Hard Lockups (FIXED! W2G Windows Update!)

[Asplode]

This is my first post here, I've always been more of a lurker, but since I'm having a problem that I can't seem to quash on my own, I'll see if perhaps someone can point me in the right direction.

My computer specs are:

P4C 3.0GHz
Asus P4P800 SE
1 GB Corsair ValueRam (2x512)
EVGA 6600 GT

I continually get hard lockups, mostly while I play games, but not always. I've changed the video card, changed my power supply to an XCLIO 450w, the motherboard doesn't really look like any capacitors are blown, I've memtest86'ed the beejeezus out of the ram, and just did a clean format and reinstall of windows, problem's still there.

What could be going on?

 

[Harvey]

Have you tested your RAM? If not, get DocMem. Their main site is often too busy. You can down load it from download.com or zdnet.com.

The downloaded file creates a bootable floppy. You can run it for a single pass or repeated passes in "burn in" mode.

 

[Asplode]

Yes, I've tested the RAM before, but per your recommendation I'll do it again. I used memtest86 last time, maybe this one will turn up something that memtest didnt.

 

[Harvey]

Your RAM may test as good but fail under heavy load. You could test that by manually setting more relaxed timing, at least long enough to see if that affects the problem.

Have you checked Asus' website for BIOS or driver updates?

 

[Asplode]

Yes, I had the 1007 bios, right now i'm usin the 1008 bios beta, but it still persists.

Using the latest drivers released for everything as far as I can tell. The chipset drivers appear to be a little old ('03) but maybe they dont need constant updating?

 

[Harvey]

In generaly, you shouldn't update your BIOS as long as everything is working. Asus usually documents the fixes in each version. If your problem is not addresses, updating the BIOS probably won't help.

I'm out of ideas, for now. Hope someone else has more. Good luck.

 

[Asplode]

Thanks Harvey, um... Birdman :laugh:

I've been plagued by this for a while, and I'm about to start pulling my hair out.

I can't seem to pinpoint anything specific, its like, "nonspecific component failure."

 

[KGB]

Asplode,

Welcome to the Forums! :beer:

Is anything getting logged into Event Viewer?

From your description, it could be heat related.
Try opening the case and see if it helps (perhaps point a fan inside).

 

[jstarman]

Asplode...Not sure if your board has a Marvell Ethernet chip on it but if it does and you updated the driver dated July 20, 2005 from Windows update, then rollback to the previous driver. See this link:

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=29&threadid=1665983&enterthread=y

Drove me nuts trying to figure out the issue causing the hard freezes and it sounds like the same problem you are experiencing.

 

[Asplode]

It does have the Marvell Ethernet chip on it.

I was using the driver from... 7.20.05 from WU on it before the reformat.

I'm trying an SP1 version of Windows XP Pro for the time being. So far with that, and rolling back the driver no lockups yet. :thumbsup:

Here's hoping!

{edit} Just a note, this seems like a plausible answer, because the lockups came most frequently when there was heavy use of the ethernet port, like WoW, FFXI, and Azureus.

{edit2} Seems to have fixed it

Originally posted by: jstarman
Asplode...Not sure if your board has a Marvell Ethernet chip on it but if it does and you updated the driver dated July 20, 2005 from Windows update, then rollback to the previous driver. See this link:

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=29&threadid=1665983&enterthread=y

Drove me nuts trying to figure out the issue causing the hard freezes and it sounds like the same problem you are experiencing.

::bow:: This seems to have fixed it!

About 5 hours straight gaming and no lockups!

Thanks for the welcome, and no, there was nothing getting logged in the event logged that would make me immediately question the networking driver.