PC Pals Forum
Technical Help & Discussion => Self Building, Upgrading & General Hardware Help => Topic started by: Scotia on November 29, 2003, 17:04
-
Hi everyone.
I hope somebody can help me as my computer has started mis-behaving for no apparent reason. With no warning whatsoever windows just "locks up". Power is still applied to the computer, the monitor is still on (not in standby), at first glance windows appears to be ok as everything is shown as normal on the desktop e.g. mouse pointer, start button etc. but nothing moves and pressing ctrl/alt/delete results in nothing happening.
The reason I don't think that this is software related (Hence posting this in the hardware thread ;) ) is because that twice in the past week I've completely wiped my hard-drive and reinstalled windows "clean". I have not put anything else on. No antivirus softare, no windows sp1, no new video drivers or the latest version of directx. Just bare-bones windows.
The computer still locks up at intermittent intervals for no reason.
My computer specs are as follows:
AMD Athalon 1.2
256 sdram memory PC100
20 gig hard drive (5600 rpm)
Windows XP Pro
Geforce 2 video card
During normal operation my CPU temp is 49/51 degrees centigrade with a system temp of approx 30.
If anyone could shed any light on this I would be very grateful indeed as i'm getting a DVD Burner for Christmas and really need to get this sorted before then.
Many thanks in advance.
Scotia
-
Hi Scotia and welcome aboard :)
That does seem a strange problem ???
Is there anything that appears to trigger it at all, one particular program or after you have been running a few different ones ?
The only thing that I can think of at the moment is that its a memory problem.
Either your RAM is faulty or possibly the page file is too small or some program has not released the ram after its closed.
There is a link on the forum to a program that forces programs to release the memory after its closed, I will try and find it and post it for you :doggie:
-
you could try this little free program http://www.meikel.com./en/products/freemem/P6D45A8A1-C7BD-44F3-A945-F06D6DF10F38.php3 (http://www.meikel.com./en/products/freemem/P6D45A8A1-C7BD-44F3-A945-F06D6DF10F38.php3) to eliminate the "hanging onto memory" theory
-
Thanks for the replies Sandra & Tony :)
I'll try and shed a bit more light on the problem for you.
About 2 weeks ago I bought Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy and once I had installed it I then had to upgrade to directx 9. I then had to upgrade my graphics card driver as the old driver couldn't operate directx 9. It was at this point that the lock up problem started raising it's ugly head. I then assumed that it was the new driver/directx 9 which was causing the problem. I uninstalled directx 9 and rolled back to my previous graphics card driver. The problem was still there. I also had windows xp sp1 installed.
I then decided to wipe my hard drive and reinstall windows. Once windows was installed I then put norton internet security back on and another couple of minor programs. Everything was ok for a couple of days so I then put on a few more programs (no games though)and I upgraded to windows sp1. I do a lot of video editing and video encoding and it was when I was using a program called Cimema Craft Encoder that the lock up problem re-appeared.
I then wiped my hard drive again :-\ and this time I have only put windows on on it's own. Everything was ok for about 4 days so I thought it was windows xp sp1 that was causing the problem. I then didn't put sp1 back on but I put all my video editing software back on. Guess what, within a day my computer had locked up. The more I thought about it the more it seemed that the problem only occured when my CPU/ram was really working hard i.e. first during the game and then when encoding video.
So that's my life story ;D and I hope that it is useful to anyone.
Thanks again
Scotia
I almost forgot to say that I'll download that memory program tonight (at work at the moment) and I'll let you know how I got on.
-
Two possible suggestions:
1. Dodgy ram - I had the same problem when I used first used CCE as it's very processor/ram intensive. Changing the RAM in the computer cured it.
2. When you use naughty software its a good idea to get all the fixes e.g. the Athlon fix which cures random lockups in version 2.50 when an Athlon processor is used (I assume thats the version you have and not 2.64)
-
Thanks for the suggestions Dack.
It's looking more and more likely that I'll have to replace my ram. I was going to upgrade my CPU and ram early next year but this little problem may hasten it.
I'll just have to break the news gently to the wife. (She hates computers) ;)
Best regards
Scotia
-
Pity you cannot lay your hands on a friends Memory moduale just to see if the problem persists, before you replace the memory. Or just try your memory in his PC, to see if the problem migrates to his PC.
Mind you, buying another 256 stick wont go a miss if you do a lot of video editing. I always use Crucial memory as it carries a lifetime warranty
http://www.crucial.com/store/listmfgr.asp?cat=RAM (http://www.crucial.com/store/listmfgr.asp?cat=RAM)
-
I'll just have to break the news gently to the wife. (She hates computers) ;)
Don't they all ? ::)
:welcome: Scotia. Hope you het things sorted :)
-
you could try this little free program http://www.meikel.com./en/products/freemem/P6D45A8A1-C7BD-44F3-A945-F06D6DF10F38.php3 (http://www.meikel.com./en/products/freemem/P6D45A8A1-C7BD-44F3-A945-F06D6DF10F38.php3) to eliminate the "hanging onto memory" theory
That is a very interesting looking little programme, Tony.
I wonder if it would solve my problems with windows freezing a lot. My hubby uses excel every day and often pc runs out of memory even although I have 256ram. ::)
-
Me too, should I try it ? :-\
-
I used to use it on my last PC running Win98se with 256KB ram. You canset it to dump memory it uses loading programes after boot up. Just minimize it onto the tool bar and you can see what free mem you have left. When it get low, maximize and dump if you want.
Better still Ladies...................... DUMP ME ;D
-
I think I will give it a try, Tony, as Me and 98 are similar. One question, does it not use up memory running in the backround.? :)
-
Hi all.
Just to let everyone know, I've ordered 512 Mb of PC2100 DDR RAM from cruical this morning. I hope to have it installed by the weekend and I'll report back my findings.
Best regards
Scotia
-
Hope that it cures it this time Scotty :)
-
I think I will give it a try, Tony, as Me and 98 are similar. One question, does it not use up memory running in the backround.? :)
:brick:
-
I received my new memory on Friday the 5th. It has been installed all weekend and it seems to have cured the problem :)
I've done a bit of video editing and played a couple of games with no lock up.
Thanks once again to everyone for their advice, it has been greatly appreciated.
Best regards
Scotia
-
Glad to hear that, Scotia. :D Thanks for letting us know. :)
-
Thats great scotia. :)
Lona did you try that programme?
I've just got it and I'm using 90mb out of my 127mb And I've hardly got anything running that I do sometimes.
-
Are you picking your nose in your new pic, Shell? :-X ;D ;D
-
Scotia,
good to hear the memory upgrade has sorted your problem.
Memory upgrades are by far the recommended and most cost effective way of upgrading an existing system.
Shell,
just note the free memory you have left after your PC has booted up and before you start using it. Then physically dump "free memory" and see how much memory you can grab back.
It will only free up memory that the system is not using, memory that was used to pre load programs that are not actually in use. You see alot of programs when first installed, set themselves to be preloaded at start up, assumming you will want to use them, MS Office for example. Now you can remove these programs from the boot up sequence if you want I [I always do]
But using Freemem will do the same job for you, either set it to "Auto dump" or do it physically yourself once the indicated memory has reached it's lowest. [that means it has finished pre loading programs, this can go many seconds after you see your Desktop]
read the help files, they explain your options, and dont worry no matter how much memory you try to dump, it will only dump what ain't being used, so don't threat not even Blondes or Celts can cock it up ;) :P ::)
-
Lona did you try that programme?
I haven't actually tried it yet, Michelle, as I have lots of other problems with PC at the moment and am thinking of doing a complete re-install of windows.
I think you and I will have to sort this Tony boy out Michelle, calling us dumb. :heehee:
How's your knowledge on IEEE1394 Smarty Pants? :clever:
-
I haven't actually tried it yet, Michelle, as I have lots of other problems with PC at the moment and am thinking of doing a complete re-install of windows.
I think you and I will have to sort this Tony boy out Michelle, calling us dumb. :heehee:
Sorry to hear that lona!! eek!
Yes he does need sorting out lona.
Stupid I might be but I draw the line at dumb >:(
:lol:
Thanks for the advice tony
;D
-
called you dumb......I NEVER...where did I say that? :)
Poor lass, what with iffy eysight, and now problems with your IEEE 1394 High performance Serial Bus........ ;)
Shell,
You can give me a go seeing to any time :o
Edit: Lona a complete reinstall of Windows sounds good ..just not ME....grasp the moment install W2K or XP.....load it....like it ...keep it. If not load ME.....you know it makes sense
::)
-
Edit: Lona a complete reinstall of Windows sounds good ..just not ME....grasp the moment install W2K or XP.....load it....like it ...keep it. If not load ME.....you know it makes sense
I have just found out my Commandos games won't play on XP,Tony, so how could I attack Sadam ;D. I have spent a fortune on those games and I'm not giving them up for a silly package like XP. ;). You tell me a way round that and I might and I am only saying MIGHT consider it. ;D
-
:eeek:
wait for it ................ :tony:
:lol:
-
Will they play on Windows 2000, Lona?
-
Only on non NT systems Simon so NT, 2K ans XP are out, unless she dual boots :(
-
:eeek:
wait for it ................ :tony:
:lol:
Shell .....me... :tony:...no way ::)
Lona,
I'm not into games, so I cannot help there....but it must be an old bugger...I talking about the game now ;) and surley there are better games that have been made to run on more up to date Operating Systems.
Refusal to upgrade to newer better OS....wont try newer games. If I didn't know you better ::) I'd say you where exibiting that trait old people adopt...the fear of anything new... :o ;)
-
I'd say you where exibiting that trait old people adopt...the fear of anything new...
You can call me all the old buggers under the sun, Tony ;D. I will have you know that Commandos is a very uptodate game. :P. In fact I am getting the latest in the series from Santa and that only came out September of this year. So put that in your ship and bottle it. :wahh:.
PS For goodness sake Sandra, don't tell him I can get a patch for it or he will never give me peace. :-X ::)
-
Last time Sandra had a patch....she rolled it up and smoked it......as she was out of ciggies at the time ;D
-
Okay I've been running this freemen for a while now, and it all seems fine.
What I don't understand is alot of the time my CPU usage is upto 100% ? Why is that, and should be be like that, it seems that this is what slows up my puter? :-\
I've looked around on the boards and I saw something about it could be spyware, so I ran and updated all the programmes and I found one thing, but it seems to still go up to 100% sometimes.
Is this a need for concern?
Don't be too techie about a reply cos you know what a fiko I am!
:-\
-
I've noticed on occasions that one application or another seems to be responsible for 100% CPU usage. Not sure why that would happen, but closing and restarting the program usually cures it. It's happened once or twice with Mozilla.exe, and I've also noticed it while on Messenger at times. Next time it happens, have a look at the task manager, and make a note of the prog that's doing it, Shell.
-
If you are doing any cd burning or using a graphic intensive program such as Swish or a paint program then I wouldnt be worried about 100% cpu usage Michelle.
If its doing it while just surfing or on a simple program then it would seem that something needs checking out.
As Simon said, see what progs are running when its showing at 100% :)
-
Okay I shall do that, thanks Guys ;D
It keeps popping up to 100 now and then at the moment - I guess thats when its checking for email or to do with Zone alarm.
I'm just using mozilla and AOL messenger at the moment but of course my scans and stuff are running.
-
It wouldn't surprise me if Zone Alarm was throwing the occasional wobbler. Quite a few people have had problems with it recently.
-
Well I have never had a problem with ZoneAlarm, so there. :)
-
It seems fine now most of the time, I had one problem the other day when I hardly had anything running and it said 100% CPU usage - then when I went to ctrl/alt/delete it crashed! So I restarted and it was fine?
Updated spyware blaster and ran spybot again and found some dodgy stuff.
No problems to report since then really. ;D
P.S ........ One more day to go then two weeks holidays ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D