Frequent crashes

[Zoinks]

My computer has been continuing to crash regularly and I can't figure out what's causing it. The most common error is parts of the screen don't get drawn - frequently the text under the icons on the desktop won't draw, but the shadows under the letters does. Sometimes error windows will pop up without text in the buttons. I can usually get to the windows start menu but consistently nothing happens when I try to restart. Same goes for trying to restart from the task manager. A few times I just get a plain old BSOD or the computer just reboots.

I replaced the memory - initially that was clearly bad. I've run memtest for 40+ hours with zero errors. I've had the MB replaced. I switched out the video card for an old one that never had any problems. I've reformatted and reinstalled windows. It seems to me I have the possibilities left - 1) the CPU itself is bad, 2) the MB just doesn't like my setup and I should try a different model, or 3) something I'm running in windows is incompatible with something else and is causing the crash.

MB: Asus P5N-E SLI 0608 BIOS
CPU: Intel E6600 Core 2 Duo stock speed and cooling.
Memory: 2 GB DDR2 PC2-6400 4-4-4-12 - initially Apacer but replaced with Crucial Ballistix.
Video: Nvidia 8800GTX (also tried 7800 GTX)
Power: Corsair HX520
OS: Windows XP Pro

 

[JustaGeek]

Try these settings:

Enhanced C1E: Disabled
Enhanced Speed Step: Disabled

AI Overclock: manual

Unlinked

FSB: 1066
Memory: 800

CPU voltage: 1.3V
Memory voltage: 2.17V
NB Voltage: 1.56V
VCore offset: Auto

Memory timings: 4-4-4-12-2T (Very important!)
Subtimings: all auto.

You can visit the P5N-E SLI thread here:

http://forums.anandtech.com/me...AR_FORUMVIEWTMP=Linear

 

[Zoinks]

I tried those settings. No help. Actually, other than using specific voltages vs. auto, nothing changed. And I have read the entire P5N-E SLI thread since May.

I've also tried putting the memory in the black slots and putting a fan on the NB. I've tried closing every program I can, although I haven't started uninstalling things. No luck yet.

The errors are kinda hard to describe, but I've captured a few screenshots:
http://img55.imageshack.us/img55/4033/ex1fi7.jpg
http://img382.imageshack.us/img382/1346/ex2rm2.jpg
http://img55.imageshack.us/img55/6586/ex3wk2.jpg
Usually the graphics glitches are more severe but than again usually I can't open paint or paste from the clipboard.

I'm thinking about getting a GIGABYTE GA-N650SLI-DS4 to try instead of the P5N-E SLI.

 

[Zoinks]

There also seem to be errors reading and writing files during the graphic glitches. Once I got a "delayed write failure" and I sometimes get errors trying to save files when I know I'm going to have to reboot. I've tried two different hard drives - both Seagate 7200.10 SATA.

 

[idiotekniQues]

there is some setting for native command queuing. that is a feature with some certain newer sata drives that can handle it. seems this baord enables it automatically in windows even if your HD doesnt support it. even if i disabled it in the bios it still was fubared. i had to do it in windows.

i cant remember the exact way to disable or enable it but if you can find that via google and disable it, it may solve your issues. it is something you change in windows.

i had a similar issue with my p5ne-sli back in january and after exhaustive research that fixed my crashes. i was so disillusioned with the chipset i just switched to an intel chipset a few days after, even though i didnt crash that entire time.

my crashes happened most frequently during copying files, but also at other times.

 

[idiotekniQues]

ahhh here you go. i found the old p5ne-sli thread that was linked above where i was very active in the short time i had this board. here is the fix i did:


TO SKIP:

try this, i took this and changed it a bit word wise from where i found it. it helped me out.

"My Computer -> Properties -> Hardware -> Device Manager
Expand +IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers
Select -NVIDIA nForce Serial ATA controller
Right click and select properties

Under Primary Channel or Secondary Channel you will see some tabs that say primary/secondary etc, find your western digital drive and you will see these four checkboxes on the same tab:

X ? Let BIOS select transfer mode
X ? Enable read caching
X ? Enable write caching
X ? Enable command queuing

UNSELECT the command queuing option for your drive. click ok and get out of all the screens. it will ask for a reboot. go ahead and click ok.

Verify your settings after reboot make sure it is unchecked.


--- anyways, i hope this is your issue. the one thing that really struck a chord is that write delay error. i got the same one.

 

[Zoinks]

So far so good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sweet. I was getting ready to drive over this computer with my car!

 

[idiotekniQues]

i spend so many hours troubleshooting and it drove me mad, and it took me forever to find this fix. it was only mentioned on one thread in an nVidia forums for older nForce boards that took hours of googling to find.

but like i said, for the week or so before i switched to intel chipset, but after this fix, i did not crash once. hope that is the case for you.

i was about to drive over my pc with my car as well

cheers.

 

[Zoinks]

Well, it got better. It took a day to crash, but it still crashed. I'm not sure what to make of that - it was part but not all of the problem or it had nothing to do with it.

Maybe its time to try an intel motherboard. Has anyone heard of problems with any of these:
GA-N650SLI-DS4 (yeah, I know its still a 650 but it might be simpler not to change.)
GA-P35-DS3P
GA-P35-DQ6

 

[JustaGeek]

Go to the Event Viewer and see what it says under System and Application.

Event Log Explorer is a great free tool, although it requires registration.

And do the Repair Install of Windows - you will not loose any applications, and it should fix any files corrupted by the malfunctioning NCQ.

Otherwise - try to install Windows on another HD. I use Seagate, and although I disabled NCQ due to increase in performance (it slows the Write time a bit), it works perfectly fine with this MB.

And, if you use it, uninstall SetPoint from Logitech - I had huge problems with conflict with IDE drivers! I also experienced problems with Zone Alarm and CA Internet Security - are you using any of them...?

Good luck!

 

[idiotekniQues]

id reinstall windows fresh as well.

also are you oc'ing?

 

[JustaGeek]

I do not think the fresh Windows install is necessary - Repair Install does exactly the same job, and you don't lose any drivers/applications.

I am still perfectly fine on my Windows installed on 775Dual-VSTA in September 2006.

When I replaced it with P5N-E SLI with 7950GT, I did the repair install on the same HD.

Well, unless the Hard Drive is the cause of his problems.

 

[Zoinks]

I'll look into event viewer and log explorer.

Nothing is overclocked!

Set point is not installed. I'm using Comodo firewall and AOL's version of Kaspersky. I have a lot of other junk running (such as SETI) but other than Mozy, I've used them all for years.

I have done a complete from scratch windows reinstall onto a new hdd (both were seagate 7200.10) with the same problems. But I'll try the OS repair since turning off NCQ did seem to make some difference.

 

[idiotekniQues]

you disabled ncq on all your hard drives right? (stupid question but it cant hurt to ask)

 

[Zoinks]

Yup, I just double checked NCQ - its off.