O/T Computer Constantly freezes....
Discussion
It used to happen very occasionally, but now it happens 3 or 4 times in a day!
On the internet for around 2 or 3 hours, Intenet Explorer, MSN Messenger and Outlook open, everything just goes blank, IE windows have the title and the Bar is the right colour, but the window is white, same with outlook, and msn! Pain in the backside! Anyone got any advice?
Spec -
Athlon 850
Jetway 963 MB
512MB RAM
30 GB HD, 15gb free
Windows ME
Office 2000!
Cheers
Stuart
On the internet for around 2 or 3 hours, Intenet Explorer, MSN Messenger and Outlook open, everything just goes blank, IE windows have the title and the Bar is the right colour, but the window is white, same with outlook, and msn! Pain in the backside! Anyone got any advice?
Spec -
Athlon 850
Jetway 963 MB
512MB RAM
30 GB HD, 15gb free
Windows ME
Office 2000!
Cheers
Stuart
open her up and make sure the fan on the main processor is running and isn't clogged with dust .. check other fans for the same.
if its clogged up dotn stick in a hoover pipe as the static they generate is bad for your pc ... get some air propelent cleaner from maplin etc.
have u intalled any new kit in your pc recently .. hardware or software?
if its clogged up dotn stick in a hoover pipe as the static they generate is bad for your pc ... get some air propelent cleaner from maplin etc.
have u intalled any new kit in your pc recently .. hardware or software?
Built the comp myself, to aid cooling I have never had a cover on the case, I have an auxillary fan blowing air across the CPU as well, CPU fan is OK! No Dust, clean it regularly every two months!
No Software or hardware installed recently at all!
Thats why this has confused me soo much!
No Software or hardware installed recently at all!
Thats why this has confused me soo much!
Does it just happen with IE, MSM, and Outlook? Or is it every 2/3 hours whatever you're using?
If its the latter I would suspect cooling, with just those particular programs I wouldn't suspect heat problems. Possibly a temp files problem, when was the last time you checked your temp files? They are supposed to be deleted automatically by windows but the're not always gone.
If its the latter I would suspect cooling, with just those particular programs I wouldn't suspect heat problems. Possibly a temp files problem, when was the last time you checked your temp files? They are supposed to be deleted automatically by windows but the're not always gone.
A year ago I was supporting a piece of niche software on a large site. We had big reliability problems with some users. It was almost always users with machines with less memory that gave the most trouble. Using Win NT on site and believe we have seen the same symptoms under Win 2K and recently Win XP on a new laptop.
Windows seems to occaisionally make a decision like 'shall I page this memory to disc or freeze up ?'. Putting more memory into the PC reduces the number of times this decision is made.
We eventually told them to use a minimum of 128Mb RAM and give 'power users' considerably more. My XP laptop has 512Mb and is almost 100% reliable.
We got the experts inolved but it turned into a major arse covering exercise. Not even a decent hypothesis emerged from the investigation.
Windows seems to occaisionally make a decision like 'shall I page this memory to disc or freeze up ?'. Putting more memory into the PC reduces the number of times this decision is made.
We eventually told them to use a minimum of 128Mb RAM and give 'power users' considerably more. My XP laptop has 512Mb and is almost 100% reliable.
We got the experts inolved but it turned into a major arse covering exercise. Not even a decent hypothesis emerged from the investigation.
Fine, thought I'd ask, as it is a common problem. With it happenning with other programs I agree with the concensous, I think you have a cooling problem. It might be worth going into your BIOS and seeing if it has a hardware monitor. If so, your processor should be steady and less than 80C (I believe for athlon, although they can run hotter than an Intel) But I could be mistaken worth looking on the athlon site.
As for memory, 512MB for Win ME is fine, I don't see it as being that unless you've only just added it.
As for memory, 512MB for Win ME is fine, I don't see it as being that unless you've only just added it.
Athalons do run hot, so check your fans...
That being said, when you built the system do you use jumpers/dip switches on the motherboard to tell the BIOS your processor type or does your BIOS autoconfig the processor?
I have found that a lot of trouble can be had when using BIOS "autoconfig" for processors. Recently had a problem with my P4-2ghz system that was solved by moving from BIOS autoconfig to using dip switches. No lockup in sight any more (knock on silicon)
ErnestM
That being said, when you built the system do you use jumpers/dip switches on the motherboard to tell the BIOS your processor type or does your BIOS autoconfig the processor?
I have found that a lot of trouble can be had when using BIOS "autoconfig" for processors. Recently had a problem with my P4-2ghz system that was solved by moving from BIOS autoconfig to using dip switches. No lockup in sight any more (knock on silicon)
ErnestM
Smeagol, I have a better CPU fan coming shortly, it's a Block of aluminium, with 2 fans drilled into it, the fans are shaped like spirals to drag the heat off the cpu! A mate of mine is using the same fan and has his 800 over-clocked to 1.4 
. Hopefully that should make dome difference!
Ernest, the BIOS is auto-config, but it configured it correctly first time, but I can manually tell the BIOS what sort of CPU it is, but that is done on the BIOS screen! I have looked through the manual for Jumpers and switches but couldn't find any relevant to the CPU! I will have a look at the Jetway website and see If that comes up with anything!
. Hopefully that should make dome difference! Ernest, the BIOS is auto-config, but it configured it correctly first time, but I can manually tell the BIOS what sort of CPU it is, but that is done on the BIOS screen! I have looked through the manual for Jumpers and switches but couldn't find any relevant to the CPU! I will have a look at the Jetway website and see If that comes up with anything!
You have probably already checked this, but (can't help myself, I hate it when computers go wrong. Notice I didn't say if)
How's your memory? If you have any extra memory chips around or can acquire some for temporary use, that is an area to check too. Maybe even try the BIOS's "long boot" option to check out your memory...
ErnestM
How's your memory? If you have any extra memory chips around or can acquire some for temporary use, that is an area to check too. Maybe even try the BIOS's "long boot" option to check out your memory...
ErnestM
Hi all,
with regards to using old cases....
I seem to remember that the original atx cases had the fans blowing the wrong way...this was fixed with the newer atx spec. You could try underlocking your processor speed in the Bios(say go from 800 mhz to 600mhz) and then wait a few hours and seewhat happens.
Cooling is a serious issue with regards to PC's.
If we could keep the temp of a 386 (old chip from 9 years ago) down to -20 we would have a chip that outperforms most current machines(or close anyway.)
Also monitors heat up rooms considerably.
(thats why most internet cafes in london have noheating !)
You might want to try and buy a new case
I got mine from creativesupplies.co.uk
they are in south london and have a range of cool
cases from 40 pounds !
with regards to using old cases....
I seem to remember that the original atx cases had the fans blowing the wrong way...this was fixed with the newer atx spec. You could try underlocking your processor speed in the Bios(say go from 800 mhz to 600mhz) and then wait a few hours and seewhat happens.
Cooling is a serious issue with regards to PC's.
If we could keep the temp of a 386 (old chip from 9 years ago) down to -20 we would have a chip that outperforms most current machines(or close anyway.)
Also monitors heat up rooms considerably.
(thats why most internet cafes in london have noheating !)
You might want to try and buy a new case
I got mine from creativesupplies.co.uk
they are in south london and have a range of cool
cases from 40 pounds !
ehh? Where did that come from? With regards to Virtual Memory the best setting is let windows handle it. I believe the memory managment is similar to Win95 in which extra VM is just simply ignored anyway. Unless you have VM turned off your computer will not freeze if it runs out of memory it simply slows down, or gives "your system is low in resources error". Whilst memory management in Win98/ME is not good it certainly won't freeze your computer after 2hours of using the same program, it will warn that your system is low on resources. Memory errors can occur if you open and close programs/files repeatedly as win98/ME doesn't clear memory very well on closing of programs/files.
Your implication is that if you hold too much in RAM then your computer freezes (sorry that b*ll*cks) there is a bug in Win98/ME with large amounts of memory (>512MB) and dos based programs. This is caused by the system overwriting areas used by virtual memory in the vcache. BUT ALTERING YOUR VITUAL MEMORY SETTING HAS NO EFFECT. There is also a rumour (and it is only a rumour) that win98/me only uses 349MB, this is actually wrong. The vcache error actually produces an "out of memory" error and not a freeze.
I've used a system with Win98 and 655MB of RAM for well over a year and had no such problems.
Your implication is that if you hold too much in RAM then your computer freezes (sorry that b*ll*cks) there is a bug in Win98/ME with large amounts of memory (>512MB) and dos based programs. This is caused by the system overwriting areas used by virtual memory in the vcache. BUT ALTERING YOUR VITUAL MEMORY SETTING HAS NO EFFECT. There is also a rumour (and it is only a rumour) that win98/me only uses 349MB, this is actually wrong. The vcache error actually produces an "out of memory" error and not a freeze.
I've used a system with Win98 and 655MB of RAM for well over a year and had no such problems.
Its memory failure.
It will be a problem with one of the chips within the 512mb physical. PC comes across faulty memory whilst slowly eating up you physical RAM (by being on and running Windows) and falls over.
Test by taking half your RAM out (Not l * 512Mb DIMM is it?) and working as normal then repeating with the other half.
If no joy then...er its a cooling issue.
Although why would it suddenly become an issue is beyond me whereas memory can self destruct at will.
It will be a problem with one of the chips within the 512mb physical. PC comes across faulty memory whilst slowly eating up you physical RAM (by being on and running Windows) and falls over.
Test by taking half your RAM out (Not l * 512Mb DIMM is it?) and working as normal then repeating with the other half.
If no joy then...er its a cooling issue.
Although why would it suddenly become an issue is beyond me whereas memory can self destruct at will.
It may be cooling, but has it run fine for a while? What I mean is has the computer been ok and then this has just started happening? Windows has a tendency to completely fill it's directory with crap and confuse itself. If the cooling is ok I would say try doing what someone said and trying half the memory then the other half, if it isn't that I would put your files on CDR an low level format the bugger.
Then re-install Windows of course
Then re-install Windows of course
Might possibly be related to board voltage.
Your BIOS should allow you to give the chip some more juice, its a particular problem with certain VGA boards robbing the board of its voltage.
Simple thing to check before going to the pain that is reinstalling weirdo's.
Alternatively IIRC, it is recommended when running 9x that with more than 256mb one should disable virtual memory as everything windows needs it can get from physical ram.
Matt.
>> Edited by plotloss on Wednesday 5th June 12:15
Your BIOS should allow you to give the chip some more juice, its a particular problem with certain VGA boards robbing the board of its voltage.
Simple thing to check before going to the pain that is reinstalling weirdo's.
Alternatively IIRC, it is recommended when running 9x that with more than 256mb one should disable virtual memory as everything windows needs it can get from physical ram.
Matt.
>> Edited by plotloss on Wednesday 5th June 12:15
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