WinXP Freezes (caused by hardware or software?)

jester89jester89
edited June 2006 in Science & Tech
Okay - new and exciting problem. Actually, it is driving me crazy.
I will give the timeline in bullets.

1. Installed XP
2. Installed all updates via IE
3. Only had XP firewall turned on
4. Insalled Office XP
5. Installed XM software for XMPCR
6. System would boot up and shutdown fine
7. After going to a couple of web sites system freezes. (nothing x-rated)
8. Did a virus scan (Norton) and malware/spyware scan (multiple scanners)
9. Only found one item and removed it.
10. System still freezes


Update - I hear a clicking before it freezes as if the hard drive is shutting down.

Any ideas on what I should do to troubleshoot?

Thanks.

Comments

  • HawkHawk Fla Icrontian
    edited May 2006
    I would first try running the diagnostic program for whichever hard drive you have. The manufacturer will have it on their site.
    You can run it to test the harddrive for problems, errors, damaged areas, etc.
    That way you'll know if the HD is dieing on you.
  • jester89jester89
    edited May 2006
    Ran diagnostic without any errors. Ran both simple and advanced.

    Could this be caused by a partition on the hard drive?

    What should my next step be?

    Thanks.
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited May 2006
    www.memtest86.com

    Download their CD image and burn it to a CD on another PC. Start the computer with the CD in the drive and let it analyse your memory. If you have even one error after 1-3 passes, you need to replace some or all of your memory. If you have more than one stick, test each stick of memory in each memory slot on your PC one at a time.
  • jester89jester89
    edited May 2006
    Wow. I was not aware that memeory could cause these symptoms.

    Thanks. I will try it Thursday when I return home and report back.
  • HawkHawk Fla Icrontian
    edited May 2006
    Thnx Thrax, That was my next suggestion.
    Just didn't have a chance to check back till now.
  • jester89jester89
    edited June 2006
    Well, 45 minutes into the test Memtest was not reporting any errors.

    Then, I heard the click of the hard drive and it went from 85% complete back to 0%. Not sure if this test runs multiple passes but just wanted to let you know.

    Thanks.
  • profdlpprofdlp The Holy City Of Westlake, Ohio
    edited June 2006
    The test does run multiple passes and will run for as long as you let it.

    One thing to check is that there a number of individual test comprising each pass. Are you sure the "85% complete back to 0%" thing wasn't just one testing ending and another one beginning?

    Give us some system specs, too. Include brand and model#, particularly for the PSU. :)
  • jester89jester89
    edited June 2006
    Okay - here is the update. Ran test 8 times without any errors found.

    Here are the system specs.

    MoBo - M7NCG 4000
    AMD 2400+
    1 Gb Corsair RAM
    PSU - Chiefmax 450 Watt
    C: Seagate 120 gig
    D: Maxtor 20 gig
  • profdlpprofdlp The Holy City Of Westlake, Ohio
    edited June 2006
    I couldn't locate any detailed specs on your PSU. What is the Amperage rating on the +12V, +5V, and +3.3V rails?

    If it's not the PSU (or some other defective part), my guess would be that it's a driver issue. Video & Network drivers are the most likely culprits, though not exclusively so.
  • jester89jester89
    edited June 2006
    PSU Specs

    +12 V - 28 Amps
    +5 V - 30 Amps
    +3.3 V - 20 Amps

    Drivers huh? I guess I may have to work backwards and think about the order I installed my software in order to unistall it.
  • EssoEsso Stockholm, Sweden
    edited June 2006
    Mysko things (thats swedish for not knowing whats going on)

    Have you installed the drivers for your chipset.
    And also having the SP3 FW turned on, you only installed the Norton anti virus protection.
    Otherwise two frirewalls are installed and thats not gonna work.

    The installation process should be in this order.
    1. Disconnect the PC from the internet.
    2. Install the XP windows.
    3. Install the drivers, chipset, graphic and NIC drivers.
    4. Deactivate the SP2 FW if installing different FW.
    5. Installation of the new FW and AV.
    6. Upgrade the windows system, i.e AutoPatcher or SP packs.
    7. Install the Ad-awere, spybot and other protection software.
    8. Turn the auto configuartion off in the firewall.
      note. The Norton FW has an bug, you have to do it twice.
    9. Connect to the internet and update the FW and AV protection software.
      Remember to check that the FW auto configuration is turned off.
    10. Download the latest FW and AV protection updates.
    11. Download the latest XP service pack software.
    12. Update to the latest chipset, graphic and NIC drivers.
      Pay attention to the update procedure, previous NVIDIA driver must first be unistalled before installtion of new drivers can take place.
      Remember to disconnet the Internet connection.
    13. Run AD-where and spybot update.
    14. Install the firefox etc and make sure the system is working properly.
    15. Then install the Office XP

    Of course make sure the hardware is okay first.
  • jester89jester89
    edited June 2006
    I am starting to think that it is the PSU. In talking with a friend I may have gone to budget and bought a hunk of junk.
  • jester89jester89
    edited June 2006
    Well, it was the PSU. It was junk. Went out and bought an Antec have been very pleased with it.

    Thanks forum. :rockon:
  • HawkHawk Fla Icrontian
    edited June 2006
    jester89 wrote:
    Well, it was the PSU. It was junk. Went out and bought an Antec have been very pleased with it.
    Thanks forum. :rockon:

    Thnx for letting us know jester.
    Yes, The Antec PSU's are very reliable and have stable rail voltages.
    Glad you got it fixed.
  • profdlpprofdlp The Holy City Of Westlake, Ohio
    edited June 2006
    What Hawk said. :thumbsup:
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