Random, Complete Lock Ups

[Chuck Smith]

Friends,

I understand the technical term for my problem=20
is "hangs." I would call it "lock up." In any case, it=20
is total and completely at random. I am operating a=20
Compaq Presario 5WV294 with an AMD Athlon 1 GHz processor=20
and 256 MB RAM. I use two hard drives, a "C" drive that=20
is a 40 GB SCSI and a "D" drive that is a Maxtor 80 GB=20
IDE.

1. The hang will occur at any time, during startup,=20
shutdown, immediately after startup and before I start=20
any other programs, during light processing, during heavy=20
processing, or while screen saver is operating.
2. I have noted the ambient temperature and it will=20
occur at a cooler 68=B0 or at 75=B0. (I even directed a=20
small fan at the CPU and it still failed.
3. The hang is complete, the mouse locks up, the=20
hard drive read light does not flicker, I can wiggle=20
and/or disconnect all cables and the condition does not=20
change. The keyboard is completely dead, I can turn off=20
the monitor, and whatever was on stays on the monitor=20
when I turn it back on (screensaver or whatever).
4. As far as I can tell, the only way out of the=20
problem is to press and hold the start button on the=20
front of the CPU. Once it powers down, I can press start=20
again and it seems to restart normally (unless the "hang"=20
occurred during startup). If I had any documents open,=20
the Microsoft word goes into a recovery mode and list any=20
files that were open so that I can recover them.
5. Following a hang, I have opened the "Error Log"=20
and I have never seen a message relative to my problem. =20
The messages are always about the printer being=20
interrupted or a specific application failing or a fax=20
failing. It never lists that this controller failed or=20
that power supply faulted.
6. I purchased my computer with Millennium and later=20
after a hard drive failure, had XP Professional loaded (I=20
edit videos). It has only been since loading XP that=20
this problem has developed. The frequency has been very=20
sporadic, every 2 weeks, every 2 months, maybe only once=20
in a 3 month period. Only recently, it has increased to=20
as many as 6 times in one day.

I am suspicious that the problem may be the XP itself. =20
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thanks -=20
Chuck Smith

Canon City, CO=20

[R. C. White]

Hi, Chuck.

When the problems are random and sporadic, the problem is almost always in
the hardware, not the software. The reason that the hangs started with
WinXP is probably only coincidental. Wasn't that also when you replaced the
HD?

Most likely, when the cables and everything were stuffed back into the
computer case after the hardware operation, some things were plugged into
the wrong locations, or plugged loosely so that their connections are weak
or sporadic. The villain may be the new drive, or it may be just about
anywhere else that might have been brushed or otherwise moved
ever-so-slightly. Heat could definitely be the culprit. Here again, it may
be because power to the fan is sporadic; maybe the connector is loose. Open
the case and check every connection you can find.

Let us know if this doesn't fix it.

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX

Microsoft Windows MVP

"Chuck Smith" > wrote in message
...
Friends,

I understand the technical term for my problem
is "hangs." I would call it "lock up." In any case, it
is total and completely at random. I am operating a
Compaq Presario 5WV294 with an AMD Athlon 1 GHz processor
and 256 MB RAM. I use two hard drives, a "C" drive that
is a 40 GB SCSI and a "D" drive that is a Maxtor 80 GB
IDE.

1. The hang will occur at any time, during startup,
shutdown, immediately after startup and before I start
any other programs, during light processing, during heavy
processing, or while screen saver is operating.
2. I have noted the ambient temperature and it will
occur at a cooler 68° or at 75°. (I even directed a
small fan at the CPU and it still failed.
3. The hang is complete, the mouse locks up, the
hard drive read light does not flicker, I can wiggle
and/or disconnect all cables and the condition does not
change. The keyboard is completely dead, I can turn off
the monitor, and whatever was on stays on the monitor
when I turn it back on (screensaver or whatever).
4. As far as I can tell, the only way out of the
problem is to press and hold the start button on the
front of the CPU. Once it powers down, I can press start
again and it seems to restart normally (unless the "hang"
occurred during startup). If I had any documents open,
the Microsoft word goes into a recovery mode and list any
files that were open so that I can recover them.
5. Following a hang, I have opened the "Error Log"
and I have never seen a message relative to my problem.
The messages are always about the printer being
interrupted or a specific application failing or a fax
failing. It never lists that this controller failed or
that power supply faulted.
6. I purchased my computer with Millennium and later
after a hard drive failure, had XP Professional loaded (I
edit videos). It has only been since loading XP that
this problem has developed. The frequency has been very
sporadic, every 2 weeks, every 2 months, maybe only once
in a 3 month period. Only recently, it has increased to
as many as 6 times in one day.

I am suspicious that the problem may be the XP itself.
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thanks -
Chuck Smith

Canon City, CO

[Dan DeStefano]

the first thing i would check is the power supply. a faulty power supply can
cause the symptoms you specified, including sporadic reboots.
just fyi, both of your terms are correct. generally, when a computer stops
functioning to the point that the mouse pointer doesnt even move, it is
called a "lock-up". a hang is more when you can still move the pointer
around and can see some things going on in the background, but cannot
provide any user input. however, that is all just splitting hairs i guess.

Dan DeStefano


"Chuck Smith" > wrote in message
...
Friends,

I understand the technical term for my problem
is "hangs." I would call it "lock up." In any case, it
is total and completely at random. I am operating a
Compaq Presario 5WV294 with an AMD Athlon 1 GHz processor
and 256 MB RAM. I use two hard drives, a "C" drive that
is a 40 GB SCSI and a "D" drive that is a Maxtor 80 GB
IDE.

1. The hang will occur at any time, during startup,
shutdown, immediately after startup and before I start
any other programs, during light processing, during heavy
processing, or while screen saver is operating.
2. I have noted the ambient temperature and it will
occur at a cooler 68° or at 75°. (I even directed a
small fan at the CPU and it still failed.
3. The hang is complete, the mouse locks up, the
hard drive read light does not flicker, I can wiggle
and/or disconnect all cables and the condition does not
change. The keyboard is completely dead, I can turn off
the monitor, and whatever was on stays on the monitor
when I turn it back on (screensaver or whatever).
4. As far as I can tell, the only way out of the
problem is to press and hold the start button on the
front of the CPU. Once it powers down, I can press start
again and it seems to restart normally (unless the "hang"
occurred during startup). If I had any documents open,
the Microsoft word goes into a recovery mode and list any
files that were open so that I can recover them.
5. Following a hang, I have opened the "Error Log"
and I have never seen a message relative to my problem.
The messages are always about the printer being
interrupted or a specific application failing or a fax
failing. It never lists that this controller failed or
that power supply faulted.
6. I purchased my computer with Millennium and later
after a hard drive failure, had XP Professional loaded (I
edit videos). It has only been since loading XP that
this problem has developed. The frequency has been very
sporadic, every 2 weeks, every 2 months, maybe only once
in a 3 month period. Only recently, it has increased to
as many as 6 times in one day.

I am suspicious that the problem may be the XP itself.
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thanks -
Chuck Smith

Canon City, CO