Re: Computer Freezing

From: Bill (anonymous_at_discussions.microsoft.com)
Date: 06/15/04 

Date: Mon, 14 Jun 2004 20:13:49 -0700

Wellll....because I was trying to be a nice guy and help
a friend??? I am not a repairman and I am certainly not
charging for my help. I started out asking a few
computer types what they thought and went from there.
Where do I find the events log and is it difficult to
interpret?
It won't stay on long enough to look at the device
manager very thoroughly. There are no problems indicated
as best I can tell in a hurry.
I figured swapping out a known good power supply would be
better than me mucking around with a voltmeter. So I
can't tell you much about voltages. I see CompUSA has a
power supply tester but I can actually buy a new power
supply for about the same money!!
I used the Seagate diagnostic utilities to thoroughly
check the hard disk, no problems with the disk according
to the utility. I don't know of any comprehensive
diagnostics from Micron Computer. And even if I had it,
the damn thing would not stay "unfroze" long enough to
run it.
If my car mechanic was doing everything for free, like I
am for my friend, I really wouldn't give a damn how he
fixed it, would you?? Anyway, my mechanic is a certified
wrench head and I would expect him to know what he was
doing. Me, on the other hand, am not a certified
computer mechanic, just a doofus that knows just enough
to be dangerous and dumb enough to give it a shot for a
pal. I am asking for free help here because if money was
no object for him, I'd advise him to ***-can this one
and buy the kids a new one. So far I haven't really spent
that much money on this, just a lot of my time. And
although it sounds like I am frustrated, I really am
enjoying this experiment. I always want to know how
things work.
Thanks for the help, please feel free to give more. I do
appreciate you taking the time to comment.
Thanks again

>-----Original Message-----
> Why did you try to fix things without first obtaining
basic
>facts. What did event log say. What does device manager
>report. Are power supply voltages within the upper 3/4
limits
>of those supply voltages? What did the manufacturers
>comprehensive diagnostics (provided free by any
responsible
>manufacturer) report? Never start fixing things until
first
>obtaining the basic information. If your car mechanic
fixed
>your car that way, then you would be yelling scam.
>
>"wgruth@cableone.net" wrote:
>>
>> Thank God I am not the only one having these
problems. I
>> have a very similar problem. And it is not fixed
yet. I
>> think I have done about everything you have done and a
>> few more and still I have grief. I had a 1.0 AMD, 128
>> Ram, clean install to XP. System would just randomly I
>> thought just hang, mouse or keyboard would not respond.
>> Here is a list of what I have tried so far, in this
order
>> (I think, my memory isn't perfect anymore):
>> 1. ran virus check and Spybot, cleaned a bunch of ad
crap
>> off, didn't help.
>> 2. Reformatted hard disk, clean install of XP, didn't
>> help.
>> 3. New stick of RAM, 256K this time, didn't help.
>> Computer shop said the my old RAM was not working
>> correctly, whatever that means.
>> 4. Removed all cards but video, didn't help.
>> 5. Replaced video card, didn't help.
>> 6. Replaced CPU with 1.2 AMD, they didn't have a new
1.0,
>> didn't help
>> 7. Replaced power supply with a known good used one
(got
>> tired of buying new parts that didn't help!) and that
>> didn't fix it but may have made it a little better.
>> 8. Disconnected second CD drive, didn't help.
>> 9. Replaced network card, went online and installed
EVERY
>> XP upgrade/security fix they had, didn't help.
>> 10. Flashed upgraded BIOS, didn't help.
>> The thing seems to play CD's almost forever, don't
>> remember it freezing while Josh Grobin was singing but
>> will freeze when I play Solitaire or if I turn on the
>> screensaver, just takes a couple minutes and it hangs
up.
>> About the only thing left is the Motherboard. Or
>> probably a software issue with XP. Which is why I am
>> asking this group, is there a systematic way to
determine
>> if the probelm is hardware or software, better than my
>> rediculous "keep replacing parts until it starts
working"
>> madness.
>> Thenks in advance for any help.
>> Bill
>>
>> >-----Original Message-----
>> >Add: I have ensured since November when I first
>> started this, that the computer is clean from viruses,
>> spyware etc. Spybot, Ad-Aware, Spywareblaster, AVG,
and
>> now changed to Avast AV. The OS was also re-installed
>> in March.
>> >
>> > "shcr" <bizeesheri@aol.com> wrote in message
>> news:OdXKA4xTEHA.204@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
>> > This has been an ongoing issue for months, I've
tried
>> to help my mom getting it resolved.
>> >
>> > Windows XP, AMD 1.2 chip, 256 meg Ram.
>> >
>> > The mouse will just freeze, no rhyme or reason to
>> when. Sometimes right after startup, sometimes after a
>> couple days. Sometimes when opening a program,
sometimes
>> while in one.
>> >
>> > I removed the video card, the ethernet card and
modem
>> card. Video and ethernet now running off the
>> motherboard. Still freezes.
>> >
>> > I changed all the power settings to not allow a
device
>> to shutdown (cannot recall exact verbage).
>> > Checked all drivers, all appear to be working fine.
>> >
>> > We had charter out numerouse times, thinking it was
>> the cable connection. no fix there.
>> >
>> > I took the computer to my house, used my mouse,
>> keyboard and hooked up to my home network, still no
fix.
>> >
>> > Last night:
>> > I removed a bunch of programs
>> > Removed a bunch of items from the system tray to not
>> clog resources
>> > Changed the hardware acceleration to the lowest
level
>> > Went into the registry and removed items from
>> the /run so they wouldn't startup.
>> >
>> > I checked today the event viewer for the first time.
>> I find these errors: (from the shutdowns last night and
>> prior as well)
>> >
>> > The ATI TV Wonder TV Tuner service failed to start
due
>> to the following error:
>> >
>> > The service cannot be started, either because it is
>> disabled or because it has no enabled devices
associated
>> with it.
>> >
>> > The ATI TV Wonder Audio Crossbar service failed to
>> start due to the following error:
>> >
>> > The service cannot be started, either because it is
>> disabled or because it has no enabled devices
associated
>> with it.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Now, there is no ATI card, or any add-on video
card.
>> There is no ATI software in the add/remove programs to
>> remove.
>> >
>> > I left the machine on last night after making all
the
>> final tweaks, it was still up and running this morning
>> ok, perhaps I've fixed everything, and during the
fixes,
>> the event log error will have corrected itself.
However,
>> I'm still perplexed why I have that error. Any
ideas?
>> >
>> > TIA
>> >
>> >
>> >
>.
>