Computer locks up. Horrible noise from speak

[mr._Hat]

My computer completely locks up with horrible loud noise coming from headphones. You can't move mouse and CTRL-ALT-DEL don't work.

Could someone give me a hint where the trouble could be? Is it hardware or software problem?

What does the horrible noise coming from speakers  tell you? The noise resembles a cd getting stuck, but faster, louder and more violent.

It does not happen often, maybe once a day. I'm not sure but it may happen more often when I have lots of browser windows or a game running.

I have Windows XP SP2, Ati Radeon 9600 and AMD athlon 3200+

[merlin_2]

Boot pc to safe mode......hold down the f8 key.....and  chose last good config.......do you have the right drivers for the graphics card......and audio card......type dxdiag in the run box and test.....vid/audio......

[mr._Hat]

dxdiag wouldn't work at all in safe mode. Testing it normally, everything seemed to be fine.

This behaviour hasn't been going on very long. Maybe 2 weeks. Before that everything was fine. I have't changed anything with my computer really.

The weather is hotter than normal, could that be the cause?

I'm still wondering why the sound, then?

[Raptor]

What are the temperatures of your system?

Are you certain the sound is a result of your computer crashing? It could be the result of software crashing. If a game crash, the sound often goes wack too.

[mr._Hat]

I used SpeedFan to find out the temperatures, these are the first readings:

Temp1: 25C
Temp2: 36C
Temp3 71C
Temp: 1C
HD0: 44C

Here are the figures after running a game and multiple browser windows for about 10 min:

Temp1: 25C
Temp2: 45C
Temp3 72C
Temp: 1C
HD0: 44C

Temp2 rise mostly, others stayed the same.

I'm pretty sure the computer has also locked with only lots of browser windows, not a game running.

[Raptor]

What is 72 degrees celcius? That is far too hot for any computer component.

[merlin_2]

What is the settings on the headphones?and what adapter is used....does the rad card have the right drivers.....

[mr._Hat]

The SpeedFan software doesn't tell the component names. But I'd guess that the 72 is cpu and the value that rise would be the graphics card.

I did a little googling and it seems that 72 is pretty normal for CPU?

I found this link where it says that my cpu should work in temepratures 0-85:
http://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/K7/AMD-Athlon%20XP%203200+%20-%20AXDA3200DKV4E.html

My Radeon should have the right drivers. Everything has been working fine. My soundcard is integrated to the motherboard.

I'll check if I can find anything about the Radeon temperatures.

[Raptor]

AMD can work with temperatures up to 80 degrees celcius, but it is not adviseable.

My AMD Athlon runs at 64 degrees celcius, 61 degrees celcius if I tune the fan up to 3.6K RPM.

Temperature 2 is most likely your case temperature. 45 degrees celcius is reasonable.

If I were you, I would still look into additional cooling to eliminate the chance that inadequate cooling is causing the problems. It will also improve the performance and life expectancy of the computer parts.

You may also wish to do the following:

Virus scanners
AVG Free
-- Anti virus scanner


Anti spy/malware
Microsoft Antispyware
-- Anti spyware scanner. Windows XP Home and Professional only.
Spybot Search & Destroy
-- Anti spyware scanner
Adaware SE Personal
-- Anti spyware scanner

Firewalls
Using only one firewall is advised. Dual firewalls may cause problems.
Using a hardware firewall and a software firewall is even more adviced.
ZoneAlarm Free
-- Free firewall - more user friendly
Sygate Personal
-- Free firewall - more configuration options

Removal tools
The following files are not substitutes for the ones described above.
They are either diagnostic tools or removal tools for malware of a certain kind

HijackThis
-- Manual malware remover. Post the HijackThis log generated only if requested!
McAfee Stinger
-- Virus removal tool. No substitute for a fully functional virus scanner!
CWshredder
-- CoolWebSearch removal tool. Widely known and persistant Hijacker.

[mr._Hat]

Thanks... I think I'll look more to the cooling. My computer has (and always had)  obnoxioulsy loud hum... I want something more efficient and MUCH more quiet.

I'm almost hysterical with viruses and spyware:

I have norton internet security (antivirus and firewall), I'm behind router, Microsoft antispyware, ad-aware, spybot search &destroy, spywareblaster and spywareguard

[Raptor]

Cooler Master and Zalman both develop excellent cooling solutions. Active, passive and silent. Choose yer pick.

[merlin_2]

Run a diagnostic test>http://www.active-hardware.com/english/misc/sandra.html

[uisquebeathus]

have you been into the case and possibly nudged a memory unit or even any of the pci or the agp cards

[mr._Hat]

I haven't been tempering with the computer insides at all.   I opened it now, so it'd be cooler.

I downloaded the Sandra software and gathered the most meaningful sounding parts of the report it generated here:

System Summary
Analysing...
Warning 100 : Large memory sizes should be made of Registered/Buffered memory.
Tip 2546 : Large memory modules should be ECC/Parity.
Finished Successfully : Yes


Mainboard Information
Analysing...
Power / Aux Temperature : 70.0°C / 158.0°F
Notice 224 : SMBIOS/DMI information may be inaccurate.
Tip 2511 : Some memory slots are free so the memory can be easily upgraded.
Warning 100 : Large memory sizes should be made of Registered/Buffered memory.
Tip 2546 : Large memory modules should be ECC/Parity.
Warning 2518 : Mainboard temperature is too high.
Finished Successfully : Yes


CPU & BIOS Information
Analysing...
Tip 210 : CPU 1 [Processor 0, Core 0, Thread 0] : Mainboard supports faster CPUs, so the CPU can be upgraded when needed.
Notice 224 : CPU 1 [Processor 0, Core 0, Thread 0] : SMBIOS/DMI information may be inaccurate.
Warning 236 : CPU 1 [Processor 0, Core 0, Thread 0] : Vcore higher than rated maximum. Check Vcore setting!
Tip 201 : System BIOS : System BIOS is old. Check for an update.
Notice 224 : System BIOS : SMBIOS/DMI information may be inaccurate.
Tip 212 : System BIOS : BIOS can be shadowed so check whether it is.
Tip 211 : System BIOS : BIOS is flash-able and socketed so it can be upgraded when needed.
Finished Successfully : Yes


Seems like it IS too hot!:

Is this Vcore warning anything serious or related?

Warning 236 : CPU 1 [Processor 0, Core 0, Thread 0] : Vcore higher than rated maximum. Check Vcore setting!

[merlin_2]

Info link?>>http://www.hardwareanalysis.com/content/article/1482/