OT: My computer is randomly freezing

[narf poit chez BOOM]

After N amount of time, where 'N' is between one-half hour and six hours, my computer freezes. The screen displays the last update, sans mouse and I see no response save for when I use the power or reset buttons.

It is not the power supply voltage; although Speedfan is convinced the voltages are not all correct, a multimeter says they are correct. My PSU supplies 500W; I have a cheap $50 MB and $50 CPU (2.2 GHz, dual). My graphics card is a 8800GT.

OS is windows XP Home.

Speedfan says temperatures are ok, but I can drop a screenshot or something of them.

[Jack Simth]

Have you checked active processes? It's not only possible, but likely, that some process or another is eating the processor up.

Have you tried it with a Linux boot disk (to eliminate the possibility of it being a software issue)?

[narf poit chez BOOM]

Nope - Currently 99% idle. Although I could just sit there and watch the processes...If I get that desperate.

Nope, good idea, thanks. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Azselendor]

Things to try:

1.) boot into safe mode and see if it happens.
2.) create a new user profile and log into that and see if it happens
3.) Roll your system back and see if that fixes it.
4.) Check for dust and lint buildup inside the CPU (sounds like this isn't an issue if you were checking for power)
5.) check cable connections for a loose one
6.) check msconfig via the run start menu item for programs.

My computers periodically lock up at random due to 5 programs I have that love to piss away memory.
1.) Firefox 2
2.) Safari (leaks memory like the ocean leaking into the titanic)
3.) Open Office's background soffice.bin process
4.) Linksys wireless monintor program.
5.) google desktop

[Ed Kolis]

Perhaps your RAM has gone bad - have you tried running memtest?

[capnq]

I've been getting similar behavior from XP Pro. I think I've tracked it down to a dodgy subpackage in my ISP's software that keep leaving multiple hung copies of one process in Task Manager.

Can you do a manual Shut Down/Restart from the Start menu, before the system has hung? The error message I get from attempting that is how I narrowed the problem down to the particular process.

[Xrati]

My guess is that the processor is over heating (it doesn't have to be by much to cause a shutdown). As the time is different between shutdowns and the heat is a relative function of how hard the load on the processor. If your N is ½ hr. to six, is the ½ hr. after it was already running and shutdown? Is the 6 hr. N when it was running from a cold boot?

Take the cooling fan off and clean the surface of the processor and bottom contact surface of the fan Make sure you clean the fan too!

[Makinus]

I had the exactly same problem that you had and found 2 main (and completely unrelated) causes for it: 1. One of my RAM has gone bad, just replaced it but the problem continued, while in a less severe way (a freeze every eight hours or so)... 2. I discovered, while navigating the internet, that my dual processor had some incompatibilities with old programs (mostly old games) that causes errors in the processor that would increasingly clutter the cpu without anything appearing in the xp monitoring... i found a 3rd party "patch" that resolved the problem and after aplying it never had any problems again...

After some digging it appears that nearly all dual processor CPUs have some problems (some more other less serious) with programs made before they are created, mainly games...

[narf poit chez BOOM]

Thanks for the suggestions. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Daynarr]

Narf, there are at least 2 processors in your PC that can cause this - GPU and CPU. You need to make sure that both of them are not overheating (sounds like the case). GPU tends to do the kind of thing you described so you need to check your graphic card if it overheats.

Also, don't forget to check for viruses. You can get Avast or AVG free versions to check your system properly (google for links).

[narf poit chez BOOM]

I've got Avast.

The graphics card I have apparently puts out a lot of heat - It's very large, has a large fan, and four heat ducts. On the other hand, just sitting there shouldn't cause it to glitch.

I'll test the tempuratures of stuff by touch tomorrow.

[narf poit chez BOOM]

Well, it hasn't glitched since it came back from the shop and I left it on all night twice.

Which means they fixed it, which suprises me - They seemed a bit vague on what they had done.

So, sorry for the fuss and thanks everyone. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Mudshark]

And they should tell you what they had done? big trade secrete there! LOL. The bad thing is I'm sure it was simple. time for a Homer Simpson wit a big "doh"! It helps that they have the software, and a bit of knowledge to figure out. I hate to use them. Things do get corrupted. i have a few programs that can do basic diagnosis, but I'm sure they have so much more....

[narf poit chez BOOM]

I'd like to take this moment to not thank my local computer shop for not permanently fixing the crashing bug.

Yep, it's back.

[Xrati]

Make sure you get your money back!!! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif

[narf poit chez BOOM]

Threw the receipt away, unfortunately.

[narf poit chez BOOM]

What's a good online virusscan?

[Ed Kolis]

"Online" virus scan? Like, one that's not a program that you buy or download but instead runs over the web? Are those actually any good? I imagine they'd be horribly slow, sending all your files over the network - would you really WANT all your files sent over the network anyway??? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

The virus scanner I use is Avast (www.avast.com) - download the home edition for free http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[narf poit chez BOOM]

I've got that.

They download a java or somesuch virusscanner, I suppose. I've tried a couple of recommended ones before and they didn't seem slow.

[Azselendor]

Trendo Micro has an online scanner which is very good if you're willing to sacrifice a weekend to let it run. lol

I personally use a variety of anti-spyware scanners and my antiviral is AVG. Avast is also good, but I found it to be resource-intensive.

[Xrati]

Even better would ba a combo of a spyware, spybot and firewall protection. It will give you a better chance of stopping most spybot/hacker viruses and a good firewall is just as good as a virus program. Just say no to questionable web sites and stay away from any automatic updates on your computer.