Help! Computer freezing.

[Trey]

I could use some help here. Any thoughts, ideas, or suggestions would be GREATLY appreciated.

My config:

AMD 1.2 GHz (266)(box) - not overclocking
Iwill KK266-R mobo using on board sound
256 MB CAS2 Corsair memory
Geforce3 (12.00) drivers - have not loaded "4 in 1"
60 GB Maxtor HD
56 k modem
Real Magic Hollywood plus DVD card
Ethernet card - disabled
OS: Windoes ME

Problem: My computer randomly locks/freezes - does not appear to be related to any particular program. When the program freezes I cannot reboot with Ctrl-Alt-Del. I have to turn the machine off, and then back on. This maneuver does not gaurantee succesful reboot. I will usually get a blank screen, although I sometimes hear the hard drive going through normal progression. I will then usually leave the computer off for a while, and then when I reboot, it seems to work fine, although Windows wants me to boot in Safe mode. A couple of times, when rebooting, The computer freezes during intitial power up, memory check etc. (on the initial Iwill screen). This problem has become progressively worse, and I can only get my computer to run a 2-5 minutes before freezing.

Thoughts: I wondered if AMD chip/Geforce3 chip(s) were overheating. Opened case to verify that all fans (4 total) are turning normally. "PC Health" in BIOS reports: CPU temp - 35C (have seen it up to 58C), system temp - 25C, CPU fan - 0, Sys fan - 0 (although I know both of these are turning normally), Vcore - 1.84V, 2.5V - 3.39V, 3.3V - 3.39V, 5V - 4.90V, 12V - 12.12V. Don't know if these are ok or not.

I tried installing Nvidia 12.41 drivers with self installer. Got an error. Then installed files by directing Windows where to look. This did not seem to help, so reinstalled 12.00 drivers over the newer ones. I did not do this in Safe mode, and I did not uninstall drivers before trying to install new ones - could this be a problem? If so, why would the computer sometimes hang during initial boot?

Along these lines, Geforce3 is on IRQ11 along with 2 PCI steering slots. In addition, the on board sound is running through IRQ 11 (2 slots). Should I (and how do I) force the interrupts?

Could there be a virus? I am running Norton System Works 2001. 3 days ago, I downloaded latest virus definitions and scanned the HD - clean. Ran Windows Doctor and found 45 errors - did the auto fix, and now freezing seems to be as bad as ever. Can't tell for sure, but I may have made things worse.

I am really struggling here. Hope you all do not mind me posting this info on this board, but I don't know where the problem lies. Please Help.

Thanks in advance
Trey

 

[UnseenMenace]

what are your system tempratures ?

 

[Trey]

UnseenMenace (Jun 19, 2001 12:20 p.m.):
what are your system tempratures ?

The only thing I have measured is through the Iwill bios - 25C at start up.

thanks
Trey

 

[Fiz]

have you tried reinstalling windows? I don't mean format, I just mean run setup and see if that helps. I used regcleaner to clean up the registry and the comp went nuts. I reinstalled windows and all is well.

Fiz

 

[Ridenow]

If you let it sit and cool for a while and then it reboots fine then you problem is probably temperature related. What heatsink do you have? The BIOS temp at start up is not a good indicator, that is the coolest time for a processor, before it has warmed up. I do not think a virus could effect the reboot like this.

 

[J.S.]

Sounds like you started off with maybe a heat problem,you can try removing sides and giving it more air and see what that does.also,I believe the G-force should have its own IRQ that is only shared with the ACPI IRQ holder PCI IRQ steering,but make sure before you make a change. Good luck

 

[Trey]

J.S. (Jun 19, 2001 04:47 p.m.):
Sounds like you started off with maybe a heat problem,you can try removing sides and giving it more air and see what that does.also,I believe the G-force should have its own IRQ that is only shared with the ACPI IRQ holder PCI IRQ steering,but make sure before you make a change. Good luck

I currently have the sides off the computer - just tonight. After about 7-8 reboots, I finally got one where I could see what was going on, and would not freeze after 2 minutes. Freezing occurs even in safe mode. I disabled the on board sound, which is on IRQ11 with GeForce3. So far so good - running about 30 minutes now. If I want to force the IRQ's in Win ME, could anyone give me some tips on how to do this. Should I use the same set up that Win sets automatically and just reassign the sound IRQ's or completely reassign all interrupts? Any pointers would be appreciated.

By the way, I am using the heat sink/fan that came with the boxxed AMD processor.

If things stay stable, I may try to reinstall windows as well.

Thanks everyone for your help - I will keep you updated.

 

[Trey]

Update:

With my case cover off, I have not crashed in a couple of days. I disabled automatic PCI steering in Win ME and manipulated things so that GeForce 3 is essentially by itself on IRQ11. CPU temp is 46C and system temp is 33C - are these values ok (particularly system)?

I have upgraded bios to 5/15/01 version and installed "4in1" drivers. I am currently doing a "thourough" surface test of the HD using Norton System works 2001 - long test. Memory test by Norton was normal.

Does anyone know if there is a program that tests GeForce hardware, by Nvidia or something?

thanks for your help
Trey

 

[matrix]

heres something that always seeems to work when
my comp screws up..

pop in.. win me start up disk.
and run system restore..
choose a date where it was running fine.
and it should work..

* if that doesnt.. it might be your powersupply.....

 

[Fiz]

Trey (Jun 21, 2001 11:23 a.m.):
Update:

With my case cover off, I have not crashed in a couple of days. I disabled automatic PCI steering in Win ME and manipulated things so that GeForce 3 is essentially by itself on IRQ11. CPU temp is 46C and system temp is 33C - are these values ok (particularly system)?

I have upgraded bios to 5/15/01 version and installed "4in1" drivers. I am currently doing a "thourough" surface test of the HD using Norton System works 2001 - long test. Memory test by Norton was normal.

Does anyone know if there is a program that tests GeForce hardware, by Nvidia or something?

thanks for your help
Trey

How do you swhut off the automatic PCI steering in win me? I have 6 things on irq 10 and want to move some of them. Thanks in advance.

Fiz

 

[J.S.]

Trey,If the CPU temp is 46C ,is that Idle temp or full load? If it's Idle then thats kind of high,but it depends on things like your ambient air temp and such,I would look into a better hs/f like a Alpha or one of the others that you can read about in this forum,also try to get better case cooling by adding fans.If you can't add fans right now leave the side off and maybe use a small table fan and let her blow thru the case till you can come up with a more permanent solution.

 

[Trey]

Fiz,

In terms of IRQ steering, I am no expert, but this is what I know. To disable "automatic IRQ steering" go to the Device Manager under System icon in the Control Panel. Expand the "system devices" selection and go to PCI bus. Then you can choose to uncheck the "automatic PCI steering". At this point I was requested to reboot computer, and had to wait while ME reconfigured hardware (which always seems to toake 10-15 minutes on my computer). Then you can go into Device manager and select each individual device, click properties and then Change Settings. Sometimes ME won't let me change the IRQ, but try this, and let me know if it works. Other thing is that IRQ is sometimes determined by position of card on mobo. Each PCI slot has certain IRQ, I think. Again I am a little fuzzy on this. Anyone else with more knowledge would be welcomed to chime in.

In terms of temp, the 46C is after having the computer on for 3-4 days. I ran Mech warrior 4 for about 15-20 minutes, and temp was approximately 52-54C, which is getting up there. I may have to go with new hs/fan combo. Any suggestions?

Thanks for everyones input.
Trey