Random Freezes and Blue Screens
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Thread: Random Freezes and Blue Screens

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2000
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    Dudley, Massachusetts, USA
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    Random Freezes and Blue Screens

    My computer is definetly messed up. I keep getting random blue screen errors and random freezes. I could be doing multiple tasks like having multiple explorers running or i could be doing something as simple as playing winamp or on AOL IM. I have tried everything i can think of. I've tried scan disk, norton utilities, i've looked to see if maybe i had a bad driver for something and everything looks fine. Someone help!?!? i'm lost!!!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2000
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    Cordova, TN
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    I would check your RAM.

    System freezes or lock-ups are almost always related to a video display problem. Here are some specific solutions to this problem. Try these in the order suggested:

    If you are running high color depth, lower it to 256 colors.

    Try setting the mouse pointer to "Windows Standard."

    Lower your video acceleration. In the Control Panel click System > Performance > Graphics, and then lower the hardware acceleration one notch.

    Use a different video driver. Win98 contains many. Go to the web site of your video card manufacturer and see if they offer an updated driver for your particular card.

    Press CTRL+ALT+DEL. If you have a utility running called point32, then shut it down.

    ------------------
    "I feel that there is a world market for as many as five computers" Thomas Watson, IBM corp. - 1943

    [This message has been edited by Theoran (edited 03-29-2001).]
    ===============================================

    | The Ramblings of Theoran | An Omnimaxx Fan |

  3. #3
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    Sep 2000
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    All of the RAM tests that i have run have all come out clean. Now, thats not saying that there's nothing wrong with my RAM, but everything i have run has come out OK.

    I dont understand what you are trying to tell me to do with the WP command line. could you be a lil more clear?

    My video acceleration was at the max so i put it down a notch.

  4. #4
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    I'm sorry Coupy21, That was my fault. I forgot to delete that part. I removed it. I copied and pasted to much

    Have you tried updating your video drivers?
    Has this problems always occurred?
    if not, when did it start?

    ------------------
    "I feel that there is a world market for as many as five computers" Thomas Watson, IBM corp. - 1943
    ===============================================

    | The Ramblings of Theoran | An Omnimaxx Fan |

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2000
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    Dudley, Massachusetts, USA
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    it occured about around Christmas time. i've had a lil problem with it randomly shutting down everyonce in awhile, but nothing real big. But now it has just gotten a lot worse, and i bet i have to shut down and restart my computer 10-15 times a day now b/c i get so many errors and freezes. and other programs that i have running like AOL IM, winamp, a mixer, etc.... have been randomly shuttin down also, i'll get a program error message and it says that it has to close them.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2000
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    pittsburgh, PA, USA
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    Hi, Coupy. Do have an on-board sound card or video card by chance?
    I had a problem like this with a friends PC. I tried everything I could think of to no avail. Finally I disabled the on-board sound card and it hasn't locked up since.

  7. #7
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    I have an on-board video and sound card. I put a new PCI sound card. So i had to disable the onboard sound card already, but the onboard video card is still enabled.

  8. #8
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    pittsburgh, PA, USA
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    If you have another video card to use you can disable the on-board vid. But I would try finding updated drivers first.

  9. #9
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    Sep 2000
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    Dudley, Massachusetts, USA
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    I found the updated drivers, and updated them, and it was fine for a lil while, but then i got 3 blue screen errors right after one another. i dont have an extra vid card. do you think that this might also have to do with my other programs shuttin down by themselves?

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Feb 2001
    Location
    UK
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    For what its worth I had similar problems until I changed my PSU from a generic 235watt to an Enermax 330watt. System now stable at last.
    Paul

  11. #11
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    Jul 2000
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    Make sure that the cpu fan is working properly. Another thing to try is 'Remove and reseat the cpu, ram, and all cards'.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Mar 2001
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    4
    hey buf...i'm having similiar problems and i'm getting an audible buzz from the fan area. how are these related? thanks.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Jul 2000
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    Originally posted by olaf2000:
    hey buf...i'm having similiar problems and i'm getting an audible buzz from the fan area. how are these related? thanks.
    I was just considering that the cpu may be overheating. A noisy fan may mean that it is not turning fast enough, is very dirty, it is obstructed, or even that it is ready to fail.

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Nov 1999
    Location
    Exeter, NH
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    One way to determine if it's heat related is to take the cover off the case and aim a house fan directly at the motherboard. if the trouble dissapears, then it's likely CPU or Vid card overheat.

    Unstable power supplies can cause unstability and may be worth trying a replacement if it's over a few years old or has reached wattage threshold due to added hardware.

    Have you tried running Wintune?
    http://download.cnet.com/downloads/0...st-7-1.3786548

    ------------------

    It's either that or it's into the woodchipper

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