XP Freezes up all the time

[Bob]

I have a AMD Athlon 3200+ computer, with 1024 RAM,
and its running Microsoft Win XP Pro SP2, updated.

Sometimes, while using the computer, and after no apparent action or
reason the computer freezes completely. The monitor stays on displaying
whatever was on at freeze time, and the computer does not respond to
any actions. The keyboard lights don't turn on or off, the mouse doesn't
move, and it doesn't respond to Ctrl+Alt+Del. The only way to get it
back on is by removing power. I have checked the event viewer and found
nothing unusual that happened before the freeze.
I have turned off every program that has an auto upgrade, I have left the
cable modem
turned off and turned on at night and I still get the freezes. All I turn
off at night is the monitor, when I turn it on the next morning the computer
is locked up. I saw the other string on this group about this problem.
We use the same processor is that the problem???

I have no idea what could be causing the freeze, the machine has 3
fans, and all are working! If anybody has any ideas, Ill be grateful.

Thanks in advance,

Bob

 

[Slippery_one]

I have a AMD Athlon 3200+ computer, with 1024 RAM,
and its running Microsoft Win XP Pro SP2, updated.

Sometimes, while using the computer, and after no apparent action or
reason the computer freezes completely. The monitor stays on
displaying
whatever was on at freeze time, and the computer does not respond to
any actions. The keyboard lights don't turn on or off, the mouse
doesn't
move, and it doesn't respond to Ctrl+Alt+Del. The only way to get it
back on is by removing power. I have checked the event viewer and
found
nothing unusual that happened before the freeze.
I have turned off every program that has an auto upgrade, I have
left the cable modem
turned off and turned on at night and I still get the freezes. All I
turn off at night is the monitor, when I turn it on the next morning
the computer is locked up. I saw the other string on this group
about this problem.
We use the same processor is that the problem???

I have no idea what could be causing the freeze, the machine has 3
fans, and all are working! If anybody has any ideas, Ill be
grateful.

Thanks in advance,

Bob

Make sure you have the latest 4 in 1 drivers for your chipset if it's
a VIA chipset and update your vid card drivers. Start there and see if
that changes anything. Some vid card drivers don't install correctly
unless you get remove the old ones first. Read the readme/instructions
from you vid card manufacturer.

 

[Oddball]

In my experience a solid freeze like that usually indicates a hardware
problem, however this can sometimes be caused by the drivers for said
hardware, possibly causing it to overheat or otherwise.

So, I would try and get hold of all the latest drivers for your hardware, if
that doesn't make a difference, it's time to try re-seating componets /
taking some out and swapping them about etc until you find the dodgy one!
Of course, it's not always possible to do this if you haven't got spare
components lying around, or multiple ones in the machine.

Since you have 1024MB RAM, theres a fair chance that you have 2 or 4 sticks
in there, so I'd start here. If you have 2 sticks in it (or 4 if Dual DDR)
trying removing a bank and see how the machine runs, if still no joy, take
the remaining RAM out and put the other in and try again. Every time I've
come accross a freezing machine like that 8/10 it's been the RAM, 1/10 The
motherboard, 1/10 the Graphics card.

 

[Bob]

Thanks OddBall,
It was the RAM, checked it with Memtest 86 3.1 and found a couple of
errors. Took them out cleaned them put them back in and tested for two
hours, no errors and NO MORE PROBLEM that fixed it. Thanks for the help.
Bob

 

[NH]

Did you ever get a solution for this? I have EXACTLY the same problem and
my set up is very similar. I tweeked and fiddled for many hours but no joy.

 

[Guest]

Did you ever get a solution for this? I have EXACTLY the same problem and
my set up is very similar. I tweeked and fiddled for many hours but no joy.






Just wanted to share this info. The problems described here were similat to mine. AMD 3300 on a 2800 board, ATI Raedon 9500, 1 gig ram. Looked at alot of places for solutions. Today is the first time in months I have played a whole game of spider solitare. This was my check to see if my problem was solved. There are new drivers out from ATI and I think this was the fix for me. Hopefully!