[SOLVED] Random Lockups, Freezes, Crashes, Corrupt Downloads and files

crimsondrac · 01-11-2008, 10:00 AM

Hi All,

I am new to the forums but have been working on PCs for over 15 years. About 6-8 weeks ago, my PC started having problems. At first it started with some corrupt downloads. At the time, I thought it was the application I was using to download, Flashget. I had installed the newest version, then uninstalled it and installed an older copy to get back a feature they had removed in the newer version. After that was when my downloads seemed to start getting corrupt. I could download files via Internet Explorer and they would come down fine. That is what made me think Flashget was the problem. However, about a week later, normal downloads started going bad as well. Also, my system start having freezes while booting, usually after windows started loading the GUI. And games would start locking up or crashing with weird errors about files being corrupt or dealing with some nVidia driver file.

At this point, I figured it was RAM going bad. I had installed 2x1GB Corsair ram about 4 months earlier to bring my system up to 3GB. I also had 2x512MB Infineon that has been in my box since it was born. I pulled the 2x1GB sticks out and left only the 2x512MB sticks. No help. Downloads were still getting corrupt. So, maybe the 512 sticks were going bad. I pulled them and put in the 2x1GB sticks. No help there either. I then tried putting in the sticks one at a time. This disabled Dual Channel but I was just testing. The symptoms still existed with each individual stick.

Since games were throwing out nVidia errors, then next step I wanted to take was replacing the video card. I had been planning on that for a while so I bit the bullet. I replaced my 7600GT card with a 8600GTS card from eVGA. Though my games do run much smoother now, the problems have not gone away.

At this point, I feel the problem to either be the PSU or the Motherboard. I happen to have a spare PSU (Always try to keep a new one around) that I am going to try out this weekend. If it is the motherboard, I may just go ahead and build a new system. I had been planning on it anyway, but I wanted to put it off for another 4-6 months. I am also going to run a memory checker this weekend, though unless all 4 sticks of RAM went bad, I do not think it is the RAM.

I had though it might be the hard drive, but I have a 320GB WD and a 500GB WD. I have tried downloading files to either drive and both still end up having corrupt files. I have run a full CHKDSK on both drives and defragmented them. CHKDSK did not find anything and Defrag said the files were around 30% fragmented, but not anymore.

All system fans are turning fast and free. No extra noise or rattling. If anyone has any suggestions, I would be more then happy to try them out.

Specs: (No Overclocking on anything)
PSU: 500W (Single Fan)
M/B: Gigabyte GA8I945P Pro
Proc: Intel Core Duo 3Ghz
Mem: 3GB Dual Channel (2x512MB Infineon and 2x1GB Corsair)
HD: 1x320GB Western Digital SATA and 1x500GB Western Digital SATA
Optical: 2 Lite On DVD-RW drives
Fans: 1x120mm Front fan, 1x80mm rear fan, 1x80mm side fan.
Front Panel: 4 port USB and a 12in1 Memory card reader

Thanks

n10sity · 01-11-2008, 10:07 AM

I suppose you could try a LIVE CD and see if you run into some of the same problems you seem to be experiencing with Windows. That way, you should be able to determine for sure whether or not it's a hardware or software/OS problem. By the way, I'm assuming you know whether you might possibly have a virus/malware or not given your experience.

crimsondrac · 01-11-2008, 10:10 AM

Yea, I run Symantec AV Corportate on my PC and routinely run malware and spyware checks using online services. Believe me, as soon as this started that was one of the first things I checked.

crimsondrac · 01-12-2008, 04:15 PM

Ok, as it stands now, I swapped out the powersupply which did not help anything. So I decided to downloaded and run the Microsoft Memory test app. With all 4 sticks of RAM in, the memory test was throwing out errors left and right. I removed all the memory and started running the memory test on each stick, one by one. It turns out 1 stick of the 1GB Corsair was causing huge amounts of errors in every test and 1 stick of the 512 Infineon were throwing out a few errors on the LRAND test. Go figure, 1 stick of ram bad in each pair.

Anyway, ran out to the local computer shop and picked up two sticks of 1GB Kingston. Installed them and re-ran the Memory test. Went through all 6 tests with 0 errors. YAY!!!

Loaded windows and everything seemed to be running ok. Went to go try a download and BAM!!! Corrupt file.

I do not understand. The memory is good now. Now it must either be the motherboard or the Proc itself. I did buy a new Motherboard just in case. Was gonna take it back, unopened, if the new memory fixed everything. Now, I gotta back up my C drive, swap out motherboards and re-install XP. The new MB is an Asus P5N-E SLI. So it may be a day or two before I can make it back here for an update. I can have XP back up by tonight, but it will take me a few days to re-install all the drivers and apps.

See you on the other side. Wish me luck.

kebz · 03-31-2008, 08:21 AM

Hi crimsondrac,

I was curious, did you figured out your problem? I just built a new computer with Vista and am experiencing the exact same problem. My solution might not be the same as your soulution since I am running Vista but it would be a good start for me. I am at a loss right now for what to do next. Thanks!

crimsondrac · 04-04-2008, 10:37 AM

Yes, I did figure it out and I apologize that I did not come back here to post. It turns out it was bad RAM all along. I just had extremely bad run of luck buying RAM.

The Corsair I orginally had was bad. I contacted Corsair and they immediately issued an RMA. Meanwhile, I had bought the Kingston. Well that turned out to be bad. So While I was waiting for Corsair to send me back some new memory, I returned the Kingston to my local Fry's. I got two new sticks of Kingston and those seemed to clear up my problems.

A few days later, I got the two new sticks from Corsair. As soon as I put those in my system with the Kingston, I started getting blue screens and freezes. I retested all my sticks with the MS Mem Tester and it turned out the new Corsair sticks were bad right out of the box. I contacted Corsair again and they were real apologetic and issue dme another RMA. About a week later, I had the new Corsair sticks and since then, my PC has been humming along smoothly. Corsair and Kingston Memory co-existing in peace and harmony on my PC. I kinda hated buying the extra memory, but I have to admit, 4GB is nice.

01-11-2008, 10:00 AM	#1 (permalink)
crimsondrac Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 8 OS: XP SP2	[SOLVED] Random Lockups, Freezes, Crashes, Corrupt Downloads and files Hi All, I am new to the forums but have been working on PCs for over 15 years. About 6-8 weeks ago, my PC started having problems. At first it started with some corrupt downloads. At the time, I thought it was the application I was using to download, Flashget. I had installed the newest version, then uninstalled it and installed an older copy to get back a feature they had removed in the newer version. After that was when my downloads seemed to start getting corrupt. I could download files via Internet Explorer and they would come down fine. That is what made me think Flashget was the problem. However, about a week later, normal downloads started going bad as well. Also, my system start having freezes while booting, usually after windows started loading the GUI. And games would start locking up or crashing with weird errors about files being corrupt or dealing with some nVidia driver file. At this point, I figured it was RAM going bad. I had installed 2x1GB Corsair ram about 4 months earlier to bring my system up to 3GB. I also had 2x512MB Infineon that has been in my box since it was born. I pulled the 2x1GB sticks out and left only the 2x512MB sticks. No help. Downloads were still getting corrupt. So, maybe the 512 sticks were going bad. I pulled them and put in the 2x1GB sticks. No help there either. I then tried putting in the sticks one at a time. This disabled Dual Channel but I was just testing. The symptoms still existed with each individual stick. Since games were throwing out nVidia errors, then next step I wanted to take was replacing the video card. I had been planning on that for a while so I bit the bullet. I replaced my 7600GT card with a 8600GTS card from eVGA. Though my games do run much smoother now, the problems have not gone away. At this point, I feel the problem to either be the PSU or the Motherboard. I happen to have a spare PSU (Always try to keep a new one around) that I am going to try out this weekend. If it is the motherboard, I may just go ahead and build a new system. I had been planning on it anyway, but I wanted to put it off for another 4-6 months. I am also going to run a memory checker this weekend, though unless all 4 sticks of RAM went bad, I do not think it is the RAM. I had though it might be the hard drive, but I have a 320GB WD and a 500GB WD. I have tried downloading files to either drive and both still end up having corrupt files. I have run a full CHKDSK on both drives and defragmented them. CHKDSK did not find anything and Defrag said the files were around 30% fragmented, but not anymore. All system fans are turning fast and free. No extra noise or rattling. If anyone has any suggestions, I would be more then happy to try them out. Specs: (No Overclocking on anything) PSU: 500W (Single Fan) M/B: Gigabyte GA8I945P Pro Proc: Intel Core Duo 3Ghz Mem: 3GB Dual Channel (2x512MB Infineon and 2x1GB Corsair) HD: 1x320GB Western Digital SATA and 1x500GB Western Digital SATA Optical: 2 Lite On DVD-RW drives Fans: 1x120mm Front fan, 1x80mm rear fan, 1x80mm side fan. Front Panel: 4 port USB and a 12in1 Memory card reader Thanks Last edited by crimsondrac; 01-11-2008 at 10:04 AM.

01-11-2008, 10:07 AM	#2 (permalink)
n10sity Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 184 OS: Vista Ultimate 64bit SP1, Vista Business 32bit SP1, XP Pro SP3, Debian 4.0, Leopard (just because)	Re: Random Lockups, Freezes, Crashes, Corrupt Downloads and files I suppose you could try a LIVE CD and see if you run into some of the same problems you seem to be experiencing with Windows. That way, you should be able to determine for sure whether or not it's a hardware or software/OS problem. By the way, I'm assuming you know whether you might possibly have a virus/malware or not given your experience.

01-11-2008, 10:10 AM	#3 (permalink)
crimsondrac Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 8 OS: XP SP2	Re: Random Lockups, Freezes, Crashes, Corrupt Downloads and files Yea, I run Symantec AV Corportate on my PC and routinely run malware and spyware checks using online services. Believe me, as soon as this started that was one of the first things I checked.

01-12-2008, 04:15 PM	#4 (permalink)
crimsondrac Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 8 OS: XP SP2	Re: Random Lockups, Freezes, Crashes, Corrupt Downloads and files Ok, as it stands now, I swapped out the powersupply which did not help anything. So I decided to downloaded and run the Microsoft Memory test app. With all 4 sticks of RAM in, the memory test was throwing out errors left and right. I removed all the memory and started running the memory test on each stick, one by one. It turns out 1 stick of the 1GB Corsair was causing huge amounts of errors in every test and 1 stick of the 512 Infineon were throwing out a few errors on the LRAND test. Go figure, 1 stick of ram bad in each pair. Anyway, ran out to the local computer shop and picked up two sticks of 1GB Kingston. Installed them and re-ran the Memory test. Went through all 6 tests with 0 errors. YAY!!! Loaded windows and everything seemed to be running ok. Went to go try a download and BAM!!! Corrupt file. I do not understand. The memory is good now. Now it must either be the motherboard or the Proc itself. I did buy a new Motherboard just in case. Was gonna take it back, unopened, if the new memory fixed everything. Now, I gotta back up my C drive, swap out motherboards and re-install XP. The new MB is an Asus P5N-E SLI. So it may be a day or two before I can make it back here for an update. I can have XP back up by tonight, but it will take me a few days to re-install all the drivers and apps. See you on the other side. Wish me luck.

03-31-2008, 08:21 AM	#5 (permalink)
kebz Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 1 OS: Vista	Re: Random Lockups, Freezes, Crashes, Corrupt Downloads and files Hi crimsondrac, I was curious, did you figured out your problem? I just built a new computer with Vista and am experiencing the exact same problem. My solution might not be the same as your soulution since I am running Vista but it would be a good start for me. I am at a loss right now for what to do next. Thanks!

04-04-2008, 10:37 AM	#6 (permalink)
crimsondrac Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 8 OS: XP SP2	Re: Random Lockups, Freezes, Crashes, Corrupt Downloads and files Yes, I did figure it out and I apologize that I did not come back here to post. It turns out it was bad RAM all along. I just had extremely bad run of luck buying RAM. The Corsair I orginally had was bad. I contacted Corsair and they immediately issued an RMA. Meanwhile, I had bought the Kingston. Well that turned out to be bad. So While I was waiting for Corsair to send me back some new memory, I returned the Kingston to my local Fry's. I got two new sticks of Kingston and those seemed to clear up my problems. A few days later, I got the two new sticks from Corsair. As soon as I put those in my system with the Kingston, I started getting blue screens and freezes. I retested all my sticks with the MS Mem Tester and it turned out the new Corsair sticks were bad right out of the box. I contacted Corsair again and they were real apologetic and issue dme another RMA. About a week later, I had the new Corsair sticks and since then, my PC has been humming along smoothly. Corsair and Kingston Memory co-existing in peace and harmony on my PC. I kinda hated buying the extra memory, but I have to admit, 4GB is nice.