Odd situation [Choppy video + freeze + 100% CPU usage]

I just recieved a huge problem,

My computer has been running fine for the past 6 years. I custom built it and I update the parts once in a while. Im running an Athlon XP 2200+ with 1.2 gigs of ddr memory. The hard drive is a 2 month old western digital, and the graphics card is a 2 week old 6800 ultra.

The Problem: I was being swamped by Virus and I knew it was time to clean my computer. So I reformatted my computer ( Which I do Bi-annually) and Loaded my drivers back up. I went to play World of warcraft again, and The computer started chopping and froze. I experienced the same thing when I run mwindows Media player or any Dvd program. I ran the task bar to check what was running and it turns out the CPU is devoting 100% to the program that locks up. Ive reformatted several times and swapped between multiple drivers for all my hardware.

Does anyone know what I should do? I am extremely Perplexed...

 

OK. I can understand the need to maybe format after a Virus invasion . But I do not understand the reason for the bi-annual format ?

The first install of Win95 was the last time this HD was formated as a 40gig HD. It is now an 80gig ( COPY of the 40gig ) with XP pro on it..

BillyBob

 

Reformatting

My brother uses it and trashes it alot, I also use it for sound recording purposes and have many files that I dont need. Reformatting gives me a freshs start and it only takes a little of my time.

 

If that were the case for me, My Brother WOULD NOT be using it. If you do not believe me just ask some of our Nieces and Nephews. I caught them in places where they did not belong. I think by not being able to use the PC for a week taught them firmly, that I was not FOOLING.

I hear you but at the same time disagree. I have prgrams that get loaded with files too. I just delete the files. I cleaned around 5gig ( or more ) off of this machine the other day by just deleting the files in the Backup folders that had been put on CDs.

????????I have to question that. If I were to format this HD it would take me days, even maybe WEEKS to get it back to where it is. PLus there is a LOT of stuff that I might not be able to get back on. As I have A LOT of things that may well go WAY back to the days of 95 ( if not further back )

But then again, all I have on the C: drive is the OS anyway. EVERYTHING else is on D: thru H: But at the same time everything has a reference on the C: drive.

Plus all of the updates, all software, Virus software etc. need to be re-installed don't they ?

BillyBob

 

Regardless

regardless... If someone has a solution to my problem, it would be greatlyu appreciated.

 

It read like you have some serious software/hardware or diiver conflicts.

Does this happen immediatly after reformating or does it wait untill you reinstall certain software.

Is it just one certain program that locks up, or does it happen with any program. If it is just any old program then Windows ( or something ) is just not installed properly.

Do you have more than one partition and try to use things from another partition without re-installing ?

BillyBob

 

Thanks

Thanks for the quick reply

I use single partition C: 80gb

Everything works fine when it boots up. The only time this problem occurs is with World of Warcraft, Power Dvd, Nvidia DVD, or windows media player. It seems to be a video error. I have already tested my system with the Burnin test, and the video works fine on that.

Currently I am loading on a few games and other things to see if they work, but as of now Dungeon siege and Ultima Online have failed too. I have been running itunes with no problem and Trillian works. My Trend Micro Internet security runs as well.

 

A question that may or may not be relevant here but has happend in a case or two for me.

While you are installing new stuff are ALL other games NOT LOADING at startup ?

I ask this because if anything already loaded is using anything that a new install may need the new install may not work properly and may cause problems.

Or if, more than one program ( game ) should be loading at startup it may cause problems.

And by this problem happening with more than program ( game ) it sure looks like a SEVERE conflict somewhere.

BillyBob

 

I Installed all games after everything else. I go in the series of Drivers-apps-games. I also use Easycleaner to make sure nothing starts up in windows that shouldnt.

 

Have you tried that two week old graphics card in another system? Try putting your old one back in, just for a test.

I understand about reformatting- it's how I "clean house ", too.

Johanna

 

Aha!

I found what it was = Video Drivers.

Steps I used: I reformatted once again and tried running Media Player fresh afterwards. It ran Fine. I then Installed driver by driver, and ran the media player once after each driver. Once I installed the Video Drivers, It locked up.

Now I have to find a Working driver....yay

Thank you all for your help