Help Me Figure Out Why this New System is Crashing

[Operandi]

When I came home the machine was still running MEMTest86, it had completed 7 passes and had been running for over 10 hours.

I rebooted and check the temp in the BIOS and the CPU as running 34c after the 10 hour MEMtest run, heat is ruled out.

 

[Operandi]

Ok, I just found something interesting.

Incidentally this problem started around when they installed an HP printer they used with the old E-machine, just a coincidence right? Well I ran windows update (remember the machine is isolated from the internet at the clinic) and the first thing that came up is something called ?HP memories disc creator?, some sort of bundle with the printer no doubt but it seems rather odd that it would be considered a critical update .

Google searching revealed this thread; pertinent information quoted:

You should install this update even if you don?t use, or have no plans to use, the HP Memories Disc Creator application. CAUTION: Failure to install this update could result in potential critical errors that can include loss of ability to start Windows or loss of data files.

Hmm... loss of the ability to start Windows, and data loss, that sounds oddly familiar :roll:. Perhaps its all HPs fault?

 

[Blain]

"OS: Windows XP Home SP3 (I reused their old E-machine key)"

Did you only use the eMachine COA key with a straight XP OEM disk or did you use the COA key with the eMachine XP disk?


Have you instaled the AFG driver?
If you've got a sound card related problem, that might explain the odd random errors.
Screwed up audio drivers used to have a history of causing problems.

 

[KGB]

Originally posted by: Operandi
Ok, I just found something interesting.

Incidentally this problem started around when they installed an HP printer they used with the old E-machine, just a coincidence right? Well I ran windows update (remember the machine is isolated from the internet at the clinic) and the first thing that came up is something called ?HP memories disc creator?, some sort of bundle with the printer no doubt but it seems rather odd that it would be considered a critical update .

Google searching revealed this thread; pertinent information quoted:

You should install this update even if you don?t use, or have no plans to use, the HP Memories Disc Creator application. CAUTION: Failure to install this update could result in potential critical errors that can include loss of ability to start Windows or loss of data files.

Hmm... loss of the ability to start Windows, and data loss, that sounds oddly familiar :roll:. Perhaps its all HPs fault?

Burning the midnight oil?

What happened after you installed the MS update?

If that Memories Disk Creator is what I think it is, just uninstall it. Why would a business want that anyways?

 

[Operandi]

Originally posted by: Blain
"OS: Windows XP Home SP3 (I reused their old E-machine key)"

Did you only use the eMachine COA key with a straight XP OEM disk or did you use the COA key with the eMachine XP disk?


Have you instaled the AFG driver?
If you've got a sound card related problem, that might explain the odd random errors.
Screwed up audio drivers used to have a history of causing problems.

I installed from a stock MS OEM XP SP2 Home disc, I just used the key from the E-machine.

I'm not aware of any sound related issues, but they don't even have speakers on this machine. That may change when they upgrade their software and get on the net. Actually I think the MS update is addressing the same issue as the HP download, see the thread I linked to below.

Originally posted by: KGBMAN
Burning the midnight oil?

What happened after you installed the MS update?

If that Memories Disk Creator is what I think it is, just uninstall it. Why would a business want that anyways?

Well the update installed... thats about it. I've only been working with the machine for about a day and it's only crashed once (during the first cold boot) so impossible to say conclusively that it fixed the problem.

I have a feeling that this was probably the problem; its the only explanation that makes amount of sense since I've been dealing with this thing. I found another thread dealing with the HP software causing system crashes.

As far as why it's on there; I assume it was pre-installed when they installed their HP printer. I could uninstall it but that would require me putting faith in their uninstaller, and I can't really say that I have much if any. If the update address the problem I' inclined to leave it as is. Alternatively I would probably opt just to re-install Windows to be absolutely sure.

 

[KGB]

Re-installing Windows is rather harsh.

I have a couple of thoughts:

1. Is the Memories Disk Creator in the startup items (TSR / msconfig)?
2. Try uninstalling ALL of the HP crap and just install the driver only (available on the HP site).
3. Perhaps this machine only gets funky when the printer is connected?

Just idle ramblings.

 

[Blain]

"As far as why it's on there; I assume it was pre-installed when they installed their HP printer. I could uninstall it but that would require me putting faith in their uninstaller, and I can't really say that I have much if any."


Great Uninstaller > Revo Uninstaller <

There are 4 uninstall modes...
* Built-In
* Safe
* Moderate
* Advanced

I have never had to use "Advance" mode, I use "Moderate".
In moderate mode the program gets uninstalled and them Revo scans the registry for leftovers. You then have the option to delete them also.
Revo is a great little app that does exactly what it promises. :thumbsup::laugh:

 

[Smitty308]

My vote is Bad Power Supply!!!!!

Smitty

 

[Operandi]

Well the machine seems to running fine. Its been up since yesterday and I've been messing around with their software making up fake patients and scheduling them for appointments. I'll keep messing with it but so far so good.

I did uninstall the HP Memories software. I also found there is an update for the BIOS, "Update CPU micro code". Doesn't sound like its critical but I figured it can't hurt.

Thanks for the link to uninstaller Blain. Those things can sometimes do more harm than good so it's nice to know that there is a good one out there. When I uninstalled the HP software I just used the Windows control panel, would running Revo do anything at this point?

 

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: Operandi
This is truly one of the strangest circumstances I've come across. Why would a machine that can run Orthos, and MEMTest for hours have problems with random reboots with simple mundane work loads? It just doesn't make sense.

My C2D rigs, an E2140 @ 3.2Ghz, 1.425v (BIOS), 1.360v (CPU-Z), FSB 400x8, 2x2GB Patriot EL DDR2-800 RAM, rated 5-5-5-12 2.0v, running 5-5-5-15 1.8v, CoolerMaster HyperTX2 (80C under load), WD 320GB SATA HD, LG 20X IDE DVD burner, ThermalTake 430W PSU, Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3R v1.0 mobo, Radeon X1950 Pro.

It randomly restarts on me. Yet, when it doesn't do that, it can run 24hr stress tests, and I've had XP uptimes of a month at a stretch. It runs DC apps 24/7, that keep the CPU loaded, and I run MagicJack on it too. I can loop 3dMark01 24hrs too.

I have no idea why. It used to reboot once a day, when it was connected to a Back-UPS 550VA UPS. I connected it straight to the wall, and it stopped rebooting. So I replaced the UPS with an identical model, and that's what I'm running today. But it still restarts once in a while. I'm going to upgrade the PSU to an Antec Basiq 500W, when I upgrade the GPU. Maybe that will stop it.

Right now, I have a different machine plugged in to that UPS, a K9A2 Platinum with four 9600GSOs, BE-2400, 2x1GB DDR2-800, EarthWatts 650W PSU. It hasn't ever rebooted on me.

Thankfully, that's just my part-time gaming rig, and it's nothing important. Well, I did have it downloading 24/7 for a few months, and the reboots were very annoying, although they were few and far between.

Edit: The K9A2 system (stock speeds) just restarted on me too. I suspect this replacement UPS is also bad. It had about five days of uptime.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: Insomniator
It does that because for a local business and machine you have to support, getting an intel chip and an intel board is the only way to go.

And that is not a knock on AMD.

As for something useful to suggest... it could be some driver issues that show up randomly. Try the newest bios also.

See my prior post. Intel chipset/CPU are certainly NOT immune to "random reboot syndrome".
There's no real quality difference between AMD and Intel systems. Anyone that says that is spreading FUD. NVidia chipsets, on the other hand...

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: Operandi
Thanks for the link to uninstaller Blain. Those things can sometimes do more harm than good so it's nice to know that there is a good one out there. When I uninstalled the HP software I just used the Windows control panel, would running Revo do anything at this point?

If the HP software is already "uninstalled" the Revo wouldn't see it. You'd need to run a good registry cleaner type app to dig out any bits left.

 

[BladeVenom]

Does the business have the PC connected to a UPS or use a line conditioner?

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: BladeVenom
Does the business have the PC connected to a UPS or use a line conditioner?

That information has been covered in the thread.