Xamata

Hello, :P

My computer recently started freezing, and I'm not sure why. I know software can do alot of things, but I've reformatted and haven't installed any programs that were installed after the freezing. So I don't think its any software as my computer has run for 2-3 yrs pretty fine. I'm decent with finding out stuff, and got I guess okay knowledge with tech terms so if anyone can post things that can cause a computer to freeze. Going to try cleaning dust out and stuff, I did replace a burnt out powersupply 1/2+ yr ago because dust stopped the fan and I didn't know :P Other question is, should I consider any part of my BIOS as being part of the problme?

Thnx a bunch.

Added: Cleaned out the dust, wasn't much in there. And another added tidbit, I play lotta games, and it hasn't forzen yet while I've been in a game for many hours... freezes randomly everywhere, the entire system, sometimes a few times in a row, sometimes not for hours.

dai

check your tempretures and voltages with speedfan
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download337.html

Xamata

Hmm, well I dled and looked at the speedfan, from my basic know, everything looks to be under blue arrows down and green check marks, voltages are below, some slightly above by like .01-.12

>.> I could really just use ideas of common things that might be going wrong for me. Looking to determine things I should try, might be better off bringing in to my computer guy but I would like more ideas :P more I know, less time for him to fix, less I pay :P .... if I can't fix myself

please

@ Xamata
dai gave you some excellent advice. High temps and voltage fluctuations are the leading cause of mysterious random freezes. You did good by cleaning up as that can promote high temps. Can you post your temps at idle and at high usage?

It could be a memory stick is going bad possibly. Try memtest86+ from my sig.

Another thing to try is use AdAware and Spybot to clean up any malware you may have acquired. Using both works best as they each have their own methods. Make sure your anti-virus software is up to date and do a full system scan.

keep us posted with your progress.

Xamata

<2% 20mins+
[img=http://img236.imageshack.us/img236/306/speedfan14vj.th.jpg]
(sry double post below for 2nd image... wasn't working 2 in here, and its late :P)
Ran speedfan, computer been on all day, 10hours+ at least. Extra info, my comp is in my basement, maybe 68F and below.

I ran the memory check, 3hours, passed 5 times, no errors. Neat lil tools XD I like.

Um, other than that, I think my computer froze once during windows xp installation in the blue screen stage (froze 3mins+, should take less than a min the stage it was at) after reformatting, soon as the desktop loads, middle of many windows applications, not in a game yet which is odd although I think my comp rebooted for no reason once in the middle (maybe I hit the button..., doubtful)... hmm what else, not sure. oh, and yes I run ad-aware and spybot a lot, ... reformatted so no big deal right now :P and I use zonealarm pro for firewall, not updated though :P

Thnx so far, hope that helps... maybe

Xamata

60-100% 30mins+

dai

update zone alarm

please

@ Xamata
Thanks for posted the screen shots of Speedfan. Heat is not an issue at this point. .

You may benefit from running the Maxtor HDD diagnostic tools in case there is a bad sector or something wrong with your HDD.

keep us posted with your progress

Xamata

Tried out Maxtor HDD, got an error de99e5bd didn't click fix though cuz no time to reformat again if the bad sectors are being used or something, think said they weren't but not sure.....

Zonealarm I don't got the license to update, if I should consider that still, should I disable it or uninstall it?

Hmm, I can try sumbitting the error to their support link if you guys don't know what it means exactly... probably won't try fixing the HD with the maxtor diagnosis for a week, after a few exams. Thnx lots so far XD I like learning a few new things and gathering good new programs :P

dai

try the free version of z/alarm
http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/fil...RSS,RSS,00.asp
have not been able to find the error code
http://maxtor.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/m...i=&p_topview=1

Xamata

I ran the maxtor on the HDD and fixed the error, so it passes now without any errors, and I disabled zonealarm so it doesn't startup, and it still froze yet again :( deleted every game, >.> what other stuff is there to check besides assuming grimlens are inside pulling things apart?

dai

what is it like in safe mode

Xamata

You mean, run it in safe mode, see if it freezes up???

dai

yes that will give an indication if it is a h/ware or software problem

Xamata

Well, I was up all night doing a project, and it froze 12+ times, so went into safe mode, didn't freeze, left it on all day in safe mode and it didn't freeze. So :P maybe that helps, I know I reformatted though, but I probably did it half assed.... I use a lot of borrowed programs so setting stuff up is tricky sometimes but I never have had problems from these programs before in over 2 yrs. And any new ones I got within the last month before the freezing I took off.

Anyways, possbile I got some sort of virus that corrupted something, or I dunno, maybe my harddrive is messed and when I formatted I did it wrong??

:P not sure what to do at this point, only idea would be finding a better clean way of formatting. What other ideas you guru guys got

dai

well that points to a software issue,start with the startups
in msconfig untick everything on the startup tab and see how it runs
if ok start reticking them one at a time starting with your a/virus to try and isolate the one theat is causing the problem

Xamata

msconfig??? I know spybot has a tick list :P is that it?

hmmm, somehow think the problem is integrated more than just something that startsup, who knows :P

please

go "start>run>msconfig"

Xamata

hmm, msconfig cool >.> untick everything in all the tabs? or certain things?

But btw... I forgot... and I am stupid for forgetting. I use some custom loading screens for the 'xp load' and login', ntoskrnl and logonui. I never had a problem before with them, and I'm using a ntoskrnl I used long ago that never had a problem. But loading up just now, my comp froze on the xp load screen, no bar moving and nothing for 2mins+.... rebooted, froze 20secs into the desktop loading up.

Anyways, if its software, its something before or during the xp loading screen I think >.> what thoughts do you guys have about that?? hmm, prior I used a few new different ntoskrnl.exes' but right now got one I know worked before.

'wonder if I am difficult :P

please

If you think a program like the two you mentioned may be a problem, uninstall them and see if there is a change in your freezeups.