Computer Hope

Microsoft => Microsoft Windows => Windows XP => Topic started by: jerdvd on May 26, 2008, 11:22:58 AM

Title: Windows Freezes
Post by: jerdvd on May 26, 2008, 11:22:58 AM
Hi,

I have a pc running windows xp pro. Of late i did find the pc freezing
on a regular basis. Running different anti virus on the pc did not
help either

Hoping to resolve the problem i formatted the C drive and reinstalled
the Os , but things werent any better cause soon after the drivers for
the motherboard were installed the Pc began freezing.

I collapsed all the partions on the HD and formated the MBR from the
xp install disk and reinstalled the os but the things were the same.

I tried installing the Os on a different hd but the computer still freezes.

I happend to run my pc with my friends Hd also containing XP pro and
my PC worked fine even when i had the troubled disks as the secondary
hd.

Getting desparate over the situation, I have tried different os can
conclude that  2000 Prd and Xp prof have the issues of freezing ,
where as the pc runs  fine on win 98 SE.

Hoping to hear your solution on this baffling solution.

Thanks in advance

Jerome

Title: Re: Windows Freezes
Post by: patio on May 26, 2008, 11:40:39 AM
Since you have jumped thru all these hoops i'd say you have pretty much eliminated Windows as the culprit and leaves us with a hardware issue....

3 most common causes:
Heat
 Bad RAM
Power.

For the heat issue DLoad and run speedfan which will give us some parameters on your temps...open the case and see if there is housekeeping to be done.
Best thing to use is a can of compressed air to clean out all the heatsinks and fans.
Use a QTip to hold the fan blades in place to prevent damaging them.

As always when working inside the case remove all power sources and take anti-static precautions.

RAM:
DLoad and run MemTest.
The file creates a bootable CD/floppy and runs without Windows.
Let it run a few hours....
Any errors at all and you have a bad/failing stick of RAM that needs replaced.

Power:
Borrow a known good PSU of the same wattage or greater and swap it in there to see if this helps things...if it does replace your PSU.
Do yourself a favor and don't buy a 20 dollar special.

Good Luck and let us know...
Title: Re: Windows Freezes
Post by: jerdvd on May 26, 2008, 12:46:42 PM

Thanks for your reply

before starting on the few steps suggested the thought which ran into my head are as follows

How can my friends hard disk (with his operating system xp pro and the drivers meant for his P3 pc) work fine on my computer without any glitch whatsoever.


Never the less will try ur steps and update here as well.

Thanks
Title: Re: Windows Freezes
Post by: patio on May 27, 2008, 05:27:56 AM
That is a stroke of luck as most times it won't work at all...