Windows XP SP2 hangs (usually on screen saver)

[Guest]

I've just built a new xp sp2 install on an amd duron 900 machine. All the
latest updates have been applied but windows seems to hang periodically. So
far it's almost always been when the screen saver is on (except for once).
When this happens I've never been running any applications. Most times it's
been before I've even logged in, the system is just sitting there and not
active.

There are no errors in the event log either to help me diagnose. Any ideas?

 

[Guest]

How much RAM?
Updated drivers? (may be required for SP2)
HD speed at 7200?
Windows Automatic Update running?
Any Norton products running? Auto-updating on for that?
Scanned for Malware that got in unexpectedly?
XP's firewall on with another one at the same time?

Need info.

 

[paulmd]

I've just built a new xp sp2 install on an amd duron 900 machine. All the
latest updates have been applied but windows seems to hang periodically. So
far it's almost always been when the screen saver is on (except for once).
When this happens I've never been running any applications. Most times it's
been before I've even logged in, the system is just sitting there and not
active.

There are no errors in the event log either to help me diagnose. Any ideas?

Since your motherboard is a few years old, check for signs of failure,
such as bad capicitors. Also clean out any and all dust from the
cooling fans and heat sinks. Make sure all the fans work. It might also
be a bad video card, or bad ram.

 

[Jeremy Chapman]

512mb ram,
SP2 installed and all updates.
Norton antivirus 2006 running with all updates.
XP firewall on, and is the only firewall running.

I'm sure it's software related, because windows 2000 sp4 works without a
flaw. XP with no patches works well as well. I beleive its caused by one of
the updates, possibly after 1a.

How much RAM?
Updated drivers? (may be required for SP2)
HD speed at 7200?
Windows Automatic Update running?
Any Norton products running? Auto-updating on for that?
Scanned for Malware that got in unexpectedly?
XP's firewall on with another one at the same time?

Need info.

ideas?

 

[Jeremy Chapman]

I don't think it's hardware. windows 2000 sp4 works fine. XP without any
updates seems to work fine. I think the behavior manifests after one of the
windows updates.

 

[paulmd]

512mb ram,
SP2 installed and all updates.
Norton antivirus 2006 running with all updates.
XP firewall on, and is the only firewall running.

I'm sure it's software related, because windows 2000 sp4 works without a
flaw. XP with no patches works well as well. I beleive its caused by one of
the updates, possibly after 1a.

1a?????

The updates have names or a Microsoft Knowledge base number. It you
mean Service pack 1a, there is no need to install it before going to
SP2... Except I dont recall there being a 1a..

This leads to the question, how are you getting updates?

If you want to troubleshoot software, you want to start with the most
likely suspects.

I'd start by uninstalling the antivirus, and then work your way through
the updates until it's stable.

if it IS one of the updates, people have been having a lot ot trouble
with one of the very last ones. Messes with a lot of things, including
newer nvidia drivers.