Still freezing



I agree the PIII is slow and the 256 RAM is low but I have been using it for at least 18 mo. to 2 yrs. with only some slowdowns. I would like to keep it going until Vista is a viable option then go for a new computer. So I am back to eliminating what is wrong now. Memory86 test come back ok. New harddrive did not solve the freezes. Can I use a power supply from a Win 98? to swap out and hope to eliminate the freezes??? If that does not solve it, about all I have left to check will be motherboard. or . . .
What do you think??

You can check your event log:go to start > run > eventvwr.msc. That will open an explorer like window with applications, security, and system in the left pane. Click on system and see if there are any exclamation points near to when it last froze; if so, double click on the item in the right pane, click on the two pieces of paper to copy it to your clipboard, and then come back here and paste the results. Then do the same for the applications folder; look for any exclamation marks that are near in time to when your pc is freezing.

that will show at least some indicator of what's freezing it. It's not always accurate; windows is fairly complex, so one minor thing could cause something else minor to fail, which in turn could cause something major to fail. But it will (maybe) lead us in the right direction.

You stated you were installing xp. Were you upgrading from 98? 98 will run all day (heck, all year) on a pIII. Just curious what you were installing xp over.

thanks,

v

Sorry I mislead you --- I was NOT installing anything-- I have been using XP on this machine for a long time -- at least 18 months. All I remember installing is Printmaster about 6- 8 months ago and adding pictures to the hard drive with a new card reader. Since I first started posting, the problem is getting much worse. I sometime have only a minute before it freezes. Yesterday morning when it was quite cool, it let me do quite a bit. I will again check the event viewer and get back. thanks

It freezes too often to do any copying and pasting --Event viewer shows no yellow for today and it has frozen 3 times in about 10 minutes. Today it has nothing -- last night 5 pm Windws Product Act. . . Activation Wizaard says 27 days to activate this new harddrive i put into it Before that 10:50 pm. Userenv which we fixed on the last hardrive but it did not stop the freezing. 20 hours ago System had warning at Dhcp.

It does not have any software on this harddrive except network and printer and Diagnostic stuff-- I keep getting warning that antivirus is not on. so far I have been ignoring it.

I loaded Speed Fan : and got these readings before freeze

Found ACPI temperature (21.8C)
Fan 1 0 RPM
Fan 2 0 RPM
Fan 3 5870 RPM

Temp 1 30C
Temp 2 29C
Temp 3 -48C
HDO 36C
Templ 22C

VCOREA 1.74V -12V -11.95 V
VCOREB 1.47V -5V -5.10 V
+3.3V 3.23 V +5VSB 5.5 V
+5 V 4.92 V VBAT 3.3?
+12 V 11.67 V

Does this indicate anything? I ran Memory 86 (I think that was the name) and the one chip tested OK.

temps are fine, weird part is the fans not spinning......is this a laptop or a desktop? If the latter, are you leery about cracking the case and taking a peek?

Also, may want to run an AVG scan again, and see if anything crops up......I'm beginning to leans towards the pc just about ready to hang it up, unfortunately.....some wonky things going on......but we'll keep figuring stuff out for a bit yet...as I said, the temps are fine, odd that the fans aren't reading, the freezing DOES sound like an overheating issue, but it could also be a power supply issue. May want to replace the power cord or the surge protector just to see if that helps.

But defininately run another AVG scan and post the results, if you could.

thanks

v

Had to take a break from this problem-- entertaining kids--9,8,5 and 4 year olds -- too tired after they turned in. If you are a grandparent, I think you will understand.

Back to the issue at hand--the computer will sit idle for hours without problems. The fans are running --I have the side off the tower and have checked for all three several times. Since it can be on for considerable time I am guessing it is not the power supply.

I freezes only when I start some activity-- opening program-- which makes me think it is a processor problem. Would you agree????

Can I use this harddrive with everything installed on a machine which "lost its hardrive" ??-- it is a machine which is about the same age?

only if the hd is the same as the rig you took it out of. xp does not like swapping systems. If it's the processor, which is possible, but not likely, you are just as well off buying a new pc.....at this point, I would take it to a small mom and pop shop and let them take a look at it. Do NOT take it to best buy, circuit city, et al, as you will most likely get told you need a top of the line rig when you clearly don't. I'd also try tossing in a another stick of ram and see if that helps.

I swapped out a power supply from a Win98 about the same age as this one and it froze just as the original had before. So I put the original power supply back in. I cleaned the fans again, then blew a household fan into the tower for several hours--same results-- my feet were freezing so I figured it could not be a heating issue. In Summary: new harddrive with fresh install w/limited software--swapped out memory chips also adding more memory,--removed all cards and reseated--removed extra hardware (USB ports) which were not orginal.--used different mouse(s)--ran diagnostic software which came with the system--all checked out except memory which the software did not run.

What else can a mom and pop shop do?? I am hearing a funeral durge playing in my head and I am beginning to consider the specs for a new machine.

Will Vista be another ME which "was unstable", or 2000 which was quickly replaced?? I helped make the decision to furnish an entire lab with Win98's because I heard negataives about XP's then had to help with the upgrade a year or 2 later. I want to make the correct decision now-------that is why I have been spending so much time on this one. I was wanting to hold off for another year. Thanks in advance.

well, to be honest, ANY shop is probably going to tell you that it's time to move on up, as it were.....PIII's were great in their day, but the advances that have occurred since then will make that machine look like a 68 microbus compared to an Enzo Ferrari. And the price you pay for the new one will most likely be less than what you paid for the PIII.

That's my nickel's worth. I think you've gotten about all you can out of that machine. I would recommend buying xp over vista, as vista has a LOT of issues that need to be fixed yet, and we can look at least one big service pack being handed out, whilst xp is pretty strong and ironed out. Only problem is going to be finding an xp desktop rig; we had to go to ebay to get an xp laptop for my wife.

Bit difficult to find these days.

But that's just my nickel's worth......I think you've gotten WAY more than anticipated out of that PIII, and it's time to park it an move on. You don't need a new monitor or anything, just the box, so you may want to begin shopping around. If you have any questions on what a salesperson is trying to hook you up with, write them down, and post them here and we'll tell you if they are leading you down the primrose path or not.

v

Replaced this old machine and I am having a better life. You can move this to the resolved but budget depleted.