R.E. Random Lock up Of PC 1

[glebbie]

I have a custom built PC with an Elitegroup Mainboard K7VZA, Athlon 1.4 Ghz processor, Nvidia Ge-Force 2 MX/MX 400 64Mb Graphics Card, Soundblaster 16 PCI Card,56k Modem(not currently installed), and Windows 98.

The Pc at random intervals and for no apparent reason to lock up. The screen freezes, and if a sound is being played it loops constantly. I have taken it back to the shop and the fella tells me there is no problem with it. I can tell I am going to have a hard time convincing this guy that I am telling the truth. So I am looking elsewhere for help please!

I have been told that it could possibly be an IRQ conflict, and being new at the game I don't really know how to fix this, although I have had a good look thru the device manager and found only one conflict with the Soundblaster and the mother board resources. I managed to change this but to no avail.

My next step was to remove the Soundblaster card and install the mainboard sound drivers, Still no joy, although it does not freeze as often. If any one can shed any light on this problem I would be very grateful - Cheers

 

[gargouille]

This problem is world-wide...fixes are in question...but you could try to turn down video acceleration...right click My Computer and choose properties...Advanced...(don't have 98 so here's from ?memory) Performance...anyway if you get to the right place you'll see a slider for adjusting video acceleration...turn it all the way down and try it...
(seems strange but video and audio get mixed up: some ppl get clicks and pops when scrolling or mousing)

Another workaround is to put the sound card in the last PCI slot...tho I'm doubting that will help if you get some of the same symptoms with onboard sound.

 

[glebbie]

Thanks for the reply Gargouille, unfortunately I've tried the acceleration thing! Still got same problem.

As for the installing the sound card again, I want to install an Audiophile 2496 instead, but obviously don't want to until problem sorted.

It does seem strange though that no apparent cause for the freeze seems obvious. I can work for an hour without a problem and then It will crash 4 times in 10 mins.

Any other suggestion gratefully received.

 

[Stealer]

If it were me I would take out any unnecessary hardware (sound card, modem, network card, etc)Removing all drivers also from these devices. Run the machine and if it still freezes up you can safely direct your troubleshooting in another direction.

Good Luck
Stealer

 

[glebbie]

Cheers Stealer, I'll give it a go! Only The modem to take out! Let you know the result.

 

[BoulderBum]

It sounds like the system might be overheating. Do you have it over-clocked?

 

[y2k1981]

BoulderBum

I' not quite sure, but I don't think it's overheating, otherwise it would just switch off.

 

[glebbie]

You might be on to something BoulderBum Ihave just checked my cpu temp and it's almost at shutdown level which is 60 degs at last check it was at 59 degs and it is just idling at the pc health status page what should be the temp for a 1.4Ghz processor? any Idea?
Cheers for the help

 

[gargouille]

You have your BIOS set to shutdown at 60? This is not extraordinarily hot...(much depending on room temp).
IF overtemp is that big a concern you might consider getting one of the free downloads...Motherboard Monitor...SpeedFan...and watch it. That'll also give you a look at voltages supplied...some have raised the DDR voltage just a bit and report this for a fix. Steering me away from the heat issue is that it happens on Pentiums, too...which "supposedly" don't have a heat problem.
I'd try booting to safe mode and seeing how many instances of sound there are...sometimes there are several...remove all but one, of course.

Looping on all sounds or CD play? One poster at another ng reported changing from ATA100 cable (on the cd)to another older 40 pin cable and it worked.

Have you run dxdiag at start run? This will depend on your version of DirectX but is quite helpful in solving these problems.

My 1st impulse was to bad-rap 98...but this is happening in Linux...Win2K...all OSes...

As a last resort...I'd write down all the BIOS settings you have and reset them to defaults...and try it.
I know it's a wearisome problem...and it doesn't help much that LOTS of other ppl are having the problem. Some of my geekiest (translate=best at fixing any problem) are having the same issues.

 

[rockerfellerz]

I had the same problem (random freeze ups ) with the k7s5a board also from ECS. It plagued me for a long time. I swapped out memory, cables, drives, cards you name it nothing helped. Then I totally re-built the system in a different case ( new power supply) When I took the board out of the old case I noticed a couple screws loose, I made sure everything was tight when it got re-built. The problem disapeared, and the system has been up and running a server (OS win98se) for 45 days without a reboot and still working great. Some kind of a record with win98 I think?
Anyway, thts just a couple things (power supply or loose screws) that could be causing the problem, I'm sure there are many more. Hope this helps.

 

[glebbie]

Everything is helpful guys, as I said I'm new to this game, having made do with an old P133 for a year or so.

Another thing I have just noticed is that when I shutdown My Power Light and Num Lock Light stay on even though everthing else seems to have shut down. Strange - Huh (perhaps as rockerfellerz says motherboard connection and/or seating problems.

 

[gargouille]

Glebbie,

You're becoming very observant, good sign.

Some motherboards (? maybe yours) can power back up when everything's set right...it's a standby thing. Shouldn't hurt anything.

Which leads me to ask: do you have any of the power saving features enabled? They can mess things up (translate=act like you didn't expect them to).

Did you get a manual with the mobo? Prolly could download one if not...interesting/informative stuff.

A bios update (from the BIOS mfr.) COULD be your answer...didn't think of that. Might see what they say about it...if there are no beneficial changes...pass on it.
It can and should be done...but only when needed. Can be tricky and make your computer deader 'n 4:30 Friday...which is rapidly approaching.

 

[PacMain]

I seem to be having the same problem with the random crashes. I run a 1700+ on a Soyo Dragon lite. i'm not exactly sure what the problem is. I don't have the sound looping problem. An idea that has been told to me that i haven't tried is replacing the video card. Bad memory modules in video cards could be the cause of those lock up errors. It sounds like either bad RAM or bad CPU or overheating. But it doesn't sound like the problem. 59C is pretty hot, he probably should get some fans to help preserve the life of his components. Try taking the sides off the case that should help cooling. Also lower the FSB and mulitplier in the bios and see what happens then

 

[digitalmaster]

A complete "shot in the dark" but I suffered these symptoms for nearly a year...through operating system upgrades and virtually changing most hardware.

On the last and final change of hardware, the hard drive, I thought I would reinstall my software one program at a time and test for lockups.

It finally turned out to be a shareware program called "Magic Folders" (a useful utility for hiding personal files). I upgraded to a later cersion and the problem went away.

Sad techie that I am, I even did a test reinstall of the old version and the problem came back.

The whole episode was made worse by the fact that all the users I am responsible for have faultless systems built by me but I could not sort out my own problem for over a year!!

 

[gargouille]

How many times do we tell customers their computers are mucked up by all the downloaded 3rd party thingies...only to fall prey to them ourselves?
Mistakes are lessons! LOL

 

[paparazi]

1.4 Athlons produce more heat than an XP1900, they were notoriously difficult to keep cool.
59C idle means a realistic 65-70C max, TOOOOO HOT!!
Buy yourself a decent heatsink/fan and extra case cooling (min two 80mm fans) front lower drawing in cool air and top rear blowing out (exhausting) the warm.
Go for XP2.2gig plus rated fan, copper bottomed prefered.
You want to try and get your absolute max below 55C if possible, mid 60's is unstable teritory, despite AMD's 70C constant Max warning. Martin
Please let members know if there advice has helped any.

 

[glebbie]

Being desperate for a solution I have tried a whole series of things and now my PC seems to be working fine. The problem is that I did everything at once and don't know the cause of the problem in the first place.

I reinstalled the sound card, I jiggled lots of plugs and made sure they were seated in their sockets. I even upgraded from 98 to XP, so it could be any one or a combination of these which has seemingly solved the problem.

I suppose I shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth and just be glad that everything now seems fine.

With regards to the CPU temperature I am at the moment running the machine with one of the side panels off and it now runs about 45-50 degs. I don't think however this was the causing the screen freezing as I had taken the side off and the problem was still occurring before I tried the aforementioned fixes. I will not install another fan on the case itself and possibly if necessary buy the 2.2 Heatsink sugested.

I would just like to thank everyone for their time and suggestions and I hope that anyone with similar problems could benefit from my ordeal. A very stressful time it has been.

 

[glebbie]

Sorry - couple Of spelling errors

It should read above:
I will NOW install another fan on the case itself and possibly if necessary buy the 2.2 Heatsink suggested.

 

[ShadowFox333]

One quick note..... I built an aopen system last year with 1.0 GHZ PIII coppermine and I had weeks of freeze problems
locking up and exactly what you are experiencing. If you are running an ultra dma HDD with 80 pin cable make sure the connections are blue mobo Grey and Black to HDD and CD-ROM it makes a real difference. Has not locked up since.
Bob