Win XP Pro, freezes

[end0rphin]

Hi,

I was wondering if any one would be kind enough to assist me.

I am running Win XP pro, with all the updates. Recently (about 3 weeks
or so) my computer just decides to freeze. This happens all the time,
with varying frequencies. At times it will freeze right after booting
up, while booting up, in safe mode or just randomly (could be after
seconds, minutes or hours after boot up). It seems to behave a lot
better in safe mode. The only option is to physically reset the
computer (the mouse & keyboard are unresponsive)

I have run the System File Checker Utility and the chkdsk utility.

At times during boot up I get
"CMOS error (precedded by - rarely failed to update NVRAM)
F1 to enter set up
f2 to continue"
or something to that effect...

F1 does not always (most of the time rather) bring up the bios screen,
if it does, i can boot up just fine ( before it freezes again), if not
i have to physically reboot it (usually numeorous times before it
works)

I have change my bios settings to load fail safe values (as opposed to
optimized) - seems to freeze less frequently, but still extremely
annoying.

I have a 1.2 Ghz AMD processor, American Megatrends Bios
40 GB hdd, 256 MB ddr (generic) ram, couple of fans (128 mb geforce 3
video card)

Going through various NGs, I reckon my problem lies either with my RAM
or that my cpu is over heating

I have my case open (from the side) currently (since the last week or
so)
tried moving the RAM chip to another empty slot (same results)

(formating my hdd & reinstalling the OS are open and viable options)

Any updates or advice will be appreciated.

Thanks

(

 

[Noodles]

end0rphin wrote in microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support:

Hi,

I was wondering if any one would be kind enough to assist me.

I am running Win XP pro, with all the updates. Recently (about 3 weeks
or so) my computer just decides to freeze. This happens all the time,
with varying frequencies. At times it will freeze right after booting
up, while booting up, in safe mode or just randomly (could be after
seconds, minutes or hours after boot up). It seems to behave a lot
better in safe mode. The only option is to physically reset the
computer (the mouse & keyboard are unresponsive)

Any updates or advice will be appreciated.

Thanks

(

Make sure you have ALL of the updated drivers for your video and sound cards. Win XP is
really fussy about older drivers. Wron or out of date sound and videodrivers are 75% of all
reasons for freeze ups. Give it a shot........

 

[Billy]

Wouldn't hurt to open the case and reseat the video card, double check
the battery, and ensure other components are snug in their
connections/slots.

 

[Dan E]

I had similar random error/freezing problems. A local tech told me it was
probably I was drawing too much from the power supply, at which I laughed...
However, he convinced me to try a more powerful (and stable) supply (450Watt
Precision Power) and sure enough, the problem went away. I had three
drives, two graphics cards, a 2GHz Celeron and 1GB memory on 2 modules, and
a 300Watt was just too small to cope... Ask if they'll let you return the
power supply if it doesn't fix it (CompUSA agreed to that for me). Worth a
shot.

Dan Ellis
webbie(removethis)@preferredcountry.com

 

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP Windows Shell/User\)]

In addition to advice already posted:
First, be sure your antivirus software has the latest definitions and run a
virus scan.

Second, download, install and run Ad Aware:
www.lavasoftusa.com
Note: you should always be well backed up before running an application of
this type.

If your system is clear of viruses, open Control Panel, open System, go to
the Advanced tab, click Settings under Startup and Recovery, remove the
check from "Automatically Restart" under System Failure. This will cause
the system to blue screen instead of restarting on errors and the
information on the blue screen may give a clue as to the source of the
issue.

Open Control Panel, open Administrative Tools, open Event Viewer, look for
errors corresponding to the crash, double click the error, the information
contained within may give a clue as to the
source of the problem.

Assuming you have an XP CD and not a recovery CD, place the XP CD in the
drive, when the setup screen appears, select "Check System Compatibility,"
the report it generates may point to problem hardware or software on your
system. If you do not have an XP CD, you can download this application
known as the Upgrade Advisor from the following site:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/howtobuy/upgrading/advisor.asp
Note: If you have access to a broadband connection it might be best to
download using that as this is a rather large download.

 

[end0rphin]

hi,

Thanks for your responses!

I seem to have run into more trouble.. Windows wouldn't freeze any
more how ever it would sit at the "windows is starting up" screen, I
can move my cursor and the key board is responsive, however it just
sits there and does not load up
the memory(?) indiicator ie. the redlight at the bottom of the CPU
also doesn't respond usually when that has been happening the computer
also freezes this time sits almost starting up but doesn't start yet..

(a windows re-install / formatting are viable options..

WIll try a better power cable.. thanks my only question, this
computer is about 18+ months old and hasn't given me any problems
untill now..

and will also try the video card re-fitting..

I do have NAV 2004 (updated last on the 3/3/04), have updated
definitions of ad-aware and spy-bot..

ps. I currently am running Knoppix from the CD and so far seems to
function ok.. so i suspect could be a windows issue more than a hard
ware issue.

Thanks once again..will post an update of how thigns go...