computer locking up

[KB]

I have 2 identical computers running XP Pro with the same
software. One is perfect. The other locks up several times
a day mostly after leaving it idle for anywhere from 10 to
60 minutes- sometimes it locks while working on it. It
doesn't seem to matter what apps are running. It even
locks up with nothing running. The computer was sent back
to place of purchase for analysis- they found no problem
and did not see it lock up. As soon as it was returned -
same problem. I've checked my electrical voltage and it
seems OK. Any Ideas or solution would be greatly
appreciated!
thank you
KB

 

[Jim Eshelman]

I have 2 identical computers running XP Pro with the same
software. One is perfect. The other locks up several times
a day mostly after leaving it idle for anywhere from 10 to
60 minutes- sometimes it locks while working on it. It
doesn't seem to matter what apps are running. It even
locks up with nothing running. The computer was sent back
to place of purchase for analysis- they found no problem
and did not see it lock up. As soon as it was returned -
same problem. I've checked my electrical voltage and it
seems OK. Any Ideas or solution would be greatly
appreciated!

I suspect the manufacturer didn't, uh, quite catch everything (this sounds
like a hardware issue to me, on first impression), but let's do our due
dilligence and try to rule out every other possible cause.

Start with the Computer Health tips here:
http://aumha.org/win5/a/health.htm

If that doesn't solve it, gather more information by following the
troubleshooting steps here:
http://aumha.org/win5/a/tshoot.htm

Report back on what you find in the process. Feel free to ask questions if
you need assistance with any of the steps.

--
Jim Eshelman, MS-MVP Windows
http://aumha.org/
http://forum.aumha.org/

Did you find this newsgroup on the web? A newsreader like Outlook Express
will make your online life a lot easier. Get better help!
See: http://aumha.org/win4/supp1b.htm and
http://support.microsoft.com/support/news/howto/default.asp

 

[Paul B T Hodges]

When you sent it back, did you just send the main box, without the keyboard,
mouse and screen, or did you send the lot ?

Lockups if not hardware related, are more often than not, driver problems.
Are you positive the 2 systems are identical, what about bios revisions, the
motherboards and other hardware, cpu memory disk and pci cards may all be
slightly different but still within the same overall specification. Hardware
aswell as software has different versions.

Are you sure you haven't applied any patches or service packs either
manually, or let the automatic update utility do it. Or updated any device
drivers. Or perhaps this was done by the manufacturer or suppliers.

Run the driver signature verification tool to check for drivers which
haven't passed windows xp compatability testing. Try and replace any that
are reported as not signed from the windows update site or the relevant
manufacturers website.

Run it on both systems and compare the output.

start/run
sigverif

Run chkdsk to make sure that the file system is sound

My computer/right click drive/properties/tools/check now/tick both
boxes/reboot

In case a windows xp system file has become corrupted, run the system file
checker

start/run
sfc /scannow


Paul