random freezes

Hi. New to the site so I'm hoping someone can help me out.

I'm getting random freezes/screen lockups. It will happen while gaming, while surfing the web, or while just sitting idle or going through My Computer. No BSOD or anything, just computer freeze on whatever is on the screen. No mouse/keyboard response. Have to hard reboot. Not sure where to start, so here are my computer specs:

Windows XP Pro SP3
2 GB Kingston 1066 RAM
Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L motherboard
Intel Q6600 processor
WD Caviar hard drive 320 GB
EVGA Nvidia 8800GS video card

I've updated Windows with all updates, video drivers to most recent, and reinstalled Windows and reformatted the hard drive, but the problems persist. I even removed my sound card thinking that might be the problem. Replaced both sticks of RAM and using different slots. Temps are well below threshold.

Not sure where to begin, so hoping someone can take it from there.

 

After you reinstalled Windows, did you install the chipset drivers?

Have you opened the case recently and cleaned out the dust (including air intake vents and in the fins of the heatsink/s)? Run with the case open and check that all the fans are running (spinning freely), including the fan in the power supply.

Matt

 

Oooo, I didn't reinstall the chipset drivers. The biggest trouble is that there is no real way to replicate the problem.

I have opened the case out and cleaned it of dust, and I can confirm that all the fans are working. I'll start with the chipset drivers and will update if that works.

 

@ festivus,
Did u have a check with Event Viewer lately?

 

Well I installed the new chipset drivers and now there are new symptoms. Rather than a total lockup where everything on the screen freezes, I'm getting the BSOD. First it was kmixer.sys and the next time it was win32k.sys. I'm thinking it could be my motherboard. I just replaced the RAM with brand new RAM so I don't think it's that.

What should I post for everyone to take a look at?

 

Kmixer.sys is an audio driver. You spoke about taking the audio card out, but does the motherboard have built-in audio? If so, you should uninstall any drivers/software in Add or Remove Programs (for both) and then if you want to try installing the card again, go into the BIOS/startup configuration settings and disable the onboard audio first.

You can use the Dump Data collection tool to get dump readouts
http://www.windowsbbs.com/general-discussions/33471-dump-data-collection-tool-instructions.html
Watch for similar processes or drivers in the identified causes. If the causes are random it may mean a piece of hardware is failing.

You can post some readouts here, but see if there are any recurring faults first.

Matt

 

I ran WhoCrashed. Here's what I have so far:

On Wed 12/16/2009 2:44:00 AM your computer crashed
This was likely caused by the following module: win32k.sys
Bugcheck code: 0x1000000A (0x4020006F, 0xFF, 0x0, 0x8050174F)
Error: Unknown
Dump file: C:\WINDOWS\Minidump\Mini121509-01.dmp
file path: C:\WINDOWS\system32\win32k.sys
product: Microsoft® Windows® Operating System
company: Microsoft Corporation
description: Multi-User Win32 Driver
The crash took place in a standard Microsoft module. Your system configuration may be incorrect, possibly the culprit may be another driver on your system which cannot be identified at this time.



On Sun 12/13/2009 10:25:30 PM your computer crashed
This was likely caused by the following module: hardware
Bugcheck code: 0x1000007E (0xC000001D, 0x805037C7, 0xB3EB6C6C, 0xB3EB6968)
Error: SYSTEM_THREAD_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED_M
Dump file: C:\WINDOWS\Minidump\Mini121309-01.dmp



On Sat 12/12/2009 10:37:32 PM your computer crashed
This was likely caused by the following module: kmixer.sys
Bugcheck code: 0x1000000A (0x42, 0x1C, 0x0, 0x80503667)
Error: Unknown
Dump file: C:\WINDOWS\Minidump\Mini121209-01.dmp
file path: C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\kmixer.sys
product: Microsoft® Windows® Operating System
company: Microsoft Corporation
description: Kernel Mode Audio Mixer
The crash took place in a standard Microsoft module. Your system configuration may be incorrect, possibly the culprit may be another driver on your system which cannot be identified at this time.

 

You need to see if kmixer.sys is noted in further dumps.

I can't add anything to that from that dump information. I did a websearch and found another kmixer.sys related blue screen when they had a Creative audio card. What are the details of the audio card? You should put your system details in your BBS user profile
http://www.windowsbbs.com/adding_system_specifications.html
otherwise we may get tired of asking you.

Note that not many of us can read dumps in depth. Treat suggestions as a "best guess ".

Matt
PS You took the audio card out, that will mean Windows won't load the drivers for it, BUT the (audio manager) software for the card will still run, expecting that the card is still installed.