Comp Freezes after Hotfix updates... 1

[BadBigBen]

Hi there, the following prob I've encountered by a friend of mine. He had WinXP build 2600 Pro installed and it was running nicely... decided to do the SP1a and all of the Hotfix updates (up to date), they installed without any probs...

after around 5 min of working with the PC it would lock up totally, Keyboard and Mouse wouldn't function at all...

Specs on the PC:

mobo: unkown (couldn't find any info on the net)
mobo ID: 01/02/2001 - 8363-686 - IA6LMC0CC-00

256 mb RAM, ATI-RAGE PRO 128 GFXcard, AVM FRITZ card, 30gb HD, DVD/CD-RW drive SAMSUNG, Aopen 48x CD-ROM...

I know that one of the HOTFIXES causes this lockup, cuz after I deinstalled several it stopped this behaviour...

I'm thinking that it could possibly be caused by the Powermanagement of the BIOS which isn't totally compat with the updates of XP... I vaguely remember reading something about this somewhere... and I'm hoping that anyone could at least point me in the correct direction into solving this dilema... (spend 8 hrs after this on reinstalling XP cleanly onto his PC, which he wasn't to happy about, as this wiped his EMAILs from the HD...)

I also hope that someone can point me to a BIOS update for the MOBO... which I've searched and not found (ie. motherboard.org)...

Ben

 

[bcastner]

Start by identifying unambiguously what harware exists. There are several excellent freeware tools to do the job:

Belarc Advisor

http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

AIDA32

http://www.aida32.hu/aida32.php

 

[1stITMAN]

Ok I would update the bios

 

[BadBigBen]

Hi there,

bcastner - thanx for the info... but, already done... ran both AIDA and BELARC and both didn't identify the MOBO at all... ergo the UNKNOWN... you should also by now know that I'm no newbee to comps... tsk tsk... but read on...

1stITMAN - thought about that, that is why I've posted on this forum, so as to Identify the MOBO, so that I can update the MOBO's BIOS... read the post carefully...

update - have now identified the mobo as a MATSONIC MS8117C... but haven't updated the BIOS as to yet, can't get to the PC til tomorrow or so... thought I would check the forum for side info as to what could cause this prob... since I haven't found it on MICROSOFT homepage...

so if anyone can point me in the right direction... I would appreciate it...

BEN

 

[bcastner]

My apologies bigbad.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en;822603

 

[BadBigBen]

Hi there,

bcastner - no apologies needed... thanx for the links... had been to the SCHASSEL.net but wasn't really any info there that I didn't have either... BIOS update not a prob anymore... the link to the MICROSOFT KB article isn't the prob either... since it just locks up totally for no apparent reason... no error nothing it just hangs...

Ben

 

[kippy13]

Have u checked the event log for any error messages?

 

[rezo247]

Is his CPU overclocked? Graphic card? If so, then the don't install hotfix #811493. If not overclocked them check his APU settings. Also, try out this util:

Shameless endorsement "FREEMEM"

JC (the Rez')
Consultant
CCNA/CCDA/MCSE/CNE/CCA/CQS-WiFi/WCSP

 

[bcastner]

Then I am with rezo247, do a RAM test for an extended period. The MS tool does a decent job of it:

http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp

I do not know FREEMEM, so I cannot comment.

The oldies but goodies in this catagory:

Memtest86

http://www.memtest86.com/#download0

DocMemory

http://www.simmtester.com/PAGE/products/doc/docinfo.asp

 

[BadBigBen]

Hi guys, thanx for the input...

the testing of the mem was already taken into account and both sticks of RAM are GOOD... I also use the memtest from Microsoft aswell as the memtest86 and the one in the LINUX distro...

End of Story...

after tweaking and doing all sorts of things to the PC I decided to open the case... and pointed out to my friend that the mobo needs replacing... damn bad CAPACITORS struck again...

Ben

 

[bcastner]

http://www.overclockers.com/tips1081/

 

[BadBigBen]

Hola,

bcastner - thanx for the link - it was fun reading...

but I'm not going to fix an old AMD (900 mhz) board that isn't any good but as a doorstop... (if it was any better and a known namebrand mobo I probably would, since I'm upto the replacement of the caps and all wouldn't take me more than 15 min to do that...)

Ben

 

[Najoba]

Well, BigBad, I have a brand new motherboard, etc. and I am having same problem. System just freezes and I have to hit the reset button. Also, sometimes it boots up and sometimes it doesn't. Am going to follow this thread and hope something turns up.

 

[BadBigBen]

Najoba, sorry but this thread is dead...

do start your own thread and post what system you have (mobo make, cpu, ram, gfx card, etc.)

I'll give you a starting point though... check your RAM for compatibility, Timing, or if it is any good... ergo RAM test... if you're unsure about the timing, get into BIOS and load the default settings (this slows the timings down on all components) and save'em when you exit...

Ben