[pradhan]

Greetings,
I am making one final attempt to avoid re-loading Windows from scratch. Your help is always appreciated.

I am running Windows XP Media Center version. Of late, it has taken to simply locking up after sitting idle for some time. Because it does this while sitting idle, I thought it might be related to powering down to stand-by or screen saver. I turned both of those of, ie, system is always on, no screen saver. It still happens.

When it happens, nothing works. The mouse moves, but does not work. The keyboard does not work. It matters not if any programs are running or not. I am forced to cold boot.

My question is...Is there any log that windows maintains that allows me to discern what process is causing the system to hang. Alternatively, is there a third party software which might do this. Or is there any other method to detect the culprit.

Personally, I am very suspicious of an upgrade of .NET Framework which recently upgraded. I have read of others who have experienced similar problems with .NET. I have also recently loaded a logitech webcam, along with Skype. I shut those down, and the system still hangs.

Any help, thoughts, of course would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Pradhan

 

[dai]

Re: Help needed to track down computer lockup

see if there is anything listed in the event viewer logs
what
cpu
video card
m/b
power supply
brand
wattage
what does the bios list for your voltages and tempretures

 

[pradhan]

Re: Help needed to track down computer lockup

CPU is AMD Athlon Dual Core 3800+
nVideo graphics card
cpu running at 48C or 118F
Win XP Media Center Ver 2002 SP2

I'll check on mb and power supply,

I checked event viewer, and frankly, I don't know how to interpret the occassional error I see there. It is quite non-specific.

Is there a software which logs the processes as they are occurring?

Thanks,
Pradhan

 

[dai]

Re: Help needed to track down computer lockup

look for an error at time of the problem and post the error number

 

[pradhan]

Re: Help needed to track down computer lockup

I was getting repeated application warnings regarding Webcam, which is interesting because it is one of the "new" things I added. Here is a typical message:

Detection of product '{945AC98B-3DC8-45BE-BAE0-22CEEE37A103}', feature 'QuickCam' failed during request for component '{3BBB8098-03C8-48DC-AA83-9B2159E12E0D}'

A number of these occured which preceeded a fatal error. I have un-installed the Webcan software, leaving the drivers only to see if this corrects the problem.

I will report back after the system runs for awhile.

Pradhan

 

[dai]

Re: Help needed to track down computer lockup

when you installed the cam from memory you have to install the software and drivers before connecting the cam or you have problems

 

[pradhan]

Re: Help needed to track down computer lockup

Yes, and I did that. BUT, I restored back to an earlier disk image (using Ghost), and then rebooted, and the camera was still plugged in. Win loaded generic drivers. Noting this, I uninstalled those drivers, loaded the software and the attached camera. Maybe I missed something tho.

I have since removed the software, leaving only the webcam drivers.

I will watch events to see if the errors continue and get back here.
Thanks for all help thus far.

Pradhan

 

[pradhan]

Re: Help needed to track down computer lockup

Well, the event viewer held the key. After playing with it to figure out how it worked, it showed the webcam software was causing error after error. I uninstalled the software, leaving the webcam drivers in place, and voila...no more lock-ups. Thanks for the help.

Pradhan

 

[dai]

Re: Help needed to track down computer lockup

glad you have it sorted check for updated software and drivers