Diagnostic software?

[sous2817]

Hello,

I've posted recently about my pc intermittently pausing, and the advise that I was given was to check the various process running, spyware, software issues, etc. and none of that worked. My next step is to start looking at a hardware issue. Are there any good diagnostic tools that could possible point out any problems with my machine?

Also, I'm still taking advice on my pause problem described here

Thanks,
sous2817

 

[EvilHorace]

I too would like to know if there's a program that can help diagnose intermittant crashing problems. I've now tryed MANY things, MANY ideas from various peoples advice at PCAbusers with my new AMD 64 3500+ system yet the problem(s) still exists.

Short of replacing more parts, trying MORE drivers, trying this, trying that, perhaps there's a program that can help to properly diagnose the cause(s)?

I was at BestBuy yesterday and thought that I heard a guy telling someone else about a program that could do just that but I failed to stop and interrupt.

 

[madthumbs]

http://www.appdeploy.com/downloads/detail.asp?id=288

http://www.sisoftware.net/

 

[EvilHorace]

THAT sounds familiar (top one), possibly what I overheard but does anyone here have experience with it or other diagnostic programs before shelling out $30?

Google finds a butt-load of programs too but what works, what's best?

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=n...04-51,GGLD:en&q=PC+diagnostic+software

As for registry errors, I'm using a new SATA HDD with a fresh XP Pro SP2 install SO I'd have to think that my registry's still OK. Run NAV, Spysweeper, and ZA Pro too so I highly doubt I've been hit hit with anything that'd alter any basic windows settings.

 

[sous2817]

Thanks for the links. I'll check into them tonight. Either way it's pretty frustrating. I'm about ready to scrap the whole system and start over.

That being said....could I get an external HDD, backup my RAID0 HDDS, unraid the drives, then put my backed up HDD on one of the reformated drives? I'd rather not have to reinstall windows then put my backed up version on top of it, I'm sure it will cause some kind of problem. Either way, what do you think? Would that work?

Thanks,
sous2817

 

[Jeff7]

Memtest86+ to test the memory
It creates a bootable floppy disk; when you run it, set it to test All memory, and to run all tests. Let it run several loops.


Prime 95 for the CPU
Set it to Torture Test; I usually do either the Small FFT or the In-place large FFT test to stress the CPU; maybe a few hours of each.


Each test takes several hours to do a thorough job; maybe let it go overnight.

Any errors in either test is a sign of hardware that's either outright defective, or else it's being run too fast, or it's overheating.

 

[sous2817]

Thanks...I'll try those two programs before reformating and unRAIDing. Will either program generate a report to point me in the direction of if the problem is hardware or heat related, etc.

Thanks,
sous2817

 

[EvilHorace]

Another idea mentioned to me is to try another HDD with a fresh OS install, perhaps with SP1 vs SP2?

I have two SCSI HDDs that I'm not using so that's another idea that can help to determine if it's hardware vs software. If another HDDs OS runs w/o problems, you'll know that it's not hardware. To do that, you'll need to momentarily jump the mobos CMOS jumper (power off) and then reset your bios specs as everything will be at default.

 

[Fern]

Originally posted by: sous2817
Thanks...I'll try those two programs before reformating and unRAIDing. Will either program generate a report to point me in the direction of if the problem is hardware or heat related, etc.

Thanks,
sous2817

No, not really. Prime will tell on what test it failed. Memtest will report the number of errors and will tell which test it failed on.

Neither will specifically identify if heat was the cause.

 

[sous2817]

If nothing else Prime and Memtest will start pointing me in the right direction. I don't have any extra HDDs around and I don't think I can convince the wife into letting my one to test. I'll start with Prime and Memtest and go from there.

Thanks for all the help! Hopefully I'll get to the bottom of the problem before too long!
sous2817

 

[Fern]

I read your OP linked above.

Have you tried any HDD perfromance proggies? Maybe could pinpoint the cause of the pauses. Also Sisoft Sandra has a "performance wizard" or something named similarly. It might highlight any HDD performance probs caused by incorrect settings.

Look HERE for HDD performance proggies and Sisoft sandra can be had here to.


Fern

 

[EvilHorace]

My PCs FINALLY fixed. A bios reflash (upgrade) did the trick. Everything's running fine and stable now.