Johnw- Thanks for the info. I read the information at Langa and Versign, but their description of the problem doesn't match what I am experiencing.

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You could check out this earlier thread, suggests soundblaster could be causing problems...? http://www.computing.net/windowsxp/wwwboard/forum/94514.html

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You may be able to get more info from the Event viewer . HOW TO: View and Manage Event Logs in Event Viewer in Windows XP http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;308427 ================================ Windows XP Events and Errors Enter the message source and ID in the text field, then click G http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/support/ee.asp Or , http://www.eventid.net/search.asp Or , Windows Error Generator http://www.netdevel.net.nz/index.php?mod1=netdevel/software Ever wondered what Error(312) means ? Look it up with this, or have it list all the errors your operating system is able to give. Also good for programmers who need to throw a specific system error. Go to Software menu.

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I got a chance to do more testing over the weekend, and I am sorry to say that I am still having the hangs even with Norton Antivirus completely removed, so I guess it isn't NAV. There still is nothing in the Event log to indicate a problem. Does anyone have any more ideas?

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his is a small extract from the links provided . http://www.ultratech-llc.com/KB/ASP/FileView.asp?File=/KB/BSOD.TXT http://www.ultratech-llc.com/KB/?File=BSOD.TXT http://www.microsoft.com/technet/treeview/default.asp?url=/technet/prodtechnol/winntas/tips/techrep/bsod.asp http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=325011 http://windows.about.com/library/weekly/aa030599.htm http://windows.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q192/4/63.asp http://www.labmice.net/WindowsXP/TroubleshootingXP/error.htm http://sft-cyber.com/stoperrors.htm http://aumha.org/win5/kbestop.htm Troubleshooting Windows STOP Errors (BSOD) and Freezes Last Updated: 06 Jul 2003 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** PLEASE NOTE: Link(s), If Provided, May Be Wrapped *** The following issues are easily responsible for 99% of all system instability issues, particularly with Windows: • Bad or Flaky RAM • High CPU/Case temperatures (Insufficient cooling) • Bad Drivers (usually with el-cheapo hardware) • Inadequate or Dirty Power • Overclocking (some devices cannot run out of spec) • Improper Permissions/Rights (results in Access Denied) • Dirty Upgrade from Win9x/ME to 2000/XP • Virus Infection (can result in a wide variety of problems) • Incorrect jumper settings on your hard drive • Improperly terminated drivers and controller • Disabled or Misconfigured Services SYMPTOMS OF COMMON ISSUES • Bad Drivers ............ BSOD (Blue Screen of Death) or Spontaneous Reboot • Overheating ............ Spontaneous Reboot or System Freeze • Bad/Flaky RAM .......... Spontaneous Reboot or System Freeze or Failed Install • Dirty Power ............ Spontaneous Reboot or System Generated Errors • Inadequate Power ....... BSOD or Spontaneous Reboot or System Freeze • Overclocking ........... BSOD or Spontaneous Reboot or System Freeze • Improper Permissions ... BSOD or System Generated Errors • Dirty upgrade .......... BSOD or System Errors or Slowness or Erratic Behavior • Virus Infection ........ Inexplicable slowness or Highly Erratic Behavior • Wrong Drive Settings ... Inexplicable slowness or Failed Install or Long Boot times • Bad SCSI Termination ... Inexplicable slowness or Failed Install or Long Boot times • Disabled Services ...... Poor System Performance or Installation Problems or Limited OS

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Also , check your Task Manager during a freeze & see what is using all your cpu . Using the Windows Task Manager (XP) http://www.viewz.com/netscape/computingtips/computingtip158.shtml http://www.wown.info/j_helmig/wxptskmg.htm You might not know it, but the Windows Task Manager is a very familiar tool. Each time you press the common Ctrl - Alt - Delete command, you call up the Windows Task Manager. It displays information about programs and processes running on your computer. It also shows you data on CPU and memory usage and user information. To open the Windows Task Manager, right-click on an empty part of the task bar and select Task Manager, or you can press Ctrl - Alt - Delete. Under the Applications tab, you'll see all the programs that are currently running on your computer. If a program has stopped responding, you can end the program by selecting it and hitting the End Task button. Under the Users tab, you can see who is connected to your computer and send them a message.

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Thanks John. I have eliminated bad/flaky RAM both by testing the RAM and replacing it. My case temperature has been normal. I have noticed that my CPU temperature has gone as high as 49 C lately during high load operations, but the temp seems unrelated to the hangs. Most of the hangs occur around a temp of 35 C for the CPU. I had an extra AMD-approved CPU heatsink and fan lying around and replaced the Thermaltake that was on there this past weekend. It didn't make much difference in operating temps. I am using current drivers for all my hardware, and none of it is el-cheapo stuff. I am not overclocking, did a clean install of Win XP, have Admin access, and have routine virus screening. Plus, this PC doesn't even have email, so it is low risk for viruses. I've also used Spybot on it religiously, and it has never had any Adware/Spyware on it. (I don't use IE.) The drive settings are correct for this hard drive as far as I can tell. I don't have any SCSI drives/drivers and there are no disabled services. That leaves only the dirty/inadequate power issue. The machine has a 300 watt Enlight power supply. Three hundred watts is definitely the minimum I would think would work for what is installed. I haven't had any indications that it is bad such as spontaneous reboots, and it is hooked up to an uninterruptible power supply/surge protector. I don't know what else to do to troubleshoot the power supply other than to replace it. I will look through the links you provided and see if there is anything there about other ways to test it without having a power supply tester, which I don't. The Task Manager has been useless in this case. The PC is totally hung, and doesn't respond to Ctrl-Alt-Del, so there is no way to open Task Manager. The only way to get it started again is to push the reset button.

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Yes Jay , increasing the power supply wattage , looks like the way to go . To save me re reading everything again , here are some other points ( like , no hibernation & how I have mine setup ) to try , before you try another power supply . ======================================= I personally , set mine like this . Right click the desktop , select Properties > Screen Saver . Screen Saver: None Click on Power . Settings for Home/Office Desk power scheme . Turn off monitor : 5 minutes Turn off hard disks: 15 minutes System standby: Never Click on Advanced . Options > Both unticked . Power Buttons . When I press the power button on my computer > Shut down . When I press the sleep button on my computer > Stand by Click on Hibernate . Untick > Enable hibernation ================================= If you do not use hibernation, make sure you do not have it enabled, which reserves disk space equal to your RAM. If you have a hidden file on the root directory of your C-drive called hiberfil.sys, hibernation is enabled. To remove that file: Go to Control Panel, select Performance and Maintenance, Power Options, Hibernate tab, and uncheck the Enable hibernation box. http://www.a1-electronics.net/General_Interest/WinXP_TipsTweaks.shtml Hibernate. If your desktop PC computer is NOT a laptop then you can stop Hibernate. Go to your Control Panel, Power Option and select Hibernate Tab. Uncheck Hibernate. That stops that Windows XP program running and wasting resources. ========================================= Change the BIOS settings for ACPI Aware OS to Yes, and Power Management to "Enabled". http://www.pcmech.com/bios.htm http://www.pcmech.com/show/bios/22/

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Also , use the right mouse button to click your Desktop, select Properties, click the Screen Saver tab, click the Power button, select the APM tab (if it's available). Check the box to enable APM .

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More thoughts . 8.1. REMOVING THE FIND FAST PROGRAM http://microsuck.com/content/ms-hidden-files.shtml http://www.remainsecure.com/whitepapers/hacking/mshidden.htm You can remove Find Fast using your Office CD, but I recommend you do it manually. 1) Reboot your computer in MS-DOS Mode. 2) Delete the FindFast.CPL file from c:\windows\system\ 3) Delete the shortcut (.lnk) under c:\windows\start menu\programs\startup\ 4) Delete the FindFast.exe file from c:\progra~1\micros~1\office\ 5) It's important to delete the find fast databases (c:\ff*.*). 6) You can also safely delete FFNT.exe, FFSetup.dll, FFService.dll, and FFast_bb.dll if you have them. Feel free to check out the ffastlog.txt (which is the Find Fast error log). It's a +h[idden] file under c:\windows\system\. If that is to hard , here is a partial way . How to Disable the Find Fast Indexer http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;q158705 ======================================== There are four services associated with lsass.exe and most users (especially home users) do not need any of them running. They are: IPSEC services Net Logon NT LM Security Support Provider Protected Storage Type "services.msc" in run , press Enter and disable them. I suggest you visit the following URL for complete info: http://www.blkviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm ================================= Disable Indexing Services http://www.tweakxp.com/tweakxp/display.asp?id=1335 http://mywebpages.comcast.net/SupportCD/OptimizeXP.html Indexing services is a small program that hogs HUGE amounts of RAM and can often make a computer endlessly loud and noisy. This system process indexing and updates lists of the files on your system, so you can search for them quickly, but it's completley unnessesary. To disable it, go to the Control Panel and click Add/Remove Programs. Click the Add/Remove Window Components. Simply unclick the Indexing services and click next!

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