Windows Home Server keeps freezing?

[bX510]

Does anyone have any clue why my server keeps freezing? I just want to move some files into the server.

Well, I am running under the requirements- which is most likely why.

I am using an amd athlon 800mhz and 512mb ram. Anything I can upgrade for a cheap cost under $50?

 

[RebateMonger]

Any warnings or errors in the Windows System Events or Application Events Logs? What sort of actions cause it to freeze? Can you log onto it, bring up Control Panels, etc?

It's more than $50, but for $170 or so you can stuff a SATA hard drive, a SATA DVD drive, and 1 GB of DDR2 SODIMM into an MSI Wind barebones box, with ultra-low-energy Intel Atom processor pre-installed. I just built one and it makes a great Windows Home Server if you don't mind being limited to a single hard drive. You can still make backups of shares and your backup database (if you wish) to an external hard drive.

Unfortunately, given your motherboard, you probably don't have SATA drives...but I thought I'd mention it just in case you are interested in upgrading to something a bit more modern.

 

[bX510]

Well, I just need to replace mobo and cpu- if anything. i have the rest. So, I am copying files from my external to my internal 1tb hd and it freezes when it's copying. nothing moves, and it just sits there. I have a SATA controller btw.

 

[bX510]

It freezed just now, again. I was opening the folders to copy stuff over and BAM! frozen solid. I have to press the restart button :/

 

[RebateMonger]

I'd start with the basics:

a) Test the memory overnight with Memtest86+ or the Windows Memory Diagnostics program.
2) Test the internal hard drive with the disk maker's diagnostics program.

See if you can pass those tests first. And do take a look at the System and Application Event Logs.

Are the freezes ONLY happening when accessing the external hard drive? What if you disconnect that drive? Can you copy stuff internally without freezing?

At this point, it could be a lot of things, from memory to hard drive to power supply to drivers to whatever chipset is on that motherboard. I doubt there's going to be any $50 upgrade that'll be significant.

 

[bX510]

Well, it happened a lot too when I was installing windows home server.

 

[bX510]

Did a memory test and it ran 8 times without problems

 

[RebateMonger]

You shouldn't be having lockups while installing Windows Home Server or any other modern version of Windows.

Most common problems with installs:

Bad memory
Bad hard drive / drive controller / cables
Bad CD/DVD drive
Defective CD/DVD disk

Drivers USUALLY aren't a cause of freezing during the installation, since only generic or certified drivers are included on the CD/DVD. One exception were the Realtek NIC drivers included in Windows 98. They were defective and would randomly freeze the PC.

 

[bX510]

I don't know what to do.. so what should I do?

 

[nerp]

How old is your PSU? Is it a good one? Cheap one?

 

[bsobel]

Originally posted by: bX510
Well, it happened a lot too when I was installing windows home server.

This isnt a windows problem, this is a hw problem. If you install is freezing, that should tell you something...

 

[bX510]

Well, it's not the PSU. I recently installed a new one and it still happens. I HIGHLY doubt it's my HD. Then RAM, MOBO, CPU, & SATA Controller are left.

 

[bX510]

You know that part during the boot where it shows the logo and the loading bar? Well, it just frozed right there.

 

[RebateMonger]

Originally posted by: bX510
Well, it's not the PSU. I recently installed a new one and it still happens. I HIGHLY doubt it's my HD. Then RAM, MOBO, CPU, & SATA Controller are left.

Basically, a memory test analyzes not only the memory, but also the CPU, memory controller, and other motherboard components. A hard drive test analyzes not only the drive, but the drive controller, and the cabling.

Speaking of cabling, be doubly sure that the cables are physically good and that they are solidly connected. I've had a slightly lose hard drive power cable cause horrendous problems on a client's server (random reboots) and on one of my own desktop PCs.

 

[mc866]

Check out the FS thread, plenty of package 754/939/P4 mobo & proc bundles you could probably get for cheap.

 

[bX510]

Well, I am running the Seagate SeaTools for DOS (http://www.seagate.com/www/en-.../seatools/seatooldreg) and so far I have passed the short test. I am running the long test right now, and I am going to run the acoustic afterwards.

 

[bX510]

I passed short test, long test, and acoustic test. I also changed the SATA cable and checked all connections. Memory tests ran 8 sets and it all passed. It still freezes! What should i do ?

 

[ViRGE]

This is a shot in the dark, but is it able to install any other Windows OS correctly? Perhaps, just perhaps, it's a problem with WHS (or the disc) itself.

 

[bX510]

Any other ideas?

 

[RebateMonger]

Well, you never mentioned you motherboard/chipset. I quit using VIA chipset motherboards, for instance, several years ago when I couldn't keep two identical Soyo boards from freezing in XP.

 

[imported_mackintire]

When you run Memtest+

If all or some the memtests seem to randomly fail you may have a power supply issue.

Run test (2) and then (4) 20 passes If it fails you have a Northbridge/CPU issue

Run test (3) 20 passes If this test alone fails you have a L2 cache access problem. Sometime it shows up as a motherboard issue.

Run test (5) overnight IF this test fails you have a standard memory timing issue.

Run test (7) overnight If this test fails and the others pass you have a refresh memory timing issue. Usually fixed by a BIOS update, or by not overclocking.


If this all passes you do not have a memory subsystem issue.


Install Windows XP on the machine, Run Orthos, configure blend to use all the memory in the machine. Run this for 12 hours.

If this fails and all of Memtest passes you have a CPU issue or a POWER supply issue.


If all the above passes then you have either a motherboard I/O controller issue, bad cable or bad hard drive.

 

[bX510]

According to PC wizard, I have ASUS a7v for a mobo.

 

[bX510]

Originally posted by: mackintire
When you run Memtest+

If all or some the memtests seem to randomly fail you may have a power supply issue.

Run test (2) and then (4) 20 passes If it fails you have a Northbridge/CPU issue

Run test (3) 20 passes If this test alone fails you have a L2 cache access problem. Sometime it shows up as a motherboard issue.

Run test (5) overnight IF this test fails you have a standard memory timing issue.

Run test (7) overnight If this test fails and the others pass you have a refresh memory timing issue. Usually fixed by a BIOS update, or by not overclocking.


If this all passes you do not have a memory subsystem issue.


Install Windows XP on the machine, Run Orthos, configure blend to use all the memory in the machine. Run this for 12 hours.

If this fails and all of Memtest passes you have a CPU issue or a POWER supply issue.


If all the above passes then you have either a motherboard I/O controller issue, bad cable or bad hard drive.

I'll try this soon. Is there a way to set it to run X tests ? or do I just have to come back and restart the test

 

[imported_mackintire]

Once Memtest + is running I think the keys are "C" 1 then 3 then the test # you want to run.

I suggest you make a Memtest+ 2.01 iso and boot from that.

if you get stuck in the menu, I think pressing 0 will get you out of the menu.

The "esc" key kicks you out of the program.

 

[imported_mackintire]

I think you only have a choice of running a specific test or to run through the std test 1-5 and then repeat. Or Running the Adv tests which are all of the test.

I don't suggest that you do that as all its going to tell you is SOMETHING is wrong. Running a specific test will narrow that down.