Computer Help

[staples]

Folks...fishing for help...

Every few moments my system gives a loud beep and whirring sound...and my CPU hits 100% usge nd freezes...I have checked my hrd drives...run memtest and diagnostics on the system...everything appears ok...but obviously something is amiss...the problem is much more pronounced in game or when I have several programs running...Any ideas?

System is a little outdated but would like to salvage it for the kid...

System specs...Asus K8V...Athlon X2 4200+...Nvidia 7600...2g RAM...Soundblaster X-FI...

Thanks

[lostinjapan]

Question 1: Have you updated your Nvidia 7600 drivers recently? If you updated to version 175.16, that could be your problem. See here (http://forums.nvidia.com/index.php?showforum=33). If this is not your problem, I suggest you do not update drivers until nvidia releases a new version.

Question 2: Are you fully up to date on Windows service packs and stuff?

Question 3: What are your power settings and is this happening after a standby or just anytime?

If none of these questions apply then I will need as much possible information as you can give me.

1. Download Everest Home Edition (http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/System-Info/Everest-Home-Edition.shtml), paste the file generated. This file will have the same information generated to your dxdiag, but will also include quite a bit more information that will help me or anyone else diagnose your problem accurately.
2. Tell me when it happens, how often it happens, what do you do to get out of the situation, what programs are running, etc. Any possible thing you can think of will help me diagnose without being able to touch/see your computer myself.

[staples]

1- Sorry..old file...currently running x800 card...drivers updated this time last year...I will look into new ones...

2-Keep auto updates on so they upload everynight...

3-Interesting question...around the same time this started when the computer goes into sleep mode or auto-shut often times the sound will not work...have to do full soft reboot to get it back up. Running a 420 power supply...all hardware runnning at stock settings

4- Best example...on most reload screens in DDO or when there is a mob and their are many different sounds coming through it happens most/more frequently...maybe the sound card is bad?

[lostinjapan]

3-Interesting question...around the same time this started when the computer goes into sleep mode or auto-shut often times the sound will not work...have to do full soft reboot to get it back up. Running a 420 power supply...all hardware runnning at stock settings

I've seen computers experience issues with sleep mode (including my husband's computer). Perhaps adjust your power settings where it never turns off the HDD and see how that works out? Screen power (ie going to black screen in 'sleep' mode) should have no effect.

Also, if you can download that program I linked, run it, and copy/paste the file results, that would help me immensely.

[staples]

Just did...and maybe te problem is....

Temperatures:
Motherboard 35 °C (95 °F)
CPU 47 °C (117 °F)
GPU 54 °C (129 °F) GPU Ambient 41 °C (106 °F)
Seagate ST380013AS 44 °C (111 °F)
Seagate ST380013AS 44 °C (111 °F)

[staples]

that is with the side off as well...

[Mirta]

Just did...and maybe te problem is....

Temperatures:
Motherboard 35 °C (95 °F)
CPU 47 °C (117 °F)
GPU 54 °C (129 °F) GPU Ambient 41 °C (106 °F)
Seagate ST380013AS 44 °C (111 °F)
Seagate ST380013AS 44 °C (111 °F)

Those temps aren't too bad.

It's when you see your mobo, or hard drives getting in to the 50s that it's bad. GPU is usually the hottest. Most computers will run up to the 80s before problems occur. CPU heat can flux pretty high as well. I wouldn't worry about it unless it went past 66C.

If heat is your concern: the most overheated thing in your system would be the hard drive(s).

[Mirta]

that is with the side off as well...

The side of computers often acts as an air dam. Please keep it on to ensure proper system cooling.

I'd give you some advice, but I'm afraid I may cause a computer noob like you to do more damage than good. >.> I will say, however, that the first step in troubleshooting any computer or network is to check the physical connections.

[lostinjapan]

The side of computers often acts as an air dam. Please keep it on to ensure proper system cooling.

I'd give you some advice, but I'm afraid I may cause a computer noob like you to do more damage than good. >.> I will say, however, that the first step in troubleshooting any computer or network is to check the physical connections.

Mirta says:
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a289/snapless/avatars/avatar_11045.jpg :lolhit:

Now...back to your situation.

Actually those temps are good...depending on your video card I might be concerned if I saw temperatures in excess of 60 C for GPU, but more likely yours should be fine up to 70 C or so. CPU, like Mirta said, around 65ish. Again, since you haven't copied and pasted the configuration information file I'm not sure exactly what all of your hardware is so I can't give exact temperatures and stuff.

Have you tried running a program like Spinrite to check your hard drive? It does a much more thorough analysis than your built-in utilities.

[staples]

Always an honor to be dubbed a NOOB by Mirta...checking on Spinrite now...which part of the Everest Log do you want to see? Might be too lengthy to paste the whole thing?

And btw...ty mucho

[lostinjapan]

Click Report
Click Next
Choose System Summary Only
Click Next
Choose Plain Text
Click Finish

Copy the areas between [ Summary ] and [ Debug - PCI ].

Should be very short.

Paste here. If we need more, I'm sure someone will speak up. :)

[staples]

Computer:
Operating System Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
OS Service Pack Service Pack 2
DirectX 4.09.00.0904 (DirectX 9.0c)
Computer Name F6R8E5
User Name vze34ww7

Motherboard:
CPU Type AMD Athlon 64, 2000 MHz (10 x 200) 3200+
Motherboard Name Asus K8V Deluxe (5 PCI, 1 AGP, 1 WiFi, 3 DDR DIMM, Audio, Gigabit LAN, IEEE-1394)
Motherboard Chipset VIA VT8383 Apollo K8T800, AMD Hammer
System Memory 2048 MB (PC3200 DDR SDRAM)
BIOS Type AMI (08/21/03)
Communication Port Communications Port (COM1)
Communication Port Communications Port (COM2)
Communication Port Printer Port (LPT3)

Display:
Video Adapter RADEON X800 Series - Secondary (256 MB)
Video Adapter RADEON X800 Series (256 MB)
3D Accelerator ATI Radeon X800 XL (R430)
Monitor Plug and Play Monitor [NoDB] (160666050)

Multimedia:
Audio Adapter Creative SB X-Fi [NoDB]

Storage:
IDE Controller VIA Bus Master IDE Controller
SCSI/RAID Controller Silicon Image SiI 3512 SATALink Controller
SCSI/RAID Controller VIA SATA RAID Controller
SCSI/RAID Controller WinXP Promise FastTrak 378 (tm) Controller
Floppy Drive Floppy disk drive
Disk Drive ST380013 AS SCSI Disk Device (80 GB, 7200 RPM, SATA)
Disk Drive ST380013 AS SCSI Disk Device (80 GB, 7200 RPM, SATA)
Optical Drive JLMS XJ-HD166S (16x/48x DVD-ROM)
Optical Drive LITE-ON LTR-52327S (52x/32x/52x CD-RW)
SMART Hard Disks Status OK

Partitions:
C: (NTFS) 76317 MB (40619 MB free)
G: (NTFS) 76317 MB (54135 MB free)
Total Size 149.1 GB (92.5 GB free)

Input:
Keyboard HID Keyboard Device
Keyboard HID Keyboard Device
Mouse HID-compliant mouse
Mouse HID-compliant mouse
Mouse Microsoft USB IntelliMouse Explorer
Game Controller Microsoft PC-joystick driver

Network:
Network Adapter 3Com Gigabit LOM (3C940) (192.168.1.64)

Peripherals:
Printer Adobe PDF
Printer Broderbund PDF Converter 2.10d
Printer EPSON Stylus CX4200 Series
USB1 Controller VIA VT83C572 PCI-USB Controller
USB1 Controller VIA VT83C572 PCI-USB Controller
USB1 Controller VIA VT83C572 PCI-USB Controller
USB1 Controller VIA VT83C572 PCI-USB Controller
USB2 Controller VIA USB 2.0 Enhanced Host Controller
USB Device EPSON Stylus CX4100/CX4200
USB Device Generic USB Hub
USB Device Microsoft USB IntelliMouse Explorer
USB Device Nostromo n52 HID SpeedPad 2.0 Mouse Wheel
USB Device Nostromo n52 HID SpeedPad 2.0
USB Device USB Composite Device
USB Device USB Composite Device
USB Device USB Composite Device
USB Device USB Human Interface Device
USB Device USB Human Interface Device
USB Device USB Printing Support

[lostinjapan]

Well based on the things you've posted, I'm not seeing anything glaring...

Couple of questions I didn't ask...

1. What process is taking you up to 100% CPU usage?
2. Have you done a thorough virus/worm scan?

At this point I'd suggest you buy some thermal paste (and buy good shit not the cheap stuff) and a new CPU fan and try that. You shouldn't be out more than about $10 for the paste and $30 - $70 for the fan.

I don't think your temperatures are the problem, but a little more cooling never hurts.

As always, anytime you are working on sensitive electronics like a computer, unplug it and ground yourself before you open the case.

[Mirta]

Fine fine. If you're going to tell him to do that, then first he should follow these procedures:

1. Virus scan.
2. Turn off your computer and unplug it. Open up the case and ground yourself every 15 or so seconds by touching the metal chassis. Check each physical connection (cable) in your computer by pressing the cable in to the receptors.

Physical issues account for 80+% of major computer issues, so chances are you just have a loose cable.

Well based on the things you've posted, I'm not seeing anything glaring...

Couple of questions I didn't ask...

1. What process is taking you up to 100% CPU usage?
2. Have you done a thorough virus/worm scan?

At this point I'd suggest you buy some thermal paste (and buy good shit not the cheap stuff) and a new CPU fan and try that. You shouldn't be out more than about $10 for the paste and $30 - $70 for the fan.

I don't think your temperatures are the problem, but a little more cooling never hurts.

As always, anytime you are working on sensitive electronics like a computer, unplug it and ground yourself before you open the case.

[staples]

Looks like Mirta wins...been much better since checking all connections...and system works much better on its side rather than up-right...might have a loose wire in psu...ty for help though...now for a new system :)

[Magikan]

you might also have a dodgy fan.

fans are designed to work horizontally, not vertically so their lifespan is shortened. you might also find cleaning the dust out of your system with an air jet would help.

assuming you haven't already totally cleared your problem

Magikan