Hey all.. crashing problem!

[ginggoth]

WINDOWS XP HOME ED SP3

Ok my computer knowledge is not expert but alright :)

So I've tried most things already..

My pc keeps crashing (classic i know) usually during a video playback (thankfully not too much) or if a few tasks are running.. (surely a pc can handle WindowsMediaPlayer, Firefox, and msn!? lol) This happens once every two days averagely, when it does crash, I can leave it for maybe 15-20 mins and it'll run again, although before running again it'll crash as it's loading I'll maybe see the desktop (sometimes the start menu pops up) then crash.

I will point out, that I glimpsed an error msg just before the last crash, and I saw "services... blah blah log in as admin" (the only account on here IS admin btw)

How can i see if there's any problems with my services, i've not tampered with them since the last reboot and how can i spot ones (that aren't obvious) that should or shouldn't be running?

 

It has kinda been since we upgraded most hardware, tho we had probs before, we were told everything we got was compatible and should be ok..

Windows Reinstall does not work by the way, nor does safemode/virus scan, my windows (xp home ed SP3) is entirely upto date (bar one office update)

 

So I'm gunna list my hardwares and hopefully someone can help me :)

 

Foxconn motherboard 945P7MD/945G7MD Intel Core 2CPU (replacement)

2GB RAM

Creative SoundBlaster Audigy4pro

Nvidia GeForce 8400 GS (replacement)

WD3200JD-00KLB0 SATA Harddrive

SONY DVD ROM DDU1615

LG HL-DT-ST- DVD RAM GSA-4163B

Anything else needed let me know!

 

ALL Drivers are entirely upto date and not Beta either.

So if anyone has ideas please :)

Thanks so much guys :)

 

Natalie

[Guest Wolfeymole]

Hi Nat

 

Welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help

 

Can I just ascertain just what you mean by this statement please.

 

Windows Reinstall does not work by the way, nor does safemode/virus scan,

What do you mean by Windows Reinstall?

 

Do you mean reinstalling from a recovery partition or recovery disks?

[ginggoth]

An entire reinstall, disk wipe the lot :)

 

..sorry from the Windows recovery disk

Edited August 2, 2008 by ginggoth

[Seth]

Given that you have to wait a while before you can turn the computer back on, I would be addressing a heat problem first. That is, either the processor heat sink, or the graphics card heat sink.

 

Go into the bios and report back on the temperatures it shows. You can also use a free program called Speedfan to check the temperatures from within windows.

 

Another option is to open the side of the case and point a house fan in there, but given that the problem is so intermittent, that might not be practical.

 

Also do this which will hopefully allow you to view the error when it occurs:

 

1.

Right-click My Computer, and then click Properties.

2.

Click the Advanced tab.

3.

Under Startup and Recovery, click Settings to open the Startup and Recovery dialog box.

4.

Clear the Automatically restart check box, and click OK the necessary number of times.

5.

Restart your computer for the settings to take effect.

[Tony D]

Maybe heat related?

 

Check the Event Logs - right click My Computer and choose Manage. Open the Event Viewer and see if there's an event that corresponds to the time when your computer crashed.

[ginggoth]

Sorry for a late reply.. it crashed again :D

I'm agreeing with you guys..didnt get a chance yet to get speedfan (doing that now) But I took the gfx card's fan off and it was caaaked in dust, so I'm pretty sure that's where it is.. but perhaps it could be a heat thing too, even if not, I'd like to invest in a cooling system (those water one look so cool:D) so any recommendations?

Thankyou so much by the way! :D

[ginggoth]

I screenshotted the event log.. Didn't really find anything, I'm sure it crashed at half 10 pm, and 10 o clock.. there's quite a few things there.. anything I need to worry about?

 

 

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v360/ginggoth/eventlog.jpg

[ginggoth]

And here's the Speedfan screen... I should think it was a little warmer.. but I did feel verything and only felt slightly warm just after crashing last..

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v360/ginggoth/spdfan.jpg

[ginggoth]

Also the power Supply is 570w if that helps..

Hopefully it's just the dust, but the temp is still pretty high, is there nothing i can do without buying a cooling system (just yet anyways)

[maynardvdm]

Hi

 

Have you tried clearing out the dust with compressed air? See if that helps :)

[ginggoth]

Ah I'll see what I can do without buying compressed air today (it is sunday :( ) so I'll take her to bits and give her a good ol' scrub :D

[Guest Wolfeymole]

Just don't take the Vacuum to it love ok. :eek:

[Tony D]

In the Event Viewer, look at all the System log. That's probably where you'll see the problem.

[ginggoth]

Ok what I've done for the moment..

I found alot of errors in the event log concerning CD ROM and GFX card, so I started with mobo.. I didn't update bios as that was upto date, but updated all components, lan, realtek thing, ide drives blah.. (seems 2 fixed cdrom error)

Then moved onto gfx; uninstalled, safemode- used driver cleaner to remove alot of old driver crap, reinstalled (wouldnt load up after this) and as before i left it, cleaned the kitchen :D and then came back, loaded fine, set up display b.s etc, no NV errors now.. and as of yet hasnt crashed.. :D

Full dusting will commence after my first test.. as i was pretty thorough last night anyhow..

Now performing first test of running Simcity Societies as this wouldnt before soo gimme luck!! :D

[Guest Wolfeymole]

Fingers crossed pet :)

[Dalo Harkin]

When you do a reinstall of an OS - you should always do so in this order:-

1 OS and any available service packs

2 MOBO drivers

3 GPU drivers

Any other combo and you can get some serious issues, if you do go down the compressed air route - always use short bursts.

For a GPU/CPU fan a paintbrush will more than suffice for cleaning the heatsink if you cannot get to any compressed air ;)

[ginggoth]

Yeah I usually use this soft brush from a hair clipper kit, (of course, not used for hair :D)

And yeah to be honest I'd do a reinstall in that order.. logical if nothing else! :D

 

She hasn't crashed so far.. I played SCS for maybe 10 mins, still, lasted longer than ususal and wasnt tooooo jumpy, but still a little. I also read my mobo isn't a real gamer one, so I'll probably do what I can for now and replace it down the line ready in time for spore ;)

 

HOW MUCH DOES EVERYBODY WANT THAT GAME!!! .. not as much as me tho :D

 

Thanks so much for the help guys, will remain extreeemely vigilant for dust n whatnot in the future! :)

[ginggoth]

Ahh.. give me strength.. it crashed again.. and there's nothing in the event log whatsoever, not even anything that started never mind errors..

After everything I've done.. It most likely is a heat thing..

With all fans on the temp's fine although it's the 'core' and 'temp 2' which seem to be temperamental and like to go in the 50 region, and wont drop below 39 (degrees).. even this apparently isn't too bad.. but ah man, something's causing it..

All I was doing, ALL I was doing just now as it crashed was viewing a smallville website lol.. :eek:

 

I've noticed that the CPU usage spikes over the smallest of things.. closing a window or minimizing it, raises it by 10% even for the moment and then that raises the temp by 3/4 deg's .. is this it??

[ginggoth]

NOw the event log is showing errors from the cd-rom "while paging" and an NV problem.. this is when i started watching a dvd by the way lol, which actually played, but yeah errors there

[Seth]

Spikes are normal in Task Manager. I'll elaborate if needed.

 

If you want the advanced stuff, then feel the gpu and cpu heat sinks. They should not be too hot to touch.

 

Also, play around in Safe Mode.

[Dalo Harkin]

Can you list the CPU and the MOBO for me also whether you are using a stock cooler or another type and who fitted it etc - did they use thermal compound or was it pre-installed on the Heatsink - have you checked that the Heatsink is firmly in place *by this I mean give it a very very slight wobble* anything more can cause damage :eek:

[ginggoth]

Sorry, what do u mean list the cpu.. I downloaded CPUID and got the bottom info if that helps?..

 

The mobo I have is a Foxconn 945P(G)7MD

Foxconn - Products: Motherboard

 

Everything's just warm, not hot to the touch, nothing more than expected..

The case has 1 fan on back ofc, and one (below) gfx card, and one on the mobo, the heat sink ain't moving too much, and the mobo was from pc world, and was put together before we bought it.

(cpuid info)

-----------------------------------------------------

Processor(s)

Number of processors 1

Number of cores 2 per processor

Number of threads 2 per processor

Name Intel Core 2 Duo E4400

Code Name Conroe

Specification Intel® Core2 CPU 4400 @ 2.00GHz

Package Socket 775 LGA

Family/Model/Stepping 6.F.2

Extended Family/Model 6.F

Core Stepping L2

Technology 65 nm

Core Speed 1197.1 MHz

Multiplier x Bus speed 6.0 x 199.5 MHz

Rated Bus speed 798.1 MHz

Stock frequency 2000 MHz

Instruction sets MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, EM64T

L1 Data cache (per processor) 2 x 32 KBytes, 8-way set associative, 64-byte line size

L1 Instruction cache (per processor) 2 x 32 KBytes, 8-way set associative, 64-byte line size

L2 cache (per processor) 2048 KBytes, 8-way set associative, 64-byte line size

 

Chipset & Memory

Northbridge Intel i945G/GZ rev. A2

Southbridge Intel 82801GB (ICH7/R) rev. A1

Graphic Interface PCI-Express

PCI-E Link Width x16

PCI-E Max Link Width x16

Memory Type DDR2

Memory Size 2048 MBytes

Memory Frequency 332.5 MHz (3:5)

CAS# Latency (tCL) 5.0 clocks

RAS# to CAS# (tRCD) 5 clocks

RAS# Precharge (tRP) 5 clocks

Cycle Time (tRAS) 15 clocks

Bank Cycle Time (tRC) 21 clocks

 

System

System Manufacturer OEM

System Name OEM

System S/N OEM

Mainboard Vendor Foxconn

Mainboard Model 945 7MD Series

BIOS Vendor Phoenix Technologies, LTD

BIOS Version 6.00 PG

BIOS Date 01/08/2008

 

Memory SPD

Module 1 DDR2, PC2-5300 (333 MHz), 1024 MBytes, Qimonda

Module 2 DDR2, PC2-5300 (333 MHz), 1024 MBytes, AENEON

 

Software

Windows Version Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 3 (Build 2600)

DirectX Version 9.0c

[Dalo Harkin]

Is your board clocking the CPU at 1197.1 MHz or are you overclocking it?

 

If you are overclocking you need a better cooler to handle the heat

[ginggoth]

I'm not overclocking it at all.. at least on purpose lol, it did run ok with the current set up before these probs started to arise, so i felt no need to bother messing with it

[ginggoth]

So I need to reduce the MHz output then? would that slow the pc down some?