PC Resetting itself and locking up! HELP!!!!!

[beanbag]

Ok! Loads of questions today. I have a problem with my PC crashing. Usually when encoding or ripping CD's or DVD's in iTunes for my iPod or using DVD to PocketPC to watch my DVD's on my PocketPC.

I also get crashes when playing games and converting MP3 audio files into AAC for my iPod.

Now it's really getting annoying and I can't see what's wrong! I've triple check my memory using Memtest86+, i've double checked my Windows XP config. I've removed all drivers including Nvidia drivers and SB Live! drivers but still have a problem. Maybe it's a mobo problem? Here's my spec just in case you see anything odd (not particularly great!)

Windows XP Pro SP2 (Legal!)
Athlon XP 2100+
512MB PC133 SDRAM
Abit KT7A 1.3 Mobo with the latest BIOS revision
PNY GeForce 4 Ti4200
Firewire Card
Belkin Network Card 10/100Mb

Btw....when i save crashing, the PC either locks up and I have to hard reset or it simply resets by itself. Another odd thing is that it does this by itself every so often.

Any ideas to what could be wrong? My general consensus is it could be the mobo but i'm not sure....don't want to splash out on anything as i'm saving for a G5!

[trooperiziz]

If you've checked out the memory then it sounds like an overheating CPU problem to me.

[Plotloss]

Heat.

Take the side off, try what you were doing again.

If it doesnt crash with the side off, thats your problem...

[beanbag]

Definately not heat.....I've got a Zalman CU6000 cooler with Arctic Silver Thermal paste and the temp is usually around 48C with Prime95 running the CPU under 100% load.

Any other suggestions? Someone at work reckons even if memtest can't find errors, it doesn't necessarily mean there are any. Also...my PSU was said to be a probably cause.....

[Plotloss]

What wattage is the PSU?

The Geforce4 series are quite juicy.

Anything less than a very good 350w or a standard 400w will probably lead to odd errors occasionally...

[beanbag]

I think it's a 350 PSU. I bought it dirt cheap from Novatech while back in uni. £12 i think! lol

Maybe a new PSU is on the cards? Just got a new suggestion.....taking out some of the ram and running my pc. If it doesn't crash then that stick is faulty. Otherwise if it does, take out the other ram and keep playing with until until I've tried all the combos.

2x 128MB
1x 256MB

May be a good time to ditch that memory and get a couple of 512MB dimms!

[Plotloss]

It seems to me that it will be the PSU if its a cheapy.

Remove the Mem a stick at a time and try burning etc.

Though this wont neccesarily be a good test as the PSU could still get underpowered and crash whilst you are checking the mem.

Personally I'd bung £20 odd at a 500w PSU then thats out of the loop...

[ErnestM]

You might also want to make sure that your hard drives are in top shop as some of the things that you are doing are HD intensive.

Have you checked your event logs? Sometimes that will give you a clue as well...

ErnestM

[beanbag]

ErnestM said:

You might also want to make sure that your hard drives are in top shop as some of the things that you are doing are HD intensive. Have you checked your event logs? Sometimes that will give you a clue as well... ErnestM

I'll have a look thanks. It seems odd though as I do defrags without any problems. If it is a HD problem, how could I solve it? New HD?

[ErnestM]

Usually, if you use the full XP error checking and it's only a few sectors, the sectors will be marked and it will solve the problem. If the HD is going, though (eg - the problem repeats ad infinitum), you will need to replace it...

ErnestM

[Plotloss]

Download a bit of software called activeSMART

This will read the HDD SMART headers and give you a reasonable indication of the state of the disc without having to sit and watch a defrag/surface scan...

[beanbag]

Plotloss said:

Download a bit of software called activeSMART This will read the HDD SMART headers and give you a reasonable indication of the state of the disc without having to sit and watch a defrag/surface scan...

I've got a similar piece of software that does the same. It says my HD is down to 78% which is apparantly ok (but worrying), since i've only had it a couple of years!