XP Freeze

[sri2000_uk]

When I boot up my computer it occasionally freezes in Windows as soon as I hit a key on the keyboard. It will be fine for a day or so, then I boot up and all is ok rgarding surfing etc, until I hit any key on the keyboard, then it totally freezes. CTRL ALT and DEL do nothing. The re-set button is my only way out. When it boots up without the keyboard freeze, the computer works perfectly with no trouble.
It used to occasionally freeze at the "user password" so I disabled that, to no avail.
I have for security reasons enabled a user password in the motherboard bios, and must type the password to get it to boot. This never causes a freeze. It is only when I am in Windows that it may happen.
I have three computers on a home network, all very much the same regarding hardware. Two occasionally have the problem, the third one never.
I would be very grateful for any help you can give me.
XP Home
Asus A7V333 motherboard, on all thre computers
512 ddr ram
Nvidia g-force 4 card
Creative soundblater live 5.1
AMD 1800+ Processor
Thanks in advance

Jack

[Tuf]

Something that is loading at start up is most likely the culprit. I have seen older version of Norton Antivirus cause similar problems. They aren't updated for use by XP anyway so it's better not to try and use them anyway. I think I would go into MSConfig and see what all is loading and try unchecking those things that absolutley don't need to be running. I wouldn't get them all at once just try to narrow it down. A device driver could cause issues like this but it would likely cause a problem all of the time.

You might try cleaning out the prefetch folder and see if that helps. It's probably not the problem and it will add little time (seconds) to the next time you restart. It's not permanent it will just add time to one restart. But it can cure oddball quirks sometimes.

[sri2000_uk]

Hello Tuf,
These are the items in MSconfig. I have always had everything stopped exept these. Rundll.32 I have no idea what that is.
ccApp Is a Symantec (Norton antivirus item)
ccRegVfy Is also a Symantec. (Norton antivirus item)
I have Noton antivirus 2003 in my computer, and no other Norton products. (applies to all three computers)
I may disable the Norton antivirus, and run it manually when the computers are in Windows with no problems, or uninstall and re- install it.

Many thanks for the prompt reply.

Jack

[andyms18a]

is your keyboard usb or ps2

[sri2000_uk]

All of my computers have PS2 keyboards.

Jack

[andyms18a]

do you have any irq conflicks all so check in bios and make shore plug and play op sys is set to yes and reset config data is set to yes

[sri2000_uk]

Plug and play --- YES---- is set on all three computers. I have checked the bios settings, all three are the same, and re-set the cinfig data. There are no conflicts.

Thans for your help.

Jack

[andyms18a]

try removing the keyboard and reboot check the key boards and mice are in the right ps2 ports as this can cause your problam next shut down and put the key bord back and re boot agen this will make win xp check it drivers for probs

[sri2000_uk]

I will try the remove and re-boot, but the keyboards are definately in the correct places. The keboards all work ok when I use the password in the bios, or go into the bios. It is only in Windows when the problem may occur. The problem is more frequent on the computer in my bedroom than the one downstairs. The one in my daughters bedroom never gives trouble.
I have a feeling that the suggestions by TUF (above) may be a likely pointer.
I may be a day or so getting back here, as the problem does not occur every time I boot, but I will get back as soon as I have a result.

Many thanks for the help, I do appreciate it.

Jack

[pam123]

http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;308041

[sri2000_uk]

Hi all,
I formatted the computer in my bedroom three or four days ago and re-installed XP home. It still had the freeze problem. Yesterday I swapped the graphics cards between the computer in my daughters bedroom and mine. So far this one, (in my bedroom) has been ok. The one in my daughters bedroom NEVER gave trouble, and still boots ok. However, it is early days yet. I will know the results in another day or so.
Both of the graphics cards are Nvidia based MX 400s. One made by Hercules, the other by Gainward. The Gainward is the one which was in my most troublesome computer. I now have the Hercules fitted.
The reason I went for the graphics cards is because when some time ago I put a Creative Gforce 4 in my main downstairs computer it gave splashes of colour all over the screen with no picture until I removed the internal modem. (it took some finding out because I could not see anything) It probably has no bearing on my present problem, but I had to eliminate the possibility.
I will let you know the results in a few days.

Thanks for the suggestions

Jack

[Psychodic_Greak]

I had the same problem with MSN Messenger, then i removed it!

lol, just playing.

Give your computer 5 minutes after you type your password at teh welcome screen, the last thing to load is probably the culprit. remove it, and try and redl it. If the program continues to do this, then you must remove it no matter what.

[sri2000_uk]

I have run the computers for several days, and my daughters computer still runs and boots up with no problem. The one in my bedroom still has the odd intermittent freeze, so the graphic cards swap did not make a difference.
I remembered yesterday, that my daughter has an Intel internal modem, the one in my bedroom is a conextant (Rockwell) internal, of the same model which caused conflicts with the Creative graphics card.
This weekend I am going to either swap the modems, or buy another Intel one for my bedroom computer. I will come back with the results in a few more days.

Thank you all for your input.

Jack

[mike breck]

Hi sri2000_uk,

Have you checked the keyboard cable for damage or kinks and the PS/2 connector to the motherboard.

Try swopping with a known, good keyboard.

If you have Power On by PS/2 Keyboard enabled in the BIOS, try disabling it.

HTH

[sri2000_uk]

Hi Mike,
Power on by keyboard is disabled. I have tried swapping keyboards around.

Thank you for the suggestions

Jack