Sometimes my PC crashes when loading Windows?

[T0bias]

Hey,

Sometimes I experience that my new PC crashes during the Windows loading screen, It just freezes and nothing happens.

Sometimes It looks like it crashed, but after a while it continues loading normally.

It's not happening very often, and besides that I haven't noticed anything not running as it should.

I haven't noticed any specific pattern in when it's doing it..

What do you think most likely causes this? Software or hardware problem?
Could it be something with my copy of Windows XP (pro sp2)?

My PC is as follows:
CPU: Intel Q9450 @ stock
MB: Asus P5K/EPU
Memory: 2x2GB OCZ Platinum PC8000
HDD: Samsung F1 1TB
GFX: Club3D GeForce 8800GTS 512MB
PSU: Corsair HX520W
Case: Antec P182

 

[Roguestar]

Could be either. Try narrowing it down; check temperatures, install updates and patches, scan hard drive for errors, run memtest, update BIOS etc etc.

 

[oynaz]

I have seen USB devices cause this behaviour.

 

[T0bias]

The CPU temp is around 39C idle and 60C load after ~50 minutes of prime95 small fft's. I am working on getting better airflow with some other fans, but these temperatures should be fine. I use a Xigmatec HDT S1283 cooler for the cpu btw.

BIOS is the latest version, and I use the the latest nvidia driver (175.16).

How do I scan the harddrive for errors?

And the memtest you talk about, is it the one I find here, http://www.memtest86.com ?

 

[T0bias]

oynaz: Hm.. I am using an external USB soundcard from Steelseries - I can't remember if I had this plugged in from the beginning when I first encountered the problem though... I could try unplugging it, but it's difficult to be sure that such a peridocally occuring error is gone

 

[oynaz]

Regarding diagnostics tools, look no further than Ultimate Boot CD:

http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/

And yes, it is perfectly legal.

 

[T0bias]

I haven't made a memory test yet (been too busy lately) - I did a chdisk from windows (with scanning for bad sectors) and it didn't find anything.

I am wondering if my memory is set up correctly, as I think they should have 2.1V but according to CPU-Z they get 1.8V. Could this result in the occasional problem when booting?

CPU-Z gives the part number OCZ2P10002G, but I couldn't find this exact part number on OCZ's site.. can anyone confirm that 2.1V is what I should use with this memory in case you think I should manually change the voltage?

 

[Blain]

Crashing...
OCZ memory...
Sounds about right. :laugh: But at least you got it cheap... didn't you?

 

[0roo0roo]

memtest. memtest memtest!

a linux live cd is always nice to have to test systemw ith another os to remove windows from the equation. download knoppox, burn to cd/dvd and try it.

 

[T0bias]

Blain: This memory got so great reviews everywhere, and haven't heard anything bad about it - and yes it was also quite cheap so that's why I bought it

But does anyone know if 2.1V is the right voltage to use?

Regarding memory test: Is memtest86 the best tool to test the memory?

 

[Blain]

Caveat about "Reviews"...

* Sometimes reviewers are sent cherry picked components rather than off the shelf like we have to buy.
* Sometimes reviews spend very little time with a product. Only enough to know it works and run some qiuck benchmarks. Very little long haul testing is done on reviewed components.
* Sometimes reviewers are "encouraged" by the companies to endorse their products, in the form of a favorable review.

* All reviews should be taken with a grain of salt.
Forums are a good place to find out how yesterday's "Hot Rod" is functioning in the real world.

 

[T0bias]

Blain: Yeah I know, but I also got these recommended by other people on forums

 

[Blain]

I'm sure companies wouldn't have moles registered as members, simply to hype their products.
That wouldn't happen here. :roll:


The free exchange of thought and ideas is a great thing.

 

[T0bias]

Let's get back to topic btw - I already have these memory modules and unless I can localize any problems with them they won't get replaced

So what I asked for now is:

The voltage to the memory is set to auto in BIOS - which I think means 1.8V. Should I change this and manually set them to 2.1V?

And regarding memory test: Is memtest86 the best tool to test the memory for errors?

 

[nineball9]

If your computer crashes when loading Windows but not during regular use, try checking what programs start when Windows starts. I had an instance where an upgraded version of my antivirus software included a "check system files at startup" which sometimes caused Windows to crash when loading. Disabling that security option eliminated the problem for me, but there are innumerable software startup programs which could be causing your problem.

Good luck!