PC locking up

[Jase]

Recently put together a new PC with Windows XP SP3 installed and the MOBO disc for relevant drivers. Once the PC is switched on and Windows has loaded, a minute or 2 later the PC freezes / locks up. Mouse and keyboard don't work (lights are on though) and I can't Ctrl+Alt +Del. Any ideas :confused: It happened after I installed Office 2003 Pro but I don't think would have anything to do with it.

 

Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 3GHz / Gigabyte EP43-DS3L / ATi Radeon 3850HD / 2GB Ram (2 x 1024) OCZ DDR2 XTC / EZ Cool PS-900 700W PSU

Edited October 29, 2008 by Jase

[Guest Wolfeymole]

Have you tried uninstalling Office Jase?

[Tootech]

Jase, can you get into Safe Mode?

[Jase]

The PC is just rebooting all the time now when it reaches the Windows start up screen. The PC froze during a System Restore prior to that and I had to switch it off.

[Jase]

Busy doing a clean install of Windows whilst pulling my hair out. Tried installing the first time with both sticks of RAM in and didn't get past the initial loading files from disk part. Took what I think to be a dodgy stick out and its installed.

[Jase]

Once WinXP had installed I loaded MOBO drivers, then Avast, then ATi Radeon driver from website. Restarted the PC and its froze again - HD light is permanantly on. Can't Ctrl+Alt+Del either.

[Tootech]

Jase, you seem to be having nothing but trouble with this setup - your memory isn't matched to the board, and your clean installs are going wrong. To be honest if it was mine, after Googling the mainboard and its potential problems I'd be inclined to swap it for something a little less tetchy.

 

Try dropping a post in the motherboard section, someone may have some good advice on the board you use, or suggest a good alternative.

[Dalo Harkin]

If the HDD light is always on then its struggling - is this an older HDD that you swapped into the new build?

[Jase]

So as my mobo is a Gigabyte EP43-DS3L DDR2 1200MHz, does this mean the RAM needs to be DDR2 1200.The RAM I bought is OCZ DDR2 800MHz. I think I am having conflicts between the MOBO and the RAM as the PC freezes after a couple of minutes. I ran MemTest with 1 of the sticks of RAM and it froze after 6 mins although no errors were reported. I ran the Western Digital Diagnostics tool for the HD with no concerns. That lasted 40mins with no freeze either.

 

Back to the RAM, is there a way of altering timings to stop conflict or would I be better of getting RAM to suit the mobo?

[Dalo Harkin]

The RAM should be fine - the 1200 is MAXIMUM

http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/FileList/MemorySupport/motherboard_memory_ga-ep43-ds3l.pdf

 

Have you been on the OCZ website and set the Voltage and the timing manually in the BIOS?

 

There is also a RED NOTE about the particular CPU's the board can use.

[Jase]

The timings are set to 4-4-4-15 and the voltage 2.0 . The PC has been on for over an hour while doing th HD diagnostics test and no freeze. I started MemTest again and it lasted 11 secs then PC froze (no errors).

[Dalo Harkin]

Is the RAM dual channel??

is it running in dual channel as in a stick in DIMM 1 and 3 or 2 and 4?

[Jase]

I have been doing MemTest with 1 stick in at a time.

 

Since my last post I have been doing a bit investigating and it may be a PSU problem. I bought the PSU about a year ago, recommended by PC Gamer - its an EZ Cool PS-900 700w. A lot of people have had trouble with this PSU and when I initially switched my new rig on there was a pop from the PSU. It worked fine in my older rig but that needed less juice.

 

It doesn't freeze in the BIOS and didn't freeze during the HD test but when more power was needed for the MemTest and to start windows, it freezes.

 

I'm going to buy a new PSU today - i'll let you know the results.

[Jase]

Not sure if this is meant to be in the PSU section, but the Corsair VX 550w I have just bought has an EPS/ATX12 8-4 pin cable. I only have a 4 socket connector on the mobo. Is it ok to plug 4 of the 8 pins into the mobo?

[Dalo Harkin]

Yes - it just means that 4 is for AMD and 8 is INTEL - it should have some with like a capping plate for the other 4 ??

[Jase]

Ok, sorted. The 8 pin can be separated into two 4 pins. Going to leave PC alone for a bit to see if it freezes.

[Jase]

Yep, it froze again on the desktop. :mad:

[Jase]

Can I put the RAM in any PC to run MemTest or does it have to be compatible with the mobo?

[Jase]

I bought some new RAM today (Corsair DDR2 XMS 800MHz PC6400 2 x 1GB). Fitted 1 then the other about 30mins later and had no problems for about 6 hours then the PC froze :confused:.

 

I've emailed Gigabyte (MOBO manufacturer) because the board is supposed to beep on start up .....but it doesn't. Not sure if that has anything to do with it.

 

I also looked in event viewer and this warning ocurred 3 times at the time of freeze.....

 

Printer Driver Microsoft Office Document Image Writer Driver for Windows NT x86 Version-3 was added or updated. Files:- mdigraph.dll, mdiui.dll, mdiui.dll.

 

.....any ideas?