freeze-ups--not fans

some folks can get carried away, can't they? Back to freeze-ups. A non-responsive system halt is the most annoying thing this technology has to offer. Programs that become locked at least can be shut down by the close program box. Where's the fix System drop-down box? I haven't had to deal with that headache in so long, I'd forgoten how darn s#!+*y it is to be confronted with the problem. Alas ,I too am on a new P4 system with the new S3 - VIA joint venture chipset for Intel's P4.bla.bla.bla.
Well heat's not my problem as I went the economy route and took the side off and ran the machine with a room fan pointed at it's guts. Watching the bios hardware monitor screen , did reval the cooling effect of my effort. Still I'm cursed with untimley system freezes. What else besides heat? Caches, Swap files, memory managers, what? I'm open to suggestions (when I'm operational anyway) I'm surprized we got through this post without a lock. Quiting while I'm ahead.... sidermike

you guys DID kinda get off on that "fan/HS/ cooling " tangent I had to grin.. (it went on and on and on)

 

Most common cause is an IRQ conflict or a Memory address conflict. Assuming no problems in this regard, voltage, most often core voltage may need to be stepped up - or in very rare cases, dropped down.

 

Random lockups - Possible hardware issue.

I had a simular problem which was driving me crazy.

I opened up the system, intent on swapping out 100% of the memory as a test - and did so. And in true Geek Fashion I left the case open.

I booted and was killing time playing solitare waiting to see if my system was now stable, when it locked. - But I heard it lock. There was a minute change in the pitch of the system noise. I repeated this observation several more times but was unable to locate the source of the sound. The system had 3 case fans, 5 scsi HDD's - so it was real noisy in there - I'm amazed I heard it at all.

I then theorized that it may be a pwr issue caused by all the hardware in use. So I yanked the MBD and placed it on an ESD mat on top of a empty system. I looped up the ATX pwr connector and attached a preloaded IDE Drive.

During boot the mem count was oscillating - going faster, then slower, then faster again. (with 512Mb its there long enough to notice) Again I could hear different pitches as the count speed changed. But now with everything out in the open, it was obvious where the fault was.

The CPU Fan. A sleeve bearing unit I found out. When the drag on the fan, due to a failing bearing, got higher it slowed down (thus the change in pitch) but that also increased the voltage/current draw enough to effect system operation.

As a final test I put the MBD back in the sysem with its original mem and booted it up. - Once in Windows I reached in and touched the center of the fan causing it to drag. System locked instantly.

I have replaced the heatsink/fan assy and have not had a "hardware" related lockup since. (had some lockups from terrible java...)

Just something to keep in mind.

 

rite on target

Me thinks you are prolly rite Profgab101
sidermike you knew this was coming, eh

 

Well, let's just say I didn't want to here it. The problem of a bad memory stick, that is. Memeroy prices aren't what they used to be, thank the virtual rulers of us all. Still, money isn't heaven sent and I dread the thought of the possibility of bad RAM in a brand new "store bought ". My plan is to buy another 256 SDRAM stick and test the installed one. If the system lock-up persists, at least I'll be able to enable the interleave function and more than double the physical memory of this new hunkajunk. I've **** near put my thumb through the intel processor fan with no instasnt freeze and I'm running out of solutions. What's next for this unfortunate fool?
park on driveways....drive on parkways....go configure
siderman--meanmike--sidermike

 

I was just Implying a Voltage Issue.

I wasn't trying to be specific. - There are many possible sources for voltage irregularities.

I once had a shorted system speaker which . . .

 

Your reply was so the right idea. Very well thought out... (just got disconnected, dialing back up as i type) I swear with Gigs u get attitude. Give a machine a super processor and it thinks it can do what it likes. BUT I DIGRESS. Thanks for all the effort and input. Believe me it's processed at this end.
sidermanmike