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System Details:
-ATI Radeon 7000 64MB DDR VE
-Intel D845WN Motherboard
-Intel P4 1.6GHz
-Onboard Sound
-Generic 10/100 Network Adapter
-Samsung SV4002H HD 40GB (Primary)
-Fujitsu 20GB HD (Secondary)
-Generic DVD Player (Primary)
-LG 52x32x52 CDRW (Secondary)
-128MB, 128MB, 256MB RAM PC133
-Standard Mouse, and Keyboard
This originally started at mid january for no apparent reason.Ok i'm getting random lockups, anywhere from initial CMOS boot, to working for a couple hours. The random lockups even occurr when the Intel P4 screen comes on at the very beginning of the startup.
I've removed the Fujitsu HD, Formated NTFS the samsung, and reinstalled windows. It's still freezing randomly. I've removed and switched the RAM sticks around, but no fix.
I've had traces of the Dumaru.Y virus, however it's not designed to effect the hardware or boot up of the system.
I've replaced the CDRW, the LG is a new one, so therefore not likely the issue.
I've been told that possibly it's my video card, so i tried some old cards i had laying around including a voodoo 3 PCI 16MB, and a generic 3D PCI 8MB Video Cards.
I have never removed the network card, as it appeared to be working properly when it allowed to boot into windows.
I'm assuming it's either the harddrive or motherboard that's having the issue. While i'm waiting for responses, i'm going to oldschool fdisk the samsung, write a fresh mbr and format it FAT32. I'll let XP setup do the NTFS formatting if it doesn't continue to freeze.
I dismissed the idea that the HD was the issue because it locks up at the beginning even before it accesses it, however i'm going to try booting with the fujitsu, which i know was working well on another computer.
I've flashed the BIOS by removing the battery. It was updated recently, after the issue started happening. I can navigate and use it to the full extent with no firmware issues, however it does lock up randomly on the BIOS/CMOS setup screens.
Please help!!! I'm totally out of ideas.
Maybe your psu is on it's way out. Try a diferent psu, maybe at least a 350w, see if that cures the problem. Good Luck.
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Ok on the powersupply idea...
When i stall, nothing goes off, it just stays frozen...
Would it still be the powersupply?
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Should note, there is a problem where the computer may boot, but the video card wont send anything to the monitor... This happens both with the AGP Radeon VE, and the PCI Voodoo 3
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Try cleaning and reseating your CPU, using a new pad or paste, as needed. It could well be a heating problem. The CPU is easier than replacing the other things. Try it first. How many fans are you running?
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Could be bad RAM, download Memtest86 and test it.
Could be overheating, you should have temperature readings in your BIOS, 20 - 30C system, and 30 - 50C processor are good readings, any higher and you could be looking at random crashes.
Could be a dodgy power supply, or simply that your power supply is not good enough.
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Right-click My Computer, then properties, then advanced, then on Startup and Recovery settings.
Make sure "Write an event to the system log" is checked, apply and exit. This will force Xp to write an error statement in your Event Viewer, which you can then use to gain more information about the problem.
If this option was ALREADY enabled, you can goto Control Panel, Admin Tools, then Event Viewer. Try to remember the last time this happened, then scroll down to entries around that date/time, you will find an error message which will give you more detail.
You can then either post the info back here, or take it to the Microsoft Knowledge Base.
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Ok, Powersupply is 320w
I got it to boot up for a bit, but it keeps stalling when it goes into windows...i'm going to try a format if it lets me into the BIOS.
Should note, a lot of the times i'm rebooting, my video card isn't coming on...
Sometimes it freezes at the initial boot up screen (intel)
Sometimes it displays a black window with a single line of information i believe belongs to the video card...last set of characters is NTSC...will see if i can get it next time the message appears!
I APPREACIATE ALL YOUR FEEDBACK...and i will try each of your suggestions as i progress throughout my troubleshooting...keep the ideas comin cause i already ran out.
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I've stripped it to the bare bones, and still no avail, it's leaving me to think it's the motherboard, or CPU, perhaps the power supply...i think i'm going to bring it in to have it checked, only costs 25 bucks i guess..
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