Long-time sufferer of unexplainable computer problem :(

[scud]

I don't ever wish for anyone to have this problem, ever. I've been using computer for as long as I can remember but I've never had this problem before. My computer, apparently, has a mind of its own and decides to freeze whenever it wants to. But that's not the entire story - I bought an HP computer about 6 months ago and on the 2nd day of use, I first encountered my first unexplainable freeze up. I've had computers freeze on me numerous times in the past but this was different - the computer wasn't processing anything, I was simply moving my mouse around as I'm waiting for an application to load or something and boom, it just hits, a harsh, cold freeze. Ctrl+Alt+Del won't work, the keyboard does not work, the mouse cursor is frozen, nothing else to do but a cold reboot. This continued on day to day, night to night. I could be on the computer for hours and not experience a single freeze then the following day, it could freeze on me 3 times in a span of an hour - it's really, really distressing. So I was resigned to the fact that this must be a hardware defect until I found out otherwise. This past week, I asked my friend to build me a new computer using any old parts if possible - well, he basically replaced everything from the old one, Intel chip is gone replaced with AMD, 128mb ram is removed, not recycled, replaced with a single 256mb, the HD is totally new, the sound card is new, the modem is new, the CD-writer is new, he did keep the old DVD player, even the case is new. So I was excited when he finally finished, and apparently "tested" it for a couple of days. So I finally took it home and thought my problems would be fixed. But only after a few hours of use, it once again, froze on me . It is truly distressing. I could be running wordpad and open another application to work on something else, and I'd be switching back and forth, and it would decide to freeze me after the "randomth" time of switching. I could go online and visit yahoo chat and boom, after a couple of minutes - frozen. I don't know what to think now - my monitor, the wires that hook to the back of my CPU, the surge protector? I can't imagine any of those causing my computer to freeze. I really would appreciate any help. This is getting to be a very, very frustrating dilemma.

[mnymkr]

Have you taken it somewhere else and tried to run it? You could possibly have a bad power supply coming into your house. Surges, spikes, even drop of voltage can do this.

How about the cooling fans? Are they all running?

There are numerous possibilities that could be causing your problem, but try taking it somewhere else first and see what happens. Post back with results, I'd like to know just what this is, too.

[deanomanuk]

I agree with the previous posting, lack of integrity with the power supply can easily cause freeze ups, a loose earth wire can even do it, check all off your power leads etc, Did your friend use his own plug in leads when he tested it, is that why he did not have a problem. Deal with the basics first!.

[deanomanuk]

I agree with the previous posting, lack of integrity with the power supply can easily cause freeze ups, a loose earth wire can even do it, check all off your power leads etc, Did your friend use his own plug in leads when he tested it, is that why he did not have a problem. Deal with the basics first!.

[Michael Chiew]

scud

You changed everything, more or less, but you didn't change the motherboard. You were silent on that. Throughout your post you mentioned your components quite meticulously but you left out any talk of the motherboard.

Was the motherboard changed.

I am thinking that your motherboard is the old one. If so, I believe what you ought to do is to upgrade your BIOS and chipset drivers. If your motherboard comes with VIA chipsets such as KT133 or KT133A, be aware that these have been known to cause random lock-ups caused by incompatibility issues of one sort or another. Yours seems to be a case of random lock-ups.

So if your motherboard is the old one, do a bios upgrade, together with an upgrade of your chipset drivers.

If both these suggestions fail, then you ought to look at your motherboard as the source of your problem. Everything else except the DVD drive has been replaced with new ones.

By the way, what OS are you running.

Michael Chiew

[SPEEDO]

He did say Intel chip is gone replaced with AMD, But you are right there's no mention of motherboard swap!
Kinda hard to do that isn't it?

SPEEDO

[scud]

First off, many thanks to all who provided help.

I did not mention anything about the motherboard (I know very little on computer hardware hence asking for my friend's assistance) cuz I'm not sure whether he replaced it or not. I will ask him though.

I do not believe it is a power supply error however cuz I could leave the machine running for days and not touch it, and it would not freeze on me. Even if I were to leave it, say, processing something, maybe multiple defrags of some sort, it would not freeze. If I were downloading a large file, for instance and just left it on without touching it, it would be fine. The moment I am active with the mouse or the cursor, with whatever application, it locks up randomly.

[scud]

FYI, I'm using Win98 version 4.10.1998.

Also, I had a much older computer before my HP and that never froze on me once for no apparent reason. I've used all these systems in the same place.

[idravlis]

I have exactly the same problem with you. Random Lcok ups. I DO RUN a VIA KT133 chip on the mainboard though. Yesterday i updated the BIOS and drivers it seemed ok for a couple of hours playing Diablo II, then FREEZE (again). I'm so fed up. This goes on for almost a year. I dont even know yet if IT IS the KT133 after all, maybe its smthng else i'm not a technician. Anyway i know exactly how you feel, please reply if you ave the same chipset with me (VIA KT133), if you do we may be on to something, in any case since you say you had the same problem before the CPU swap (Intel to AMD) contact me anyway. A friend of mine who has the same board with a sound blaster changed the Sound Card with a Terratec one and stoped having the freeze-ups.

[Hackrz-R-Us]

Most of you guys saying it's the MB well it can't be if he changed from intel to amd different ZIF sockets. What i would do is if the newer MB is a VIA chipset gotto via site and get new via 4in1 drivers. And plus there is a issue with via and sound blaster cards. So they have a tweak there too. Hope this helped if need more help email me at hackrzrus@hotmail.com

[Emc2]

One more thing:

It sounds like it could be heat...how many fans do you have? In my experience, a lot of my poor performance problems have all been solved by getting rid of heat.

Check out the Case cooling Guide and see if this could be a possibility. Follow mnymkr's advice too and make sure they're all running.

[Rocketmech]

Seems the 1 common senario to the lockups occurrs during 'multitasking' which will cause your processor to heat up. Have your friend check the cpu fan. The mouse could be causing the lock ups also. Did you change the mouse or your friend use another?

[IamLancelot2000]

yes, i totally agree with the heat factor.
-poor heat dispersion to heat sink
-slow fan
-cramped internals
-poor ventilation throughout case
-bad powerpack, was that replaced. maybe it's now under powered

or...
drivers, updates, patches
esp. VIA, KT133 - i have i know... i fix... and fix and fix etc.
even getting the video updated could quickly fix
might need special purpose drivers and stuff
sometimes windows or harddrive. run scandisk, defrag... if you get there

look up your specific motherboard or video card on web - company sites, user sites, even underground devoted sites would surprise you. of, you'll probly have to do a little research. good luck though

[mcooke]

What about programs running in the background? It's possible he reconfigured hardware but is running the same software. Many programs, unbeknownst to the user, load and run in the background. I especially had problems with virus software running in the background. I'd recommend usings msconfig from the run command and the deselect all unnecassary items under the start tab. If that doesn't solve the problem, I'd look towards power issues. Perhaps there is some intermittent power issue from his power company. Might try a UPS.

[Emc2]

It sounds like he has a socket 7 motherboard and his friend switched from a Pentium to a K6-II or something similar. Otherwise, that guy did swap the motherboard.

Right click on the My Computer Icon and click on properties at the bottom of the menu. Tell us what you see under "Computer:".