Computer Hope

Hardware => Hardware => Topic started by: mr._Hat on July 21, 2005, 04:57:42 PM

Title: Computer locks up.  Horrible noise from speak
Post by: mr._Hat on July 21, 2005, 04:57:42 PM

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+

Title: Re: Computer locks up.  Horrible noise from speak
Post by: merlin_2 on July 21, 2005, 05:04:17 PM

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......

Title: Re: Computer locks up.  Horrible noise from s
Post by: mr._Hat on July 23, 2005, 04:53:04 AM

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?

Title: Re: Computer locks up.  Horrible noise from s
Post by: Raptor on July 23, 2005, 05:37:41 AM

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.

Title: Re: Computer locks up.  Horrible noise from s
Post by: mr._Hat on July 23, 2005, 01:09:39 PM

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.

Title: Re: Computer locks up.  Horrible noise from s
Post by: Raptor on July 23, 2005, 02:57:39 PM

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

Title: Re: Computer locks up.  Horrible noise from speak
Post by: merlin_2 on July 23, 2005, 06:08:25 PM

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

Title: Re: Computer locks up.  Horrible noise from s
Post by: mr._Hat on July 24, 2005, 05:19:21 AM

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.

Title: Re: Computer locks up.  Horrible noise from s
Post by: Raptor on July 24, 2005, 07:00:11 AM

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 (http://free.grisoft.com/doc/1)
-- Anti virus scanner


Anti spy/malware
Microsoft Antispyware (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=321cd7a2-6a57-4c57-a8bd-dbf62eda9671&displaylang=en)
-- Anti spyware scanner. Windows XP Home and Professional only.
Spybot Search & Destroy (http://www.safer-networking.org/en/mirrors/index.html)
-- Anti spyware scanner
Adaware SE Personal (http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/)
-- 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 (http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/company/products/znalm/freeDownload.jsp)
-- Free firewall - more user friendly
Sygate Personal (http://smb.sygate.com/products/spf_standard.htm)
-- 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 (http://www.merijn.org/files/hijackthis.zip)
-- Manual malware remover. Post the HijackThis log generated only if requested!
McAfee Stinger (http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger/)
-- Virus removal tool. No substitute for a fully functional virus scanner!
CWshredder (http://www.intermute.com/spysubtract/cwshredder_download.html)
-- CoolWebSearch removal tool. Widely known and persistant Hijacker.

Title: Re: Computer locks up.  Horrible noise from s
Post by: mr._Hat on July 24, 2005, 07:25:58 AM

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 :)

Title: Re: Computer locks up.  Horrible noise from s
Post by: Raptor on July 24, 2005, 09:33:19 AM

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

Title: Re: Computer locks up.  Horrible noise from speak
Post by: merlin_2 on July 24, 2005, 12:24:51 PM

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

Title: Re: Computer locks up.  Horrible noise from s
Post by: uisquebeathus on July 25, 2005, 06:20:55 AM

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

Title: Re: Computer locks up.  Horrible noise from s
Post by: mr._Hat on July 27, 2005, 10:22:42 AM

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!

Title: Re: Computer locks up.  Horrible noise from speak
Post by: merlin_2 on July 27, 2005, 10:25:22 AM

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

Title: Re: Computer locks up.  Horrible noise from s
Post by: Raptor on July 27, 2005, 11:18:20 AM

Quote

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!

The mainboard which runs too hot may be due to the higher-than-normal Vcore.

What voltage is your Vcore set to?

Title: Re: Computer locks up.  Horrible noise from speak
Post by: merlin_2 on July 27, 2005, 08:56:37 PM

Have you overclocked it!

Title: Re: Computer locks up.  Horrible noise from s
Post by: mr._Hat on July 28, 2005, 01:58:19 PM

No! I haven't been overlocking... I wouldn't even know how to do it :)

Sandra software has a value "Core Voltage Rating". Is it the same thing as Vcore?

The value is 1.500V

in BIOS there was a value "Vcore Normal", and it was 1.5V too.

In Sandra, it also lists a sensor reading from the CPU,"CPU Voltage" which was 1.58V.

Looking more carefully to the Mainboard analysis, I also found these temperatures:

Board temperature: 25C
CPU temperature: 27C
Power / AUX temperature: 70C

It had a kind of warning sign beside the Power / AUX...

It's nice to get help... My computer has gone worse :(

Title: Re: Computer locks up.  Horrible noise from s
Post by: Raptor on July 28, 2005, 03:45:41 PM

Quote

Power / AUX temperature: 70C

If I am not mistaken, this may be your Power Supply Unit.

Are all the Power Supply Unit fans working?

Quote

My computer has gone worse

What has happened since you last spoke to us?

Title: Re: Computer locks up.  Horrible noise from s
Post by: mr._Hat on July 28, 2005, 07:27:23 PM

Well, air is coming out, you can feel it with you hand, but it's a weak flow...

I had a difficult morning. It would freeze every time I tried to start the computer. (right when desktop and icons were loaded).

After few attempts, I tried safe mode, and it worked. The next normal boot was a succes too.

It freezed while I was writing a reply here...wouldn't boot the next time, I tried safe mode, then normally and here I am writing this again.

Title: Re: Computer locks up.  Horrible noise from s
Post by: Raptor on July 29, 2005, 07:06:37 AM

Quote

1. Well, air is coming out, you can feel it with you hand, but it's a weak flow...

2. I had a difficult morning. It would freeze every time I tried to start the computer. (right when desktop and icons were loaded).

3. It freezed while I was writing a reply here...wouldn't boot the next time, I tried safe mode, then normally and here I am writing this again.

1. That could be normal behaviour.

2/3: You should look into whatever hardware is running at 70 degrees celcius and see if it can be replaced.