XP SP2 random System Hangs

[dgreensl]

Hey all,

Hopeing for some positive feed back on this. I've been keeping a Windows XP machine around for a while mostly to facilitate my gaming addiction. I recently refomatted my windows section of my computer and am expierienceing system hangs for aproximately 10 - 20 seconds randomly.

Description of typical problem: listening to music and surfing the Web when my computer becomes unresponsive and sound stops for 10-20 seconds. after the hang all actions return to normal.
typical applications running: Jet audio, AIM, and MSIE(2 or 3 instances).
Max RAM usege at Hang: 223MB of 512MB
other odd system responses: HDD lite on front of case never turns off unless in boot proccess, and noticed to day that i think my HDD is starting to make some funny sounds.

my real fear at this time is that my HDD is failing. Though this is usually associated with louder more persistant sounds and an increase in read write errors. I'm hoping that its just a simple setting with SP2 that i need to change to take some stress off of my HDD.

Thanks in advance for taking the time to think about this problem and for any advice you might have

Dann-o

 

[MrChad]

What brand of hard drive do you have and how old is it? If your hard drive is making strange noises, I would back up files immediately just to be safe.

 

[dgreensl]

The HDD is a WD Caviar 40Gig about 4 years old. A Little early for a HDD to go the way of the Buffalo but not unheard of

Dann-o

 

[spyordie007]

Do you have any network share conections open (i.e. a mapped network drive)? I've seen similar behavior in windows explorer when it has issues remaining connected to the network share(s).

 

[dgreensl]

Ya that would make sense but it'sa fresh install of Windows and it still does that nothing defaults to share that much. I am at college and on relitively large network so that explination ould make sense. Hmm.. didn't find anything shared though. hmm i'll keep adjusting settings and trying things

Dann-o

 

[PsharkJF]

Run memtest

 

[Cal166]

Don't worry, your not alone.

Couple of weeks ago, my little brother updated my my sp1 to sp2 without telling me.

now everytime i play games, listen to music, surf....etc

the system would had, screen goes blank and system is hangs.

I got so pissed so i just uninstalled sp2 and so far soo good.

*I recommend either uninstall SP2 or do a Fresh install with SP2 intergrated.

 

[dgreensl]

Hey i did the fresh install how do you do one with SP2 integrated. I got slightly better performance out of my box by killing the firewall and all that as soon as i get out of work here i'm gonna try running memtest. I figured out what was clicking in my computer; it was my reseviour and pump from my liquid cooling sytem. So i'm starting to lean twards it not being the HDD but the SP2. Last time i installed SP2 and then uninstalled it the computer behaved exactly the same as it did with it installed, ie still would just pause for 10 sec every couple of min. I dunno the worst is that in order to keep my network i have to keep the SP2 installed (stupid college OIT and their stupid sweep programs.) I just wish that the top of the line games would run under linux and i wouldn't have to have this problem.

 

[dgreensl]

Alright I ran memtest and got squat for errors. My systen will just randomly pause about once every 2 min. i don't understand. WHat else gets pu ton in SP2 that can be adjusted other then on off of the firewall. Something has to have changed with SP2 that i'm just not seeing. I dunno I'm about to swear off gaming and just keep linux on al my Machines.

Frustrated and slightly annoyed
Dann-o

 

[mrCide]

maybe hardware related? try the standard troubleshooting of removing all then adding one by one.

 

[nihl8tor88]

If your hdd is making funny sounds, i'm pretty sure it's not sp2 related.
do you have smart monitoring enabled at boot up , and is it giving you any errmsgs??
you should download the data lifeguard utility from Wd and run the extensive test.
4 yrs is actually a pretty common failure time, not really uncommon.
that's why the warranty's only for 3 years