Freezing Issue. I can't figure it out...

Heroin · 09-27-2009, 12:23 AM

Plain and simple, out of the blue my main PC has begun to freeze. At random intervals.
It sometimes freezes at POST,sometimes at BIOS, sometimes at win XP loading screen, sometimes at Desktop, sometimes at windows XP installation cd screen.

The first thing I tried to do was boot to safe mode and it froze before the OS loading screen. Second try it made it to desktop but still froze before I could do anything.

The second thing I did was attempt to replace my main PC's power supply with my secondary PC's power supply (both of which were identical).

HAZZAA I said. Alas, I was mistaken when it continued to crash as normal. I put the main Power supply into my secondary tower and it worked fine.

SO I concluded the issue was not the power supply. I have not entirely ruled out malware, yet I doubt this since it will even freeze at POST.

I turn to you my friends, to help me with this issue. I am intermediate PC user yet I know a lot is still beyond me.

J.K.Lawless

dai · 09-27-2009, 01:53 AM

what are you running
video card
cpu
m/board
ram
power supply
brand
wattage

check the listings in the bios for voltages and temperatures and post them

Heroin · 09-27-2009, 07:46 AM

what are you running-Windows XP Pro 32 bit

video card-ATI Radeon X1050

cpu-Intel
m/board-Intel D915GAG

ram-2.5GB

power supply- 2 labels on it. IN WIN?, and Power Man?...... not sure which is the brand...
wattage-Max output 240W +3.3V&+5V= 120W (max) +3.3V &+12V+227

Processor Zone: 82 DegreeS C\\
Zone 1: 40,1 orE c
Zone2: 42 nicole is pushing it.

1.5 Vin 1.454
Vccp 1.317 V
+ 3.3in 3.293
+5Vin 5.167
12Vin 12.000

**Tyree** · 09-27-2009, 08:26 AM

The PSU label is confusing....I've never seen a PSU with two barnds on the label.
InWin PSU's are not good quality. PowerMan makes decent low powered PSU's.
240W is on the low side anyway.
I would suggest trying a good quality 350-400W PSU.

Heroin · 09-27-2009, 05:45 PM

Believe it or not. SO you guys are saying it might be supplying to low of wattage.... do you think the video card was the problem? Draining too much current or watts?

Heroin · 09-27-2009, 06:31 PM

OK... I can't figure out how to edit my last message.

I forgot to mention, when I was checking the system temp and voltages, I got a POST error;

"Serial Presence detect (SPD) device data missing or inconclusive. Properly programmed SPD device data is required for reliable operation. DDR 333MHz memory assumed at slowest timings.'

**Tyree** · 09-27-2009, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heroin

SO you guys are saying it might be supplying to low of wattage.... do you think the video card was the problem? Draining too much current or watts?

Not sure about the GPU but you should certainly replace the PSU with a quality one. Seasonic and Corsair are good PSU's.

dai · 09-27-2009, 10:20 PM

your 12v line only outputs 16a

for pcie you need to be up here

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...corsair%2b550w

Heroin · 09-28-2009, 11:26 AM

Ok So the line i usually used for hard drive seems bad. I plugged in the power line I usually have on my CD drive, (i only have 3 lines of this type, 1 is in MOBO) into my hard drive and now it boots and runs perfectly fine without ever freezing. I am financially unable to buy myself a PSU, so this workaround will have to suffice. Besides, my other PC can run the Movies :P. I just wanna game on this one.

I think you figured it out dai. The line that is not supplying sufficient amps must have been the faulty one that was in the hard drive.

dai · 09-28-2009, 11:51 AM

it's probably gone out because it was overloaded

your playing with fire running it underpowered,when they go if you are lucky you just lose the psu

if you are unlucky they can take just about everything with them

**greenbrucelee** · 09-28-2009, 12:46 PM

that power supply is a winpower pro, these are like what petrol is to fire get rid of straight away otherwise you risk having it die on you and take the rest of your pc with it.

You say you are financially unable to buy a new power supply, are you financially able to buy a new PC? if you do not replace this PSU ASAP that is what you will have to do.

I know what I have said sounds a bit harsh but it is a reality and I do not want you to end up with no PC.

I once tested these powr supplies for a customer and for the life of me I do not understand how they can state that (the one I was testing) was 700w when it was churning at 385w.

Heroin · 09-28-2009, 07:48 PM

Thanks for your help guys. I have a feeling it did infact take out other parts of the PC too because I tried an identical (working) PSU on the PC and it still had the same problems. ( the other working PSU is from an identical tower that I use as my backup PC that is working fine. )

**greenbrucelee** · 09-28-2009, 11:40 PM

if it is the same make of power supply get rid of it. Trust me you will at some point get the same problem.

Unfortuantely power supplies only have to be made to a minimum standard and you get what you pay for with them. The power supply should always be your main priority when using a computer because a power supply converts AC electrical current to low voltage DC current if you get a cheap one with cheap components then this conversion can go wrong and this is what happens when a psu fails.

09-27-2009, 12:23 AM	#1 (permalink)
Heroin Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 6 OS: Win XP Pro 32 bit	Freezing Issue. I can't figure it out... Plain and simple, out of the blue my main PC has begun to freeze. At random intervals. It sometimes freezes at POST,sometimes at BIOS, sometimes at win XP loading screen, sometimes at Desktop, sometimes at windows XP installation cd screen. The first thing I tried to do was boot to safe mode and it froze before the OS loading screen. Second try it made it to desktop but still froze before I could do anything. The second thing I did was attempt to replace my main PC's power supply with my secondary PC's power supply (both of which were identical). HAZZAA I said. Alas, I was mistaken when it continued to crash as normal. I put the main Power supply into my secondary tower and it worked fine. SO I concluded the issue was not the power supply. I have not entirely ruled out malware, yet I doubt this since it will even freeze at POST. I turn to you my friends, to help me with this issue. I am intermediate PC user yet I know a lot is still beyond me. J.K.Lawless Last edited by Heroin; 09-27-2009 at 12:24 AM.

09-27-2009, 01:53 AM	#2 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,680 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	Re: Freezing Issue. I can't figure it out... what are you running video card cpu m/board ram power supply brand wattage check the listings in the bios for voltages and temperatures and post them __________________

09-27-2009, 07:46 AM	#3 (permalink)
Heroin Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 6 OS: Win XP Pro 32 bit	Re: Freezing Issue. I can't figure it out... what are you running-Windows XP Pro 32 bit video card-ATI Radeon X1050 cpu-Intel m/board-Intel D915GAG ram-2.5GB power supply- 2 labels on it. IN WIN?, and Power Man?...... not sure which is the brand... wattage-Max output 240W +3.3V&+5V= 120W (max) +3.3V &+12V+227 Processor Zone: 82 DegreeS C\\ Zone 1: 40,1 orE c Zone2: 42 nicole is pushing it. 1.5 Vin 1.454 Vccp 1.317 V + 3.3in 3.293 +5Vin 5.167 12Vin 12.000

09-27-2009, 08:26 AM	#4 (permalink)
Tyree Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: May 2009 Location: Illinois Posts: 5,686 OS: XP Pro-7RC-Mandriva My System	Re: Freezing Issue. I can't figure it out... The PSU label is confusing....I've never seen a PSU with two barnds on the label. InWin PSU's are not good quality. PowerMan makes decent low powered PSU's. 240W is on the low side anyway. I would suggest trying a good quality 350-400W PSU. __________________ Posting your PC specs will help us to help you quicker and more efficiently. Last edited by Tyree; 09-27-2009 at 08:27 AM.

09-27-2009, 05:45 PM	#5 (permalink)
Heroin Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 6 OS: Win XP Pro 32 bit	Re: Freezing Issue. I can't figure it out... Believe it or not. SO you guys are saying it might be supplying to low of wattage.... do you think the video card was the problem? Draining too much current or watts?

09-27-2009, 06:31 PM	#6 (permalink)
Heroin Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 6 OS: Win XP Pro 32 bit	Re: Freezing Issue. I can't figure it out... OK... I can't figure out how to edit my last message. I forgot to mention, when I was checking the system temp and voltages, I got a POST error; "Serial Presence detect (SPD) device data missing or inconclusive. Properly programmed SPD device data is required for reliable operation. DDR 333MHz memory assumed at slowest timings.'

09-27-2009, 10:20 PM	#8 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,680 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	Re: Freezing Issue. I can't figure it out... your 12v line only outputs 16a for pcie you need to be up here http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...corsair%2b550w __________________

09-28-2009, 11:26 AM	#9 (permalink)
Heroin Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 6 OS: Win XP Pro 32 bit	Re: Freezing Issue. I can't figure it out... Ok So the line i usually used for hard drive seems bad. I plugged in the power line I usually have on my CD drive, (i only have 3 lines of this type, 1 is in MOBO) into my hard drive and now it boots and runs perfectly fine without ever freezing. I am financially unable to buy myself a PSU, so this workaround will have to suffice. Besides, my other PC can run the Movies :P. I just wanna game on this one. I think you figured it out dai. The line that is not supplying sufficient amps must have been the faulty one that was in the hard drive. Last edited by Heroin; 09-28-2009 at 11:29 AM.

09-28-2009, 11:51 AM	#10 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,680 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	Re: Freezing Issue. I can't figure it out... it's probably gone out because it was overloaded your playing with fire running it underpowered,when they go if you are lucky you just lose the psu if you are unlucky they can take just about everything with them __________________

09-28-2009, 12:46 PM	#11 (permalink)
greenbrucelee Mentor Hardware team Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 1,865 OS: XP SP3 My System	Re: Freezing Issue. I can't figure it out... that power supply is a winpower pro, these are like what petrol is to fire get rid of straight away otherwise you risk having it die on you and take the rest of your pc with it. You say you are financially unable to buy a new power supply, are you financially able to buy a new PC? if you do not replace this PSU ASAP that is what you will have to do. I know what I have said sounds a bit harsh but it is a reality and I do not want you to end up with no PC. I once tested these powr supplies for a customer and for the life of me I do not understand how they can state that (the one I was testing) was 700w when it was churning at 385w. __________________ Microsoft certified professional, Network +, A+ certified Last edited by greenbrucelee; 09-28-2009 at 12:47 PM.

09-28-2009, 07:48 PM	#12 (permalink)
Heroin Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 6 OS: Win XP Pro 32 bit	Re: Freezing Issue. I can't figure it out... Thanks for your help guys. I have a feeling it did infact take out other parts of the PC too because I tried an identical (working) PSU on the PC and it still had the same problems. ( the other working PSU is from an identical tower that I use as my backup PC that is working fine. )

09-28-2009, 11:40 PM	#13 (permalink)
greenbrucelee Mentor Hardware team Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 1,865 OS: XP SP3 My System	Re: Freezing Issue. I can't figure it out... if it is the same make of power supply get rid of it. Trust me you will at some point get the same problem. Unfortuantely power supplies only have to be made to a minimum standard and you get what you pay for with them. The power supply should always be your main priority when using a computer because a power supply converts AC electrical current to low voltage DC current if you get a cheap one with cheap components then this conversion can go wrong and this is what happens when a psu fails. __________________ Microsoft certified professional, Network +, A+ certified