Mysterious Freezing

M

mobone

New Member
I don't know which of these components is failing. The computer started freezing just seconds into windows. Even in safe mode. I eventually took both the hard drives out (and removed all cards except VGA), and tried formatting and installing XP on them each individually. They both froze up when the install was trying to "install network." I don't have a network card plugged in as of right now. It's a very old computer with only a modem. The BIOS was set to "optimum defaults" btw.

The only conclusion that I can draw is that at some point during its decade long legacy the motherboard has suffered static shock and some area of the board has shorted. Once that area is used by the computer, the computer then freezes. What are your thoughts or questions?

Should I just grab a new MB or could it be the power supply dieing.

After more inspection it seems to freeze anytime it tries to identify any of the "devices". Even though all I have connected is the VGA.
 
Instead of using optimum defaults have you just tried resetting the bios by the jumper or just pop the battery out for a few minutes? What OS are you trying to install on it? Is the modem built in the board or a add on card? If its a add on card try taking it out.
 
I'm trying to install the same XP I had on the computer before. I tried what you suggested and still no luck - froze up during install of devices in xp install. Another forum suggested the power supply is dieing - "over time the MB demands more power and the PSU is able to power less." These are really old parts keep in mind.
 
I think your computer has the save problem as my computer. It started freezing up 30 minutes after boot up. Over a period of weeks it started freezing up sooner 10 seconds after boot up. Mouse was locking up first so I replaced the mouse that helped for about 1 week. I under clocked the CPU that helped for about a month. Then I replaced the video card that helped for about 3 weeks. Then I replaced the HD, format C: and installed windows. Each time I changed out some parts the problem would get better for a while then slowly it would return to locking up again. 2 days ago it got to locking up 10 minutes after boot up. The next day it was locking up 5 minutes after boot up the later that even 1 minute after boot up it would freeze up. This morning I turned the computer on it booted up fine but locked up 10 seconds after boot up. I turned it off it would never boot up again. Swapped out video cards, CD drive, mouse, key board, nothing work so I guess the computer is DEAD.
 
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