System hands momentarily, repeatedly!

[Blackjack]

Please can anyone help me with this?

 

At least half the time I use my PC and at varying periods of time after it has been switched on the following occurs.

 

Basically the HDD light iluminates continuously and while it is on the one DVD drive will not open (in fact it does not even appear in ‘my computer’ while the other DVD drive opens and closes but will not read any disc.

 

At the same time the functions of the computer start and stop at regular intervals. For example, the keyboard and mouse do not appear to opeate for about one out of every four seconds in a repeating cycle.

 

Also the sound is lost at those moments as well as the display freezing, internet activity stops, it is as if the whole system just hangs every four seconds or so on a looping cycle.

 

No information is lost, it frees up again for a few seconds and then repeats. When I restart the PC initially the problem is not there and sometimes my PC appears to ‘free’ itself and comes out of the cycle when it is left long enough.

 

Any ideas please?

[Synapse]

Could be the power supply. You could swap it for a known good PSU and see if the fault goes away.

[Jelly Bean]

Hello there.

 

Firstly could you post your computer hardware specifications please.

 

HDD lights do normaly flicker at diffrent rates and depends on what you are doing at the time.

 

There maybe an issue with a dead or damaged CD/DVD drive or internal connection.It also could be a jumper setting on one or more of the drives such as master or slave.Or even a cable connection if they are IDE drives.I prefer the HDD to be set on its own IDE cable and the CD/DVD drives to be set on another IDE cable,saves booting problems.

 

Have you tried a reset of the BIOS to default?

 

The freeze issue could be as simple as lack of RAM/Memory or you need to run CHKDSK on your hard drive.

 

Without your system specs it is hard to judge the issue.

 

The mouse and keyboard are they wireless,USB or normal PS/2 set?

 

Could you give us more information on your setup please it would help us greatly.

[Blackjack]

Hi there,

 

The system is a Philips Freeline MT2000 that I bought about 5 years ago. It’s done very little in that time and I only use it for Internet Explorer and Outlook Express, so even though it is dated I’m guessing it still runs well within its capabilities. It’s got Norton AntiViris 2009.

 

It has a P4 530 3.0GHz processor, 512MB DDR, 160GB HDD (which is 80% unused and defragged). It has a ATI Radeon 9250 256B graphics card. Beyond that what would you like to know about the hardware specification?

 

When I say the HDD light comes on continuously, I literally mean that, not the normal flickering. It stays on indefinitely. The system appears to run perfectly well initially that might indicate a loose connection. However, when it starts this annoying thing it’s like a consistent cycle that is best described as the whole system being responsive for 80% of the time and 20% unresponsive, or locked up, in this cycle that takes about 4 seconds to repeat.

 

The system came with the wireless mouse and keyboard that I still use. The batteries are fine. When I type and then look back at what I’ve typed it appears that I’ve missed loads of letters and spaces out where I’ve made key strokes while the system with not responding. I could have not bothered proof reading this post then you would have seen! :)

I have never changed the BIOS, in fact I don't know how to.

 

The CD/DVD drives appear to work properly under normal circumstances.

 

I did say when I started this thread that all the symptoms occur together, but that is not true. It is sometimes the case that the HDD light is on permanently with the non-responsive CD/DVD drives, the keyboard problem, but the audio and display (e.g. watching a video on YouTube) is unaffected. However, usually its all symptoms together!

 

Finally, when the problem occurs and I shut Windows down the problem persists even until the moment the power goes off. The normal Windows shut-down sound is punctuated by the non responsive moment and the sound of the HDD being read from or written to stops as well for the moments the system is not responding.

 

Maybe I need a new PC, but I hope not!

[Blackjack]

I just ran CHKDSK which executed without any apparent problem.

[KenB]

Hi Blackjack

 

If the 512MB RAM is in 2 modules try taking them out, give the contacts a clean with a pencil eraser and replace JUST ONE.

Run the system. ( It will run slow due to only 256MB RAM )

If the problem is still the same swap the modules over and try the other one.

 

If it runs without hanging you have a defective RAM module.

 

If no luck - put both modules back.

[Blackjack]

Thanks for the advice. The 512MB RAM is one module. Would the Windows Memory Diagnostic at Microsoft Online Crash Analysis be a good tool to use as an alternative? :confused:

[KenB]

Yes - I would give that a go.

 

You can also try Memtest from here:

Memtest86+ - Advanced Memory Diagnostic Tool

It needs to run for a good few hours at least.

 

Just an observation:

512MB is just about enough to run XP.

If you intend keeping the machine for some time you may wish to consider upgrading to at least 1GB - providing your motherboard can support it.

Edited August 29, 2010 by KenB

[Blackjack]

Hi,

 

I ran the test that I mentioned and it showed some failures so I think I've located the problem.

 

I've got two slots, each can take 1GB so will probably go the whole hog!

 

I bought RAM before from Crucial for another PC. Are there any other suppliers to be recommended?

 

Cheers,

[KenB]

Hi,

 

I like Crucial.

Run a scan from here:

RAM Memory Upgrade: Dell, Mac, Apple, HP, Compaq. USB drives, flash cards, SSD at Crucial.com

It will recommend and give you additional helpful information.

 

Kingston is another good manufacturer.

 

I would not buy cheap RAM - you only get what you pay for.

[Blackjack]

Thanks Ken,

 

If I don't add another post on this thread then the new RAM worked!

 

Cheers :)

[KenB]

You are welcome :)

 

It would be nice to hear how you get on with the new RAM.

[Blackjack]

Hello again!

 

Well I got 1GB of RAM from Crucial and replaced the 512MB module with it. Then my problems multiplied, or grew in magnitude!

 

First the system wouldn't boot up and an error message was saying boot disk failure. So I took the 1GB module out and returned the 512MB module and the system booted up again.

 

Then I switched them back and with the 1GB module installed the system appeared to boot up ok. I was happily watching a video on YouTube and then things took a turn for the worse!

 

Basically the system crashed and when it started to reboot the same error message as before, the boot system disk failure.

 

I've since got the impression that if I leave it for a while switched off it will load Windows on the next attempt. However, Windows loads rediculously slowly and does not appear to run properly. For example, I have lost all wireless internet connectivity.

 

A couple of times I've left Windows running, but idle and when I've gone back to the PC it has crashed and I've got the same error message about boot disk failure.

 

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!! :eek:

[Blackjack]

I should have said in my last post - the problems appear to be the same now regardless of which RAM module is installed.

[Synapse]

If RAM goes bad, in my experience it either can access a location or it can't, there's no in between. So, normally bad RAM will manifest in a blue screen fault, intermittent shutdowns, lack of ability to install Windows due to different errors or non booting.

 

The problems you are having may be down to a weak or failing PSU or a motherboard that is becoming unstable.

 

Check the PSU first. Take your old one to a local shop, they should have a tester which can put the circuits under load and tell you if it is faulty. They may let you take your PC unit in and try another PSU.

 

Also, have you looked in the Event Log? It often gives tell tale pointers in the SYSTEM log (if it gets as far as starting it).

[Blackjack]

Thanks for the advice. I'm going to be out of the country for a few weeks and when I get back I'll investigate further.

 

Cheers!