Argghhh a few serious problems im having...HELP!

[Sirrion]

Okay here's the situation, i have 4 serious problems that are really upsetting me, and I can't figure them out for the life of me.

1.) FOr starters, from the day i bought my Intel 2.26 brand new straight from Intel, packaged and everything from them, i have not been able to run my cpu at 2.26. I have had to keep it at 1.8 or lower. Why? Because when i try and run it at its stock speed, i get even MORE problems, from games like Warcraft 3 (Fatal Memory Error), and other games as well. Perhaps that's a game issue, but honestly i dont see why when i run my cpu at 1.8 most things work fine (Not including the problems below), but when i run it at 2.26 my games go to hell? (Freezing, Memory Errors, etc..) I bought the 2.26 to O/C and ive had to U/C just to get it to work! I'm using the stock heatsink and fan that came with the CPU and i even used Arctic Silver paste to help the heat transfer. On top of that, i have a 500 w p/s, a good one Enermax i think, and i have about 5-6 fans running in the aluminum case, not to mention the 2 on the pow. supply. I check my cpu volts and temp and everything seems to be normal. So as much as i think and want it to be a heating issue, i just can't imagine how it could be? What other reasons could it be that running my cpu at stock speed gives me problems?

2) Very often, if my computer is recovering from a crash of some sort or other, and i have to manually reset, my computer will restart, but the monitor will go into i guess "Standby" mode. THe light will turn from green to orange and i won't have any picture, nor does it sound like my computer is even booting past the Bios information. It's on and running, but there's no windows loading or anything, and the screen is blank with an orange light!! I have to turn the power switch in back of the computer off for about 10 min, then re-start and it comes back up normally. THis as been happening since the day i built it, and i have no idea why. WHat could it be? I dont think it's a monitor problem just so ya know. Monitor works perfectly besides this.

3) This problem started happening a few days ago. I'll be playing a game Like Halo or Command and Conquer, and sometimes even when im just multitasking IE, or something else, my computer will go on the fritz and starts making interval pauses, where the screen freezes, and the sound stutters for about 20 seconds, then it will let up for about 15 seconds and then freeze/stutter again. It will continue to do this until i reset the computer, at which time i will usually get problem # 2 up above when i restart. THis doesnt' always happen during games necessarily but i think it's happening during resource heavy applications, like games or when i have 5-6 programs opened at once. This only started happening recently, when i started installing some new games i got, and started watching some dvd type movies on my computer.

4) Lastly, this has also only started happening recently, but sometimes after problem #3, then #2 happens, i will get THIS problem. When windows finally loads properly, it will load up and as my task bar items are coming up, the screen and computer will freeze. THe strange thing is, the mouse cursor always disappears. It just blinks out of existence, and i cant even give the computer the ol 3 finger salute to restart. I have to manually do it incuring problems #2 and #3 all over again sometimes. It's like 1 never ending problem. I need some serious help here. These seem to me to be either Video, Ram, or heating issues, but i'll give my specs below and you'll see that i should have adequate equipment to not have these problem keeep occuring.

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks. My system SPecs below:

Intel P4 2.26 533 mhz
512 mg Corsair XMS 3000 Ram (1 stick, i have tried other slots to see if it fixes problems. It does not)
75 gig IBM hd (on another note, until about two weeks ago this only had 20 gigs full, now i have about 50 or so full)
ATI Radeon 9700 Pro (with the latest 3.9 Catalyst Drivers, it's not Overclocked at all)
IBM p70 21' monitor
Logitech MX?? cordless mouse
Hercules 6.1 GameTheater XP (with latest drivers)
Asus P4b533 MOtherboard with latest Flash bios
WIN XP Professional with SP1 and all that garbage

SOme games i run:: Warcraft 3, Halo, C&C Generals, QUake3, Counter-Strike, etc..

Just to answer any questions regarding this, i have updated every piece of hardware with the latest drivers.
Also i'm using Intel's Accelerator. I have no idea what this really does, but ive used it since the first day i put my machine together, i think it was an update with my mobo or something. I dont know if this could cause any issues but i thought i'd mention it anyway. Thanks for any help
Should i add more ram? Try to cool the CPU down more? Take a hammer to it? HELP!!!

-Justin

 

[foofoo]

hi,
a few things to look at;
1. what is the cpu temperature under load?
2. do you get any errors reported in the event viewer? if so, what are they?
3. definitely run memtest and check your ram
link
4. do you have the fsb set up correctly in the bios? (166)
5. did you scrape the thermal pad off before you used the arctis silver (sorry, but i have to ask)
6. more after answers.
good luck

 

[Sirrion]

k here some answers for you...

1. about 89 degrees while i was running IE, mIRC, and playing Halo.

2. Yes Under Application i get a few: Error- Application Hang/Application Error, Category is 101 (whatever that may mean) Thats all the information it gives me. I also have some errors under System: 2 x DCOM, 2 x Service Control, 2 x IdeChnDr. THis is over a period of a week or two. THat's all i can tell as far as errors in the event viewer.

3. Umm i ran memtest for about an hour. NOt sure what i was looking for, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. When i went into options i told it to show the errors and of the 11 tests ran in the hour time period, none gave me any errors. Other than that im not sure what i should've been looking for.

4. Umm, i think so. I looked in my bios and i couldn't find anything with "front side bus" on it, so without sounding like a total newb, ill write down some stuff i saw that looks appropriate.

Cpu Speed : Manual (Only reason it's manual is because i have to underclock to get my system working at least enough to keep me from smashing it)

Cpu Frequency Multiplier: [17x] (i assume this is for overclock, but it was stuck at 17 I couldnt change it.

Cpu Ext. Frequency (Mhz): 106 (this is the number i had to use to get the cpu to 1800 mhz)

Cpu/Memory Frequency Ratio - Auto

Everything else on this part of the bios i have left alone/stock.

5. Yes i did, before i used the Arctic Compound.

Hope this helps..if you have any more please ask.

 

[lucky9]

Yeah, eliminate hardware probs first...cause software takes longer. I'm guessing it's a software problem though with the description of events that you're giving.

If it is software, back up your data and reinstall....it'll be a lot faster. That is, unless you like puzzles.

As for the processor, heat sounds right for the cause. There is the possible bad processor...it can happen. They usually go early though.

No offence, but when I do this sort of thing I've gotten into the habit of keeping a log. My ability to find something like this is directly related to how organized I can be. I have spent days (eight hour ones) finding a software interaction bug with 98 and 98SE. WinXP is sooo! much better. But there are times that reinstall is a much better option, time-wise. Let us know though, that's the price we pay.:wine:

 

[foofoo]

Originally posted by: Sirrion
k here some answers for you...

1. about 89 degrees while i was running IE, mIRC, and playing Halo.

2. Yes Under Application i get a few: Error- Application Hang/Application Error, Category is 101 (whatever that may mean) Thats all the information it gives me. I also have some errors under System: 2 x DCOM, 2 x Service Control, 2 x IdeChnDr. THis is over a period of a week or two. THat's all i can tell as far as errors in the event viewer.

3. Umm i ran memtest for about an hour. NOt sure what i was looking for, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. When i went into options i told it to show the errors and of the 11 tests ran in the hour time period, none gave me any errors. Other than that im not sure what i should've been looking for.

4. Umm, i think so. I looked in my bios and i couldn't find anything with "front side bus" on it, so without sounding like a total newb, ill write down some stuff i saw that looks appropriate.

Cpu Speed : Manual (Only reason it's manual is because i have to underclock to get my system working at least enough to keep me from smashing it)

Cpu Frequency Multiplier: [17x] (i assume this is for overclock, but it was stuck at 17 I couldnt change it.

Cpu Ext. Frequency (Mhz): 106 (this is the number i had to use to get the cpu to 1800 mhz)

Cpu/Memory Frequency Ratio - Auto

Everything else on this part of the bios i have left alone/stock.

5. Yes i did, before i used the Arctic Compound.

Hope this helps..if you have any more please ask.

1. this is totally reasonable so temperature doesnt seem to be the problem
2. if you double click of the error in even viewer, it gives more information on the error and sometimes a link to the ms knowledge base. do that and see what is says in detail. the errors here are worrying.
3. you should run memtest at least once (2 or 3 is better, overnight best) through the whole memory space from the boot disk (or cd) if it finds errors, you'll see the screen fill with them.
4. the multiplier is locked on intel cpus and 17 is right. 133 is the correct fsb speed.
5. the temp was ok so no worries here.

definitely get back to us with what the event viewer detail says but i agree with lucky9, this is looking like software.
how did you load your system?
the usual order is
os
os service pack(s)
board drivers (latest)
directx 9.0b
card drivers
apps and utilities (if you install games, do not let them install an older directx version over 9.0b)

depending on what event viewer says, your best course of action may be to backup and do a re-install.

good luck

 

[Sirrion]

HEre are the descriptions of the Errors i recieved earlier:

1. Fault bucket 02031565.

2. Hanging application SIGSPat.exe, version 4.0.3.3, hang module hungapp, version 0.0.0.0, hang address 0x00000000.

3. Hanging application mirc.exe, version 6.1.2.0, hang module hungapp, version 0.0.0.0, hang address 0x00000000. (I recieved about 10 of these in a row.)

4. Hanging application inboxcopUI.exe, version 9.3.0.4, hang module hungapp, version 0.0.0.0, hang address 0x00000000.

5. Faulting application divx player.exe, version 0.0.0.0, faulting module xvid.dll, version 0.0.0.0, fault address 0x0004fd96.

6. Fault bucket 62794234.

7. Hanging application notepad.exe, version 5.1.2600.0, hang module usp10.dll, version 1.409.2600.1106, hang address 0x0002ff80.

I got these errors over and over. So it seems rather limited to a few programs. Also i tried going to the Microsoft Link after each error and it told me there was no help for it.

As far as loading my computer, Im not sure the exact order, but i think i loaded Windows, then the service packs at the same time i updated the board drivers, and then card drivers, then Direct X. This was about a year and a half ago or so i did this.

SHould i try and re-install WinXp anyway just to see if that clears up any problems? Like i said half these problems i have had since i first built my computer a year and ahalf ago, the last two only became an issue about a week ago or so. Around the same time i started installing about 4-5 games, filled up my harddrive, and put more pressure on my computer.

I'll run MemTest tonite and post the response tomorrow morning. Thx for the help so far.

 

[foofoo]

hi,
if your memory checks out ok overnight, i think that you may want to reinstall. you could spend some time troubleshooting but i have found that it usually takes longer to chase and fix (if possible) these problems than to just do a reinstall.
let us know how the memtest worked out.
good luck

 

[Sirrion]

Here's the update.. I re-installed WinXP, and it went fine, except i got the Blue Screen of Death, in regards to some memory issue or what not. I restarted and the remainder of the install went without incident. I have yet to put alot of pressure on it to see if i get the same freeze ups, but I did notice that my computer is running almost 5X slower now than it did before the install. I dont know what the hell happened, but now my computer runs like a handicapped turtle. Bootup must take about 1 min 30 seconds where it was about 30 seconds before. ANd i have no idea why. I ran the MemTest for about 6 hours and it went fine, no errors across the board, so i think the memory is fine. I'll try and get some freeze ups tonite and post the result tomorrow. But im real concerened about the slowness issue... Anyway thanks for the help thusfar, it is appreciated.

SHould i have formatted then re-installed? I simply re-installed over the already existing WINXP and im wondering if thats why im having slow issues?

 

[Yellowsun]

It would be best to back up your data, then format then do a fresh install of XP

 

[foofoo]

hi,

It would be best to back up your data, then format then do a fresh install of XP

it definitely would be better to do a fresh format from the xp install screen (just do fresh install, delete the partition, create a new one and format it ntfs)
if you are not getting any memory errors at all from memtest86 and you are still getting blue screens you could be one of the rare cases of bad cpu or mb. try doing a fresh install on a newly reformatted disk and if it's still slow amd/or giving blue screens, then it may be time to swap hardware.
for now though, after the new install, are there any errors in the event viewer? if so, what are they?
also, it wouldnt be a bad idea to download ibm (hitachi) drive fitness test to check your hd.
http://www.hgst.com/hdd/support/download.htm
best to be sure of all of the hardware you can before starting to swap pieces.
good luck