Stuttering XP :-(

[graeme_smith77]

Please Help! My XP Sp2 PC has developed a stutter :-(


I've never had a problem with it until this weekend when I did a few
things with it and one of them appears to have messed it up...


I backed up a TomTom Go 500 Navigator (basically just acts like a USB
memory device)


The kids installed a Tonka fire rescue game.


I tried to connect a sony DV Camcorder to the Firewire port (with
little success).


Now when I put a game or video on it run for about 3 seconds then
stutters, then carries on then stutters etc.


Running with 512 MB RAM


Athlon 1.8


XP Home SP2 with all updates


I've checked it with ADAware and Spybot and it looks clean.
AV up to date and clean


I've tried removing all the extra cards (firewire, vid capture etc),
all the USB connections etc.


The Graphics card was changed a couple of weeks ago, I've put the old
one back but no change.


I installed a new additional HDD a few months ago so most of the
firmware is current (and worked fine before the weekend)


Can't see anything obvious on Process or Performance.


I've tried disconnecting from the network, stopping Zone Alarm,
Stopping AV (which appeared to work the first time but then the problem

returned.


I've tried restoring to a restore point but same problem???


I've reseated the cables, cards and memory.


Could someone suggest something else to check out please?


Regards


Graeme

 

[Guest]

I too have this problem on one of my computers. It seems to happen after a
variable amount of time. Sometimes it occurs at startup. Sometimes it
happens after using the computer for a few hours. Sometimes I can use the
computer all night without it happening. When it does happen it's like
Graeme described: everything freezes for a moment ( less than a second ),
continues normally for a short time ( a couple seconds? ) and then keeps
repeating like that.

Rebooting seems to temporarily stave off the problem, but I can't remember
whether the amount of time it takes to recur shortens - which might suggest a
heat problem or power supply issue. I also recall that this problem started
sometime after I installed SP2.

System info:

OS: Windows XP Pro SP2
CPU: Intel PIII 1.2Ghz
Mobo: Abit ST6-RAID ( latest BIOS )
RAM: 512 MB PC133 ( 2 x 256 MB DIMMs. Both are from Crucial, but one stick is
CAS 2, the other is CAS 3 - tried replacing
both)
HD: 150 GB RAID 0 ( 2 x 80 GB WD Caviar 8MB 7200 RPM)
Video: BFG GeForce FX 5900 ( running at 2X AGP )
NIC: Intel Pro 100S


I have searched many forums & knowledgebases and this is the first mention
I've seen of this problem. Any help / links / suggestions would be greatly
appreciated.

 

[graeme_smith77]

I think I've tracked my problem down to Anti Virus Software.

If I reboot without AV the stutter goes away.
Fairly old VirusScan Engine with new Signature files.

I'll try installing the latest version although it nearly kill my PC
last time I tried that!

Graeme