Mobo Testing Tools

[Skavenger]

Hello,

I have an ASUS A7N8XDeluxe with an Athlon XP 2800.

I have started to get an lsass error during the POST phase of boot up, E.G>
before Windows Sllash Screen.
lsass.exe-system error
An invalid HANDLE was specified
Click on OK and occasionally the machine reboots successfuly or reboots with
the same error and then reboots OK.

Is there a software tool for testing the MOBO?
Should I upgrade my BIOS?
Have run a Power Max test on my Maxtor Boot Drive all OK, not yet tested any
of the other Hardware?
Is there a tool for testing the CPU?

Any help would be greatfully recieved?

Have been advised to re-install Windows XP Pro although this error is
intermittent so possibly not software

 

[psanand]

One of the popular testing tool for CPU is Prime Torture test using
Prime95
You can download it from www.mersenne.org/freesoft.htm.
Install it and run the the torture test. It basically tries to find
prime number by stressing your CPU and sometimes RAM. Provide proper
cooling and monitor your CPU temperature so that it dosent burnout. I
have heard ppl running it for many hours to test their CPU. Your can
get more details regd this from net.

 

[Rob Hemmings]

Hello,

I have an ASUS A7N8XDeluxe with an Athlon XP 2800.

I have started to get an lsass error during the POST phase of boot up, E.G>
before Windows Sllash Screen.
lsass.exe-system error
An invalid HANDLE was specified
Click on OK and occasionally the machine reboots successfuly or reboots with
the same error and then reboots OK.

Is there a software tool for testing the MOBO?
Should I upgrade my BIOS?
Have run a Power Max test on my Maxtor Boot Drive all OK, not yet tested any
of the other Hardware?
Is there a tool for testing the CPU?

Any help would be greatfully recieved?

Have been advised to re-install Windows XP Pro although this error is
intermittent so possibly not software

I'd be worried about a virus (sasser worm comes to mind) as lsass is
windows Local Security Authentication Server.
The fact that it's failing in the early part of Windows boot (it can't
be the motherboard POST as that doesn't know/care what OS
you have installed) may mean a trojan virus that has deep hooks
into your windows OS. These may help:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS04-011.mspx
http://www.microsoft.com/security/incident/sasser.mspx

HTH

 

[DaveW]

CPU's, according to many computer techs, are simple work/fail devices. They
never "sort of" work.

 

[Skavenger]

I have checked the links you supplied and dowloaded the MS Malware removal
tool, it found nothing!!
I am pretty well protected most of the time anyway:
Norton AV2004Pro
Zonealarm Free
I regularly run Spybot S&D and Adaware SE.

Occasionally I have switched off Zonealarm and used Windows Firewall to test
ICS with a Laptop on a network but have since run Spybot and Adaware and a
full Norton AV scan with up to date Virus Dat.
If it is a worrm then nothing I have tried has located it!!

The fault is intermittent which is most annoying.

 

[Roger Hamlett]

CPU's, according to many computer techs, are simple work/fail devices.
They never "sort of" work.

You don't say what OS?. Handle leaks on lsass.exe, are a very common
fault, with a wide variety of causes (none that I know of, are
'hardware'). Exchange server, in some versions, with some setups, can
cause this. There are half a dozen virii, that cause this (the Sasser
worm, is the commonest vesion, and there is a new variant of this, that
some virus programs are having problems detecting). There were some OS
bugs that caused this pre SP2 on XP. Netlogon logging, if enabled, can
cause this.
The most likely cause, is that you have something loading during boot,
which is is complaining about, possibly something that only tries to carry
out a network access at intervals (and hence the intermittent behaviour).
There is a hotfix for this, that postdates even SP2. There are also a
couple of registry settings that can cause this. A 'repair install' on XP,
is one of the most successful ways of dealing with most likely causes.

Best Wishes

 

[Skavenger]

I am running Win XP Pro with two user accounts, a limited account and an
account with Administrator priviliages.

I get the lsass.exe error intermittently at boot up it happens prior to
anything appearing on the screen.
Click the OK box and the machine reboots normally, occasionally though it
reboots with an lsass error again but reboots the second time OK.

I have scoured the Net and found some good info on carrying out a repair
install and will see what that does.

Ta

 

[ANTant]

One of the popular testing tool for CPU is Prime Torture test using
Prime95
You can download it from www.mersenne.org/freesoft.htm.
Install it and run the the torture test. It basically tries to find
prime number by stressing your CPU and sometimes RAM. Provide proper
cooling and monitor your CPU temperature so that it dosent burnout. I
have heard ppl running it for many hours to test their CPU. Your can
get more details regd this from net.

Is there a LiveCD version? Would be handy without booting up the OS.
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[milleron]

Is there a LiveCD version? Would be handy without booting up the OS.

No, it's a Windows program (although also available for other
operating systems). Memtest86 is run without booting into the main
OS. These two tests are complementary to one another inasmuch as one
can occasionally uncover problems missed by the other.


Ron