ACPI BIOS is attempting to write to an illegal IO port address
(0xcf8), which lies in the 0xcf8 - 0xcff protected address range. This could
lead to system instability. Please contact your system vendor for technical
assistance."

The last part is the most correct. This error indicates that the system BIOS
is not fully ACPI compliant for WindowsXP and requires an update from the
system manufacturer or motherboard maker.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

HollyGalpin17 said:
I know I'm filling up this entire thread by myself here, but I think I
found the correct error in the admin error log.
Event Type: Error
Event Source: ACPI
Event Category: None
Event ID: 5
Date: 03/07/2004
Time: 12:11:58
User: N/A
Computer: HOLLYNOPERSOCOM
Description:
AMLI: ACPI BIOS is attempting to write to an illegal IO port address
(0xcf8), which lies in the 0xcf8 - 0xcff protected address range. This could
lead to system instability. Please contact your system vendor for technical
assistance.
For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.
Data:
0000: 00 00 00 00 04 00 52 00 ......R.
0008: 00 00 00 00 05 00 05 c0 .......À
0010: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ........
0018: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ........
0020: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ........


Does this mean anything to anyone? This specific error is logged for every time the system has frozen.
question my computer froze AGAIN when I was just trying to open a new
explorer window.effects down to "best performance" then installed norton 2003 and updated
it, then installed spybot and ALL the updates for windows xp.yesterday it started to HANG and then freeze. I have no spyware, I have
performed a full virus check, the power saving options are off, the
screensaver is a system saver not downloaded or third party.more) the computer will FREEZE dead, i cant move the mouse, or ctrl+alt+del,
or press the windows key to access the start menu. The only way out of it is
to restart, and then it starts all over again after any period of
inactivity.pain in the backside. The system specs have been running XP fine for days
and all of a sudden this happens. I recently updated my webcam drivers from
the creative site, and performed a windows update yesterday, but other than
that, I really can't think of what may have triggered this freezing. Please
help, I do not want to have to reformat the drive and reinstall EVERYTHING
again just to have the same problem occuor.technical knowledge I can't even tell what I'm looking for.
 
Thanks to a friend on msn and your advice i have found and downloaded the updated drivers for my board (its a seond hand machine that i have customised to my liking, so no cds or anything :P) this appears to have fixed the problem *knocks on wood* if it freezes again I'l post in this thread.
TYVM!
 
Updated drivers etc, computer ran fine for about 2 hours then it crashed again and i recieved this error.


Event Type: Error
Event Source: ACPI
Event Category: None
Event ID: 4
Date: 03/07/2004
Time: 15:02:29
User: N/A
Computer: HOLLYNOPERSOCOM
Description:
AMLI: ACPI BIOS is attempting to read from an illegal IO port address (0xcfc), which lies in the 0xcf8 - 0xcff protected address range. This could lead to system instability. Please contact your system vendor for technical assistance.

For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.
Data:
0000: 00 00 00 00 04 00 52 00 ......R.
0008: 00 00 00 00 04 00 05 c0 .......À
0010: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ........
0018: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ........
0020: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ........

Any more bright ideas? Installing the motherboard drivers has improved the problem but not totally remedied it.
 
Updated drivers etc, computer ran fine for about 2 hours then it crashed again and i recieved this error.


Event Type: Error
Event Source: ACPI
Event Category: None
Event ID: 4
Date: 03/07/2004
Time: 15:02:29
User: N/A
Computer: HOLLYNOPERSOCOM
Description:
AMLI: ACPI BIOS is attempting to read from an illegal IO port address (0xcfc), which lies in the 0xcf8 - 0xcff protected address range. This could lead to system instability. Please contact your system vendor for technical assistance.

For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.
Data:
0000: 00 00 00 00 04 00 52 00 ......R.
0008: 00 00 00 00 04 00 05 c0 .......À
0010: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ........
0018: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ........
0020: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ........

Any more bright ideas? Installing the motherboard drivers has improved the problem but not totally remedied it.

Check for a bios upgrade from the manufacturer of your motherboard.
 
Hi,

It's not an IDE cabling update, this is a BIOS fix. It's not something that
is done from within Windows. This is done by writing a new instruction set
to the CMOS chip that resides on the motherboard. Generally it involves
flashing it from a boot floppy. If this has you lost, I would strongly
suggest that you seek the assistance of someone who has done this before, or
bring it to a shop. A bad flash turns the system into a doorstop (well, no,
not really, but then fixing it involves replacing the CMOS chip), so you
don't want to take chances.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

HollyGalpin17 said:
I downloaded the IDE update from
http://www.ecs.com.tw/ECSWeb/Downlo...tailid=186&DetailName=Driver&DetailDesc=K7VZA
that page.
Which should be correct for my motherboard.

Can you direct me to what I need?
(0xcfc), which lies in the 0xcf8 - 0xcff protected address range. This could
lead to system instability. Please contact your system vendor for technical
assistance.
 
Thats a problem as I dont have a functioning floppy drive.

i do not have the original discs but if you lick *bios* on the page i linked you to i think they have the correct file that i need *it referrs to the ACPI error that I have been getting in the error log.
 
Can you direct me to what I need?

http://www.ecs.com.tw/ECSWeb/Downlo...DetailID=186&DetailName=BIOS&DetailDesc=K7VZA

3.3 mentions " 1.To fix WindowXP Event viewer issue. Windows
XP/Administrative Tools/Event Viewer/System/ACPI error marked."

Download the 3.7 bios upgrade and install it. You'll need winflash to
do this, which is available at the URL listed above.

Winflash instructions:
http://www.ecs.com.tw/extra/flashutl/winflash.htm

If you're uncomfortable flashing a bios as a computer saavy friend to
do it for you. This isn't something you want to mess up. :)

Good luck, Holly.
 
i have a couple of tech support friends who are helping me out as well as your kind self so this is a lot less painful than it could be.

Thankyou for your advice, lets hope this fixes the error forever!
 
yes i have been having problems making it update. i have backed up the previous bios to my hard drive but when i try to load the new one it says "please install the correct bios" I'll take a look.
 
When attempting to flash update the motherboard from windows i recieve the error "please open correct bios".
I have downloaded the correct bios file to replace the one I have now, and backed up the exsisting bios.
Whenever I try to open the file that I need it says "please open correct bios".

Are there any other programs that can be used to flash a bios in windows? I don't have a functioning floppy disc drive so this is the only way the problem is going to get solved.
 
When attempting to flash update the motherboard from windows i recieve the error "please open correct bios".
I have downloaded the correct bios file to replace the one I have now, and backed up the exsisting bios.
Whenever I try to open the file that I need it says "please open correct bios".

Are there any other programs that can be used to flash a bios in windows? I don't have a functioning floppy disc drive so this is the only way the problem is going to get solved.

Make sure you have the correct bios, open your case and it should say
which model. Usually the name and model are on the opposite end of the
board from the CPU.

I've never flashed a bios using a windows tool...my board is flashed
from a floppy. Easy except when my FD died and since I haven't used it
in years I won't be replacing it.
 
Hi,

If the system supports a booting from a USB device, then you might be able
to use a USB floppy.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

HollyGalpin17 said:
When attempting to flash update the motherboard from windows i recieve the
error "please open correct bios".
I have downloaded the correct bios file to replace the one I have now, and backed up the exsisting bios.
Whenever I try to open the file that I need it says "please open correct bios".

Are there any other programs that can be used to flash a bios in windows?
I don't have a functioning floppy disc drive so this is the only way the
problem is going to get solved.
 

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