Windows XP Pro Hangs

[BK]

All Windows XP Pro updates and Internet Explorer's latest
SP1 version have been installed; latest update of Norton
Anti-Virus system scan shows this 8-year old Dell's 72,000
files are clear of infections and all runs well at HOME.

But out on our remote FARM (set up to provide Internet
access) whether at Sign-on Screen {before there's a
desktop} or later in Internet Explorer, it hangs up
(freezes--screen unchanged and unresponsive to keyboard or
mouse) without warning and no Event Log entry, Admin.
Alert message, or full System Dump that it's set up for.
There's no evidence it happened, yet power-down then up
later is the only recourse. The last time it happened
four times in 3 hours. Any suggestions?

[Malke]

BK wrote:

> All Windows XP Pro updates and Internet Explorer's latest
> SP1 version have been installed; latest update of Norton
> Anti-Virus system scan shows this 8-year old Dell's 72,000
> files are clear of infections and all runs well at HOME.
>
> But out on our remote FARM (set up to provide Internet
> access) whether at Sign-on Screen {before there's a
> desktop} or later in Internet Explorer, it hangs up
> (freezes--screen unchanged and unresponsive to keyboard or
> mouse) without warning and no Event Log entry, Admin.
> Alert message, or full System Dump that it's set up for.
> There's no evidence it happened, yet power-down then up
> later is the only recourse. The last time it happened
> four times in 3 hours. Any suggestions?

OK, BK - I'm afraid I don't totally understand your questions. First,
you have Windows XP running on an *8-year* old computer??!! This seems
impossible to me. That aside, apparently nothing is wrong with that
one? The computer that is having the problem is the other one? If that
is correct, then you should provide specs on the sick computer - not
the one that is well. It isn't possible to tell from your post what
exactly is the problem with the FARM box, but if the lock-ups are
random, they may be caused by failing hardware. Here are some generic
hardware troubleshooting tips:

1) open the computer and run it open, cleaning out all dust bunnies and
observing all fans (overheating will cause system freezing); 2) test
the RAM - I like Memtest86 from www.memtest86.com - let the test run
for an extended (like overnight) period of time - unless errors are
seen immediately; 3) test the hard drive with a diagnostic utility from
the mftr.; 4) the power supply may be going bad or be inadequate for
the devices you have in the system; 5) test the motherboard with
something like TuffTest from www.tufftest.com. Testing hardware
failures often involves swapping out suspected parts with known-good
parts. If you can't do the testing yourself and/or are uncomfortable
opening your computer, take the machine to a good local computer repair
shop (not a CompUSA or Best Buy type of store).

If you need more help, then please repost with more details.

Malke
--
MS MVP - Windows Shell/User
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"

[BK]

Dear Elephant Boy;
Thanks you for your extensive reply. I am sorry for my
tardy response.

There is only one PC involved--the 8-yr-old with XP that
runs fine at my HOME but after cleaning it out to take to
the FARM for their Internet access, it HANGS only there.
Eight times I've taken it out there, and with it still
failing there at the FARM, I've brought it HOME each time
where it continues to work just fine. Those times at
HOME, I have submitted it to the testing you described and
it passes them all.

When it hangs, I get no Event Log entry or Complete Dump
as it's set to do for system errors. Weather's prevented
me from FARM trips, but I've done nothing to it that would
make it work better. Next time I'll take two other PCs
along to see if they fail there also. If there are other
tips I could try before the trip, I'd be glad to test it.
Many thanks.

>-----Original Message-----
>BK wrote:
>
>> All Windows XP Pro updates and Internet Explorer's
latest
>> SP1 version have been installed; latest update of Norton
>> Anti-Virus system scan shows this 8-year old Dell's
72,000
>> files are clear of infections and all runs well at HOME.
>>
>> But out on our remote FARM (set up to provide Internet
>> access) whether at Sign-on Screen {before there's a
>> desktop} or later in Internet Explorer, it hangs up
>> (freezes--screen unchanged and unresponsive to keyboard
or
>> mouse) without warning and no Event Log entry, Admin.
>> Alert message, or full System Dump that it's set up for.
>> There's no evidence it happened, yet power-down then up
>> later is the only recourse. The last time it happened
>> four times in 3 hours. Any suggestions?
>
>OK, BK - I'm afraid I don't totally understand your
questions. First,
>you have Windows XP running on an *8-year* old
computer??!! This seems
>impossible to me. That aside, apparently nothing is wrong
with that
>one? The computer that is having the problem is the other
one? If that
>is correct, then you should provide specs on the sick
computer - not
>the one that is well. It isn't possible to tell from your
post what
>exactly is the problem with the FARM box, but if the lock-
ups are
>random, they may be caused by failing hardware. Here are
some generic
>hardware troubleshooting tips:
>
> 1) open the computer and run it open, cleaning out all
dust bunnies and
>observing all fans (overheating will cause system
freezing); 2) test
>the RAM - I like Memtest86 from www.memtest86.com - let
the test run
>for an extended (like overnight) period of time - unless
errors are
>seen immediately; 3) test the hard drive with a
diagnostic utility from
>the mftr.; 4) the power supply may be going bad or be
inadequate for
>the devices you have in the system; 5) test the
motherboard with
>something like TuffTest from www.tufftest.com. Testing
hardware
>failures often involves swapping out suspected parts with
known-good
>parts. If you can't do the testing yourself and/or are
uncomfortable
>opening your computer, take the machine to a good local
computer repair
>shop (not a CompUSA or Best Buy type of store).
>
>If you need more help, then please repost with more
details.
>
>Malke
>--
>MS MVP - Windows Shell/User
>Elephant Boy Computers
>www.elephantboycomputers.com
>"Don't Panic!"
>.
>

[Rich Barry]

Mario, your system could be overheating. Make sure all the fans are
working and you can monitor your
temps. I use Motherboard Monitor. It's a free app and very good
http://mbm.livewiredev.com/download.html


"Mario" > wrote in message
...
> My XP pro pc hangs and the only thing to do is unplug the pc. It hangs
occasionally but with random thing. I can be just surfing the net and it
hangs. I can be looking for something on the explorer and it hangs. I can be
just selecting an icon on the desktop and ... Well you get it.
> The XP is a new install. It started doing the hanging problem so I
reinstalled it just in case. Then updated all "patches", but it is still
doing it. I don't have Zone alarm just NAV 2004 and it doesn't show anything
on event view.
> Any ideas. Thanks.
> ........................................