Almost Random System Errors

[Guest]

Hell

I am having a serious problem with WinXPPro+SP1. It keeps almost randomly crashing the machine; it's a clean install with only F-Prot AV, AdAwarev6, FruityLoops 3.4, AOL 7, Winamp, MSN Messenger 6.1 and Winrar installed

I've updated everything I can think of:- Graphics, Sound, DirectX, Modem and the Network Card
All of them are XP Certified (or at least didn't popup an unsigned driver box) drivers

This is my system spec: (+ means updated
-Windows XP Professiona
+Service Pack
-1.3Ghz Duro
-512MB SDRA
-Gigabyte 71XEH Motherboar
+Sound Blaster PCI51
+Geforce MX100/200 64M
-80GB HDD (C:25GB, D:20GB, E:30GB) All NTF
+DirectX v9.0
-AOL

As said above, they are all updated to the point that the drivers are from tomorrow. :

The main programs which it likes to crash on are Fruityloops, Windows Media Player and Winamp; in fact, anything to do with sound. Oh, and sometimes IE and MSN Messenger when it feels like it

I'd really appreciate it if someone could help. I really need to get my PC working in order to do my coursework/schoolwork etc

Thanks in advanc

Matt

 

[Bee]

For random freezes/slow down, overheating is one possibility (check fans,
CPU and chipset temp, leave the panels off the case for a few days). What
is the nature of these crashes? Blue screen failures? Auto-reboot loop?
Any error messages? Any clue from the Event Log? Have you done definition
up-to-date malware scans? Did the Check Disk and the System File Check run
without showing any faults? After all these preliminary tests, you need to
look into the integrity of RAM (www.MemTest86.com), power supply (adequate
power, spikes) and HDD (diagnostics CD from manufacturer's site).

You have done the software bit mainly, now focus on the hardware.

Bee.
--
[I have found my Shangri-La in ntlworld.]


--

Hello

I am having a serious problem with WinXPPro+SP1. It keeps almost randomly

crashing the machine; it's a clean install with only F-Prot AV, AdAwarev6,
FruityLoops 3.4, AOL 7, Winamp, MSN Messenger 6.1 and Winrar installed.

I've updated everything I can think of:- Graphics, Sound, DirectX, Modem and the Network Card.
All of them are XP Certified (or at least didn't popup an unsigned driver box) drivers.

This is my system spec: (+ means updated)
-Windows XP Professional
+Service Pack 1
-1.3Ghz Duron
-512MB SDRAM
-Gigabyte 71XEH Motherboard
+Sound Blaster PCI512
+Geforce MX100/200 64MB
-80GB HDD (C:25GB, D:20GB, E:30GB) All NTFS
+DirectX v9.0b
-AOL 7

As said above, they are all updated to the point that the drivers are from tomorrow.

The main programs which it likes to crash on are Fruityloops, Windows

Media Player and Winamp; in fact, anything to do with sound. Oh, and
sometimes IE and MSN Messenger when it feels like it.

I'd really appreciate it if someone could help. I really need to get my PC

working in order to do my coursework/schoolwork etc.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for reply Be

it would have been nice if the errors were a bluescreen or system reboot and so would give some idea of what happens; but instead it just locks the application, any others around, and the start toolbar; leaving the mouse free to roam; at this point CTRL+ALT+DEL doesn't work and I have to reset the computer

I checked the Event Log, the only Red Errors where from W32TIME and IPNATHLP, and the times don't correspond to the crash times. I've updated my antivirus (F-Prot), scanned and found nothing. The system temperature shows 4 temperatures: Temp1-65°C Temp2-45°C HD0-40°C Temp3-25 °C. Scandisk has run automatically after a reset and found nothing, apart from a few (1-3 on average) truncated entries

Will check the memory (not so new), power supply (it's new) and HDD (also new) soo

again, thanks for the help; even though the problem isn't solved yet :

----- Bee wrote: ----

For random freezes/slow down, overheating is one possibility (check fans
CPU and chipset temp, leave the panels off the case for a few days). Wha
is the nature of these crashes? Blue screen failures? Auto-reboot loop
Any error messages? Any clue from the Event Log? Have you done definitio
up-to-date malware scans? Did the Check Disk and the System File Check ru
without showing any faults? After all these preliminary tests, you need t
look into the integrity of RAM (www.MemTest86.com), power supply (adequat
power, spikes) and HDD (diagnostics CD from manufacturer's site)

You have done the software bit mainly, now focus on the hardware

Bee
--
[I have found my Shangri-La in ntlworld.


-

Hell

crashing the machine; it's a clean install with only F-Prot AV, AdAwarev6
FruityLoops 3.4, AOL 7, Winamp, MSN Messenger 6.1 and Winrar installed

and the Network Card
All of them are XP Certified (or at least didn't popup an unsigned drive box) drivers
-Windows XP Professiona
+Service Pack
-1.3Ghz Duro
-512MB SDRA
-Gigabyte 71XEH Motherboar
+Sound Blaster PCI51
+Geforce MX100/200 64M
-80GB HDD (C:25GB, D:20GB, E:30GB) All NTF
+DirectX v9.0
-AOL

Media Player and Winamp; in fact, anything to do with sound. Oh, an
sometimes IE and MSN Messenger when it feels like it

 

[Bee]

So, it is random system hang. The temperatures -- assuming they were taken
when machine had been running for at least 15m -- look good. It now sounds
increasingly likely that the remaining tests you are to perform will bear
fruits.
My strategy, if I had your problem, would be to get back to a basic working
configuration and build up from there, testing every incremental step to
isolate the fault. I would use the barest, minimal hardware and OS (using
the built-in drivers if possible, and booting to Safe Mode) as my starting
point. This link should offer some useful tips, even though the symptoms
described are not quite the same as yours:
"Hardware Malfunction Results in System Error Message"
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;315223
Note in particular the use of Windows Memory Diagnostic test tool (link in
article), an alternative to MemTest86. You might also like to consider
purchasing a new stick of memory for use as a test tool, which can be latter
added to your total RAM. If needs be, this ploy can also be extended to a
new small capacity HDD.

It is going to be a long haul; I wish you good luck.

Bee
--
[I have found my Shangri-La in ntlworld.]


--

Thanks for reply Bee

it would have been nice if the errors were a bluescreen or system reboot

and so would give some idea of what happens; but instead it just locks the
application, any others around, and the start toolbar; leaving the mouse
free to roam; at this point CTRL+ALT+DEL doesn't work and I have to reset
the computer.

I checked the Event Log, the only Red Errors where from W32TIME and

IPNATHLP, and the times don't correspond to the crash times. I've updated my
antivirus (F-Prot), scanned and found nothing. The system temperature shows
4 temperatures: Temp1-65°C Temp2-45°C HD0-40°C Temp3-25 °C. Scandisk has
run automatically after a reset and found nothing, apart from a few (1-3 on
average) truncated entries.

Will check the memory (not so new), power supply (it's new) and HDD (also new) soon

again, thanks for the help; even though the problem isn't solved yet

----- Bee wrote: -----

For random freezes/slow down, overheating is one possibility (check fans,
CPU and chipset temp, leave the panels off the case for a few days). What
is the nature of these crashes? Blue screen failures? Auto-reboot loop?
Any error messages? Any clue from the Event Log? Have you done definition
up-to-date malware scans? Did the Check Disk and the System File Check run
without showing any faults? After all these preliminary tests, you need to
look into the integrity of RAM (www.MemTest86.com), power supply (adequate
power, spikes) and HDD (diagnostics CD from manufacturer's site).

You have done the software bit mainly, now focus on the hardware.

Bee.
--
[I have found my Shangri-La in ntlworld.]


--

Hello

randomly
crashing the machine; it's a clean install with only F-Prot AV, AdAwarev6,
FruityLoops 3.4, AOL 7, Winamp, MSN Messenger 6.1 and Winrar installed. Modem
and the Network Card.

All of them are XP Certified (or at least didn't popup an unsigned

driver
box) drivers.

-Windows XP Professional
+Service Pack 1
-1.3Ghz Duron
-512MB SDRAM
-Gigabyte 71XEH Motherboard
+Sound Blaster PCI512
+Geforce MX100/200 64MB
-80GB HDD (C:25GB, D:20GB, E:30GB) All NTFS
+DirectX v9.0b
-AOL 7

are from
tomorrow. Windows
Media Player and Winamp; in fact, anything to do with sound. Oh, and
sometimes IE and MSN Messenger when it feels like it. get my PC
working in order to do my coursework/schoolwork etc.

 

[Guest]

thanks for the help Be

I did the memory test with the Microsoft Memory Tester and it passed all the tests, so it can't be the memory. I'd previously installed XP on another hardrive and had the same trouble; so it can't be the hard drive. I removed the sound card and ran the program; it still crashed despite having no sound (which I thought was the problem)

Oh, and a new error surfaced yesterday while playing a MIDI file on Winamp, it said something about the program being unable to read or write memory. This would seem to suggest a memory problem; but isn't backed up by the fact that the memory passed the memory check test

Could it be, that Service Pack 1 is the root of all my problems? If it is, is there a way to have the benefits of SP1 without the drawbacks? If not, is it possible to completely uninstall it back to a normal WinXP installation

----- Bee wrote: ----

So, it is random system hang. The temperatures -- assuming they were take
when machine had been running for at least 15m -- look good. It now sound
increasingly likely that the remaining tests you are to perform will bea
fruits
My strategy, if I had your problem, would be to get back to a basic workin
configuration and build up from there, testing every incremental step t
isolate the fault. I would use the barest, minimal hardware and OS (usin
the built-in drivers if possible, and booting to Safe Mode) as my startin
point. This link should offer some useful tips, even though the symptom
described are not quite the same as yours
"Hardware Malfunction Results in System Error Message
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;31522
Note in particular the use of Windows Memory Diagnostic test tool (link i
article), an alternative to MemTest86. You might also like to conside
purchasing a new stick of memory for use as a test tool, which can be latte
added to your total RAM. If needs be, this ploy can also be extended to
new small capacity HDD

It is going to be a long haul; I wish you good luck

Be
--
[I have found my Shangri-La in ntlworld.


-

Thanks for reply Be

and so would give some idea of what happens; but instead it just locks th
application, any others around, and the start toolbar; leaving the mous
free to roam; at this point CTRL+ALT+DEL doesn't work and I have to rese
the computerIPNATHLP, and the times don't correspond to the crash times. I've updated m
antivirus (F-Prot), scanned and found nothing. The system temperature show
4 temperatures: Temp1-65°C Temp2-45°C HD0-40°C Temp3-25 °C. Scandisk ha
run automatically after a reset and found nothing, apart from a few (1-3 o
average) truncated entries

fans
CPU and chipset temp, leave the panels off the case for a few days) Wha
is the nature of these crashes? Blue screen failures? Auto-reboo loop
Any error messages? Any clue from the Event Log? Have you don definitio
up-to-date malware scans? Did the Check Disk and the System Fil Check ru
without showing any faults? After all these preliminary tests, yo need t
look into the integrity of RAM (www.MemTest86.com), power suppl (adequat
power, spikes) and HDD (diagnostics CD from manufacturer's site)

randomly
crashing the machine; it's a clean install with only F-Prot AV, AdAwarev6,
FruityLoops 3.4, AOL 7, Winamp, MSN Messenger 6.1 and Winrar installed. Modem
and the Network Card.

All of them are XP Certified (or at least didn't popup an unsigned

driver
box) drivers.

-Windows XP Professional
+Service Pack 1
-1.3Ghz Duron
-512MB SDRAM
-Gigabyte 71XEH Motherboard
+Sound Blaster PCI512
+Geforce MX100/200 64MB
-80GB HDD (C:25GB, D:20GB, E:30GB) All NTFS
+DirectX v9.0b
-AOL 7

are from
tomorrow. Windows
Media Player and Winamp; in fact, anything to do with sound. Oh, and
sometimes IE and MSN Messenger when it feels like it. get my PC
working in order to do my coursework/schoolwork etc.[/QUOTE]

 

[Guest]

I have Compaq Presario notebook 725 with a Athalon 4 and had the same random freezes. Someone in the Compaq user communities found that Hotfix Q317277 is a cause of these symptoms. I uninstalled it and had no more lock-ups untill I installed SP1. I am trying to see if I can un-install it separately because it is embeded in SP1. Compaq doesn't seem to think they need to address the problem. Good Luck

 

[Bee]

Q317277 is a patch to cancel the repeated error-report-sending-to-MS request
on every startup. It does not do anything to the error, whether it has been
corrected or not. The fault of the repeated error report request is
triggered because when an error occurs and there is a minidump, a flag is
set but this indicator flag is not subsequently canceled, which is in
correct. The SP1 incorporates this fix. So, an installation of the service
patch should rectify this persistent error reporting request. See
http://tinyurl.com/heqz
9/10 down the scroll.

The reference to read/write memory failure is very helpful. I don't know
much about the Microsoft Memory Test, but on the opening page of the
MemTest86 website, it says,"Memtest86 is thorough, stand alone memory test
for x86 architecture computers. BIOS based memory tests are only a quick
check and often miss many of the failures that are detected by Memtest86."
I would think it wise to run this test.

If all fail, do a bare bones hardware setup and clean install of WinXP.
Please read:
http://www.theeldergeek.com/bare_bones_troubleshooting_installation.htm

Finally, let me declare my position. I believe the best strategy to a
troublefree computing is to have a spotlessly clean and slim OS, not an
ounce of fat (read orphaned codes), i.e.a minimalist approach. But, to me,
SP1 followed by Critical/Security updates, in the order as listed on the
Windows Update site after a scan (or, as presented in the Automatic Update)
is absolutely essential. Furthermore, I would not entertain the thought of
removing a crippled SP1 -- why should such an indispensable extension of the
OS -- it has 324 fixes -- not be working perfectly? I would start all over
from the beginning, i.e. a clean install of WinXP. I've never installed the
"with archive" version of SP1.

Hope this helps.

Bee.
--
[I have found my Shangri-La in ntlworld.]


--

I have Compaq Presario notebook 725 with a Athalon 4 and had the same

random freezes. Someone in the Compaq user communities found that Hotfix
Q317277 is a cause of these symptoms. I uninstalled it and had no more
lock-ups untill I installed SP1. I am trying to see if I can un-install it
separately because it is embeded in SP1. Compaq doesn't seem to think they
need to address the problem. Good Luck