PC Freezing - any advice please? (LONGISH)

Whitefiver

Hi,

A few weeks ago I managed to stop my PC from freezing up totally (no BSOD, just a total freeze) by replacing the graphics card on my PC (Athlon 1900+, 512Mb, XP Home SP2, NAV, Sygate/Spybot/Adaware, etc).

However, a couple of days ago, it did it again. A reset got me a few more minutes, and then the same thing again - eventually, the PC wouldn't even POST, let alone boot.

I have uprated the PSU to 500W, replaced the CPU heatsink/fan with an uprated one thinking that the graphics card couldn't have gone again, but no joy. In desperation, I have bought a cheapie graphics card (9200SE) and put that in. That worked for 2 hrs, before EXACTLY the same thing happened again. Speedfan was registering 54degC for the CPU when it happened this time, but these AMDs run hot, and I had been converting some digital photos which had got it up to 60deg earlier. (I know that is hot, but well inside the tolerance - officially). I also have a good case fan, there is no great build up of dust, and all the fans are running (and not blowing too warm)

I didn't have much hair before, but I am on the verge of tearing what remains out!

Please can anyone suggest anything else I can look at (apart from a new PC!)?

Many thanks in advance,

Regards,

White.

wolfman

Try running a series of tests on the memory and cpu. As you've changed most other parts, it could possibly be the cpu/memory/motherboard that is causing the problem. You can find tests such as Memtest86 online.

Then try running the bare minimum required for the system. Ie unplug everything that isn't needed.

Maybe set the BIOS settings to "safe" or "default" if you've changed them in any way.

zincoxide

First things first, do things in a logical order:

1. Check to make sure your power cable is connected properly
2. Disconnect from the mains and open your PC, check to see all cables & cards are fitted securely, even a small variance can cause POST to fail
3. If still no joy, disconnect everything you don't need, insert only the minimum memory, your old graphics card & your HDD to see if it powers up.
4. If it then powers up, gradually add things until the problem occurs again, it may be the last thing you add that has caused the problem.
5. Replace the PSU with the old one just in case the new one is not regulated correctly and causing a surge
6. If you still get problems, PM me and I'll see what I can figure out for you.

BTW...how did you post here without your PC?

JimArnold

My PC has been freezing - the problem seems to associated woth the USB mouse - if I unplug it count to 10 and re-attach it's OK for a while.
I think its related to a recent windows update - but I may be wrong

Joe_Bloggs

I Agree with all that has been said in response. Those temps are way too hot in my opinion. Applying the right amount of heatsink compound and getting the right thickness of heatsink compound is an art in itself. Zinc oxide paste is not in the same league as the Artic Silver products. No offence intended towards the forum member zincoxide.
Today has been the hottest day of the year and vulnerable computers would have fallen over given a tough workout. To be of use the heatsink fan of the CPU must receive cool air from a fan or series of fans. If not it just re-heats the warm air like a fan assisted convection oven. The hot air should also be carried away by a fan or series of fans.
Watch out for leaking or bulging capcacitors on the motherboard and other cards in the system. There has been a plague of dodgy capacitors undermining the reliability of PC products.
J_B.

Edit.
Take the side of the case of and blow air in with a desktop fan. If it works reliably then it is a thermal problem.

Whitefiver

zincoxide wrote:

First things first, do things in a logical order:


6. If you still get problems, PM me and I'll see what I can figure out for you.

BTW...how did you post here without your PC?

Hi,
Thanks for your suggestions. I am posting this on an old laptop over our wireless network. It is my wife's old one, and I have kept it as it is worth practically nothing anyway!

I have checked the cables, re-seated memory, cards, and so on. Nothing else had changed for a while when the thing started freezing.

I had memory problems in the past, and then I was getting all sorts of different symptoms. I might give memtest a go again in a while.

I had replaced the PSU as I had already added significantly to the PC, and I thought that 250w was just stretching things a bit - this one is 500w and has *much* more powerful fans too - and I was just about to add a large hard drive.

I can see no obvious problems with the mobo, and hence I think it might be heat related in some way. The CPU is rated to 80deg, I believe, and I have had it running reliably at up to 65deg (according to speedfan). These freezes are happening at a much cooler temperature - after the CPU had been working hard and had cooled. The new heatsink/fan is a coolermaster, and I did remove traces of the old gunk before putting it in place, but I do confess I used the compound that came with the unit, not my tube of thermal grease (also coolermaster).

I'll investigate further, and if I may I will take you up on your PM offer, if I get no joy.

Right - off I go for memtest, and the fan out of the bedroom!

Anyone else any ideas - please let me know.

Many thanks,

White.

Mr_Skint_2

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Whitefiver

Thanks for that pic - sure brightened up my day a little!

Regards,

White.

Curry_Queen

You have my sympathies Whitefiver as a couple of us downthread here have had similar problems in the last couple of days. I think it must be due to the sudden "heatwave" we're experiencing, although my own PC seems to be running fine through it <touchwood> but then I've got a couple of huge fans blowing in this room too

I found the only way to stop my son's PC overheating today was by leaving off the case side and sitting it more or less in the middle of the floor to ensure good airflow. It's been on most of the day and I've just gone to check it now and it's off again, but I'm assuming he turned it off before he went out as the monitor is also switched off

I'm wondering whether I should fit an extra case fan, and if so, what exactly should I be looking for, and is it simple to fit?

Curry_Queen

Mr_Skint wrote:

?

LOL! Mr Skint, you sure do make me laugh with your posts

(and I wish I was where that bloke is right now!)

Whitefiver

Curry_Queen wrote:

You have my sympathies Whitefiver

I'm wondering whether I should fit an extra case fan, and if so, what exactly should I be looking for, and is it simple to fit?

Thanks Curry, why don't you google for Speedfan, which is some free software which reports certain temperatures in your PC (depending on its age, and so on). Also voltages, etc. etc.

Sorry, no expert about case fans, but surely to do any real good, you would need a hole to fit one in? Don't think the ones that go in a PCI slot would do much good. Make sure the PC isn't full of dust too.

Regards,

White.