XP Locking up randomly

Hi All: Well, after months of no problems I couldn't fix, I got one now. Random lockups. Occasional BSOD on restart after lockup. I can't figure it out. Ive done all the normal stuff, spyware checks, virus scans, SFC /scannow, System file checker, Hijack logs, JV16 Reg Cleaner, Event Viewer. Getting nowhere. Machine was running a little hot, got a bigger heatsink & 80mm fan, temps now @ 105F. Power supply cool to touch.

The only clue I have, just before lockup I hear a relay click from the tower, same relay click I hear on boot, 2 clicks, three clicks, then lockup. Ran drive diagnostics, all drives check out ok. Machine might run ok for10 minutes or 48-72 hours, then relay clicks, lockup. No relation to uptime.

Hardware? What? Please don't say MOBO.

Any and all help will be appreciated.

Take care,

Martin

 

By the way it sounds, it sounds like the drive. are you sure the clicks come from the motherboard not the drive.

 

motherboard motherboard motherboard
Sorry, couldn't resist, Martin!

Johanna

 

AP: I can't tell where the darn clicks are coming from. Could be a drive, but they all check out ok with diagnostics. Machine has locked up once since I wrote the post. Each time it happens, I hear "click click" then "click click, click click" sounds from somewhere in the tower, like a relay open and close, or close and open, then within a couple of seconds, not instantaneous, the machine locks. Otherwise for the last 30 some hours, no problem.

Gee thanks Johanna! It is clear I can always depend on you to come through for me. What a good friend you are!


Take care,

Martin

 

I had that same problem. It was due to a bad 4-pin molex connector to one of my hard drives.

 

Hey Whiskeyman: I thought about that, possible bad connections. Based on your experience, I'll experiment. I have several molex splitters in there, I'm going to change them out in rotation see if the problem persists. Thanks for the response, I'll post back results, will be a while, after each of the changes, let machine run for a couple of days, to see if the lockups stop. Maybe get lucky on first change out.

Thanks to all

Take care,

Martin

 

Hi All: Looks like the problem may be solved.

Whiskeyman's post sent me in the right direction.

Opened the case and inspected the Molex connectors.

Discovered I had a Molex splitter connected that I didn't need with the free end dangling loose.

Removed the splitter and connected power direct to the "G" drive w/o splitter.

Problem has gone away. Have 4 1/2 days uptime now with no lockups. Hopefully that will be the end of the problem forever.

Thanks Whiskeyman, with Johanna getting honerable mention in the humor categorey.

Take care,
Martin