Which newsgroup for these freezes?

  • Thread starter Thread starter the wharf rat
  • Start date Start date
T

the wharf rat

My patience is running on empty. Thanks for your input.
Click to expand...

When it "freezes" can you reboot with ctl-alt-de or do you need
to power cycle? Does it start right up normally and run until it freezes
in another program or do you need to wait a while or reboot several times?
 
Your various posts would seem to indicate a hw problem, my personal
instincts would be to download/create the bootably memory utility from
www.memtest.org and run it for 'hours'
I assume you havnt attempted to tweak your bios, or used any tweak utility
that may have been supplied with your mobo
 
Which AV program are you running?
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Avast - for a few years now - never had an issue.

Thanks, Bob - Blithe
 
Thanks DL - A hardware issue is a distinct possibility & has been suggested
earlier. Maybe. But after several months why no obvious breakdown? Also -
I ran the available tests on the Vista Ultimate CD. I've been thru the bios
menus going by the Asus user manual. I use the default settings except for
the booting drive option that lets me boot from the CD. I've checked for
all updated drivers & mobo flash upgrades - checked the Asus website & found
no promising leads. I think I do have a meter somewhere that came with the
mobo for diagnostics - but I'm still not convinced there's a hardware issue.
I'm all thumbs & am shy of opening the case even though I foolishly built
several PCs since 1990 & Win 3.0 - I am probably dead wrong but I suspect
the issue is possibly related to a mobo/Intel quad cpu/Vista 64 bit
compatibility issue. (I did manage to replace my CMOS battery & reseat my
graphics in another PCI slot.)

Blithe



----- Original Message -----
From: "DL" <[email protected]>
Newsgroups: microsoft.public.windows.vista.general
Sent: Thursday, May 28, 2009 12:50 PM
Subject: Re: Which newsgroup for these freezes?
 
You're welcome, Blithe.

If you have email scanning enabled turn it off and see if that solves your
problem.
 
Use the utility I suggested, it cannot do any harm, and since this issue has
been ongoing, what have you got to lose?
 
Blithe said:
Re:Vista Ultimate 64 bit - continuing random freezes for months
PC:Microsoft® Windows Vista Ultimate
Version 6.0.6001 Service Pack 1 Build 6001
System Model: Maximus Extreme (Asus)
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "6.0.6001.18000"
System Type: x64-based PC
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Extreme CPU Q6850 @ 3.00GHz, 2997 Mhz, 4
Core(s), 4 Logical Processor(s)
BIOS Version/Date American Megatrends Inc. 0904, 12/18/2007
SMBIOS Version 2.4
Installed Physical Memory (RAM) 4.00 GB
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Yesterday was the worst - within 30 minutes I logged the following after
booting normally:
1. Opened IExplorer 8 & it froze instantly
2. Hit restart button & booted normally - opened Windows Mail & it froze
instantly
3. Hit restart button, selected Safe Mode & it opened OK to desktop
4. Clicked desktop restart link and rebooted normally without incident
5. Opened Windows Mail OK
6. Opened IExplorer & it froze instantly.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
I searched for freezes on Explorer & Win Mail & hit one of my own old posts
only on Win Mail -
So - perhaps this post ought to go to the other two newsgroups also?

Update: For the moment the 'worst' is over but only after trying a trial
register scan software (not recommended by Vista's online 'help') as a last
resort
Note: As I posted in the past - running Vista's CD repair option & checking
Event Viewer is totally non-productive & I am being forced to come to some
previously considered but 'unacceptable' conclusions to try & get relief -
at a considerable cost. The only evidentiary support I have for such a
conclusion is that my surfing and searching indicates my experience with
Vista freezing at random is fairly common for many other Vista users. One
possible strategy is to downgrade to Windows 2000. Another is to shelve my
PC & downgrade the hardware to something more average, commonplace,
reliable, less than 64 bit 'ultimate' - & proven compatible with the
average users' choice of operating system?

My patience is running on empty. Thanks for your input.
Blithe
Click to expand...
Hello,
May be the power supply.
Had similar circumstance, ran harddrive and memory test,removed video card
and installed a back up image. No joy.
A local tech ran a power supply check and this was the issue.
Replaced power supply. Unit working.
When you find the problem, please post the solution.

take care.
beamish.
 
Thanks DL - A hardware issue is a distinct possibility & has been suggested
earlier. Maybe. But after several months why no obvious breakdown? Also -
Click to expand...

IMHO you have a heat problem. It could also be a video driver
issue but it seems too random for that.

Open the case, remove all the dust bunnies and blow the crud out
of the heatsinks with canned air. Make sure all the fans including the
one inside the power supply and the little one on the chipset are spinning.
 
OK - thanks to all - I'm back & read Bob's - DL's - wharf's - & beamish's
posts - ( had to leave for my yoga class at the 'Y' - I do have a
transcendental interest besides the Internet for maintaining balance -
physical & mental)

Latest update:
A. Just after I acted upon Bob's idea to turn off my AV email scanning - I
wanted to surf for related Avast freezes, opened Firefox browser & got an
instant freeze. I then turned off power & left for my yoga class)
B. Upon my return - I rebooted, elected to opt for safe mode, & clicked the
restart link on safe mode desktop after it had loaded OK
C. Then a rarity happened - after logging in following the latter restart -
I got an instant freeze on the Vista 'welcome' screen. I feel things are
getting more erratic based upon such a singular & unique event.

This current session followed my having opted for a 'normal' boot - so I am
running with fingers crossed now from boot to boot - experiencing seemingly
more frequent freezes.

Here are my thoughts from reading all your current posts:

Heat problem - that's very possible - even with a 700 watt power supply &
extra fans on this custom "cooltechpc" with an Antec tower case built with
water cooling tubes - I did not opt for the water cooling but the tubes are
inside.

Power supply: An errant unit is also possible. That's probably the first
thought my IT/electrical engineer nephew would check out were he able but he
has 3 of my grand nephews to worry about at considerable distance away & I
do not want to make this his problem.

My tentative plans? - I'm a retired senior & - almost 30 yrs ago - an IBM
main frame programmer/analyst (Honeywell mainframe before that from 1967 -
75 with a proprietary compiler) & trying to find a solution for this complex
of issues is too far beyond my experience, obsolete expertise, motivation,
or other personal resources I still might possess. Instinct - for better or
worse - tells me to see if my expensive custom lemon of a PC will perform
with a clean installation of W2K Pro - a superlative trouble free OS for the
many years it served me - on much more modestly equipped & powered PCs. I
still own 2 of the latter that require fresh memory sticks and some minimal
tinkering. Curiosity, at present, is my strongest incentive. If W2K will
perform trouble free on this quad INTEL cpu pc - will that not be strong
evidence of an OS/mobo compatibility set of issues here? I know. I'm just
stubborn.

If I do find what's wrong with Vista Ultimate 64 bit &/or my overpowered
PC - I'll be pleased to post findings.

Thank you all - Blithe
 
Re:Vista Ultimate 64 bit - continuing random freezes for months
PC:Microsoft® Windows Vista Ultimate
Version 6.0.6001 Service Pack 1 Build 6001
System Model: Maximus Extreme (Asus)
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "6.0.6001.18000"
System Type: x64-based PC
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Extreme CPU Q6850 @ 3.00GHz, 2997 Mhz, 4
Core(s), 4 Logical Processor(s)
BIOS Version/Date American Megatrends Inc. 0904, 12/18/2007
SMBIOS Version 2.4
Installed Physical Memory (RAM) 4.00 GB
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Yesterday was the worst - within 30 minutes I logged the following after
booting normally:
1. Opened IExplorer 8 & it froze instantly
2. Hit restart button & booted normally - opened Windows Mail & it froze
instantly
3. Hit restart button, selected Safe Mode & it opened OK to desktop
4. Clicked desktop restart link and rebooted normally without incident
5. Opened Windows Mail OK
6. Opened IExplorer & it froze instantly.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
I searched for freezes on Explorer & Win Mail & hit one of my own old posts
only on Win Mail -
So - perhaps this post ought to go to the other two newsgroups also?

Update: For the moment the 'worst' is over but only after trying a trial
register scan software (not recommended by Vista's online 'help') as a last
resort
Note: As I posted in the past - running Vista's CD repair option & checking
Event Viewer is totally non-productive & I am being forced to come to some
previously considered but 'unacceptable' conclusions to try & get relief -
at a considerable cost. The only evidentiary support I have for such a
conclusion is that my surfing and searching indicates my experience with
Vista freezing at random is fairly common for many other Vista users. One
possible strategy is to downgrade to Windows 2000. Another is to shelve my
PC & downgrade the hardware to something more average, commonplace,
reliable, less than 64 bit 'ultimate' - & proven compatible with the
average users' choice of operating system?

My patience is running on empty. Thanks for your input.
Blithe
 
When it "freezes" can you reboot with ctl-alt-de -
xxxxxxxxxxx
No - whatever is showing on the desktop literally freezes - including mouse
cursor - keyboard & mouse go dead-
xxxxxxxxxxxx
do you need to power cycle?
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Yes - by pushing my desktop restart - the only other option is to switch off
all power but I don't do that unless completely frustrated & needing to calm
down for a while.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Does it start right up normally and run until it freezes
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Yes & no - the booting process after a freeze will always present a screen
presenting options for safe boot - command prompt - normal boot etc. If I
elect normal boot - that will sometimes work OK for a while until the next
freeze - but sometimes not - by freezing as soon as the log on screen
opens - & sometimes, but not always & also at random - such freezing at the
logon screen will also be accompanied by a repetitive static from my
speakers until I hit the restart button again.
However - if I elect safe mode right after a freeze & then restart by
clicking the desktop restart link from the safe mode desktop, chances are
that the elapsed time before the next freeze will be much longer - or might
not occur again until after the next bootup - whenever that might be.

I may have failed to mention that much less often, or very seldom - a freeze
does not occur but a random, unexpected rebooting will execute.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
do you need to wait a while or reboot several times?
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
No - having to wait is not a factor nor do I have to reboot repeatedly - the
descriptions above are just about typical and predictable.

The only light moments are reading the event viewer message that tells me
the last shutdown was unexpected. Really?

Thank you! Blithe
 
If the freezes start as soon as you turn on, and then all is ok sometimes
after a reboot then heat is unlikely to figure.
But I still dont comprehend why you have not run the suggested utility
 
But I still dont comprehend why you have not run the suggested utility
Click to expand...
Maybe because there's no point trying to diagnose a memory
error when there's no indication of bad memory? Bad RAM doesn't
yield freezes. You get core dumps and blue screens.
 
That is not correct

the wharf rat said:
Maybe because there's no point trying to diagnose a memory
error when there's no indication of bad memory? Bad RAM doesn't
yield freezes. You get core dumps and blue screens.
Click to expand...
 
I am informing all who have been contributing to this thread that:
A. I upgraded to SP2 (using Win Update) without incident
B. I have not had a freeze since - but it's too soon to assume anything
C. However - I did have an 'unexpected shutdown' executing a full system
backup. The backup did not complete & I'll try again.
D. I rebooted normally without incident following the latter (Event Viewer
reported) 'unexpected shutdown'
Comment: Absent further freezes - wouldn't that suggest SP2 fixed something
in the OS? that my hardware is OK & SP1 was not?

Hmmm - we'll have to wait & see.
Blithe
 
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