Windows ME Application Freezing Problem -- Out of Ideas

[Wiloden]

For the longest, I have been researching a problem with my config that causes my apps to randomly freeze. Fortunately, games never freeze, but it's annoying nevertheless.

Before I begin this dissertation, here's my setup:

AMD 1.1Ghz CPU
Gigabyte 7IXE4 Mobo - BIOS dated 11/03/2001 (the latest)
Visiontek Geforce3 AGP
D-Link NIC (PCI)
Linksys NIC (PCI)
Soundblaster Live Value (PCI)
Iomega SCSI Adapter (PCI)
Iomega 1GB Jazz Drive (internal)
HP 9100 Series CD-R/RW (IDE)
Primary Master C: drive = Maxtor 12.6 GB
Slave D: drive = 40GB Western Digital
ISP = Charter Cable Modem (Surfboard external -- connects to D-Link)
Logitech IFeel Mouse (PS/2)
Microsoft Natural Keyboard
Windows ME OS
Direct-X 8.1a
NVidia Reference Drivers Version 21.83

The app freezes occur randomly. The app in question freezes the system completely and usually I can still move the mouse arrow, but this is not always the case. Here is a list of things that I have tried to no avail:

1). HD Defrag
2). Internet Explorer History/Cache Cleanup
3). Reducing my Video Hardware Acceleration in Video Properties
4). Reducing the color palette from 32-bit to 16-bit.
5). Reducing the screen resolution from 1280x1024 to 1024x768.
6). Replacing an older 250-watt PSU with a 300-watt
7). Switching the NICs around a little to avoid IRQ sharing with the video card (D-Link currently shares with the AGP, which is IRQ 11)
8). Removing the SCSI adapter to free up an IRQ
9). Flashing the BIOS to the latest version (as of this morning -- still encountered freezing)
10). Clean format and Re-install of Windows ME
11). Installing latest AMD chipset drivers that are authenticated by Microsoft
12). Tried using generic Microsoft mouse driver in place of Logitech MouseWare.
13). Downloaded all critical ME patches from Microsoft
14). Modified ME config to exclude all non-essential TSR's at StartUp

Please, if anyone has any ideas, I would certainly appreciate hearing from you, as I have run out.

Thanks.
Wilo

 

[minendo]

Have you checked your CPU and case temperatures? These can lead to lockups. I would suggest using MBM 5 (Motherboard Monitor 5) to see what kind of temperatures you are getting. More than likely the random freezing can be caused by the CPU being too hot. What kind of cooling do you have? What heatsink are you using?


My biggest suggestion, though, would be to switch Operating Systems to something more stable than WinME.

 

[Wiloden]

Thanks for the quick response. Here's my temperature information from MBM5:

(2) Sensor 1 between 42 & 43 Degrees C and Sensor 2 at 19 Degrees C
None of the core voltages are out of line.

The fan = 4963 RPM

CPU = 1111 Mhz

 

[minendo]

Ok it doesnt appear to be heat as the problem.

 

[Willoughbyva]

I second getting a more stable os. Like win2000 or XP.

When do the lock ups occure? Can you make it lock up?


Good Luck

Will

 

[Wiloden]

Usually, if I scroll the mouse wheel repeatedly down a web page, I can make it crash - particularly in 32-bit color mode.

However, the crashes usually occur randomly during screen paints, etc.

Again, games do not crash, which makes this problem so unusual

 

[Wiloden]

Something worth noting ..

I am using ICS with Windows ME, and when the server crashes, the client computer continues to stay online.

Very peculiar ...

 

[garytmib]

i had the same trouble with me. i switched to xp pro and have been running smooth since.