Help with programs freezing

[omarrero]

Good morning to everyone in the forum.

I am posting this in the General Hardware category since I do not know where else to post it! I apologize beforehand if I am in the wrong forum.

My system uses an ASUS P4P800 Motherboard with a Pentium 4 2.6 GHz, and I have recently done a few minor upgrades:

6 months ago, I changed the 512Kb I had before to 2Gb RAM so I could run Photoshop CS2
This week:

1. I replaced my ATI Radeon 9200SE 128mb graphics card with an nVidia GEForce FX 5200 8x 256 Mb card because my computer screen was unexpectedly shutting down with the computer still running (i.e. if it happened while booting up, you could hear the Windows Welcome song, but not see the blue Welcome screen)
2. Got a new wireless router
3. Installed a new HP DVD1040 DVD burner

Since then, graphics are back to normal, but I have noticed that regardless of what program I am running it will stop responding after a few minutes, forcing me to shut it down through the Task Manager.

I have two hard drives: the main one is 37 Gb and is 88% full, and the other one is 38 Gb and only 28% full.

I willl appreciate any help or any suggestions anyone can give me.

O. Marrero

[Cricket]

Can you post the complete system specs. List the parts by brand and model including the OS and power supply.

Do you run security software scans with updated definitions regularly?

You might want to try and free up some space on your main hard drive...Windows gets weird when the freespace drops below 15%.

Cricket

[omarrero]

Thank you, Cricket for your quick reply!

The following is a summary of my system information taken using Sandra Lite (www.sisoftware.net/sandra)

SiSoftware Sandra

System
Host Name :
User :
Workgroup :

Processor
Model : Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.60GHz
Speed : 2.61GHz
Performance Rating : PR3258 (estimated)
Cores per Processor : 1 Unit(s)
Threads per Core : 2 Unit(s)
Internal Data Cache : 8kB Synchronous, Write-Thru, 4-way set, 64 byte line size, 2 lines per sector
L2 On-board Cache : 512kB ECC Synchronous, ATC, 8-way set, 64 byte line size, 2 lines per sector

Mainboard
Bus(es) : ISA AGP PCI IMB USB i2c/SMBus
MP Support : 1 Processor(s)
MP APIC : Yes
System BIOS : American Megatrends Inc. 080009
System : To Be Filled By O.E.M. To Be Filled By O.E.M.
Mainboard : ASUSTeK Computer Inc. P4P800
Total Memory : 2GB DDR-SDRAM

Chipset 1
Model : ASUSTeK Computer Inc 82865G/PE/P, 82848P DRAM Controller / Host-Hub Interface
Front Side Bus Speed : 4x 200MHz (800MHz data rate)
Total Memory : 2GB DDR-SDRAM
Memory Bus Speed : 2x 200MHz (400MHz data rate)

Video System
Monitor/Panel : Plug and Play Monitor
Adapter : NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200
Imaging Device : Logitech QuickCam IM
Imaging Device : EPSON Perfection 3170 #2

Physical Storage Devices
Removable Drive : Floppy disk drive
Hard Disk : IOMEGA ZIP 250
Hard Disk : Maxtor 54098U8 (38GB)
Hard Disk : WDC WD400JB-00ENA0 (37GB)
CD-ROM/DVD : HP DVD Writer 1040d (CD 48X Rd, 48X Wr) (DVD 6X Rd, 6X Wr)

Logical Storage Devices
Removable Drive (E : N/A
Hard Disk (C : 37GB (4.4GB, 12% Free Space) (NTFS)
Hard Disk (F : 38GB (27GB, 71% Free Space) (FAT32)
CD-ROM/DVD (D : N/A
3.5" 1.44MB (A : N/A

Peripherals
Serial/Parallel Port(s) : 3 COM / 1 LPT
USB Controller/Hub : Intel(R) 82801EB USB Universal Host Controller - 24D2
USB Controller/Hub : Intel(R) 82801EB USB Universal Host Controller - 24D4
USB Controller/Hub : Intel(R) 82801EB USB Universal Host Controller - 24D7
USB Controller/Hub : Standard Enhanced PCI to USB Host Controller
USB Controller/Hub : Intel(R) 82801EB USB Universal Host Controller - 24DE
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : Logitech QuickCam IM
USB Controller/Hub : USB Printing Support
Keyboard : Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard
Mouse : Microsoft PS/2 Mouse

MultiMedia Device(s)
Device : SoundMAX Integrated Digital Audio

Communication Device(s)
Device : Lucent Win Modem

Printers and Faxes
Model : WinFax (Photo Quality)
Model : WinFax
Model : Quicken PDF Printer
Model : Microsoft Office Document Image Writer
Model : EPSON Stylus Photo 820 Series_network
Model : EPSON Stylus Photo 820 Series
Model : Auto WinFax on M500
Model : Auto WinFax (Photo Quality) on M500
Model : Auto Microsoft Office Document Image Writer on M500
Model : Auto EPSON Stylus Photo 820 Series_via Network on M500
Model : Auto EPSON Stylus Photo 820 Series on M500
Model : Adobe PDF

Power Management
AC Line Status : On-Line

Operating System(s)
Windows System : Microsoft Windows XP/2002 Home 5.01.2600 (Service Pack 2)

Network Services
Adapter : NETGEAR FA312 Fast Ethernet Adapter

Performance Tips
Tip 2546 : Large memory modules should be ECC/Parity.
Notice 5901 : CD 1x= 150kB/s; Exercise caution when comparing measured versus published ratings.
Notice 5902 : DVD 1x= 11.08Mbps Exercise caution when comparing measured versus published ratings.
Tip 2 : Double-click tip or press Enter while a tip is selected for more information about the tip.

I currently use Norton System Works 2006 as a security software with automatic updates turned on.

Thank you for the tip about removing some programs from the hard drive, I will look into that.

O. Marrero

[Cricket]

Try disabling Norton System Works and see if that helps.

You might want to see this thread too.

We also need to know the brand of the power supply. Open up the case and you should see a label on the power supply with the brand name on it. And while the case is open check to see if any of the heatsinks are clogged with dust. If they are you need to clean them out thoroughly so that the components don't overheat.

Cricket

[omarrero]

Thanks again, Cricket for your reply.

I just read your thread regarding Norton System Works and I found it very eye-opening. I have already heard from other computer techs how unreliable Norton is, so I will definitely look into alternatives like Panda and AVG. I will look them up.

My power supply is an L&C Computer Co. Ltd. Model LC-B350ATX. I did vacuum the insides of my machine recently when the video card was failing for the first time. I am curious to see how my power supply information will help me get my computer to work faster.

Again, thanks for all the help.

O. Marrero.

[LeftyAce]

A bad/failing powersupply can cause instability and freezing, as core components can't get the voltage they need to function properly. L&C is on our ''bad' list: http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=131195

Is this a self-built system?
I'd consider replacing the psu with something higher quality (Check the good list). 350-400 watts ought to be plenty, but someone else may have a more solid feel for how many watts your system and video card need.

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by omarrero My power supply is an L&C Computer Co. Ltd. Model LC-B350ATX.

You definitely need to replace the L&C power supply ASAP...it's a really bad one. I've heard of L&C power supplies suddenly dying and killing other components when it did.

I have a computer similar to yours (mine is a 2.8GHz P4 on a ASUS P4P800SE with 1GB of RAM and 2 HDDs) and it's powered by a 350 watt Fortron Source power supply.

Cricket

[omarrero]

Thank you, Cricket and Lefty for your advice.

I had my system custom built at a small shop more than four years ago, where I chose the major components except the power supply, and I was able to bring components from my older system (I probably have the only internal Zip drive left in the world ) I think I should be able to replace the power supply myself once I get a new one (I'll check on prices first).

You guys have been extremely helpful; let me try the first item of my To Do List:

1. Empty the Hard drives
2. Change antivirus program
3. Buy new power supply

and will let you know how that works out.

O. Marrero

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by omarrero I had my system custom built at a small shop more than four years ago,

It seems that cheap low quality power supplies like that L&C last about 3 to 4 years before they start to cause weird problems.

Cricket

[omarrero]

That makes sense.

I will definitely look into that.

Thanks again Cricket

[omarrero]

Originally Posted by omarrero ...let me try the first item of my To Do List: Empty the Hard drives Change antivirus program Buy new power supply and will let you know how that works out. O. Marrero

Hello to everyone in the forum.

Here's an update on what I've done so far:

I cleared my hard drive, and that did not help.

Changed the anivirus program to AVG and the difference in speed is DRAMATIC, yet, programs still freeze in the middle of doing something. It is more noticeable if I am web browsing: after browsing for a while (~15 min) Explorer freezes and I have to turn it off using the Task Manager.

Just to see, I tried running Corel Painter 9 (a memory-intensive software) with and without internet connection and it ran faster when disconnected. Could it be possible that my router slows down my ENTIRE computer, not just my internet connection? Any help you can give will be greatly appreciated.

I will get to the power supply once I have the $$$, so I can get a new hard drive while I'm at it.

Thanks in advance,

O.Marrero