System locking

[Shadow]

I had a lock-then-shut-off problem a while back so I repalced the PSU and heatsink/fan combo for my AMD2000+ on my ASUS A7N8X.

I'm getting some issues again now, but these are only lock ups, no forced shut offs. It seems my computer gets under load, somehow when running media player, or certain mp3s. I want to say that sometimes I'll see the task manager register explorer as spiking in the resources department right before my system becomes unstable.

I actually cannot get an anti-virus run to complete without the triggering of this nusance. My computer locks and I guess restarts too(I always run the utilities while away).

Motherboard Monitor(or whatever it's called) says 87 degrees F CPU socket, 98 CPU diode and 120 on average, for the case reading.

When playing media players, VLC, Media Player Classic, and both packaged Windows Media Players(both modern and old school), all make the computer go to poo with certain mp3s. Some videos will cause the animation and music to pause at random times but I can close the video player and resume computer operation normally.

Some of these symptoms run along with other heat problems I've had before but I might suspsect a virus. I can't get some old school games to install, which normally should, because of issues over time. It's been a long time since formatting so maybe I should just do it and get it over with.

Or maybe figure out hardware/virus issues first?

[bithub]

Well your computer isn't getting too hot, 120 degrees F is within normal operating parameters. Are you able to reinstall windows on your computer? If so, I would give that a shot. If you are still having the same lock-up problems afterwards, then you might have some faulty hardware.

[sand_man]

Strange, my pc has been doing the same thing lately. It just freezes, no shut offs or error messages. My only suspicions are the same as yours but I'm sure our problems happening at the same time are just coincidental.

[ober]

I would check for virii, but it really sounds like you just need to format. I'd say you have all kinds of problems with software, but I definately wouldn't rule out PSU problems. Make sure you're buying something with some quality.

[Shadow]

I would check for virii, but it really sounds like you just need to format. I'd say you have all kinds of problems with software, but I definately wouldn't rule out PSU problems. Make sure you're buying something with some quality.

Well since I said that I cannot get a virus scan to complete(or spyware even) without the triggering of this problem, I am thinking that I'll go ahead with a format.

I've had scandisk give me forced data structure complaints while loading Windows a few times and all my goodies are on a larger secondary drive so I'll just wipe the thing.

[Waldo2k2]

if you have problems with your hard disk that would explain why only certain mp3's and a virus scan will cause it to die...run chkdsk on your next reboot, see if that fixes it (you should reformat as well though)

[Glirk Dient]

Could be driver issues. If you install drivers wrong or screw it up somehow this is the type of thing that can happen. Would be best to delete the partition and reformat.

[Hammer]

Maybe your RAM is broke. Get a memory tester to verify it.

[Shadow]

Bad ram wouldn't cause your hard drive to sound an audible power-off wind down, then turn back on a second later.

I haven't updated drivers on that thing in a long time. Both drives are suspectable last I checked so it could be bad cabled or a bad connector on the board.

The power off/power on thing makes you think, ok PSU. But not really. Making sure to use a different rail I can feel it power up in my hands(or through the hardwood floor) yet no detection during POST.

I'll let you know what I turn up.

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Good to see you around Hammer.

[Shadow]

My C drive has been formatted and Windows XP has been operating flawlessly. BIOS detects my 160gb drive fine but Windows does not. I think this is because I didn't format my drive, I just started storing crap on it. I'll plug it into some other PCs to see if I can back up the valuables before I stick it back in this computer for the NFTS format.

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Sorry I'm not any faster for the oldschool gang here always willing to help out; I've been busy with so many things lately. If I didn't have a fairly modern laptop I guess I'd be faster in getting my desktop off the ground.(ie: the urge to be a power user - games, videos of all kinds, etc. [my desktop only] has been minimal therefore the laptop[Internet and music only] has been fine lately)

Heh.

[Shadow]

Windows setup says that the big drive is a dynamic volume. I don't know if that helps any.

[Waldo2k2]

that would do it.
Open disk management and convert it to a basic voluem

[Shadow]

Disk Management isn't anything special. I want to know if I can back up data on the drive before it gets formatted, in any fashion.