Computer Hope
Software => Computer games => Topic started by: sumbo11 on January 10, 2007, 05:07:56 PM
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Hello,
I am getting kind of desperate so I would appreciate any help and assistance you all are willing to give me.
For the last 4 months or so my PC will consistently lock up when I am playing certain games. The computer will completely freeze and lock up. It looks like a fixed screenshot has been placed on my monitor. I can not ALT+TAB, CTRL+ALT+DEL, or anything. The little LED that shows if the PC is working is not flashing. There is no sound playing or looping. I have no choice but to restart. This lock up issue happens at a regular point in the game, depending on the game. I have not bothered to time it but it almost always happens within 5-15 minutes from the launch of the game.
Currently the games that lock up on my PC are:
Half-Life (CS, TFC as well)
Half-Life 2 (DOD:S as well)
GTA 3
Games that are safe:
Metal Gear Solid
These games were working fine awhile ago, I do not know what triggered the issue. The PC runs well and does not lock up when not playing the listed games.
What I have done:
-Updated all drivers and rolled back video drivers to older versions.
-Repeated reinstalls of the games.
-Ran AVG, Spybot, Adaware.
--------[ EVEREST Home Edition (c) 2003-2005 Lavalys, Inc. ]------------------------------------------------------------
Version EVEREST v2.20.405
Homepage http://www.lavalys.com/
Report Type Report Wizard
Computer BILL
Generator William DeWhitt
Operating System Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition 5.1.2600 (WinXP Retail)
Date 2007-01-10
Time 16:05
--------[ Summary ]-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Computer:
Operating System Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
OS Service Pack Service Pack 2
DirectX 4.09.00.0904 (DirectX 9.0c)
Computer Name BILL
User Name William DeWhitt
Motherboard:
CPU Type Intel Pentium 4, 2533 MHz (19 x 133)
Motherboard Name ECS L4S5MG/651+ (3 PCI, 1 AGP, 1 CNR, 2 DIMM, Audio, Video, LAN)
Motherboard Chipset SiS 651
System Memory 512 MB (PC2100 DDR SDRAM)
BIOS Type Award (02/26/03)
Communication Port Communications Port (COM1)
Communication Port Communications Port (COM2)
Communication Port ECP Printer Port (LPT1)
Display:
Video Adapter NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 Ultra (128 MB)
3D Accelerator nVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 Ultra
Monitor Sharp LL-T17A4-B [17" LCD] (3D007426)
Multimedia:
Audio Adapter SiS 7012 Audio Device
Storage:
IDE Controller SiS 5513 IDE UDMA Controller
Floppy Drive Floppy disk drive
Disk Drive IC USB Storage-CFC USB Device
Disk Drive IC USB Storage-SMC USB Device
Disk Drive IC USB Storage-MMC USB Device
Disk Drive IC USB Storage-MSC USB Device
Disk Drive WDC WD1200AB-16DBA3 (111 GB, IDE)
Optical Drive JLMS XJ-HD166S (16x/48x DVD-ROM)
Optical Drive SONY DVD RW DW-U10A (DVD+RW:2.4x/2.4x, DVD-RW:4x/2x, DVD-ROM:8x, CD:24x/10x/32x DVD+RW/DVD-RW)
SMART Hard Disks Status OK
Partitions:
C: (NTFS) 114470 MB (97064 MB free)
Input:
Keyboard Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard
Mouse PS/2 Compatible Mouse
Game Controller Microsoft PC-joystick driver
Network:
Network Adapter Realtek RTL8139/810x Family Fast Ethernet NIC (192.168.0.102)
Peripherals:
Printer \\dona\Printer
Printer Auto HP DeskJet 880C on DALE-KBTLK0ET4H
Printer Auto HP DeskJet 882C on DALE-KBTLK0ET4H
Printer Auto HP LaserJet 6L on DALE-KBTLK0ET4H
USB1 Controller SiS 7001 PCI-USB Open Host Controller
USB1 Controller SiS 7001 PCI-USB Open Host Controller
USB1 Controller SiS 7001 PCI-USB Open
-
...Continued..
USB2 Controller SiS 7002 USB 2.0 Enhanced Host Controller
USB Device USB Mass Storage Device
Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Program Files\Keymaestro\Multimedia Keyboard\nhksrv.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVGFRE~1\avgamsvr.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVGFRE~1\avgupsvc.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVGFRE~1\avgemc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvsvc32.exe
C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\MsPMSPSv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\wuauclt.exe
C:\Program Files\Lavalys\EVEREST Home Edition\everest.bin
C:\Program Files\WinRAR\WinRAR.exe
C:\DOCUME~1\WILLIA~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\Rar$EX00.453\HijackThis.exe
C:\DOCUME~1\WILLIA~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\Rar$EX02.469\HijackThis.exe
O2 - BHO: SSVHelper Class - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\bin\ssv.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\system32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [MSConfig] C:\WINDOWS\PCHealth\HelpCtr\Binaries\MSConfig.exe /auto
O6 - HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control Panel present
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\bin\ssv.dll
O17 - HKLM\System\CCS\Services\Tcpip\..\{8DF78019-8363-4072-B8F9-60299B06E36E}: NameServer = 192.168.0.1
O23 - Service: AVG7 Alert Manager Server (Avg7Alrt) - GRISOFT, s.r.o. - C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVGFRE~1\avgamsvr.exe
O23 - Service: AVG7 Update Service (Avg7UpdSvc) - GRISOFT, s.r.o. - C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVGFRE~1\avgupsvc.exe
O23 - Service: AVG E-mail Scanner (AVGEMS) - GRISOFT, s.r.o. - C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVGFRE~1\avgemc.exe
O23 - Service: InstallDriver Table Manager (IDriverT) - Macrovision Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\Driver\11\Intel 32\IDriverT.exe
O23 - Service: Netropa NHK Server (nhksrv) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Keymaestro\Multimedia Keyboard\nhksrv.exe
O23 - Service: NVIDIA Display Driver Service (NVSvc) - NVIDIA Corporation - C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvsvc32.exe
Thank you,
Daniel
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The most common causes are bad RAM, heat and bad power supply.
We now know a lot about your machine except nothing about these items.
What is the PSU make and wattage? How old?
Check the ram with a free download at www.memtest86.com Check each RAM one at a time then all together for 30 minutes.
Take the side cover off the computer and blow a house fan directly in there and play something for an hour.
Post back your results.
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I am not sure how old the PSU is, I would say as old as the computer between 1-2 years. This is the computer:
http://www.fryssupport.net/fm7350.cfm
It's 330W, I opened it up and it didn't seem to show any sort of brand name.
I followed your instructions, this is what I did in order.
1) Ran MemTest. It would repeatedly freeze at:
15% Test #4 [Moving inversions, random pattern] * 0 Errors
-I repeated that and it would continue to freeze there at 15%. Freeze as in completely lock up just like the problem in game.
2) Played GTA3 with a fan blowing on the computer with the case off. I could successfully play a game for an hour. I stopped after an hour.
3) Ran MemTest again with the fan blowing this time. It froze at:
68% Test #7 [Random number sequence] * 0 Errors still
I have one stick of 512MB RAM so I could not run anything separately.
Thank you for your help!
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Hm that is conflicting evidence. A freeze at the exact same point each time would suggest bad RAM, but if it lasts longer with a fan that suggests overheating RAM. I guess you could have bad, overheating RAM! You'll probably want to buy a replacement. Try http://www.crucial.com/ it has guarranteed compatability.
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The problems are still continuing. What I have done:
1) Updated and replaced my RAM from 512MB to 1024MB. Completely different brand.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820141173
2) Ran Memtest without a fan blowing. It stops at 4:20.
3) Ran Memtest with a fan blowing on the machine. It ran twice, 28:30, then froze.
4) Played DOD:S for twenty minutes or so, and then it froze like normal.
When I have a fan blowing on my PC then I can play pretty much indefinately.
While installing the RAM I have noticed that I have no fan inside of the case. There is a CPU fan, but no fan attached to the case. There is a spot to attach one with vents leading out of the case, but I am surprised that there is no fan. Maybe this is a heating problem?
Thanks for your help.
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Now try just the new RAM AND the fan see what that does. (Now we are back to just one variable - the temperature.
You may need to uninstall and reinstall the game in case the install got wonkered from hard drive snafus during the lockups. If you are still having any problems do this. ;)
A no name, "el cheapo" power supply at 330watts could stand to be replaced for a LOT of reasons. Frankly they are just junk, and this can damage your other components. Think Antec and newegg.com, where you can also get fans, etc. El cheapo cases usually have poor, or no ventilation designs.
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The above test was with the new RAM only. Including Step #3, where it ran considerably longer with the new RAM and the fan. I'm leaning on a heating issue.