XP Pro keeps freezing...HELP!!!

U.S.Amateurfilmaker · Post by **U.S.Amateurfilmaker** » Sat Jul 10, 2004 7:28 pm

Ok, i never used to have this problem until about 3 weeks ago. I can be randomly on the internet, or the comp can just be sitting idle, and it will just freeze. No ctrl-alt-del, nothing, just a frozen screen, and i have to reboot (My PC won't shut off unless i shut the power off, because it won't allow a shutdown from the front power button unless you go to START>shutdown). It only happens about once every few days, but it is getting annoying.

I have an AMD 64 3200+, 1 GB DDR PC3200 RAM, ATI Radeon 9800 Pro video card, Antec 430W psu, Sound Blaster sound card, 1 Seagate 120 GB HD, and a Western Digital 80 GB HD. I also use an HP mother board.

Any ideas? I'm thinking of doing a re-format, but i just find it ironic that this started 3 weeks ago randomly. Before that, it NEVER froze.

EDIT:

I have also defraged several times since, and the problem has not gone away, so that isn't the issue.

Truggy · Post by **Truggy** » Sun Jul 11, 2004 5:57 am

does this only do it while its on the internet? If so, try windows update. Otherwise if it does it, while your off the net, say playin a game, personally ide reinstall windows, dont want to fry something by turning it off and on....better yet, have u installed anything lately?

Luteleigh · Post by **Luteleigh** » Sun Jul 11, 2004 6:04 am

In my experience, random freezes are mostly attributed to a hardware fault - in the past it came down to my motherboard. I guess make sure everything is plugged in firmly - especially RAM and graphics card.

Truggy · Post by **Truggy** » Sun Jul 11, 2004 6:07 am

yes, how much ram u got in there? A guy at best buy told me depending, the more ram the more damage it can do.

Grant · Post by **Grant** » Sun Jul 11, 2004 6:07 am

check any heat issues or viral problems also, especially if you ave been net active

Truggy · Post by **Truggy** » Sun Jul 11, 2004 6:10 am

Remember : Windows update *echo* *echoy fade away: windows updaaattteee*

U.S.Amateurfilmaker · Post by **U.S.Amateurfilmaker** » Sun Jul 11, 2004 6:29 am

Well, i have installed 2 things lately. A new power supply and a new sound card. However, i don't see how any of these could cause a problem with random freezes (Especially since a few times when it happened the computer was just sitting idle) Also, heat is not an issue, because the PC was pretty cool when it occured last. As i said though, this has only started happening in the past 3 weeks.

Also, if i wipe out the system (I can do it using HP system recovery) will it take the stuff on my second hard drive with it? No OS related files are stotred on it, only my projects.

Grant · Post by **Grant** » Sun Jul 11, 2004 6:34 am

no it should i guess only effect C:

Truggy · Post by **Truggy** » Sun Jul 11, 2004 4:50 pm

Take it to your local best buy, they'll identify the problem....

Grant · Post by **Grant** » Mon Jul 12, 2004 1:51 am

Truggy what damage can having more RAM in the PC do? RAM is just temporary memory? Explain?

U.S.Amateurfilmaker · Post by **U.S.Amateurfilmaker** » Mon Jul 12, 2004 2:22 am

Yeah, i don't know what having extra ram in your pc can do. I've heard of ppl with up to 8 GB in their comp!

Anyway, I just hope to God it isn't the mother board, because i already voided my warranty by modifying the inside of the comp. Truggy, if you get one of those 2 year Best Buy service plans, will they void that too if you replaced something in the PC? I could look on the agreement form, but i don't know where it is off the top of my head....

Grant · Post by **Grant** » Mon Jul 12, 2004 2:27 am

if it is under warranty then yes i would not even break the case open unti you are sure you are allowed. Ring them and ask

Raptor · Post by **Raptor** » Mon Jul 12, 2004 3:19 am

Truggy wrote:yes, how much ram u got in there? A guy at best buy told me depending, the more ram the more damage it can do.

Uhhh Best buy??? find a better source

Too much ram won't have an adverse effect, it just won't get used... likely cause...
Heat ( make sure all heat sinks are clean, vents are clean and fans are all functional)
Virus ( good antivir scan with up to date definitions..
And the current cause of most of our freeze-ups at work... Spyware...
Run Ad-aware and spybot search and destroy.
Contrary to Luteleighs experience, I've found hardware failures to be the least common cause of freeze ups, usually it boils down to a piece of software corrupting Dll files in memory....

U.S.Amateurfilmaker · Post by **U.S.Amateurfilmaker** » Mon Jul 12, 2004 3:27 am

Well, i do have my CPU tower stored in a CPU cabinet below my desk, i might have to change that. It is open in the front, but i have a feeling that with all the cards I have in the computer and a more powerful PSU that a just got, it may bre causing a problem regardless.

Also, is there any way to keep a fan on that is temp. activated? Because my CPU has a fan that only goes on when the processor temp rises to a certain point. How do i keep it on all the time? I'd rather have the noise than an overheating issue!

Raptor · Post by **Raptor** » Mon Jul 12, 2004 4:40 am

Order an aftermarket fan that plugs into a molex lead from the PS......

El Brenty · Post by **El Brenty** » Wed Jul 14, 2004 5:32 pm

I run my PC with the side panel off and a 9" desktop flan permanently blowing at it! Works a treat!

Grant · Post by **Grant** » Thu Jul 15, 2004 1:10 am

lol that is usually a no no and can cause heat issues lol,

U.S.Amateurfilmaker · Post by **U.S.Amateurfilmaker** » Thu Jul 15, 2004 2:33 am

Well, i reformatted and started over, no problems yet

justsomeguy · Post by **justsomeguy** » Thu Jul 15, 2004 4:51 am

I run my PC with the side panel off and a 9" desktop flan permanently blowing at it! Works a treat!

i thought about that but then i just got a new cpu fan

lol that is usually a no no and can cause heat issues lol,

are you talking about having the fan blowing on it? whats wrong w/ that?

Grant · Post by **Grant** » Thu Jul 15, 2004 1:12 pm

no usually systems can run much hotter without the case intact, but i guess with the large fan helping then dont worry, except for dust