Need help with windows xp trouble. Again.

C

chibicitiberiu

New Member
In a previous post I had some trouble with Windows XP Home Edition (SP2) when after few hours of staying turned on, the computer was not responding any more, I couldn't open any program, just use the already opened ones. Well, It happened again, after reinstalling the XP Home Edition and with SP3 installed.

Reinstalling the windows didn't work. How can I fix this?
 
With a clean install of Windows you most likely can rule any system processes being effected by a bad or missing system file. A look at the startup items in the msconfig as well as examining things like system temps in case of the cpu or memory running hot or a faulty dimm being realized would be a thought.

If you don't have any program on for temps take a fast look in the bios at the hardware monitor there for a look at the cpu temp. Memtest is the preferred tool for seeing if you have a faulty dimm. If you mixed any memory types that would be a cause for problems to consider there.
 
I downloaded from CNET Downloads website an application called 'sensors view pro' which displays temperatures and fan speeds.

System uptime: 30 minutes
CPU: 40º Celsius
SYS: 39º C
AUX: 59º C
HD0: 40º C
Fans:
- CPU Fan: 0 rpm
- Sys Fan: 4441 rpm
- Aux fan: 0 rpm
 
1h30 minutes system uptime, and the problem occurred after playing Mafia for maybe 30-60 minutes.
Here are the temps:
CPU:38ºC
SYS:40ºC
AUX:58ºC
HD0:42ºC
Fans:
-CPU - 0
-SYS - 4561 RPM
-AUX - 0

Not a big difference from the previous one.

This problem is so big, that even the Shutdown process can't be opened: when i click Turn Off it closes all the programs, but stops working after everything was closed and just the background image is displayed. The mouse cursor can be moved, so it's not a complete freeze, but I can only turn it off or restart from the buttons on the case. Not even Task Manager opens.

I have just checked my hard drive of errors with scandisk from the recovery console, but I'm not sure that it will fix anything.

Now after the hdd was scanned this is the system status:
4h30m system uptime
Temps:
CPU: 40ºC
SYS: 42ºC
AUX: 57ºC
HD0: 44ºC
Fans:
-CPU: 0 rpm
-SYS: 4561 rpm
-AUX: 0

P.S.: Outside is getting hot now, (because it's 1:00 PM now in my country) and I'm expecting in two hours the temperature to rise (outside) up to 35-40ºC.

I'm ruling out the overheating issue, between when the problem occurred and when it didn't there is no big difference, not bigger than +/- 2ºC.
 
Something makes me think that the video card may be the problem. It happened today just when I was playing Mafia. It happened before (since i last installed windows 2 weeks ago) once when I was playing Mafia, and once when I was browsing the web, if I remember well but played Mafia maybe 30 mins - 1 hour before.
 
I wouldn't doubt that one bit. Video cards can easily overheat if they just happen to lack a working fan on many models or simply a faulty sink on the vpu chip itself. The other item I'm looking at there is the temps on the hard drive. Those should be lower as a rule like down near 30C just with the basics seen in a budget case.

The cpu was average however and not a problem for a stock hsf. PC Wizard 2008 will provide temps for a video card as well as for the cpu, drives, board, etc. there. Generally that will be almost on the money with a hardware monitor while still being software. But in some cases like any other program can give off false alarms. You can ttry that out at http://www.cpuid.com/pcwizard.php

What make and model card are you running there? You may find a good 3rd party cooler if that turns out to be the main reason. Additional fans or providing some extra cooling for the system in generall would see better air flow and result in lower drive temps as well as seeing lower board temps. That would work hand in hand there.
 
Is that the 128mb or 256mb model there? Apparently you had a good day and likely had cooler room air or less of a load on the system in general. That would be one first glance.

The thing that comes to mind however especially with an older ATI AGP card is any antivirus program you have on. Sometimes shutting that down or the Catalyst Control Center was a rememedy for problems seen while gaming.

The best catalyst for gaming with the 9550 256mb run here on an old Socket A build turned out to the 5.11. Upto the 5.13 version was good while the 5.14 and 6.1-6.5 weren't. In fact those are still available as well as versions going back for 9x versions of Windows. The 5.11 and 5.11b are the last three at the bottom of the page at http://downloads.guru3d.com/Videocards---ATI-Catalyst-XP-32-bit_c18.html

Generally the wrong version or too new a catalyst will see problems come right up much sooner then 2hrs. of being powered up. But too rule that out look at the version you have on now unless you simply used the original software disk when seeing a fresh copy of Windows go on.

On one old build here more then freeze ups occurred. I would be right in the middle of something and the system would suddenly restart itself or lock solid. That could be while running a game or video capture and then.... Then the cpu seemed to be cooked one day from erroneous cpu temps and the system failed to run with the fsb set for the model cpu run there.

When lowering the fsb from the 200mhz setting to 166mhz and seeing the cpu backclocked down it would run. But what was it? Well as it turned out the board was found to be the problem since it loved to eat batteries. After reassembling the old parts after a year sitting idle with a fresh battery of course the cpu ran like an XP3200+ again at the 200mhz setting.

Sorry to make this lengthy but that one problem seemed to explain a variety of similar things seen on the old build that you are running into there. Generally you would think a faulty dimm, temp problem, or driver issue of some type while a weak battery can also cause some odd problems to be seen. A weak battery effects the cmos information that then effects Windows in the end. Old board needing new battery? All too likely.
 
I have the 265 MB model of the card, and Catalyst Control Center v2008.0703.2263.38526 if that helps. But i don't think this is the problem, because last time i had windows installed i had the version from the Driver CD and the problem also existed than.
Weak battery on the motherboard? I don't really think so. I purchased this computer about 2-3 years ago. It was one of the best those times...
 
Don't kid yourself on batteries for a moment. Since those are massed produced you can get one that will last 5yrs. while the next may only last 1 or 2. That plus a possible need to grab the last or latest bios update was another thought.

If some of the programming was lost a reflash would correct that as well as any bugs with that model corrected in an update. Once you start seeing problem on any system after a few years of use and even seeing Windows reinstalled with problems persisting you have to start looking at hardwares and things like a battery growing weak or a corrupted bios.

With a clean install of Windows the hard drive itself is still working while it still could be seeing signs of worn heads. Once those start going all kinds of glitches will start to be seen in Windows. The items mentioned here are simply a means of isolating just what is seeing a problem and ruling out the rest.
 
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