I need advice... my computer freezes after ~10 minutes!

[DeafeningSilence]

Hi. I'd be very appreciative if anyone can look at the troubleshooting steps I've taken so far, and offer me advice for what to try next. Here goes...

First, you should know that I can't get into Windows. I run Windows XP Pro, but a file has been corrupted, and a black screen tells me to run the Windows Repair option. (I'm using a different computer to type this, in case you're wondering.)

Well, I boot from the Windows CD, and go into Repair mode, and after approximately 10 minutes the machine freezes up. It will no longer respond to keyboard input at all. Usually the screen keeps whatever it was displaying, but a few times, it has shown a checkerboard effect with small white and pink blocks flashing across the screen.

I'm fairly certain that this error is heat-related. During my troubleshooting last weekend, I was able to keep the computer running for 2 hours once before freezing up -- I had removed the front and side panels of the case. In subsequent testing, I have been unable to do anything to keep it running for more than 5-15 minutes.

Here are things that I have tested/tried:
1) Installed 2 additional case fans (current total fans = 4)
2) Pulled out one RAM stick, then the other (to test both the RAM and the slots)
3) Removed the sound card
4) Swapped the hard drive with a new one
5) Swapped the video card with a new one

This leads me to believe that there are 3 final options:
1) The power supply
2) The processor
3) The motherboard

I don't believe it's the power supply, just based on the fact that the machine keeps running after it freezes up. I'm not an expert, but it seems that the power supply failing would result in a power-down. So I think it's either the CPU or the motherboard.

I built this computer about 16 months ago. Here are the relevant components:
Epox 8K7A+ motherboard
AMD Athlon 1.2 GHz CPU (w/ Thermaltake Volcano2 heatsink, I believe)
Enlight Case with 300W power supply
Micron 256MB Pc2100 RAM (x2)
ATI All-in-Wonder Radeon 64MB video
SoundBlaster Live 5.1

Has anyone had a similar experience? How should I go about testing a CPU or motherboard? Are there any other things I should try? I really appreciate any help/advice. Thanks!

- Nate

Edit: By the way, I'm not overclocking anything.

 

[BentValve]

Have you monitored your proc temps at all ? .....Although I doubt its that because you would most likely have killed it by now.

It sound like a video card issue to me but since you already tried that I guess its not.

Here is what I would do..........drop the front side bus down to like 100mhz or less if you can, lower the settings on everying in your bios for maximum stability and try that out......if she runs ok then I would say your mobo is taking a dive.......if a freflashing does not help then I would toss it out and get a better board.

 

[jazzmaster221]

i would try another video card or upgrade the video drivers most often when you get the scrambled video it's usually the card or the drivers ...i would reformat then try another card or drivers

 

[mechBgon]

If it's the CPU overheating, the causes that seem likely are any/all of these:

• CPU is producing more heat than normal for its type due to overvoltage or overclock
• Heatsink is inadequate for dissipating the heat produced by the CPU (Volcano2 is not that great) or heatsink fan is slowing due to bad bearings
• Heatsink is being fed pre-heated air due to ineffective/non-existent case ventilation
• Thermal interface between CPU core and heatsink is ineffective due to one of the following:
• a heatsink and/or clip installed 180° backwards
• no thermal compound or low-quality thermal compound
• the user attempted to re-use a one-use-only phase-change pad
• the heatsink's base is not flat
• the heatsink's clip is not exerting adequate tension to compress the cornerpads on the CPU, preventing good contact with the core
• the user has installed a shim that's too thick

The usual culprits are an inadequate-capacity heatsink or a thermal-interface problem. Of course, there's always Windows itself Good luck with the troubleshooting!