Software of Hardware?

  • Thread starter Thread starter James E Middleton
  • Start date Start date
J

James E Middleton

3.2 HT / 1GB RAM
Windows XP SP2 clean install - all updated.
TrendMicro up to date, scans for viruses, spyware, etc, all OK.
All temperatures within normal range.
All drivers up to date.

In all my years I've never encountered this:

My computer runs fine for three or four hours at a time at which point, it
starts acting 'funny'.

Moving a window across the screen 'leaves a trail' of that screen across the
screen, menu bars disappear.

Launching applications give 'invalid disk image' errors, or 'not enough
memory' errors.

When coming out of Stand By I get parser errors.

So, I reboot, and everything is OK for another few hours.

I have an image of the original install that I revert to anytime I have a
problem, usually, after doing so everything is 'back to normal' for a while.

Then the errors start piling up again.

The day before yesterday, I reverted to this image, automatic updates ran,
computer was scanned for viruses, etc.

Today, I've rebooted three times just to keep going.

I want to say I've ruled out software, because everything is clean, but I'm
wondering if it's because of some update.

Or, could a piece of hardware, memory, or the power supply, be causing this?
 
James said:
3.2 HT / 1GB RAM
Windows XP SP2 clean install - all updated.
TrendMicro up to date, scans for viruses, spyware, etc, all OK.
All temperatures within normal range.
All drivers up to date.

In all my years I've never encountered this:

My computer runs fine for three or four hours at a time at which point, it
starts acting 'funny'.

Moving a window across the screen 'leaves a trail' of that screen across
the screen, menu bars disappear.

Launching applications give 'invalid disk image' errors, or 'not enough
memory' errors.

When coming out of Stand By I get parser errors.

So, I reboot, and everything is OK for another few hours.

I have an image of the original install that I revert to anytime I have a
problem, usually, after doing so everything is 'back to normal' for a
while.

Then the errors start piling up again.

The day before yesterday, I reverted to this image, automatic updates ran,
computer was scanned for viruses, etc.

Today, I've rebooted three times just to keep going.

I want to say I've ruled out software, because everything is clean, but
I'm wondering if it's because of some update.

Or, could a piece of hardware, memory, or the power supply, be causing
this?
Click to expand...

Definitely sounds like hardware. You say that temps are in the normal range,
but software temperature gauges are often inaccurate. It sounds to me like
either something is overheating or some component is failing when it gets
warm. I'd look at the video card, but also do the normal hardware
troubleshooting:

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Hardware_Tshoot

Malke
 
there are too many
variables involved in
order to provide a
definite answer.

however, sometimes
the error log can be
helpful in revealing
what was running
during those times
of dysfunction.

what you might want
to try is to boot into
safemode and also
safemode w/networking
for a good period of
time in order to see
if the dysfunction persists
or does not appear in
these diagnostic modes.

(safemode w/networking
will provide access to
the modem and the net.)


--

db ·´¯`·.¸. said:
<)))º>·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><)))º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
Click to expand...


..
 
Is HyperThreading enabled on the processor? If yes go in the BIOS and
disable it and see if things improve.

John
 
Doesn't disabling Hyper Threading entail a HAL change? And thus, not a
good recommendation?

-- Jeff Barnett
 
3.2 HT / 1GB RAM
Windows XP SP2 clean install - all updated.
TrendMicro up to date, scans for viruses, spyware, etc, all OK.
All temperatures within normal range.
All drivers up to date.

In all my years I've never encountered this:

My computer runs fine for three or four hours at a time at which point, it
starts acting 'funny'.

Moving a window across the screen 'leaves a trail' of that screen across the
screen, menu bars disappear.

Launching applications give 'invalid disk image' errors, or 'not enough
memory' errors.

When coming out of Stand By I get parser errors.

So, I reboot, and everything is OK for another few hours.

I have an image of the original install that I revert to anytime I have a
problem, usually, after doing so everything is 'back to normal' for a while.

Then the errors start piling up again.

The day before yesterday, I reverted to this image, automatic updates ran,
computer was scanned for viruses, etc.

Today, I've rebooted three times just to keep going.

I want to say I've ruled out software, because everything is clean, but I'm
wondering if it's because of some update.

Or, could a piece of hardware, memory, or the power supply, be causing this?
Click to expand...

Sounds like it maybe a memory problem.
The reason i say this is because if it was heat related your machine
would overheat and shutdown.
Try getting your hands on another memory module (borrow one if you
have to) replace it and re-test.
If that does'nt work i would start running some tests on your video
card, just because you have the latest drivers for it does'nt always
mean they are the best for your system.
Cheers
Jason
 
No, Windows XP will boot and use the correct hal. It is rather rare
that changing the HT option in the BIOS would result in an incompatible
hal, or for that matter even going from one to two processors or from
two to one processors, in most case XP boots and uses the correct hal
without so much as a hiccup. Of course nothing is 100% sure but I have
never had problems when disabling HT.

John
 
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