XP lockups even after fresh install

Geminiwave · Jan 6, 2009, 07:46 AM

So I have been having this problem for awhile where every time i plug in my iphone and sync the computer would lock up. Full freeze and require me to hold the power button down. This was a recent problem and since iTunes has always been the bane of my existence I figured it was a software problem. It happened other times too but much more infrequently. I was long overdue for a reinstall.

I wiped my computer totally clean. I wanted to start fresh. I installed windows and it seemed fine, but now I'm having a similar problem. Every time i run more than one program it crashes. Like listening to music and running firefox. Or copying files from my external hard drive to my main hard drive while running gametap. Stuff I use to do JUST FINE but now it doesn't work. I tried tweaking the bios, I tried messing with voltages and falling back to failsafes. I just don't know.

I thought it might be the ram but I ran memtest86 literally for days with no problem. I tried using the sticks seperately and i come up with the same crash every time and in exactly the same manner. I can reproduce it really easily now.

I don't get it thought.

What could it be?

Oh right, and I also checked CPU temp but I do not think that is it. It doesn't feel warm at all. That was a problem back in the day when it got clogged with dust but its clean and clear now. No dust, fans run great, the BIOS is reporting 30c after the computer locks up and then restarts. I realize the bios isn't completely accurate but 30c is really nothing to phone home about. 40c isn't even anything that should lock things up.

I have a DFI Infinity nforce4 SLI board.
Opteron 165 stock
1gb of pc3200 ram
geforce 7600GT
two seagate hard drives 1x160gb and 1x320gb

I got a really high end PSU with 1000w so I doubt thats the problem. Its an OCZ GameXtreme.

Uhg I'm so tired. This is really frustrating. I'm stuck with my mac laptop now which can't play games at all, plus my PC has the huge monitor.

mkk · Jan 6, 2009, 08:01 AM

I'd suspect the motherboard from your description. Have a closer look at it under good lighting to spot any damaged capacitors. Capacitor plague - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Judas · Jan 6, 2009, 03:23 PM

also there are times.. where an install of windows just goes "wrong" for no apparently reasons and durring which doesn't give any sign of going "wrong"..... similare symptoms have occured some more wild then others..... if you've exhausted everything, it may be worthwhile just to format and reinstall again. Also try doing some of the stuff you want to do after installing before installing most of the drivers or other software.

Geminiwave · Jan 6, 2009, 06:02 PM

you know mkk you might be right on the money there.

Judas, I actually did format it and then install xp and the installation was freaky and messed up. I reformatted again and reinstalled and that time everything seemed to go smoothly. I figured it was just an odd bug or something, but I don't know.

At one point the computer was having trouble posting but typically that was when I had a zune or iphone plugged in (its a very odd thing but I know one other person with the same problem. You plug an mp3 player in and turn the computer on and it only half posts and then hangs)

But sometimes I would turn the pc on and it would just stay black. Not all the time, but sometimes.

I had suspected dirty power was to blame and maybe I was half right. Maybe the caps are bad. I'll go over it with a fine toothed comb today.

Should I check the inside of my PSU? Can I even DO that?

**kris23** · Jan 6, 2009, 06:10 PM

i would guess that some hardware went bad, try running a stress test to see if it fails.

Alex · Jan 6, 2009, 06:13 PM

personally id try and get the hold of a new PSU. those gamexstream PSUs are renowned for failures. Thats why OCZ bought into Pc power and cooling. the Pro range is good thats about it .

Sounds like a nightmare, hope you get it sorted.

Tyrsonswood · Jan 6, 2009, 07:26 PM

If it is caps, it's easy to spot visually and yes they do happen in the power supply to. Most people just replace the unit, (mobo, power supply, what ever) unless you are really good at soldering already a Mobo is not the place to learn soldering. And paying someone to change the caps would usually cost more than the unit is worth.

I just did cap replacement on two mobos for myself and they are good as new.... but they are 5 years old so in comparison to newer stuff, pretty "worthless" but they still do what I need so for me it was worth the time and a few bucks in parts. I salvaged an LCD monitor earlier this year that was dead.... it had bad caps also....... so it is a common issue.

Geminiwave · Jan 6, 2009, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex

personally id try and get the hold of a new PSU. those gamexstream PSUs are renowned for failures. Thats why OCZ bought into Pc power and cooling. the Pro range is good thats about it .

Sounds like a nightmare, hope you get it sorted.

but I got the pro range. I bought their top of the line unit. I seriously doubt it should be failing now....

Judas · Jan 6, 2009, 10:01 PM

all the ocz psu's i've touched have been quite good.. the only ones that have failed have only done so in one manner..... straight up quit...

Jan 6, 2009, 07:46 AM	#1
Geminiwave I Have lovely Breasts Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: In the closet... Posts: 5,395 Rep Power: 64	XP lockups even after fresh install So I have been having this problem for awhile where every time i plug in my iphone and sync the computer would lock up. Full freeze and require me to hold the power button down. This was a recent problem and since iTunes has always been the bane of my existence I figured it was a software problem. It happened other times too but much more infrequently. I was long overdue for a reinstall. I wiped my computer totally clean. I wanted to start fresh. I installed windows and it seemed fine, but now I'm having a similar problem. Every time i run more than one program it crashes. Like listening to music and running firefox. Or copying files from my external hard drive to my main hard drive while running gametap. Stuff I use to do JUST FINE but now it doesn't work. I tried tweaking the bios, I tried messing with voltages and falling back to failsafes. I just don't know. I thought it might be the ram but I ran memtest86 literally for days with no problem. I tried using the sticks seperately and i come up with the same crash every time and in exactly the same manner. I can reproduce it really easily now. I don't get it thought. What could it be? Oh right, and I also checked CPU temp but I do not think that is it. It doesn't feel warm at all. That was a problem back in the day when it got clogged with dust but its clean and clear now. No dust, fans run great, the BIOS is reporting 30c after the computer locks up and then restarts. I realize the bios isn't completely accurate but 30c is really nothing to phone home about. 40c isn't even anything that should lock things up. I have a DFI Infinity nforce4 SLI board. Opteron 165 stock 1gb of pc3200 ram geforce 7600GT two seagate hard drives 1x160gb and 1x320gb I got a really high end PSU with 1000w so I doubt thats the problem. Its an OCZ GameXtreme. Uhg I'm so tired. This is really frustrating. I'm stuck with my mac laptop now which can't play games at all, plus my PC has the huge monitor. __________________

Jan 6, 2009, 08:01 AM	#2
mkk Cthulhu/Dagon 2012 Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Gefle, Sweden Posts: 4,490 Rep Power: 132 System Specs	Re: XP lockups even after fresh install I'd suspect the motherboard from your description. Have a closer look at it under good lighting to spot any damaged capacitors. Capacitor plague - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jan 6, 2009, 06:02 PM	Thread Starter #4
Geminiwave I Have lovely Breasts Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: In the closet... Posts: 5,395 Rep Power: 64	Re: XP lockups even after fresh install you know mkk you might be right on the money there. Judas, I actually did format it and then install xp and the installation was freaky and messed up. I reformatted again and reinstalled and that time everything seemed to go smoothly. I figured it was just an odd bug or something, but I don't know. At one point the computer was having trouble posting but typically that was when I had a zune or iphone plugged in (its a very odd thing but I know one other person with the same problem. You plug an mp3 player in and turn the computer on and it only half posts and then hangs) But sometimes I would turn the pc on and it would just stay black. Not all the time, but sometimes. I had suspected dirty power was to blame and maybe I was half right. Maybe the caps are bad. I'll go over it with a fine toothed comb today. Should I check the inside of my PSU? Can I even DO that? __________________

Jan 6, 2009, 06:10 PM	#5
kris23 Going Insane..... Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 6,018 Rep Power: 131 System Specs	Re: XP lockups even after fresh install i would guess that some hardware went bad, try running a stress test to see if it fails. __________________ Hardwareheaven Super-Moderator Building a new computer system and not sure where to start? Click Here! last updated (5/18/11) Rosewill FUTURE case replaces CM 690 II with its greater interior length. Building a PC: Step by Step Guide Written by Kristopher Pedemonte and Nathan Marks-Forder Edited by Allan Campbell Questions or Comments? feel free to post them in the forums!

Jan 6, 2009, 06:13 PM	#6
Alex Driverheaven Lover Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 260 Rep Power: 45	Re: XP lockups even after fresh install personally id try and get the hold of a new PSU. those gamexstream PSUs are renowned for failures. Thats why OCZ bought into Pc power and cooling. the Pro range is good thats about it . Sounds like a nightmare, hope you get it sorted.