XP freezes

[Guest]

Running XP Home Service Pack 2.
Problem: random freezes, not related to what I am doing. Usually happens
when system idle and monitor turned off. Nothing responds, only choice to
turn off and reboot. Started intermittently maybe 6 weeks ago, not can
happen 10 times a day.
Tried to identify if cause was any particular software, but happens when
only XP running.
Scanned using my anti-virus (F-Secure 2006), Spybot and Spywareblaster.
Checked temperatures with Everest: CPU 66C, hard drives 54/55C. Vacuumed
out case and this reduced temps to 60C and 42/45C respectively. (Aux is
reported as 80C, Motherboard 56C).
Uninstalled and reinstalled anti-virus.
No changes to hardware or software, except that I have automatic updates
turned on for XP and F-Secure updates itself.
No screensaver and all power options set to stay on, hibernation turned off.
Now have tried starting in safe mode and no freezing even if left for 24
hours.
Any suggestions as to the cause would be most welcome as I am at my wits end!

 

[Kent_Diego]

60C is still a little high under idle conditions. What is it under load with
3D game or Super Pi? May need to clean CPU heatsing and re-apply heatsink
compound. You have hardware problem. Run Memtest86 for a few hours. Be sure
CPU and PS fans are spinning. Try some BIOS RAM timing options. Keep
replacing parts until fixed. Start with:

RAM
Power Supply
Mother Board
Hard Drive Cables

 

[Ron Martell]

Running XP Home Service Pack 2.
Problem: random freezes, not related to what I am doing. Usually happens
when system idle and monitor turned off. Nothing responds, only choice to
turn off and reboot. Started intermittently maybe 6 weeks ago, not can
happen 10 times a day.
Tried to identify if cause was any particular software, but happens when
only XP running.
Scanned using my anti-virus (F-Secure 2006), Spybot and Spywareblaster.
Checked temperatures with Everest: CPU 66C, hard drives 54/55C. Vacuumed
out case and this reduced temps to 60C and 42/45C respectively. (Aux is
reported as 80C, Motherboard 56C).
Uninstalled and reinstalled anti-virus.
No changes to hardware or software, except that I have automatic updates
turned on for XP and F-Secure updates itself.
No screensaver and all power options set to stay on, hibernation turned off.
Now have tried starting in safe mode and no freezing even if left for 24
hours.
Any suggestions as to the cause would be most welcome as I am at my wits end!

Your temperatures are still a bit too high for my liking.

Try cleaning inside the case again, only this time *blow* the dust
out. You can get cans of compressed air for this purpose at almost
any computer or electronics supply store.

Also consider installing a supplemental fan inside the computer case
to increase the airflow. Most modern cases have at least one mouting
point for an additional fan.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca
Syberfix Remote Computer Repair

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the fast response.

Sorry, should have said that 60C is when I am running usual programs and
anti-virus. When I unload everything I get 54C. CPU fan speed is 2961 RPM
and the two fans on the power supply are both running.
Not sure how to put on more load - I do not play games!

How do I run Memtest86 or BIOS RAM timing options? I do not know about these.

 

[R. McCarty]

Along with Ron's advice, also check cabling. Sometimes with Flat
IDE cables they tend to lay over "Hot Spots" inside the PC like the
main chipset components called Northbridge and Southbridge. If
your case allows for it add one intake (Preferably pulling outside
air over the drive and a separate exhaust fan. One thing to note is
that Video cards are now very hot ( Memory size and the fact that
GPUs now have transistor counts that rival CPUs). Always check
that the Video fan is turning (if it has one).
Memory can be cooled with a simple heat dissipater made of aluminum
that draws the heat off the memory chips. ~$6.

 

[Guest]

Hi Ron

Thanks for the advice - since my last post the CPU temp has fallen to 52C
when idle. I have AMD Athlon XP 1600+ CPU (not overclocked) and as far as I
can see all their CPUs have a max running temp of at least 80C.

One doubt I have is with the accuracy of Everest's reporting. CPU is 52C
but Aux is 80C - but what is Aux? Can I be sure that the reported CPU temp
is correct?

 

[Guest]

Many thanks - I am going to be busy tomorrow it seems!

No fan on video card. Video adaptor is STB Velocity 4400 AGP (means nothing
to me!) and is, I think, the only original component that has not been
replaced over the years.

There are two fans on the power supply, so there is a good airflow through
the case.

One question: if there is a hardware problem with temperature, why does it
run OK in safe mode? (Everest does not report CPU temperature in safe mode).

 

[R. McCarty]

If that's the case then it's likely a driver or service that runs in normal
mode that is responsible.Your reported temps are high, but not to a
dangerous level.
I use a program called Speed Fan (4.29) to keep an eye on System
environment sensors (Voltage, Temps & Fan speed)
http://www.almico.com/speedfan.php
Normally, my P4 "Northwood" runs idle around 90-F and the Aux
sensor (Chipset) will be a little higher as it uses passive cooling. (Just
a heatsink.) Every CPU & Step has different thermal ratings and the
motherboard is a big factor in how hot your PC will run.

 

[Larry(LJL269)]

if there is a hardware problem with temperature, why does it
run OK in safe mode?

Key point so it cant be hard/software that runs under both-
like cpu, mboard,vcard,....

I'd disable in Device Manager all things 1 at a time that r
only running in Normal mode. Like disable printer 1st, then
if XP freezes enable printer & disable scanner.

I suspect a driver problem.

HTH-Larry



Any advise given is my attempt to show appreciation for all
the excellent help I've received here but I'm no MVP so it
may only apply NUGS (Normally, Usually, Generally, Sometimes

 

[Guest]

Just for the record, I managed to find Memtest86 last night. By this morning
it had run 14 times with 0 errors.

 

[Guest]

Larry

I think we may be making progress! I have 2 USB sockets on my PC and one
does not seem to work anymore.
In device manager I have the following entries under Universal Serial Bus
Controllers:

Generic USB hub
USB Root Hub
USB Root Hub
USB Root Hub
USB Root Hub
Via Rev 5 or later USB Universal Host Controller
Via Rev 5 or later USB Universal Host Controller
Via Rev 5 or later USB Universal Host Controller
VIA USB Enhanced Host Controller

Not sure what all these are (!) but after disabling the first 5 the PC has
run without freezing for about 6 hours. I have now enabled them again so
that I can use my Broadband modem and will now leave them enabled to see if
it starts freezing again.

Once more, advice would be welcomed!

Best wishes

 

[Larry(LJL269)]

On Sat, 26 Aug 2006 09:24:01 -0700, Peter
USBs r tuff to figure out but I know VIA USB Enhanced Host
Controller = USB2 port

I think Generic USB hub is stand alone hub(splitter). U got
1?

Any warnings/errors when u 2x click each of them in Dev
Manager?

2 USB's on PC r OEM?

Depending on ur answers we'll know what to do. I got 18
entries under USB in DM! Still not sure what some of them
are !

I can smell a driver problem tho. HTH-Larry

Larry

I think we may be making progress! I have 2 USB sockets on my PC and one
does not seem to work anymore.
In device manager I have the following entries under Universal Serial Bus
Controllers:

Generic USB hub
USB Root Hub
USB Root Hub
USB Root Hub
USB Root Hub
Via Rev 5 or later USB Universal Host Controller
Via Rev 5 or later USB Universal Host Controller
Via Rev 5 or later USB Universal Host Controller
VIA USB Enhanced Host Controller

Not sure what all these are (!) but after disabling the first 5 the PC has
run without freezing for about 6 hours. I have now enabled them again so
that I can use my Broadband modem and will now leave them enabled to see if
it starts freezing again.

Once more, advice would be welcomed!

Best wishes

Any advise given is my attempt to show appreciation for all
the excellent help I've received here but I'm no MVP so it
may only apply NUGS (Normally, Usually, Generally, Sometimes

 

[Guest]

The two ports were on the PC when I bought it (1998!).

There is a 4 port USB 2.0 Hub plugged into one of them plugged into one (if
I plug it into the other it does not work - although it did until recently).

When I disable the Generic USB Hub (i.e. the first entry) in Device Manager
then the 4 port hub does not work.

There are no warnings or errors; for all these entries it says that the
devices are working properly.

It seems to me that there is either a driver problem, or there is a hardware
problem with one of the ports - but how do I establish which is the problem?
(and how do I fix it?)

 

[Guest]

Today I disabled Generic USB Hub in device manager and the PC has run all day
without freezing.
I tried updating the driver, but it said that there was no better one.
I then tried uninstalling the driver - but XP refreshhed the screen and
seemed to have reinstalled it!
The driver is USBHUB.SYS, so I extracted this from my I386 folder and
compared the extracted file to the one in :\windows\system32\drivers. They
were identical - so I am assuming that the driver is not corrupted.
That leaves me with a PC with 2 USB ports, one of which does not work at all
(nothing is now plugged in there) and the other which works but appears to
cause random freezes when USB Generic Hub is enabled.
Can I assume that the problem is the hardware for the ports?

 

[Larry(LJL269)]

Some thoughts:
1-USB2 Hub plugged into USB1.1(not USB2) port runs at
USB1.1 speed
2- use USB1.1 device that u know works & needs no extra
drivers to test all ports. I use CF memory card.
3- Say 'screw it' & buy new PCI USB2.0 card for $10 on
sale. Gives u 4 USB2 ports as fast as ones that came with
PC. ur time is worth more that $10. Hint: buy 1 that does
not have a choice 4 driver- if it uses either XP driver or
Manufacturer's means u have to determine which is best .
I've done this- piece of cake! U need open PCI slot tho.
4- any hardware repair cost > $100
5- I got lots VIA entries in Dev Mgr- mobo docs say there
r 4 USB ports on mobo but I only have ports 4 2 so extra 2
entries I surmise may be 4 2 nonfunctioning ports.

So I'd recommend 3 above since any analysis that leads to
hardware repair would be muxh more expensive. Ur choice tho.

HTH-Larry

Today I disabled Generic USB Hub in device manager and the PC has run all day
without freezing.
I tried updating the driver, but it said that there was no better one.
I then tried uninstalling the driver - but XP refreshhed the screen and
seemed to have reinstalled it!
The driver is USBHUB.SYS, so I extracted this from my I386 folder and
compared the extracted file to the one in :\windows\system32\drivers. They
were identical - so I am assuming that the driver is not corrupted.
That leaves me with a PC with 2 USB ports, one of which does not work at all
(nothing is now plugged in there) and the other which works but appears to
cause random freezes when USB Generic Hub is enabled.
Can I assume that the problem is the hardware for the ports?

Any advise given is my attempt to show appreciation for all
the excellent help I've received here but I'm no MVP so it
may only apply NUGS (Normally, Usually, Generally, Sometimes

 

[Guest]

Larry I am having a very similar problem to Peter with my PC freezing in all
but safe modes. I have tried isolating the various devices in Device Manager
and it seems to be the 5th USB port Universall Host Controller (all 5 ports
are original to my PC). Disabling this appears to solve the freezing but it
also reduces all the USB ports to 1.1 speeds!

When I examine the drivers they are all usbhub.sys EXCEPT the 5th which is
usbehic.sys. I have tried 'updating' this, but it tells me that there is no
newer driver.

All the entries fro the 5 usb root hubs use the same driver usbd.sys.
Have you any suggestions?

David

 

[Larry(LJL269)]

Larry I am having a very similar problem to Peter with my PC freezing in all
but safe modes. I have tried isolating the various devices in Device Manager
and it seems to be the 5th USB port Universall Host Controller (all 5 ports
are original to my PC). Disabling this appears to solve the freezing but it
also reduces all the USB ports to 1.1 speeds!

When I examine the drivers they are all usbhub.sys EXCEPT the 5th which is
usbehic.sys. I have tried 'updating' this, but it tells me that there is no
newer driver.

All of mine have 4 entries & all have usbhub.sys +
usbehci.sys( not usbehic.sys). Try uninstalling driver at
bad USB & reboot. .

All the entries fro the 5 usb root hubs use the same driver usbd.sys.
Have you any suggestions?

CK that any hubs, etc with their own power supply have it
working. Lots more good stuff at
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/system/bus/USB/default.mspx

HTH-Larry

David

Any advise given is my attempt to show appreciation for all
the excellent help I've received here but I'm no MVP so it
may only apply NUGS (Normally, Usually, Generally, Sometimes