PC Hanging

[pgx]

I have been trying to find the cause of a system freeze for some time
now. (I built the computer, but it is 500 miles away, making
troubleshooting dificult).

It freezes randomly. Sometimes within minutes of turn-on, sometimes
it will run for weeks. It seems to freeze at times of stress (heavy
PhotoShop, AV scan), but sometimes when just web-surfing. It has
happened when running memtest86 from a bootable CD (not anOS or
software problem?)

I have replaced power supply, memory, CPU, keyboard, mouse, with no
apparent difference. Monitor readings of system temperatures and
voltages appear normal. (cannot provide values, since it is 500 miles
away)

There are no unusual event log entries in the Win2K logs

I have NOT replaced the video card. How likely a source of freezing?

I am about ready to replace the MoBo.

Any suggestions?

Phil

 

[JAD]

circa 2001 mainboard?
Video is a good suspect since it does freeze while in dos.

 

[pgx]

|circa 2001 mainboard?

ABit AN7 Feb '04

Phil

 

[JAD]

I have been trying to find the cause of a system freeze for some time
now. (I built the computer, but it is 500 miles away, making
troubleshooting dificult).

It freezes randomly. Sometimes within minutes of turn-on, sometimes
it will run for weeks. It seems to freeze at times of stress (heavy
PhotoShop, AV scan), but sometimes when just web-surfing. It has
happened when running memtest86 from a bootable CD (not anOS or
software problem?)

I have replaced power supply, memory, CPU, keyboard, mouse, with no
apparent difference. Monitor readings of system temperatures and
voltages appear normal. (cannot provide values, since it is 500 miles
away)

There are no unusual event log entries in the Win2K logs

I have NOT replaced the video card. How likely a source of freezing?

I am about ready to replace the MoBo.

Any suggestions?

Phil

The An7 is / was a stable - reliable board for the most part.

Your not over clocking? and memory settings have been adjusted?

Your AGP aperture is set correctly?

Have reset the cmos? to defaults?

The Hard drive could have problems. Run HD diagnostics.

Break the system down to the bare minimums needed to boot.

 

[Fuckknuckle]

The An7 is / was a stable - reliable board for the most part.

Your not over clocking? and memory settings have been adjusted?

Your AGP aperture is set correctly?

Have reset the cmos? to defaults?

The Hard drive could have problems. Run HD diagnostics.

Break the system down to the bare minimums needed to boot.

sounds like windows to me. if in doubt, blame microsoft first

 

[pgx]

|Your not over clocking? and memory settings have been adjusted?

No overclocking, default memory settings

|Your AGP aperture is set correctly?

have not changed from default

|Have reset the cmos? to defaults?

Yes
|
|The Hard drive could have problems. Run HD diagnostics.

Run many times

Phil

 

[pgx]

|sounds like windows to me. if in doubt, blame microsoft first

Except if has frozen while running memtest86 from a bootable CD

(yes, I prefer to blame microsoft too!)

Phil

 

[Fuckknuckle]

|sounds like windows to me. if in doubt, blame microsoft first

Except if has frozen while running memtest86 from a bootable CD

(yes, I prefer to blame microsoft too!)

Phil

oh yes baby - my bad. tried a pci video card? might be the mobo, yes no?

 

[DaveW]

From your description it appears that you have a case of some component in
the machine overheating. You know that it isn't the power supply (ASSUMING
you are using a quality unit with adequate power output for all the devices
that are contained within the computer) since you replaced it, and the RAM.
Thus it would seem that either the video card or the motherboard has an
overheating component. I would try replacing the video card first, since it
is an easier procedure.

 

[Stillwater]

Any suggestions?

Phil

I've had the same thing happen with a faulty, new video card.

Dave

 

[Andrew K]

have been trying to
find the cause of a system freeze for some time

now. (I built the computer, but it is 500 miles away, making
troubleshooting dificult).

It freezes randomly. Sometimes within minutes of turn-on, sometimes
it will run for weeks. It seems to freeze at times of stress (heavy
PhotoShop, AV scan), but sometimes when just web-surfing. It has
happened when running memtest86 from a bootable CD (not anOS or
software problem?)

I had a similar problem recently after replacing a mobo and flashing it to
the newest Award BIOS. It would freeze or re-start ramdomly, even when
trying to format a new drive with the WinXP CD. I had tried all new parts
one by one without help. I purchased yet another mobo. As it was in
shippment I tried clearing CMOS and then loaded "Optimized defaults".
Presto! everything worked!

 

[dawg]

Turn off SBA and Fast Writes in your BIOS.Set AGP aperture to 64 or 128.
Check that all drivers are up to date. Including sound drivers, chipset
drivers. Try tuning voltags in the BIOS includung VDIMM both up and down.