PC crashing randomly

[guzlah]

I'll try and make this as detailed as possible. System specs will be at the bottom of the post.

A month or two ago my PC started to lock up, the HDD would make clicking noises every couple of days and so I replaced the HDD with a new one because windows would refuse to boot sometimes (corrupt files maybe). That ended my problems for a while until I had some bad power outages which the motherboard probably didn't agree with. The PC would not boot up at all. I then took my PC to get it checked out because I suspected it was the motherboard. They confirmed it was the motherboard and replaced my Soltek KT400A with a Chaintech nForce 2 (7NJL6). Since then I have reinstalled about three times, and now I am getting random lock ups or reboots. Sometimes I can leave my PC on for two days without problems, and then suddenly I have 3 or 4 lock-ups in a night. I have run memory tests and supposedly there are no problems there. I used memtest86+ as well as a windows based one. I need to find out what is causing this problem because I don't have money to change parts around to try and find it.

I took screenshots of some of the errors written to event log:
Error example 1
Error example 2
Error example 3

System Info:
Sysinfo

Can errors like this be caused by not having enough power? I have the latest nforce 2 chipset drivers and the latest catalyst drivers installed for my radeon 9600 pro.

 

[deathwalker]

A flakey PS could certainly casue issues like this. Are you using a UPS with your system? Keeping a nice clean line signal to your PS doesnt hurt...I notice your locale is S. Africa and my thought is..do you have a stable power grid there. Since your have replace your mobo and the problem still exists..it would be fair to rule that out ..for the moment. Also insure that your are not having overheating problems, specificly with your CPU. I thing though from a starting point since you brought the issue of power up early in your post statement..I would look there...try a new PS and above all put it on a reliable UPS...a UPS might have prevent the problem from occuring in the first place.

 

[guzlah]

I've ordered a UPS, just waiting for it to be delivered. I also have plans to get a better PSU, currently I have a 3 year old 230 watt PSU. Yes, we have been having power problems lately with the grid, actually we always have power problems here no matter where I live. Our house also has very bad wiring which is why I have to get a UPS. Hmm, as far as I can tell it isn't an overheating issue, as it is winter now and my CPU and PSU fan seem to be running fine. Temperature is always around 45 degrees celcius. Hopefully a stable power line and a more powerful PSU will fix this annoying problem.

 

[deathwalker]

Good luck!!

 

[guzlah]

Gah, ran everest home edition just now and as soon as it was loading the "summary" page my PC rebooted.

 

[dclive]

Originally posted by: guzlah
I'll try and make this as detailed as possible. System specs will be at the bottom of the post.

A month or two ago my PC started to lock up, the HDD would make clicking noises every couple of days and so I replaced the HDD with a new one because windows would refuse to boot sometimes (corrupt files maybe). That ended my problems for a while until I had some bad power outages which the motherboard probably didn't agree with. The PC would not boot up at all. I then took my PC to get it checked out because I suspected it was the motherboard. They confirmed it was the motherboard and replaced my Soltek KT400A with a Chaintech nForce 2 (7NJL6). Since then I have reinstalled about three times, and now I am getting random lock ups or reboots. Sometimes I can leave my PC on for two days without problems, and then suddenly I have 3 or 4 lock-ups in a night. I have run memory tests and supposedly there are no problems there. I used memtest86+ as well as a windows based one. I need to find out what is causing this problem because I don't have money to change parts around to try and find it.

I took screenshots of some of the errors written to event log:
Error example 1
Error example 2
Error example 3

System Info:
Sysinfo

Can errors like this be caused by not having enough power? I have the latest nforce 2 chipset drivers and the latest catalyst drivers installed for my radeon 9600 pro.

Go to Windows Update and update all drivers and all other updates you're given. Everything. Reboot. Confirm the problem still exists.

If so, run MPS Reports (see my .sig) and send me the resulting .CAB file.

Send me a few of the most recent .dmp files found in c:\windows\minidumps.

I'll see if I can tell you what's going wrong.

 

[guzlah]

I have sent you a PM. I have been keeping up to date through windows update thankfully. Thank you for trying to help.

 

[dclive]

Please send to the e-mail in the .sig - thanks.

You have done ALL updates Windows Update presents to you?

 

[guzlah]

Will do. All updated except custom? ie. messenger 4.7 etc. They're in optional.

 

[dclive]

Sounds good. Give me 15 mins to look at it.

 

[dclive]

1 shows a problemwith HIDClass.sys
2 show a problem with ntoskrnl.exe (and...let's just say, that's not the problem)
1 shows a problem with ati2cqag.sys (an ATI driver)

Typically when they're all over the map like this, there's a problem in hardware, but let's not assume that, for now.

If you boot in safe mode, does everything work well without any BSODs?
Did you install all of your third-party aftermarket drivers, and then notice the BSODs?

Sorry; I don't see anything definite right now. Maybe someone else can look at the dumps and get more.

Right now I'd be inclined to see if you could switch your R9600 with another video card & see if anything changed.

 

[guzlah]

Hmm, I can switch the 9600 pro for an old Geforce 3 I have here.. but I can only do it tomorrow. So I'll reboot into safe mode and leave it running, see if it locks-up after a good few hours. It's late here so I need some rest (4am). As for when the BSODs started, it was as soon as I had finished installing windows each time and still after I updated drivers. Your help is appreciated.

 

[guzlah]

I left the PC running until a few minutes ago without issue in safe mode, of course it could have not been long enough. I've switched out the graphica card now and I'll post back here if it happens again. I should probably leave it running in safe mode for a while if it does crash with this older graphics card in. The crashes are very random and sometimes don't occur for a whole day.

 

[guzlah]

Problem still occurs with a different graphics card in. There was no message written to event log though.

 

[dclive]

Originally posted by: guzlah
Problem still occurs with a different graphics card in. There was no message written to event log though.

But what, exactly, happened? Which "problem"?

Also, turn off the automatic reboot when your machine bluescreens. That will make it more obvious what's happening.

 

[dclive]

Originally posted by: guzlah
As for when the BSODs started, it was as soon as I had finished installing windows each time and still after I updated drivers. Your help is appreciated.

I don't understand what this means. If it happened after or while you were installing Windows, prior to updating drivers with OEM drivers, then you have a hardware problem.

If it only happened after you put OEM (non-Microsoft) drivers onto the machine, you probably have a software problem.

 

[guzlah]

But what, exactly, happened? Which "problem"?

The display froze. I was unable to move the cursor, unable to send CTRL+ALT+DEL etc.

Also, turn off the automatic reboot when your machine bluescreens. That will make it more obvious what's happening.

Yes I did this a couple of weeks ago, so now sometimes I receive the BSOD errors and other times it just freezes up as described above.

I don't understand what this means. If it happened after or while you were installing Windows, prior to updating drivers with OEM drivers, then you have a hardware problem.

Sorry I was unclear. I specifically remember this problem before I installed any software. (Well besides a few tools such as 7-zip) I had thought that installing the chipset and display drivers would help fix the issue but it didn't.

--

I just ran memtest for another few passes to confirm the memory is okay and it was fine. So now I guess I have to try and find out if the CPU is causing it. I'm not sure where to start. Can I run a benchmark program?

 

[dclive]

Originally posted by: guzlah

Sorry I was unclear. I specifically remember this problem before I installed any software. (Well besides a few tools such as 7-zip) I had thought that installing the chipset and display drivers would help fix the issue but it didn't.

If you had a problem prior to putting third party drivers on the box, you have a hardware problem. Ship the box back to the vendor, have them send you another one, problem solved.

 

[guzlah]

Thanks for the help. I suppose they gave me a faulty motherboard. It's a custom made PC so there's not really any one vendor I can send it to, I'll try and replace the motherboard.

 

[Spektre]

Don't know if you are keeping up with this thread but let me share my experience with that model motherboard.

I have built 3 systems with it. Two experienced the same issue as you are seeing. One ran rock stable from day 1.

There was only one hardware difference...the number of sticks of RAM installed.

System one there were 2 256M sticks (constant reboots).
System two 2 512M sticks (constant reboots)
System three, 1 512M stick (rock solid)

So with many brands of memeory I tried various configurations of matched/unmatched, 256, 512M sticks, and 1, 2 or 3 sticks installed.

Even with matched "dual channel" memory, the systems will only reliably run with 1 stick installed. I did not find any stable 2 or 3 stick configurations. The "rock solid" configuration also rebooted soon after starting wondows once additional memory was installed.

Do you have 2 RAM sticks?

Spektre

 

[guzlah]

Hi.

I purchased a new power supply and the problem still persists. I only have one stick 512MB DDR SDRAM. I don't know, guess I'll have to fork out for a new CPU with a replaced motherboard. I'm disappointed in nvidia nForce.

 

[Underclocked]

Do you have a spare video card? Try it.

Once a computer has taken a surge sufficient to damage to the motherboard, my opinion is you can no longer fully trust ANY component in the PC. Easter-egging the repair could easily become more expensive than buying a new machine. Homeowner's insurance?

 

[dclive]

Originally posted by: guzlah
Hi.

I purchased a new power supply and the problem still persists. I only have one stick 512MB DDR SDRAM. I don't know, guess I'll have to fork out for a new CPU with a replaced motherboard. I'm disappointed in nvidia nForce.

I suggest you find another unused hard drive, install XP onto that hard drive, don't install ANYTHING else (NO drivers or programs of ANY sort at all) and see if you can reproduce the problem.

If so, you have a hardware problem.
If not, you may have a software problem.

If you've had more dumps, feel free to send them to me (with mps reports, with the URL of this thread, etc....)

 

[guzlah]

Right, I think I've tested just about everything else. It's the motherboard. Chaintech released a batch of faulty 7NJL6 nForce2 motherboards apparently, here's a thread I discovered: http://www.hardwareanalysis.com/content/topic/42411/?o=0

It seems Chaintech even "admit" to it. Right now I'm trying one of the temporary workarounds which is to set the FSB and memory to 100, I don't want to mess around with the timings. I'm very disappointed, because I've bought from Chaintech before and have found their products satisfactory. Anyone viewing this thread looking to get a value for money motherboard, stay away from the Chaintech version of the nForce2.

Thanks for the help guys, it's been a rough couple of weeks but I see the light now.