Total Computer Freeze

[Killerkris]

Running 2k, machine is pretty reasonable. The problem is basically my computer freezes, it doesnt reach BSOD mode just quite simply the mouse stops where it is, if there is sound it carries on at the same note.

I am wondering whether you guys think its likely to be a hardware or software issue (I think most likely to be software). Or could it simply be my PC getting too hot

Any thoughts further questions feel free

Thx in advance

PS: since i rarely play games it is not in these but rather just on the windows desktop most of them time, occasionally with a few programs running, but nothing intensive. The most frequent crashing times are at night when I'm fast asleep when all that is running on my computer are the background services and a few ftp transfers perhaps and thats it really. Any ideas about software i can run that will show me what is causing the crashes as well?

A Life, where can i download one of those from?

 

[lhgpoobaa]

hmmmm. strange. specially as its not happening under conditions of heavy cpu load.
Very hard to diagnose as it could be cauzed by so many things... hardware or software.

Goto the control pannel -> event viewer. See what warning messages (if any) are there. Please report back any bad sounding ones so we can get a grasp of whats going on.

<b><i>The Very Hungry Caterpillar</i> - George W. Bush's favorite childhood book.
Note: This book was first published a year after Mr Bush graduated from College.</b>

 

[Killerkris]

I also thought the same thing, however nothing in events. However I am now leaning towards the fact that the cpu is just overheating/being stressed out. My computer is on 24/7 and the crashes seem to be(when thinking about it more) more frequent the longer the computer is on. So I'm gonna buy me some more extractor fans and perhaps think about underclocking the cpu too (I rarely need all its power for applications)

thx for ur thoughts, do you agree with me that the cpu being too hot could be causing this?



A Life, where can i download one of those from?

 

[lhgpoobaa]

Overheating is one possible explination, though as the CPU isnt running at full load it sounds a bit farfetched.

To check your system temps, Download Motherboard Monitor 5, then run some CPU intensive tasks like prime95 or sandra burn in utility... see if your computer crashes with regularity.

Also, how many casefans do you currently have?
Does the inside of the case seem excessivly hot if you take the sidepannel off after a few hours of running? (i.e. more than 10C above room temp)

<b><i>The Very Hungry Caterpillar</i> - George W. Bush's favorite childhood book.
Note: This book was first published a year after Mr Bush graduated from College.</b>

 

[Killerkris]

It gets stranger and stranger, with burn in test running all last nite my computer didnt crash at all. (btw I always have my case side off) and you're right, heat wasnt right, sisoft didnt show the cpu getting above 40degrees (I've a athlon 1300) or the motherboard getting more than 25degrees etc.

Has anyone ever know the system starting to idle and causing problems. I turned off all my screensaver+powerdowns on the comp.

Getting really odd anyway, thx for any thoughts

Casefans - i have 1 but its not plugged in atm as i need some power splitters, so assume none. But i have a good quality cpu fan and the case is open

A Life, where can i download one of those from?

 

[lhgpoobaa]

well thats a start, turning off all the powersaving features and screensavers.
Also check in your bios for powerdown features controlled by the bios. disable everything.

Question: Is your ram ok? Run memtest86 to find out.

<b><i>The Very Hungry Caterpillar</i> - George W. Bush's favorite childhood book.
Note: This book was first published a year after Mr Bush graduated from College.</b>