Computer Freezes

[Rob.T]

Let me apologize in advance if I have posted this in the wrong forum, and if I am providing insufficient information. However, I am at my wit's ends! For a while now my computer seems to inexplicably freeze for no good reason, and I'm beginning to think it may be a video card or video driver problem. Here's what I've noticed:
- The problem doesn't seem to occur when I'm in safe mode
- It seems to happen most often when I'm actively online (i.e. - downloading or on the net)
- The computer is totally unresponsive (including Ctl+Alt+Del), but the mouse still moves around, the animation on the mouse is active, and the NUM LOCK key on the keyboard works.

I have reinstalled Windows XP Pro a couple of times, but the problem persists. I have an ATI Saphire (RADEON) X300SE video card, an AMD Athlon 64 bit 3000+ (1.8 GH) CPU and 1 Gig of DDR Ram.

Can anyone offer any suggestions? Thanks!

 

[muckshifter]

but the mouse still moves around

Then your PC is not (technically) freezing.

If you do not have a "problem" in safe-mode then you have a driver problem somewhere.

I would suspect the ATI drivers as they, ATI, in my book, have never been able to produce decent drivers.


good luck

 

[Rob.T]

Then your PC is not (technically) freezing.

If you do not have a "problem" in safe-mode then you have a driver problem somewhere.

I would suspect the ATI drivers as they, ATI, in my book, have never been able to produce decent drivers.


good luck

Any suggestions??? I didn't always have this problem ... it only seems to have cropped up in the last month or so. I can't think of anything that happened (i.e. - new software or hardware) that would have suddenly caused this to keep occurring.
Thanks!!

 

[Covenant]

Try updating your drivers especially the graphics card and motherboard drivers.
Check the mobo manuf's site for any possible bios updates.
Check XP Event Manager for any clues

From previous experience of this problem can also I suggest checking the Hard drive.
You can test the H/D with diagnostic software available for download from the manufacturers site.
You may also want to check your memory with MemTest.


Covenant.

 

[Rob.T]

On Wednesday nite I got fed up and completly reinstalled windows, all of the peripherals, key software, windows updates, etc. I made sure I installed the latest drivers. Four hour later ...
- I started running into a brand new problem. Windows doesn't freeze, but some programs just won't run
- e.g. - NERO is properly installed, but it I try to start it (either by clicking on the icon or through the "run" command), and nothing happens.
- e.g. - when I try to run add/remove, it tells me to "please wait while the list is being populated", but it never gets there
- e.g. - when I reinstalled Office 2003 from my install disk, there was a looonnnggg period of time between my clicking on the "install" button and the installation process actually beginning.
- e.g. - when I tried to shut it off, it simply refused to respond. I ended up diconecting the power supply to shut it off.

This is all since I reinstalled Windows Wednedsay Nite! Who knows what new horrors await. There was no chance to clog up the registry, infect the computer, etc. Once again, everything seems to work just fine in my old friend, SAFE MODE.

I really believe I'm dealing with a video card problem, and I don't know if the card is nackered or whether it's just overheating. I was having a problem with the HD's overheating, so a while ago I installed a number of fans. A couple of Hard Disk analysis utilities I run indicate they are fine, but I ran SpeedFan this morning, and it indicated that something was overheating (I'm not sure what). If the Video card is overheating, I don't think I have any room to install any more fans! My power supply is a 550W, so I assume that's not it.

Can anyone offer any advice, or do I have to go back to my nintendo, typewriter and abacus?

Thanks!!!

 

[michael 118]

something was overheating

Clean out the insides of dirt and dust maybe? Is your computer under the desk, in a cramped space and on a carpetted floor? Have you ever vaccumed it out?