My computer keeps freezing

[bullion416]

For whatever reason my computer will randomly freeze up (I don't get an error message or anything....everything just locks up...keyboard and mouse don't work...you just have to manually restart the machine). I can't think of any particular reason it would be doing this. It is a computer I build from components...Abit NF7-S motherboard, Crucial Tech ram, amd athlon xp 2600......I am wondering if it might be a power supply issue. I have an Antec 400SL (i think that is the model number) power supply and it is less than 2 years old. Any ideas??

 

[mechBgon]

Has the computer worked normally for a long time, and just started doing this recently, or did you just get it built recently and it's always done it?

Also, what's the bus speed on your particular 2600+, if you know (266 or 333), what speed is your Crucial RAM rated for, and what is the ratio in the NF7-S's BIOS for the CPU-to-memory ratio? (1:1 for example). And what video card do you use?

 

[bullion416]

The computer has worked fine for the year and a half I have had it. The bus speed is 333 and the crucial memory I have is pc3200 running at 333. My video card is a Chaintech TI4200 128mb 8x agp.

 

[mechBgon]

You could check the PSU's output with a multimeter to see if its 12-volt, 3.3-volt and 5-volt power are close to spec (10% is workable, 5% is better). Boosting your memory voltage manually to 2.6 volts might help too, if it's running at 2.5 volts now.

Also, what about security issues? What Windows version, service-pack level, antivirus software and firewall software &/or firewall hardware do you have? Noticed any abnormal slowness or excessive network activity?

 

[bullion416]

I will see what voltage my memory is running at. As far as software...I am running Windows XP Pro, BlackIce firewall, Norton Corporate Edition antivirus. Everything seems to be running fine except for these random freeze ups. The only weird thing that happened several times was when I reformatted my computer and went to reinstall windows, it would freeze up every time right at the point where it asks you what hard drive you want to install windows on. Some times if you selected the hard drive fast enough, it wouldn't freeze up (i.e. had your hand on the key right when that screen came up so you could press the enter key faster). Oddly enough, I tried unplugging the square 4 prong cord from my power supply that plugs into the motherboard. That is the cable that you typically see on P4 motherboards, but the user manual for my motherboard said you could connect that power cable for added stability. Once I unplugged that, windows never froze up during the installation like it was in the past.

 

[compusaguy]

Originally posted by: bullion416
For whatever reason my computer will randomly freeze up (I don't get an error message or anything....everything just locks up...keyboard and mouse don't work...you just have to manually restart the machine). I can't think of any particular reason it would be doing this. It is a computer I build from components...Abit NF7-S motherboard, Crucial Tech ram, amd athlon xp 2600......I am wondering if it might be a power supply issue. I have an Antec 400SL (i think that is the model number) power supply and it is less than 2 years old. Any ideas??

I can guarantee you it is either your RAM or motherboard which is defective.

 

[meltdown75]

OP if I were you I would do an additional scan with another antivirus prg such as AVG free, and also make sure you have done both Adaware / Spybot scans... Norton imho is not the best at the moment and there is quite a bit of bloatware that most people never even use... just a suggestion

 

[bullion416]

Is there any way to be certain what is causing this problem? (btw I ran an anti-virus scan and ran ad-aware)

 

[montag451]

I was expecting this from mech - - - - what psu are you using?

Do you get any errors in event viewer? if so, post them - - Source and Event ID with any text.

try START - run - msconfig , startup,
disable everything that isn't completely required - [disconnect from internet and disable firewall] - run the system and see if it is stable, or if it still crashes.
if there are still probs, then RAM or PSU I would put money on - try memtest to test RAM

 

[bullion416]

Where can I get EventID? And I am using an Antec 400 watt psu...i think the model number is 400SL

 

[itzkano]

Have you fixed this problem? I have a similar one ..

 

[Odenax]

Do you have sufficient cooling because my friend had the same problem and it was overheating. Also check you have got all the correct and latest drivers.

 

[firerock]

try cleaning your mobo inside out, especially your fans.