random freezes, hanging etc

[EvilKnevil]

ok..here's the deal (you can refer to my System specs at the bottom of the post )

1) did a clean install of win98se, loaded the via 4-in-1's..DX7...system randomly freezes

2) nuked it, did a clean install of win2k, loaded the 4-in-1 4.26betas, and the via audio driver (thats it)..system still randomly freezes

by random i mean these instances cannot be duplicated..its iether right after entering windows, while surfing, or loading an app

i have several suspects tho:

1) overheating? (my i reset my system, during POST the cpu temp is displayed as 42C/104F..i got an UNoverclocked Duron700...

2) bad ram? am running my old 2X64MB PC100's

3) conflict between ATA66 slave and ATA33 master?

4) bad cpu?

i'd appreciate any insights..its getting to be a bit annoying..this has been plaguing me since Christmas!!

thanks!

 

[TonyT]

Could be the RAM. You might want to try booting up with only one of your two sticks in the system at the time to try to determine if it's a bad stick. I don't think it's software based, since Win2k and Win98 have both been giving you problems.

 

[AC]

cound be ram or the motherboard

i don't think a bad cpu will even post (ram will though)

temp is fine, doesn't sound like a software prob

take ram to local compusa or other big comp store and ask them to test your ram with a ram tester, they shouldn't charge u

 

[Usul]

Cheapest ram test ever: compile the linux kernel.
If it goes p[arst 1/2, you have used all the ram you have several time, and it's not that.



Help me now.....PLEASE!

 

[EvilKnevil]

so the jury has spoken unanimously...could be a RAM issue.

thanks for the help!

will be getting a 128MB PC133 stick later today...

hopefully my next post will be goodnews

enjoy the weekend!

 

[EvilKnevil]

ok..here's what happened:

1) purchased 1 stick of 128MB PC133 RAM
2) removed old sticks, put in new RAM, booted up, ran some apps..it hung
3)my system has 2 HDDs- 1 ATA33 2.5GB for master, and 1 ATA66 15.0GB for slave..to eliminate the possibility of an ATA3/66 conflict, I set the 15GB to master,used the ATA66 cable, and installed win2k on it- installed via 4 in 1 4.27. Tried to copy filkes from 15GB to 2.5GB..and it hung when it tried to transfer a big PSD file. Tried installing Office2k..and it hung again.
4) so i removed the ATA66 HDD from the system, and reinstated the 2.5GB a master (thats what I am using now).
5) since RAM is not an issue..I slapped on my old 2x64's + 128 hehe
6) installed Office2000 without a hitch
7) seems stable thus far, will run some apps to check it out.

this is exaasperating! seems like my ATA66 drive is the culprit...is this possible?!

thanks again

 

[TonyT]

Did you try the system with just the 15GB drive? Your post mentions that the 2.5GB drive is running alone in the system now, but you didn't indicate whether you tried running the 15GB in the system by itself. Might be interesting to check.

 

[Mem]

If the 15GB runs fine, I would then look at your PSU,I presume you have a AMD approved PSU?

 

[EvilKnevil]

yup..did that too

installed win2k on 15GB, ran it alone...it hung when i ran some apps...



so much from what looked like a simple cpu/mobo upgrade from a celeron 300/BX! look what i got myself into! hehe

P.S. am running a 235W Sparkle..it came with my Elan Vital T10 case

 

[Mem]

<< i don't think a bad cpu will even post >>



Actually it will I had a faulty Thunderbird 900mhz &amp; it would do random reboots &amp; freezes,I tried everything clean install,Crucial ram sent for testing etc anyway it would post fine for the first three weeks then finally stopped at DMI pool data,so by this time I had enough so took it down to a repair shop for a full PC diagnostic checkup.

 

[TonyT]

FYI EvilKnevil,

The power supply you mentioned is not one of AMD's approved power supplies for a duron running at 700Mhz. The lowest wattage Sparkle power supply on the list is 250W.

 

[EvilKnevil]

whoa!! yer right! just checked the list myself!

dang..ok...back to the local computer shop!

this better do the trick hehehe

 

[rsilva28]

Hey guys, I might have a similar problem to you guys that I cant seem to figure out. When I leave my computer on for a few hours and I connect to the internet through a USB DSL modem, Sometimes when I surf for a 10-15min it will freeze my whole system up and I have to power it down. Then reboot and try again. Does anybody have any ideas?? I noticed that somebody mentioned something about the power supply, I know mine is under 150W for sure. BTW, I'm running Win98SE. Any Suggestions? Thanks in advance.
rsilva28

 

[TonyT]

rsilva28,

Your power supply is under 150W? I know for certain that AMD doesn't support such a low power supply wattage. Check this page for a list of supported power supplies (you have to input your processor speed and form factor, then hit &quot;submit&quot.

 

[EvilKnevil]

well..here's the latest round of developments

after the notorious freeze happened while installing win2k SP-1, I had to reinstall the OS.

I figured I'd might as well do some troubleshooting..and I removed the ISA modem.

Win2k installed without a hitch. Via4in1 4.27v installed no problemo. Win2k SP-1 installed ok. (saved the download..whew).

However I didn't install the AMD AGP patch yet.

Installed these without incident also: Photoshop 5.5, Flash 4, Dreamweaver 3.

Looked around in my System/Performance settings and increased the maximum registry size from 64 to 128MB.

Previously my system would hang if I loaded 2 Photoshop PSD files. So I sucked my guts in and loaded 1..twas ok..2..good..3, 4 still ok. I opened up 5 more at one go and it was ok!!! Closed Photoshop and system was fine.

I will try some editing when I get home later...see if Mr. Freeze is still in town! I sure hope its the ISA modem's fault hehe

 

[TumBO]

Evil... I'm having the same trouble with one of my computers. It'll just freeze when ever it feels like it. No one specific thing will trigger it. (it's usually while web surfing though) I'm interested in finding out if you put the ISA modem back in will the system still be stable.

Keep us posted.

 

[EvilKnevil]

thanks tumBO

Will try and do some Photoshop work tonight...however..to tell you the truth, there are several things which I haven't installed:

1) Supra 56i ISA modem
2) VIA AC97 Built in Sound drivers
3) AMD AGP Fix for Win2000

Since the ISA modem is the 'oldest' (legacy) hardware, I'll install the drivers for AC97 sound first, then do a cold boot. Do the Photoshop &quot;test&quot;- if it passes-

In goes the AGP fix, and another cold boot. Apply Photoshop &quot;test&quot;. If it passes-

Pop in the ISA modem, and let's all keep our fingers crossed ehehe

 

[EvilKnevil]

spoke too soon

it hung when i tried loading a PSD...even before i got to install the modem or the drivers for sound/agp fix

argh this is sooooooo frustrating!!! :|

hmm..when i open my system information window, under conflicts/sharing. here's what i get:

IRQ11 : Microsoft ACPI Compliant System
IRQ11 : VIA USB Universal Host Controller
IRQ11 : VIA USB Universal Host Controller
IRQ11 : VIA AC'97 Audio Controller(WDM)

Could this have anything to do with my problem?? If so, how could I resolve this?

Thanks!

 

[jamesbond007]

Evil, try updating your BIOS to a newer version. I know I had similar problems with my Asus A7V board, until I got the 1005a BIOS in there. Now I have no more problems. Try that out. Hope it will fix your problems like it did for me. Good luck to ya mate.

 

[EvilKnevil]

thanks for the support guys

here's a bit of a development:

1) went in Soyo BIOS and DISABLED &quot;Assign IRQ to USB&quot;
2) Win2K loaded, ad I checked the system information again, conflicts/sharing. Here's what I got:

IRQ11 : VIA USB Universal Host Controller
IRQ11 : VIA USB Universal Host Controller
IRQ11 : VIA AC'97 Audio Controller(WDM)

3) I lookws for ACPI and it had been assigned IRQ9.

4) I then proceeded to load PSD after PSD..seeing if it'll hang still. I loaded 3 PSD's I was working on and edited one of them..no problem. I loaded up to 27 PSD's (each around 6MBs average), and it didnt hang. I exited Photshop and loaded Championship Manager 2001, and it worked fine.

5) My Bios is the lates revision for my Soyo SY7KTVA ( rev 2aa2), I am using Via 4.27v, will slap in Via 4.28 later.

6) Though the system seems stable I will stress it some more. It could have been one of those freak occureces when it was working fine. heehehe

thanks again and I'll keep you guys posted.

 

[Daniel]

EK, still having trouble with that problem like yours, updating my other thread at hereand wondering if you have any more input?
thanks,
Daniel

 

[Delusional]

Evil, I'm having similar problems, but the freezing is not to that extent but it pauses constantly. I did a fresh format recently and still same problems which brings me to the idea of it being a hardware problem. Ive already removed and swapped video cards but no changes, so i have yet to swap cpu and the memory which my friend suggested that might be the problem.

Asus P3V4X
P3 733/133
Corsair128 pc133
Geforce2 GTS
SBLive Xgamer

 

[EvilKnevil]

hi guys!

Funny thing about these IRQs:

1) my office issued laptop has a ton of stuff assigned to IRQ11..but it works perfectly
2) my office desktop has the No Conflicts message displayed under win2k's systemk information..that too works perfectly.
3) my HOME pc (aka Mr. Freeze), after installing the latest Voodoo3 drivers, has 4 items now under IRQ11:

Via USB
Via USB
Via AC97
3Dfx Voodoo

and yes, it hung again

one thing i haven;t done is disable ACPI in win2k's installation....so..this is my plan of attack this weekend:

i will do a complete format of the HDD and install win2k without ACPI (by pressing F7 during setup)..we'll see how it goes.

questions thoug:

should i tweak the bios to force IRQ's? or jsut leave it at &quot;optimized defaults&quot;?...and

which should i install first, after the OS. My thinking is as follows:

1) Via 4in1
2) AGP patch
3) latest drivers for peripherals, etc.
3) Service Pack 1

what you guys think?

I think it is just a configuration setting- am not discounting it as a Mobo/CPU problem coz other people experience similar problems with different brand Mobo's, and even differnt CPU's.

hope my next post here will be good news!

 

[Mem]

Delusional ,I remember reading using 300w PSU with that board(P3V4X) helps with stability,also go into your Bios &amp; disable fastwrites, &amp; all video shadowing,btw what Via 4 in 1 drivers are you using?

 

[Hermann]

I've been have similar problems with 5 computers at work. Hard locks at random, all requiring shutting off the power.

Check this out for a veriaty of parts:
1 Compaq Pesario computer w/ Matrox g400 dual video and stock compaq parts (Thunder 900)
4 Home built machines,
Hard drive - 2 Western Digital Experts 20gb, 3 IBM 7200 20gb, Video - 2 Elsa gladiac one run elsa drivers, one runing nvidea w2k drivers, 1 Asus 7700 gts 64mg, 1 Asus 7700 gts 32 mg, Kingsington value ram, asus cd roms, sony cd-roms, Thunder 1000, super orb coolers, no overclocking, Asus a7v mobo, diff versions of 1004 bios (Will try 1005c today), verious stages of driver updates (Have not tried the amd w2k yet)

I have some crutial ram coming today and will give it a shot. Will try an older Video card to see if it will help. I am going to see if I can find a more powerful power supply (recomendations?). My thoughts are that it is a Windows 2000 / AMD issue. I have very simular computers that are running NT 4 with no problem. I will probably have to move back to NT 4 if there is no solution soon.

Good luck on your experiments - I'll keep you posted if I find something that works.