Help! Freezing problem!

[painful16]

Hi guys, when i go to play a game, a game like Counterstrike source, or even a game as low as Shadowbane, i can play for about 10 minutes to an hour, then my computer clicks, then freezes, itll just freezes!! and i cant get out unless i hit the restart button, hell, and i fix computers, but this problem i cannot fix. i know its nothing in my computer cause i just added a brand new X-FI XtremeMusic sound card, which works beautifully, and theres nothing wrong with my ATI X1600PRO Video card, i use the latest drivers, and i get usually around 80-100 FPS on those games, what im really worried about, is if it freezes about 10 times constantly, my windows xp goes corrupt and i have to reformat every 10 or so times it does that, this is the 2nd reformat i did, and im seriously about to take a sledge to it, i have 1280 ultra ram, (a 1 gig stick and 256), it does this on games only.

Im using my sisters 40gb harddrive, not sure if this is the problem, i really do not know if it is SATA IDE or anything, (im only knowledgable on building computers, i still have to learn about harddrives), I have seen many posts on this, and i have tried reformmatting, cleaning up any viruses with norton antivirus 2006, i tried everything, spyware doctor, adaware pro, its not a software problem im sure, it must be a hardware problem and i am really going insane...

i also have a 600w Lead-Power power supply

and the temps when i am off are 45 and when playing 50-60

 

[scaifea]

Sounds like a Hard Disk error, the clicking noise is the hard disk failing.

I posted something similar in another forum when my laptop has the same problem, much of the advice was about putting the HD in the freezer for a long period of time (at least 24 hours), I was sceptical but tried it.

After the third freezing attempt, it's now working normally .. although I am on a hunt for a new laptop, because its only a matter of time before it goes again!

Good Luck

 

[G0AOZ]

Check in the event log - might give you some idea if a problem is logged. Invoke a surface scan on this HDD, or take it out and attach as a secondary drive to another XP machine. Then run CHKDSK /R on it.

You could also try running a memory test, say with MEMTEST86. Go to

http://www.memtest86.com

to download a free copy.

Although the systemboard and CPU temps quoted are not critical, make sure there's good airflow in the case, particularly in and around the memory.

ROGER - G0AOZ.

 

[Ed2020]

What temps are 50-60? CPU? Case?

Either way I'd take these with a pinch of salt - temperature sensors are not accurate a lot of the time. It sounds very much like an overheating problem to me.

Try taking the side off the case (possibly with a desk fan blowing into it as well) and see if it will run for any longer than usual.

If it is a hard disk problem my recommendation would be SpinRite from

http://www.grc.com

- it's bailed me out on more than one occasion. It costs, but if it doesn't work you can get a refund within 30 days of purchase, no questions asked.

Ed Metcalfe.

Please do not feed the trolls.....

 

[wahnula]

I agree the symptoms are indicative of overheating, but first I would take out that rogue 256 stick. I doubt it's doing any good really and might cause problems if dealing with it (not being matched, really a best practice) causes system resources to plummet to death.

Tony

 

[firewolfrl]

have to agree about heat

also move the X-FI XtremeMusic sound card up or down a PCI slot to see if this is an IRQ sharing issue related to the BIOS

that will lock up a computer is a game pretty damn fast