help HP computer locking up!!! horrible!!!!

[Guest_imported]

I posted this in the windows section to, didn't know if it is hardware f software problem!!!

My OS is: win 98
MY HP model # is: 8750c
My HP computer has a very bad problem locking up (freezing) when I am using any type of program. especial outlook express, Internet Explorer, and when I am on the internet. I am unable to find any solution to this problem from anyone I know. I have formated the computer before, many times, and the computer still continues to freeze. when it freezes, I recieve no error message, mouse doesn't move, computer does not respond to any keyboard comands (ie. ctrl, alt, delete) and this happends rather often, rendering the computer almost useless! it normally does not freeze when playing hi-resource games, even when played for hours. but freezes when creating images for web pages! If yall have any information to help me, please give me any solution available! I really am desprate for help!

 

[rampitdave]

You may have too much going on in the background.

Try….

Start>
Run>
Type in “msconfig” then ENTER

Click the “Startup” tag and un-check all the applications you don’t, or hardly use. Then click “Apply”.

While you are here, got to Autoexec.bat and Config.sys and uncheck all your entries.
(Windows 98 does not need any of them) this will reduce your boot up wait by a few seconds.

 

[yshaikh01]

Are all your fans OK, also run scandisk including surface scan. Could be some bad sectors on the hard disk, although this should have been picked up when you formatted the hard disk.

 

[YoMax]

Since this only happens when online?, I would suspect the modem or com port. Check for IRQ or other conflicts in device manager, or better yet run system information and check the hardware section. Also possible that modem intermittently is glitching; try swapping it if possible. And finally, make sure your Dialup Networking and other related settings in Windows are correct (obviously from all the formatting you've reinstalled the OS already).

 

[jeremybarker]

Open your computer case and look at the motherboard. Locate the capacitors and see if there is any corrosion around them. I've seen many HP boards w/ the symptoms your describing.

 

[Guest_imported]

Tried everything yall are talking about, doesn't help! I got pleanty of ram (checked to see if any of them were bad) And no programs (well very few) running in the background! And I have run surface scan. (no problems!) I don't really know what capicitors are on the motherboard! although my case is open right now! (electric hazard I know!) Any other ideas I'll take ummm!

 

[jeremybarker]

This being a pavilion, I'm not sure where the capicitors are located. On hp vectra's they're usually located around the processor, above or below. What you're looking for are cylinder like parts, there will be a group or line of them. Look to see if they're not standing straight up, if they're crooked, look to see if there is any corrosion around the base. Don't know if your computer is still in warrenty, if not, you're looking at around $230-250 to replace this.

http://partsurfer.hp.com/cgi-bin/sp...aler_id=&keysel=?&catsel=?&ptypsel=?&strsrch=

 

[YoMax]

Jeremybarker, you say that you've seen numerous HPs experience lockups when ONLINE but no problems playing resource-intensive games? And corroded capacitors were the cause? Just wanted to be sure that's what you meant.

 

[jeremybarker]

YoMax,
Not what I meant, in general HP computers locking up performing any task, especially the Vectra VLi8 models.
"My HP computer has a very bad problem locking up (freezing) when I am using any type of program." -UltimateQB.com
Rereading the original post, I didn't see the part about playing resource-intensive games w/o a lockup.
Thanks for pointing this out, hope I didn't lead UltimateQB.com in the wrong direction.

 

[Guest_imported]

Ok, I got my 64mb PCI card 2 days ago, no lock-ups yet! Hopefully this fixed it!

 

[Guest_imported]

UltimateQB.com let me know if that worked for you, because I am having the same problems that you had, and I have tried everything. I even had it sent in and they they said nothing was wrong with it, when i still have freezing problems. THye suggested using Windows XP instead of 98 but I heard from others that this wouldn't be a good idea.

 

[hapticz]

have had similar symptoms when outlook express data files were corrupted. i had to completely eradicate all my *.*bx files from outlok data folder, of course i lost all my email history too.

outlook express sometimes goes into a self cleanup mode, and i have had computer seem like it was totally unresponsive for close to 5 minutes at a time.

make sure adequate temp space available for windows.

perhaps IRQ of modem/communications port has interference with other?

check that main cpu heatsink is running cool?

 

[tb913]

It could also be a power supply problem. Power supplies go out pretty frequently. C:\DOS
C:\DOS\RUN
RUN\DOS\RUN

 

[Guest_imported]

I think it is fixed, no lock-ups yet. Except in a game, but that could be a different problem. So I recomend getting the card I got. Check out ebay. Geforce 2 MX400 PCI (if you are using the HP I am get PCI)

 

[blovv]

I found the Solution!

The 8750c is UNSTABLE when it uses the
667 mhz processor. It WILL lock up after as
little as 10 minutes of Internet (ebay) scrolling.

Replacing the video card will help but does NOT
cure the problem.

REPLACING the processor will make the PC solid
as a rock. Forcing the PC to a 100 Mhz FSB CURES
the instability.

I preplace the processor with a 700 mhz processor
with a 100 Mhz FSB. Specifically:
700mhz/256/100/1.65v.

Alternately you can close pins FS3 on the motherboard
which will FORCE the FSB to 100mhz but will also slow
the PC to 500 mhz.

Please note that both the processor change or the FS3
closure solution do NOT require a new video card.

Neither of these solutions are for amateur but are
pretty easy for a computer pro.

I would like to emphasize that both of these solutions
are TESTED and do work.

I know have two prefectly stable 8750cs.

Good luck with yours.

blovv