Windows Locks Ups During Use

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Guest

I just built another computer for my wife and am having the strangest
problem. Everything works fine on it for 10 to 20 minutes or sometimes
several hours then everything locks up. The window is frozen, the mouse
doesn't work, the key commands don't work, ctrl-alt-dlt doesn't work. It's
locked up tight and I have to manually turn it off. I've reformatted the HD
and reinstalled windows (five times now) and continue to have the same
problem.

I've run all the test available on Norton Systems Works 2006 and it doesn't
find anything wrong.

Any ideas will be appreciated. Thanks, Mike
 
I just built another computer for my wife and am having the strangest
problem. Everything works fine on it for 10 to 20 minutes or sometimes
several hours then everything locks up. The window is frozen, the mouse
doesn't work, the key commands don't work, ctrl-alt-dlt doesn't work. It's
locked up tight and I have to manually turn it off. I've reformatted the HD
and reinstalled windows (five times now) and continue to have the same
problem.

I've run all the test available on Norton Systems Works 2006 and it doesn't
find anything wrong.

Any ideas will be appreciated. Thanks, Mike
Click to expand...


The most common cause seems to be overheating and memory problems.
Check to see that all the internal fans are working correctly and not clogged or obstructed.
Reseat the memory, or try 1 stick at a time.
Leave the case cover off to see if it runs cooler and stops freezing.

Try lowering the "Hardware Accelerator" setting a notch or three.
Right-click the desktop, select Properties. Click the "Settings" tab.
Click the "Advanced" button, click the "Troubleshoot" tab.

DocMemory
http://www.simmtester.com/PAGE/products/doc/docinfo.asp

Microsoft WinDiag
http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp

MemTest
http://hcidesign.com/memtest/
http://www.memtest86.com/
http://www.memtest86.com/memt32.zip
 
Thanks for the suggestions and links. It's a brand new computer and the room
temperature is around 68 F so I don't think it's a heat issue. It has two
case fans, and the only cards I have installed are a 64mb AGP graphics card
with it's own fan and a soundblaster card. I'm using the round cables and
airflow is good inside the comp. It has a 425 w power supply so I don't
think it's a power issue either. I'll check the memory. That may be worth
exploring. Thanks. Mike
 
Thanks for the suggestions and links. It's a brand new computer and the room
temperature is around 68 F so I don't think it's a heat issue. It has two
Click to expand...

It may be 68° F in the room but the CPU could be 150° F or more.
Check the BIOS to see if it shows the CPU temperature. See if you can set it to give an audible
warning if it gets too high. Better yet, download the EVEREST Ultimate Edition Trial version and
set it to show the CPU temperature on the taskbar. See what the temperature is when it locks up.
http://www.lavalys.com/products/download.php?pid=3&lang=en
Get the ZIP package. It doesn't need to be "installed". Unzip it in a new folder, then just
delete the folder when the free trial expires.
 
Thanks Unk, I had Everest Personal V220 loaded.
MB stays around 90
CPU stays around 114
GPU stays around 84
GPU Memory stays around 82
Both HD are around 82
CPU and Chassis fans around 2200 to 2800 RPM
GPU fan around 4850 RPM

I'm not running any intensive programs when it locks up. Most of the time
it's just on the Desktop screen. This morning I booted to the bios and
checked the inital systems temperatures. CPU got up to 113 and leveled off.
I just left it on that screen. About 30 minutes later I came back to check
it and it still said CPU was 113 but the screen was locked up. This seems to
tell me that it's not a Windows problem but a hardware problem. I don't
think it's heat related but not sure.

Any ideas? Thanks. Mike
 
You pretty much eliminated heat and Windows as the cause. See if you can borrow
a known-good stick of RAM.
 
I tried it with two sticks of 256mb PC 2100, that I was pretty sure were good
and got the same result. It booted to windows then locked up. I'll try just
one stick and see what happens. Mac
 
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