Various freezes

[Ingber]

I am running XP SP2 and have frequently have a freeze of the USB mouse (the
keyboard still works), or complete freeze of system requiring a hard reset.
This generally happens when surfing with IE. It is possible that this is
related to an IRQ sharing problem but I have not been able to find the
problem referenced in searches of the web or groups.

I have tried to change the IRQ for the wireless card by pulling and
reinstalling in a different slot - two different slots. the system keeps it
on IRQ 11, which is crowded with audio, video, USB, etc.

IRQ 11 Shared Atheros Wireless Network
Adapter #3
IRQ 11 Shared VIA AC'97 Audio Controller
(WDM)
IRQ 11 Shared VIA Rev 5 or later USB
Universal Host Controller
IRQ 11 Shared VIA Rev 5 or later USB
Universal Host Controller
IRQ 11 Shared Microsoft ACPI-Compliant
System
IRQ 11 Shared NVIDIA Vanta

The problem did not exist for about 9 months and started a couple of months
ago. It may have nothing to do with the IRQs.
Other programs running are AVG anti virus, Kerio firewall. I have taken
them off and have not fixed the problem. Windows firewall is off. I also
run an old version of CookieCop and NetPersec (to monitor network traffic)
and have never had trouble with them that I could identify.

Any suggestions will be welcome. Thanks.

 

[Robert Bollinger]

Are you having any other system instability issues? Random freezes usually
means bad RAM.

IRQ sharing "Issues" have (dare I say) pretty much gone away XP is not like
earlier versions of windows that couldn't share an IRQ to save itself.

But...

Have you tried using Netscape instead of IE just to see if IE is kicking the
system into "Freeze" mode. ?

Also have you tried using a different keyboard/mouse combo?

These are not driver dependent and I can't see why they would cause a system
to freeze...

Also you could update the MB drivers (for ex, via all in one if you have a
supported chipset).

Let me know,

Robert Bollinger, MCP.

 

[Ingber]

Thanks for suggestions:

The instability seems freeze oriented though there are a few other not
obviously related symptoms. I had ZoneAlarm firewall installed. I
uninstalled it to test whether it was involved. I was never able to install
it again. The install fails every time. (I have tried to clean all traces
from the system, including the registry.)

I have not tried Netscape yet.

I have used Via All in One.

Perhaps I should run a ram tester for a few hours or just give the ram a
reseating. I had not thought of that.

One other weird symptom I just remembered has been a boot problem. There is
an ATAPI error as it tries to boot from the CD for reasons unknown. I can
usually restart and it boots normally. The machine is a dual boot setup
with ME as the old system. I usually use the XP Pro, which I installed
because the USB mouse was freezing occasionally in ME. XP worked perfectly
for many months just to confuse me.