Games Freezing Constantly

[Shaun]

First, here are my system specs.

Dell Dimension
Processor: P3 1GHz
RAM: 384 MB
Video Card: Nvidia GeForce 2 MX/MX 400 (64 MB)
Sound Card: SB Audigy
Hard Drive: Main (w/ Windows) 20 GB, Secondary 40 GB
System is currently up to date according to Windows
Update, as is all my hardware.

My issue comes to being able to play games. Every single
one of my games freezes, for no reason. They were
working just fine before, and now they are all freezing.
I originally had ME and upgraded to XP, but Sasser and
Blaster murdered my computer so I had to reformat and
reinstall everything. It was working fine for about two
months, then all of a sudden the sound car started making
beeps and freezing on videos and then the video games
just started to freeze. For most of the games I won't
even get past the menu before it locks and freezes. I'll
most of the time have a steady beep noise that just keeps
going. I can't alt-ctrl-del any of, it just has to hard
boot. Some of the games I've been running are Half-Life,
SW: Knights of the Old Republic, Day of Defeat, Team
Fortress Classic, and Starcraft.

Does anyone know what could be causing this issue? Is it
the operating system? Or is it something else. I
recently updated my sound card in hopes that the freezing
on the videos would end and the occasional beeps in the
sound would stop, but those haven't.

Thanks Everyone.

 

[Jimmy S.]

Hi Shaun,

Hardware issues can cause freezing, black screens and other
errors. Also, your drivers should always be kept up to date.

Try the following steps one at a time to try and resolve the issue.
I hope this helps. Please post back if you have any questions!

1. Update DirectX and your Chipset, Sound, &Video Drivers:
For all Video / DirectX / Game and Hardware Issues, I have a
Checklist of Solutions at: http://NibblesNbitsVideo.tk

2. Dust your fans, vents and components using a 1/4" paintbrush
and a hose vacuum. Use compressed air for hard to reach places.
Set a housefan to blow cold air into your case to expose an over-
heating issue.. If it works add more fans or replace defective ones.
Use this Motherboard Monitor Utility: http://mbm.livewiredev.com

3. A faulty power supply can cause STOP errors, random reboots,
and black screen lockups. One way to test for that is to check the
wattage sticker on your power supply and then calculate your need
http://www.jscustompcs.com/power_supply/ (Min. 350 for gaming)

4. Test your RAM using: http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp

--
Cheers, Windows XP MVP Shell / User
Jimmy S. http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

Game FAQs: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=FH;[LN];gms
Visit my Zone.com / Gaming Helpsite: http://nibblesnbits.tk or Call / Contact
MS Support at: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=sz;en-us;top
My advice is donated "AS IS" without warranty; nor do I confer any rights.
_________________________________________________________


| First, here are my system specs.
|
| Dell Dimension
| Processor: P3 1GHz
| RAM: 384 MB
| Video Card: Nvidia GeForce 2 MX/MX 400 (64 MB)
| Sound Card: SB Audigy
| Hard Drive: Main (w/ Windows) 20 GB, Secondary 40 GB
| System is currently up to date according to Windows
| Update, as is all my hardware.
|
| My issue comes to being able to play games. Every single
| one of my games freezes, for no reason. They were
| working just fine before, and now they are all freezing.
| I originally had ME and upgraded to XP, but Sasser and
| Blaster murdered my computer so I had to reformat and
| reinstall everything. It was working fine for about two
| months, then all of a sudden the sound car started making
| beeps and freezing on videos and then the video games
| just started to freeze. For most of the games I won't
| even get past the menu before it locks and freezes. I'll
| most of the time have a steady beep noise that just keeps
| going. I can't alt-ctrl-del any of, it just has to hard
| boot. Some of the games I've been running are Half-Life,
| SW: Knights of the Old Republic, Day of Defeat, Team
| Fortress Classic, and Starcraft.
|
| Does anyone know what could be causing this issue? Is it
| the operating system? Or is it something else. I
| recently updated my sound card in hopes that the freezing
| on the videos would end and the occasional beeps in the
| sound would stop, but those haven't.
|
| Thanks Everyone.

 

[Guest]

Now the damn thing is freezing if I even play music.
Makes me think I have a virus, but when I do a check I
don't. It's just taking one function after another away
from me.

SHould I maybe uninstall and reinstall my sound and video
drivers? To be honest, I never had this problem when I
had ME, and it seems like ever since I upgraded to XP
I've had nothing but problems.

 

[Chris H.]

Maybe you should investigate the virus/Trojan/parasite angle a bit. Not all
virus infections are easy to detect any more, and a lot of the little
buggers can have similar results. You might want to check this information:
http://www.aumha.org/secure.htm
--
Chris H.
Microsoft Windows MVP
Tablet Creations - http://nicecreations.us/
Associate Expert
Expert Zone -