Repeated Lock Ups in Multiple Games

[sumbo11]

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

[sumbo11]

...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

[GX1_Man]

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.

[sumbo11]

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!

[Neil]

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.

[sumbo11]

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.

[GX1_Man]

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.

[sumbo11]

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.