Computer Freezing

[shcr]

This has been an ongoing issue for months, I've tried to help my mom getting it resolved.

Windows XP, AMD 1.2 chip, 256 meg Ram.

The mouse will just freeze, no rhyme or reason to when. Sometimes right after startup, sometimes after a couple days. Sometimes when opening a program, sometimes while in one.

I removed the video card, the ethernet card and modem card. Video and ethernet now running off the motherboard. Still freezes.

I changed all the power settings to not allow a device to shutdown (cannot recall exact verbage).
Checked all drivers, all appear to be working fine.

We had charter out numerouse times, thinking it was the cable connection. no fix there.

I took the computer to my house, used my mouse, keyboard and hooked up to my home network, still no fix.

Last night:
I removed a bunch of programs
Removed a bunch of items from the system tray to not clog resources
Changed the hardware acceleration to the lowest level
Went into the registry and removed items from the /run so they wouldn't startup.

I checked today the event viewer for the first time. I find these errors: (from the shutdowns last night and prior as well)

The ATI TV Wonder TV Tuner service failed to start due to the following error:

The service cannot be started, either because it is disabled or because it has no enabled devices associated with it.

The ATI TV Wonder Audio Crossbar service failed to start due to the following error:

The service cannot be started, either because it is disabled or because it has no enabled devices associated with it.



Now, there is no ATI card, or any add-on video card. There is no ATI software in the add/remove programs to remove.

I left the machine on last night after making all the final tweaks, it was still up and running this morning ok, perhaps I've fixed everything, and during the fixes, the event log error will have corrected itself. However, I'm still perplexed why I have that error. Any ideas?

TIA

 

[shcr]

Add: I have ensured since November when I first started this, that the computer is clean from viruses, spyware etc. Spybot, Ad-Aware, Spywareblaster, AVG, and now changed to Avast AV. The OS was also re-installed in March.

This has been an ongoing issue for months, I've tried to help my mom getting it resolved.

Windows XP, AMD 1.2 chip, 256 meg Ram.

The mouse will just freeze, no rhyme or reason to when. Sometimes right after startup, sometimes after a couple days. Sometimes when opening a program, sometimes while in one.

I removed the video card, the ethernet card and modem card. Video and ethernet now running off the motherboard. Still freezes.

I changed all the power settings to not allow a device to shutdown (cannot recall exact verbage).
Checked all drivers, all appear to be working fine.

We had charter out numerouse times, thinking it was the cable connection. no fix there.

I took the computer to my house, used my mouse, keyboard and hooked up to my home network, still no fix.

Last night:
I removed a bunch of programs
Removed a bunch of items from the system tray to not clog resources
Changed the hardware acceleration to the lowest level
Went into the registry and removed items from the /run so they wouldn't startup.

I checked today the event viewer for the first time. I find these errors: (from the shutdowns last night and prior as well)

The ATI TV Wonder TV Tuner service failed to start due to the following error:

The service cannot be started, either because it is disabled or because it has no enabled devices associated with it.

The ATI TV Wonder Audio Crossbar service failed to start due to the following error:

The service cannot be started, either because it is disabled or because it has no enabled devices associated with it.



Now, there is no ATI card, or any add-on video card. There is no ATI software in the add/remove programs to remove.

I left the machine on last night after making all the final tweaks, it was still up and running this morning ok, perhaps I've fixed everything, and during the fixes, the event log error will have corrected itself. However, I'm still perplexed why I have that error. Any ideas?

TIA

 

[Alvin Brown]

Hello

Try replacing the power supply that's always helps maybe
get one that has a higher voltage like a 350watt or 400watt

Alvin

 

[Yves Leclerc]

As for the drivers, did you ever install the chipset drivers????

Also, AMD processors require a lot of "cooling". Is the computer overheating???

This has been an ongoing issue for months, I've tried to help my mom getting it resolved.

Windows XP, AMD 1.2 chip, 256 meg Ram.

The mouse will just freeze, no rhyme or reason to when. Sometimes right after startup, sometimes after a couple days. Sometimes when opening a program, sometimes while in one.

I removed the video card, the ethernet card and modem card. Video and ethernet now running off the motherboard. Still freezes.

I changed all the power settings to not allow a device to shutdown (cannot recall exact verbage).
Checked all drivers, all appear to be working fine.

We had charter out numerouse times, thinking it was the cable connection. no fix there.

I took the computer to my house, used my mouse, keyboard and hooked up to my home network, still no fix.

Last night:
I removed a bunch of programs
Removed a bunch of items from the system tray to not clog resources
Changed the hardware acceleration to the lowest level
Went into the registry and removed items from the /run so they wouldn't startup.

I checked today the event viewer for the first time. I find these errors: (from the shutdowns last night and prior as well)

The ATI TV Wonder TV Tuner service failed to start due to the following error:

The service cannot be started, either because it is disabled or because it has no enabled devices associated with it.

The ATI TV Wonder Audio Crossbar service failed to start due to the following error:

The service cannot be started, either because it is disabled or because it has no enabled devices associated with it.



Now, there is no ATI card, or any add-on video card. There is no ATI software in the add/remove programs to remove.

I left the machine on last night after making all the final tweaks, it was still up and running this morning ok, perhaps I've fixed everything, and during the fixes, the event log error will have corrected itself. However, I'm still perplexed why I have that error. Any ideas?

TIA

 

[shcr]

Checked that, its a 350 watt. ALSO, all windows updates are loaded.

Thanks for replying. (helps when I googled and find all or what I think are all options to check in previous newsgroup postings).


Hello
Try replacing the power supply that's always helps maybe
get one that has a higher voltage like a 350watt or 400watt

Alvin


shcr wrote:

This has been an ongoing issue for months, I've tried to help my mom getting it resolved. Windows XP, AMD 1.2 chip, 256 meg Ram. The mouse will just freeze, no rhyme or reason to when. Sometimes right after startup, sometimes after a couple days. Sometimes when opening a program, sometimes while in one. I removed the video card, the ethernet card and modem card. Video and ethernet now running off the motherboard. Still freezes. I changed all the power settings to not allow a device to shutdown (cannot recall exact verbage).Checked all drivers, all appear to be working fine. We had charter out numerouse times, thinking it was the cable connection. no fix there. I took the computer to my house, used my mouse, keyboard and hooked up to my home network, still no fix. Last night:I removed a bunch of programsRemoved a bunch of items from the system tray to not clog resourcesChanged the hardware acceleration to the lowest levelWent into the registry and removed items from the /run so they wouldn't startup. I checked today the event viewer for the first time. I find these errors: (from the shutdowns last night and prior as well)
The ATI TV Wonder TV Tuner service failed to start due to the following error:

The service cannot be started, either because it is disabled or because it has no enabled devices associated with it.

The ATI TV Wonder Audio Crossbar service failed to start due to the following error:

The service cannot be started, either because it is disabled or because it has no enabled devices associated with it.



Now, there is no ATI card, or any add-on video card. There is no ATI software in the add/remove programs to remove.

I left the machine on last night after making all the final tweaks, it was still up and running this morning ok, perhaps I've fixed everything, and during the fixes, the event log error will have corrected itself. However, I'm still perplexed why I have that error. Any ideas?

TIA

 

[shcr]

I'll check the chipset drivers tonight. I'm thinking its not an overheat issue as it may be on for two days without a problem, and other times it freezes right after bootup on a cold machine.

I'm considering adding RAM, wanted to exhaust other possible issues before investing $.

I also saw after using the SiSandra diagnostic tool that the bios might be old, so also am checking to see if that needs update.

Thanks!
As for the drivers, did you ever install the chipset drivers????

Also, AMD processors require a lot of "cooling". Is the computer overheating???

This has been an ongoing issue for months, I've tried to help my mom getting it resolved.

Windows XP, AMD 1.2 chip, 256 meg Ram.

The mouse will just freeze, no rhyme or reason to when. Sometimes right after startup, sometimes after a couple days. Sometimes when opening a program, sometimes while in one.

I removed the video card, the ethernet card and modem card. Video and ethernet now running off the motherboard. Still freezes.

I changed all the power settings to not allow a device to shutdown (cannot recall exact verbage).
Checked all drivers, all appear to be working fine.

We had charter out numerouse times, thinking it was the cable connection. no fix there.

I took the computer to my house, used my mouse, keyboard and hooked up to my home network, still no fix.

Last night:
I removed a bunch of programs
Removed a bunch of items from the system tray to not clog resources
Changed the hardware acceleration to the lowest level
Went into the registry and removed items from the /run so they wouldn't startup.

I checked today the event viewer for the first time. I find these errors: (from the shutdowns last night and prior as well)

The ATI TV Wonder TV Tuner service failed to start due to the following error:

The service cannot be started, either because it is disabled or because it has no enabled devices associated with it.

The ATI TV Wonder Audio Crossbar service failed to start due to the following error:

The service cannot be started, either because it is disabled or because it has no enabled devices associated with it.



Now, there is no ATI card, or any add-on video card. There is no ATI software in the add/remove programs to remove.

I left the machine on last night after making all the final tweaks, it was still up and running this morning ok, perhaps I've fixed everything, and during the fixes, the event log error will have corrected itself. However, I'm still perplexed why I have that error. Any ideas?

TIA

 

[wgruth]

Thank God I am not the only one having these problems. I
have a very similar problem. And it is not fixed yet. I
think I have done about everything you have done and a
few more and still I have grief. I had a 1.0 AMD, 128
Ram, clean install to XP. System would just randomly I
thought just hang, mouse or keyboard would not respond.
Here is a list of what I have tried so far, in this order
(I think, my memory isn't perfect anymore):
1. ran virus check and Spybot, cleaned a bunch of ad crap
off, didn't help.
2. Reformatted hard disk, clean install of XP, didn't
help.
3. New stick of RAM, 256K this time, didn't help.
Computer shop said the my old RAM was not working
correctly, whatever that means.
4. Removed all cards but video, didn't help.
5. Replaced video card, didn't help.
6. Replaced CPU with 1.2 AMD, they didn't have a new 1.0,
didn't help
7. Replaced power supply with a known good used one (got
tired of buying new parts that didn't help!) and that
didn't fix it but may have made it a little better.
8. Disconnected second CD drive, didn't help.
9. Replaced network card, went online and installed EVERY
XP upgrade/security fix they had, didn't help.
10. Flashed upgraded BIOS, didn't help.
The thing seems to play CD's almost forever, don't
remember it freezing while Josh Grobin was singing but
will freeze when I play Solitaire or if I turn on the
screensaver, just takes a couple minutes and it hangs up.
About the only thing left is the Motherboard. Or
probably a software issue with XP. Which is why I am
asking this group, is there a systematic way to determine
if the probelm is hardware or software, better than my
rediculous "keep replacing parts until it starts working"
madness.
Thenks in advance for any help.
Bill

-----Original Message-----
Add: I have ensured since November when I first

started this, that the computer is clean from viruses,
spyware etc. Spybot, Ad-Aware, Spywareblaster, AVG, and
now changed to Avast AV. The OS was also re-installed
in March.

This has been an ongoing issue for months, I've tried

to help my mom getting it resolved.

Windows XP, AMD 1.2 chip, 256 meg Ram.

The mouse will just freeze, no rhyme or reason to

when. Sometimes right after startup, sometimes after a
couple days. Sometimes when opening a program, sometimes
while in one.

I removed the video card, the ethernet card and modem

card. Video and ethernet now running off the
motherboard. Still freezes.

I changed all the power settings to not allow a device

to shutdown (cannot recall exact verbage).

Checked all drivers, all appear to be working fine.

We had charter out numerouse times, thinking it was

the cable connection. no fix there.

I took the computer to my house, used my mouse,

keyboard and hooked up to my home network, still no fix.

Last night:
I removed a bunch of programs
Removed a bunch of items from the system tray to not clog resources
Changed the hardware acceleration to the lowest level
Went into the registry and removed items from

the /run so they wouldn't startup.

I checked today the event viewer for the first time.

I find these errors: (from the shutdowns last night and
prior as well)

The ATI TV Wonder TV Tuner service failed to start due to the following error:

The service cannot be started, either because it is

disabled or because it has no enabled devices associated
with it.

The ATI TV Wonder Audio Crossbar service failed to

start due to the following error:

The service cannot be started, either because it is

disabled or because it has no enabled devices associated
with it.

Now, there is no ATI card, or any add-on video card.

There is no ATI software in the add/remove programs to
remove.

I left the machine on last night after making all the

final tweaks, it was still up and running this morning
ok, perhaps I've fixed everything, and during the fixes,
the event log error will have corrected itself. However,
I'm still perplexed why I have that error. Any ideas?

 

[w_tom]

Why did you try to fix things without first obtaining basic
facts. What did event log say. What does device manager
report. Are power supply voltages within the upper 3/4 limits
of those supply voltages? What did the manufacturers
comprehensive diagnostics (provided free by any responsible
manufacturer) report? Never start fixing things until first
obtaining the basic information. If your car mechanic fixed
your car that way, then you would be yelling scam.

 

[shcr]

I have a new motherboard on the way. New RAM, PSU didn't fix it. Took MB
out of the unit, running on wooden table, didn't fix it. Now having probs
trying to re-install windows, (it freezes!).
Tried all you did. I'll let you know if new MB is it. Didn't spend much,
ordered a mb/cpu bundle that still has SDRAM slots.

If this still doesn't work, I have an older pc that will nicely upgrade with
the parts.


When installing the new RAM, (512 meg stick) it wouldn't boot, with it in
either slot. BUT, if the 256 meg stick is in, it will. Probably bios
issue, but no joy changing setting there.
I've had too many pc's where I can insert/remove a card, memory stick with
absolutely no issues, my MB as I found out after further googling has more
you can't do than, can.. So out it goes. (PC Chips M810LR)

 

[Bill]

Wellll....because I was trying to be a nice guy and help
a friend??? I am not a repairman and I am certainly not
charging for my help. I started out asking a few
computer types what they thought and went from there.
Where do I find the events log and is it difficult to
interpret?
It won't stay on long enough to look at the device
manager very thoroughly. There are no problems indicated
as best I can tell in a hurry.
I figured swapping out a known good power supply would be
better than me mucking around with a voltmeter. So I
can't tell you much about voltages. I see CompUSA has a
power supply tester but I can actually buy a new power
supply for about the same money!!
I used the Seagate diagnostic utilities to thoroughly
check the hard disk, no problems with the disk according
to the utility. I don't know of any comprehensive
diagnostics from Micron Computer. And even if I had it,
the damn thing would not stay "unfroze" long enough to
run it.
If my car mechanic was doing everything for free, like I
am for my friend, I really wouldn't give a damn how he
fixed it, would you?? Anyway, my mechanic is a certified
wrench head and I would expect him to know what he was
doing. Me, on the other hand, am not a certified
computer mechanic, just a doofus that knows just enough
to be dangerous and dumb enough to give it a shot for a
pal. I am asking for free help here because if money was
no object for him, I'd advise him to shit-can this one
and buy the kids a new one. So far I haven't really spent
that much money on this, just a lot of my time. And
although it sounds like I am frustrated, I really am
enjoying this experiment. I always want to know how
things work.
Thanks for the help, please feel free to give more. I do
appreciate you taking the time to comment.
Thanks again

 

[bill]

OK I took your advice and found Event Viewer under
administrative tools and clicked on system and found this
error, repeated several times:

AMLI:ACPI BIOS is attempting to write to an illegal IO
port address (0xcf8), which lies in the 0xcf8-0xcff
protected address range. This could lead to system
instability. Please contact your system vendor for
technical assistance.

About every other time, it will say "attempting to read"
instead of write. Can you help me figure out what this
means? I have already downloaded and flashed the newest
BIOS from Micron for that machine. Didn't seem to help.
Thanks for the help
Bill

 

[w_tom]

0CF8h is the standard I/O address for serial port often
known as COM1. This serial port I/O address is so standard
that is was used even on the original IBM PC. But programs
writing directly to hardware on NT operating systems is
illegal; why NT operating systems are so stable. This sort of
bad programming was done in some Windows 9x type programs - a
legacy of Windows 3.1 and DOS. Normally on NT, if a serial
port was available, then any program could write to it. But
if the mouse is attached on that port, then software is not
permitted to write to that port.

Writing directly to hardware is also necessary for viruses
to corrupt hardware - to bypass the operating system. It
would work on 'obsolete when they were released' OSes such as
Windows ME and 98. But NT based OSes would not permit illegal
access to hardware.

No, a BIOS upgrade would not help and is an example of
trying to fix something that is not broken. Looking at the
strange list of failures, this could be a virus program that
was not working properly or that is being caught by the OS.
Or it could be that the motherboard was one of those inferior
(clone) designs that would not run NT based OSes - and was
therefore dumped on the market quickly and cheaply.

Cannot say for sure, but did you also look at Device Manager
as posted previously (again use Windows Help if necessary to
find it)? Look at properties of serial ports and the mouse.
In properties, you will find what hardware the I/O address
03F8h-03FFh is assigned to. Also discover which port the
mouse is actually using.

Device manager, Task manager, Event Logs, etc are many nice
features of Windows NT OSes (before Windows 98 even existed)
that make NT based OSes more stable and so much easier to
maintain.

Again, don't start fixing things until you know what is
wrong. Fixing a machine with problems could only complicate
your problem - which is why uneducated computer repairman
eventually only learn to 'nuke and pave' systems to repair
them.

 

[Guest]

got this info from another newsgroup. Micron says this
machine was not tested with XP so BIOS may not work. I
looked at Events Viewer and found an error. See my post
above to w_tom above.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?
scid=http://support.microsoft.com:80/support/kb/articles/q
283/6/49.asp&NoWebContent=1

This points to Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 283649.
I am going to try putting Win 98 badk o and see if it
will stay running, then probably get a new MB also.
Good luck
Bill