Weird system hangup

[bassmanjp]

here's the problem:

the system hangs up weirdly.

I have windows xp sp2. I leave the computer on during the night and when I come back in the morning, the screen is frozen sometimes. I can see, but nothing responds. The cursor doesn't move, ctrl+alt+del doesn't do a thing and I don't hear any "beep" from the system. I have to shut it down manually.

Usually, this never happened when I was using the system, but it just happened. That's why I'm posting this. I checked all the standy features in windows power management system and disabled all of them. I don't have any screen saver running. I disabled the suspend from the bios. I ran a clock to see how long it takes to hang up. sometimes, it runs about 4 hours before hanging up and other times, It can run for more than 8 hours without hanging up. I really have no clue about what it could be.

Thanks if you have any tips...

also: I don't have any virus or spyware. I have NAV2004 and Ad-Aware installed and running... I also run Seti@home. I wonder if this could be the problem. anyway... Also, I have disabled the automatic CPU overclocking which was standard with the motherboard.


here's my system:

Number of CPUs 1
APIC ID 0
Name AMD Athlon 64 3500+
Code name NewCastle
Specification AMD Athlon(tm) 64 Processor 3500+
Family/Model/Stepping FF0
Extended Family/Model F/F
Brand ID 1
Package Socket 939
Core Stepping DH7-CG
Technology 0.13µ
Instructions Sets MMX, Extended MMX, 3DNow!, Extended 3DNow!, SSE, SSE2, x86-64
Clock Speed 2202.8 MHz
Clock multiplier x11.0
HTT Bus Frequency 200.3 MHz
L1 Data Cache 64 KBytes, 2-way set associative, 64 Bytes line size
L1 Instruction Cache 64 KBytes, 2-way set associative, 64 Bytes line size
L2 Cache 512 KBytes, 16-way set associative, 64 Bytes line size
L2 Speed 2202.8 MHz (Full)
L2 Location On Chip
L2 Data Prefetch Logic yes
L2 Bus Width 128 bits

Chipset
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Northbridge VIA K8T800 Pro rev. 0
Southbridge VIA VT8237 rev. 0
AGP Revision 3.0
AGP Transfert Rate 8x
AGP SBA supported, enabled
AGP Aperture 64 MBytes
Memory Type DDR
Memory Size 1024 MBytes
Memory Frequency 200.3 MHz (CPU/11)
CAS# 2.0
RAS# to CAS# 3
RAS# Precharge 2
Cycle Time (tRAS) 6
Bank Cycle Time (tRC) 11
DRAM Idle Timer 16


Memory SPD
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Module #1

General
Memory type DDR-SDRAM
Manufacturer (ID) Corsair (7F7F9E0000000000)
Size 512 MBytes
Max bandwidth PC3200 (200 MHz)
Part number CMX512-3200LLPRO

Attributes
Number of banks 2
Data width 64 bits
Correction None
Registered no
Buffered no

Timings table
Frequency (MHz) 200
CAS# 2.0
RAS# to CAS# delay 3
RAS# Precharge 2
TRAS# 6


Module #2

General
Memory type DDR-SDRAM
Manufacturer (ID) Corsair (7F7F9E0000000000)
Size 512 MBytes
Max bandwidth PC3200 (200 MHz)
Part number CMX512-3200LLPRO

Attributes
Number of banks 2
Data width 64 bits
Correction None
Registered no
Buffered no

Timings table
Frequency (MHz) 200
CAS# 2.0
RAS# to CAS# delay 3
RAS# Precharge 2
TRAS# 6

MI
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DMI BIOS
--------
BIOS #1
vendor American Megatrends Inc.
version 1003.006
date 05/12/2004


DMI System Information
----------------------
System #1
manufacturer To Be Filled By O.E.M.
product To Be Filled By O.E.M.
version To Be Filled By O.E.M.
serial To Be Filled By O.E.M.
UUID 88D2F69D-9AC3D811-AB1CB415-BE6437C1


DMI Baseboard
-------------
Baseboard #1
vendor ASUSTeK Computer Inc.
model A8V Deluxe
revision Rev 1.xx
serial MB-1234567890


DMI System Enclosure
--------------------
System enclosure #1
manufacturer Chassis Manufacture
chassis type Desktop
chassis serial Chassis Serial Number


DMI Processor
-------------
CPU #1
manufacturer AMD
model AMD Athlon(tm) 64 Processor 3500+
clock speed 2200.0MHz
FSB speed 200.0MHz
multiplier 11.0x


DMI Memory Controller
---------------------
Memory Controller #1
correction 64-bit ECC
Max module size 1024MBytes


DMI Memory Module
-----------------
Memory Module #1
designation DIMM0
size 512MBytes (double bank)
Memory Module #2
designation DIMM1
size 512MBytes (double bank)

Software
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Windows Version Microsoft Windows XP Workstation Service Pack 2 (Build 2600)
DirectX Version 9.0b


powersupply is an Antec True430...
Case is an Antec plusview1000amg. the 2 fans are correctly running. the MB temp is about 28 and the CPU temp is around 52 celcius.

 

[Smilin]

leave the computer up with a "clean boot" run msconfig, goto the services tab and hit the check box 'hide all microsoft services' then hit disable all. Goto the startup tab and hit 'disable all'. Reboot for changes to take effect.

If that doesn't work you'll have to setup a perfmon/perfwiz to see if anything is leaking or dying.

If that doesn't work there is a good chance you have a hardware problem.

Another option is to configure your box for a user-initiated crash dump. Wait for the box to freeze, initiate a crash via keyboard then send the memory dump in to Microsoft and have them debug it. If you are unable to initiate a dump then it is very likely you have a hardware problem.

 

[bassmanjp]

what kind of hardware problem should I suspect?

First, I'll reinstall Windows I guess.

And I have another question...
I know AMD athlon64 has the NX technology. Could that be a cause to the freezes?

thanks for the tips.

 

[mechBgon]

Also, that memory's made for 2.75 volts, what are you running it at? And what is the power supply brand, model & wattage?

 

[bassmanjp]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
Also, that memory's made for 2.75 volts, what are you running it at? And what is the power supply brand, model & wattage?

for the voltage, I have to check.

the ps is an Antec True430.

 

[bassmanjp]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
Also, that memory's made for 2.75 volts, what are you running it at? And what is the power supply brand, model & wattage?

I have 3 choices for the voltage in my bios.

2.6, 2.7 and 2.8.

I put 2.7.


also, I tried shutting all non-microsoft services and all startup and it still freezed.

what the perfmon will tell me?

 

[bassmanjp]

if anybody wants to know...

I have shutted down everything, pc, ps, powerbars, etc.

I've waited about 45 minutes, then restarted everything. But, I have also moved some electric components to the other powerbar, leaving as least as possible power draining sources on the powerbar where the cpu powersupply is connected.

so far so good... I don't know if this could be the problem, if the energy demand was too high from the cpu and sharing a powerbar with other devices could be the cause. Anyway, I'll wait before reinstalling Windows...

 

[mechBgon]

...or maybe the memory wanted more than the default 2.5 volts? Anyway, steady as she goes, Sulu

 

[bassmanjp]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
...or maybe the memory wanted more than the default 2.5 volts? Anyway, steady as she goes, Sulu

I just had another hang up...

could this be a WinXP problem and reinstalling would maybe fix it?

or this is really an unknown hardware problem, memory, cpu or motherboard I guess?

everything was going fine...

could this be an internet problem? somebody's trying to hijack my cpu and it freezes?

thanks...

 

[mechBgon]

You have WinXP's firewall turned on, right? And if you have broadband I suggest using a router between the computer and the modem, too, maybe you have one already. Also, are there any other computers networked to yours there, and are your Norton definitions up-to-date and armed for maximum detection?

 

[bassmanjp]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
You have WinXP's firewall turned on, right? And if you have broadband I suggest using a router between the computer and the modem, too, maybe you have one already. Also, are there any other computers networked to yours there, and are your Norton definitions up-to-date and armed for maximum detection?

yes
the firewall is on.

but I try shutting off the cable modem and still I got the hang up.

norton is up to date, the system is free of virus.


I really don't know. What hardware could do such a problem?

CPU, Memory,MB?

 

[nmcglennon]

My old system (Athlon 2100) used to do that. Turns out it was overheating, and would hangup after any extended period of usage (or idling).

Make sure your cooling fan is working appropriately and the heat sick is not clogged with dust.

 

[bassmanjp]

Originally posted by: nmcglennon
My old system (Athlon 2100) used to do that. Turns out it was overheating, and would hangup after any extended period of usage (or idling).

Make sure your cooling fan is working appropriately and the heat sick is not clogged with dust.

running temp of cpu is around 55 celcius and mb was 35 last time I have checked...

I think the flow of air is good...

the only thing I could think about is that I put on the heatsink twice, so the thermal pasta may not be well spread over...

I thought about it and I was about to use some Arctic Silver... Might try this too.

Thanks for the input.

edit:

also, I thought that the system would shut down and not just hang up with the desktop freezing when it was an overheating problem.
Am I right?

 

[daveybrat]

Although not quite the same symptoms as you, it's definitely worth a read!

Athlon64 and SP2 issue

Try what they say or just try uninstalling service pack 2.