New computer locking up, no error codes. Help!!!

[liquidpaper007]

OK, so I had to move over to my computer because the one in question locked up while trying to write this post. I reset the BIOS but did not touch any of the settings since I don't understand how to mess with those. So they are the system defaults. The BIOS and XP both recognize the Athlon 3800 and 1 GB of RAM. I checked all power cords and they are in, including a single molex to the video card and the additional 4 pin for the MB. I don't think it was a heat problem since it was on for a good 5 min and never went up a degree ( it was at 31 C for both CPU and MB) The CPU fan was at 3400 rpm and the CHIPSET fan was at 5400 rpm. The Vcore was 1.39; 3.3 at 3.23; 5.0 at 4.89; and 12.0 at 12.10. There were no alarms when it locked up and I had to hold down the power button for a couple of seconds to turn it off. Hibernate is disabled as well as the settings for Monitor and Hard Drive at "never" for turning off. Auto system restart is turned off as well. Q fan is disabled also.

Sorry for all the choppy sentances. I was just trying to answer everyones questions so mabye you call can figure out my problems. I'll try to get to the event log if the computer will stay on for long enough for me to get there. I'm at about wits end with this thing and its fusterating because it seems that whenever I build my computer (3 so far) they work like a charm. But whenever I build them for some one else (2 of them) they never work!!!!

Thanks in advance for any and all advice!

you have to test your cpu on full load. watching it on idle is not good enough. mine ranges from 30*C - 41*C depending on the load

 

[fainis]

i seems to me it`s a faulty component...maybe the RAM...try memtest as folks mentioned above.....
it could also be a bad assemble.....metalic parts of the case in contact with the pcb of the motherboard and causing malfunction of same ide channel or something else.......i once had a similar problem.....the sistem jammed without reason in everything...games or just surfing on the net ...and so i discovered that the ide cable was broken...after that everything went smooth
check the cables.......even the sata cable can play games on you.....check all the cables

 

[Croth2421]

Corasik or anyone else...how do I run Memtest, is it a program I have to download or is it something to run in Windows or in Safe Mode? Or even in just command prompt mode. I'll try a different SATA cable and a differnt port on the MB as well. Thanks again for all the advice!

 

[fainis]

google for memtest86+...it`s a little program..i think you`ll find it on guru3d.......you`ll find it very easy to use...burn a cd or a diskette...and boot the sistem with that....
good luck

 

[fainis]

memtest86+ is an independent program ..has nothing to do with windows.....for advanced users it`s in knoppix or other linux...just google for it .. it has few kbytes
good luck

 

[Croth2421]

OK so I haven't had time recently to work on this computer, however I did run the SiSoft Sandra program benchmarks on it and everything ran smoothly (CPU, Memory, Hard Drive, ect.) except for the Multimedia test. It immediatly locked up after runing a graphic only through half the screen. I ran the test multiple times in different orders and it always locked up on the Multimedia test. So before I start taking things apart, how do I know if it is either the video card or the motherboard???

As always, thanks for you help everyone

 

[pip_seeker]

the short answer is you don't all you can do is go by process of elimination til you find the problem.

It's most likely a video card problem or if you haven't change the PSU as suggested earlier it could be that still. You have to realize a machine is only as good as it's weakest point. When that point is stressed it will crash.

What you should do is update the vid card drivers and the chipset drivers. Then try again. Next is a toss between changing the PSU / flashing the bios. Don't forget the PSU... it is the #1 most overlooked part. A system will not run without stable power.

 

[Cortez]

Hi new here hello every one. Try clearing cmos and do a fresh install wit xp parttion table to and install windoz wo/api press f7 at start of setup instead of f6 for raid driver and see if that will help ya after all you have all ready done 😀

 

[nanoprobs]

Can u disconnect the Generic DVD-IDE and the TDK IDE CD-RW? then boot into winxp and try again. Only connect the H.D leave out any IDE drives. If you still got the same problem, then maybe u can try updating the Bios??

 

[swifty_morgan]

The only app you have running thats any good is ad-aware. Norton, if it's internet security f$%&s more stuff up than carter has liver pills. The system mechanic will help you delete things you shouldn't, so scrap that.

If you can reformat, please do.

For an anti virus program get grisoft AVG. It's free, and it works great, and doesn't cause problems. As a matter of fact, download it and try it now before you mess with the machine. Just uninstall norton first. Maybe you'll catch a bug on the machine ?

Doesn't sound like a power supply problem !

I read "google pack"....... that along with "yahoo" anything loads your machine with crap. Scrap it...... you don't NEED it, nobody does.

You have to be careful what you download and use. Just because it has a good name, doesn't mean it isn't harmful. You're obviously one of these people who likes to use things without thinking of the consequenses.

Lots of conflicts occur when using different programs. They seem to "fight" with each other.

Wish I had that box in front of me so I could "operate".......lol

 

[Croth2421]

So this time I swaped out my 7800 GT from my working box to put the 6800 in it. Then I ran BF 2 and it didn't lock up. Then I took my 7800 and put it in to the problem box and ran a DVD (there's nothing installed on this machine except for XP64 drivers, no software, no nothing) and it worked fine. So then I put the 6800 into the problem box, opened up Solitare, and it lock up. The only thing I can think of is because the 6800 uses a Molex connector, which I have nothing on the cord besides the card, and the 7800 uses the 6 pin PCI-E plug is why it didn't work. So if this is the problem, what can I do...if it isn't, what the h3ll did I do to screw it up???

 

[Croth2421]

Any guesses???

 

[TheEldest]

I'm currently having the same problem with my own computer.

It's wierd though. When I initially built the machine, I din't have problems. Did some hardware changes, and then began to have lockups. I couldn't, for the life of me, figure out what was causing the lockups.

There are some things that I know are not the cause:

Bad sticks of memory. These things have passed memtest with more than 20 error free passes under their belts. The sticks themselves, are not bad.

Bad powersupply. Ok, this one is iffy. At least, it's not a completely bad PSU. If it were tripping, you would need to reach around the back of the computer to restart, the normal power button wouldn't work.



Now, I'm prone to think that this is somewhat of a video card problem. The setup I have is an A8N5X and an x1300pro. One thing that I would recommend, is downloading the program ATITool. Whether or not you want to overclock, it will allow you to easily keep a log of your GPU temperatures. This way, you can see if the computer is always locking up at a certain temperature. (the program also allows you to adjust the fan on your GPU, faster, slower, you name it).


Another cause I am still investigating is the PSU. I know, I know, I said it's not the PSU. I'm not too well versed on power supplies, so I don't know if what I'm thinking is possible. I began to have problems on two separate occasions. Each was after some hardware changes. Is it possible that I have too much on one +12V rail, and when a HDD spins up, the slight lack of power to the GPU causes it to freeze? I'm not sure, I'm still looking into this one.


One possible solution (that I will soon try), is to place the video card in the x4 PCI-e slot. One fella, on some forum, claimed that it solved all of his problems with only a minimum of a performance drop. I don't know. But maybe ASUS put that slot there for just this reason, eh?


The funny thing about your problem, though, is that you're using a NVIDIA video card. You're the first person I've seen in this situation. Every person before had been using an ATI card, and was blaming the problem on an incompatibility issue between nForce4 and ATI's x1xxx series of cards.



Who knows. Oh. One other option, check your drivers. Maybe go to an older set.

 

[-Feller-]

"including a single molex to the video card and the additional 4 pin for the MB"

Don't you only plug in the additional 4 pin if you are using SLI? I might not know what i'm talking about.... lol

But my motherboard has a 4 pin connector that is only used if you are running SLI configuration

 

[Cobragt88]

so like I need to know have u flashed the bios to the lastest version if not I say u try that as there may be a known issuse with radom freezing and reboots who knows and don't flash in windows.
flashing is simple bootable floppy in dos mode :twisted: