Built my Own PC- Now it Freezes all the time GRRR

[Rocketboy52]

A few years ago I built my own PC. Its been working great but recently (last 6 months) after it has been on for a while it will Freeze and no keyboard strokes will wake it up. Sometimes it won’t ever freeze, sometimes it will freeze after 15 minutes, sometimes after watching TV on hulu for 4 hours it will freeze. I haven’t been able to identify a common activity between when it freezes. Mouse cursor, CTRL+ALT+DEL does nothing. Only a power button or hold reset button hold will reboot the computer.

Because it started acting up gradually, I originally thought it was a software/malware problem because when it was new it worked flawlessly. First attempt to fix the problem was a Windows system restore. It still froze. I then tried to do a Windows Boot CD system repair, still froze after that. Finally backed up my data, formatted the hard drive and reinstalled only the bare minimum programs. It still freezes. I’ve done this twice now. It freezes every time we use it now, it’s just a matter of time and its become a real PITA.

I was suspicious that I was overheating the CPU (I’m not overclocking) so after a couple of the freezes I’ve immediately rebooted, gone into BIOS to check the CPU temp, and I’ve never seen it hotter then 40° C. (105°F)

I’m not sure where to go from here in terms of trying to isolate either a software or hardware problem.

The only major software added in the last year have been starting to use Google chrome, Google’s Picasa, as well as Internet safety program “Safe eyes” ( I have little kids) I’ve made sure I’m using the latest updates of all of these software, and on the last re-format re-install, I left the three of them off for a while, but it still froze. I run the same software and same version of Windows XP on my laptop and have had no problems. When the computer freezes, the hard drive LED is not ever lit, and the CPU fan never speeds up (it did on an old machine that ran to hot and locked down due to a dust build up on the heat sink).

I've gone to all the hardware builder's websites and downloaded and installed the latest drivers for all my hardware. After every reboot, it will usually run for an hour or better before it freezes again. GRRRR

I’m totally out of ideas, anyone out know what else I can try? Should I post this call for help on another forum, like the PC builders one?

My computer details are:
OS: Windows XP MCE Version 2002 running Service Pack 3
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ Windsor 2.2GHz Socket AM2 65W Dual-Core Processor ADO4200IAA5CU - OEM
Motherboard:ECS NFORCE6M-A(2.0) AM2 NVIDIA nForce 520LE ATX AMD Motherboard
Ram: 4gigs total, 2 Transcend 2GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)
Video Card: ASUS EN7200GS/HTD/128M GeForce 7200GS 128MB 64-bit GDDR2 PCI Express x16 Video Card
Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Blue WD3200AAKS 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
CPU frequency is set to 200 MHz
PCIE Clock set to 100 MHz
Monitors: Running Dualview set up with a Dell 1907FP and a View Sonic VX2235wm monitors off of the ASUS EN7200 video card with the latest driver downloaded from Nvidia.

[Rocketboy52]

I posted a similar thread on the Windows XP forum in case it is a OS problem, but here are the details:

A few years ago I built my own PC. Its been working great but recently (last 6 months) after it has been on for a while it will Freeze and no keyboard strokes will wake it up. Sometimes it won’t ever freeze, sometimes it will freeze after 15 minutes, sometimes after watching TV on hulu for 4 hours it will freeze. I haven’t been able to identify a common activity between when it freezes. Mouse cursor, CTRL+ALT+DEL does nothing. Only a power button or hold reset button hold will reboot the computer.

Because it started acting up gradually, I originally thought it was a software/malware problem because when it was new it worked flawlessly. First attempt to fix the problem was a Windows system restore. It still froze. I then tried to do a Windows Boot CD system repair, still froze after that. Finally backed up my data, formatted the hard drive and reinstalled only the bare minimum programs. It still freezes. I’ve done this twice now. It freezes every time we use it now, it’s just a matter of time and its become a real PITA.

I was suspicious that I was overheating the CPU (I’m not overclocking) so after a couple of the freezes I’ve immediately rebooted, gone into BIOS to check the CPU temp, and I’ve never seen it hotter then 40° C. (105°F)

I’m not sure where to go from here in terms of trying to isolate either a software or hardware problem.

The only major software added in the last year have been starting to use Google chrome, Google’s Picasa, as well as Internet safety program “Safe eyes” ( I have little kids) I’ve made sure I’m using the latest updates of all of these software, and on the last re-format re-install, I left the three of them off for a while, but it still froze. I run the same software and same version of Windows XP on my laptop and have had no problems. When the computer freezes, the hard drive LED is not ever lit, and the CPU fan never speeds up (it did on an old machine that ran to hot and locked down due to a dust build up on the heat sink).

I've gone to all the hardware builder's websites and downloaded and installed the latest drivers for all my hardware. After every reboot, it will usually run for an hour or better before it freezes again. GRRRR

I’m totally out of ideas, anyone out know what else I can try?

My computer details are:
OS: Windows XP MCE Version 2002 running Service Pack 3
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ Windsor 2.2GHz Socket AM2 65W Dual-Core Processor ADO4200IAA5CU - OEM
Motherboard:ECS NFORCE6M-A(2.0) AM2 NVIDIA nForce 520LE ATX AMD Motherboard
Ram: 4gigs total, 2 Transcend 2GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)
Video Card: ASUS EN7200GS/HTD/128M GeForce 7200GS 128MB 64-bit GDDR2 PCI Express x16 Video Card
Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Blue WD3200AAKS 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
CPU frequency is set to 200 MHz
PCIE Clock set to 100 MHz
Monitors: Running Dualview set up with a Dell 1907FP and a View Sonic VX2235wm monitors off of the ASUS EN7200 video card with the latest driver downloaded from Nvidia.

[David M]

When was the last time you took compressed air to it and blew out all the dust?

How are the voltages and temperatures?

If it is none of the above then you may need to remove the mobo from the case and do this...
Having problems with a new build? Try this.

[Rocketboy52]

The last re-format I powered it off and without removing the Mboard from the case I was able to suck out the dust from everywhere in the case. It looks nice and clean, near new now. I've been running the machine with the case sides off for the last little while to see if it helps, and it hasn't made a difference.

If I'm not overheating the CPU is there a way I can check the Graphics card to see if I'm overheating it?

[Rocketboy52]

I don't know why, but my current suspicion is that the Graphics card might be over heating, it doesn't have a fan of its own and it is really warm when I touch the heat sinks on the card when the computer has been running for a while. I have a friend with an Infra Red thermometer, I could read heat sink temps.

I think I'm suspicious of the video card because if it was process or CPU related when it freezes, my experiences have been that the HD LED light freezes on. HMMM

[Rocketboy52]

The Video card Heat sink, and the Nvida chip (also without a fan) is hot, almost burning to the touch if the computer has been on for a while. Is there a software utility that will monitor the video card or bus chip temps? I haven't found them in my BIos, or in the Nvida control panel anywhere.

[glc]

Brand and model of the power supply, please?

Go to Memtest86+ - Advanced Memory Diagnostic Tool and download memtest86+, make the boot disk and test your ram. Blow the dust out of the computer, paying particular attention to the fans and heatsinks, including the video card.

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