PC lock-ups, very frustrated please help

[Zalera]

So anyways I can post any information or run any tests if asked, but I don't know where to start. Anyways I have Vista 32 bit on a custom PC I built myself. Im not a PC expert by any means, but I know enough to get a PC up and running. Anyways about a month ago my PC has been having some random lock-ups and errors. I re-formatted and re-installed a fresh copy of Vista Ultimate 32 bit. It seemed to be working fine for a bit, but then started happening again. Basically the only thing on my computer right now is internet explorer and World of Warcraft. It seems to be fine with just Internet Explorer most of the time and sometimes even WoW. But then out of nowhere, I will open WoW and play for about a minute or two, WoW will lock up, the mouse still moves around, I try to close out of the program then the task bar locks up, then eventually it completely just locks up. I try to reboot and I either get a "disk read error, press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart", or it goes to some weird screen talking about Intel stuff and a bunch of random numbers come up and it loads for a while then stops and tells me to reboot. It does this every time I power off and on and just keeps crashing unless I let it sit for a couple hours off, and when I do that it starts up fine. I know this information is a bit general and not a specific but if someone could steer me into the right direction of where to start I would appreciate it. I have tried random things such as updating my video drivers, updating sound drivers, updating and flashing bios, and searching for updated software on all my hardware. Someone please help me so I can continue with my Warcraft addiction before my guild leaders boot me for inactivity :mad:

[Sylvander]

"It does this every time I power off and on"
After each forced/manual power off, is the file system of the Windows partition [at the very least; other partition file systems also may need done] scanned for the probable file system errors that result?
Is it done automatically?
If not, do it manually.

[Zalera]

How do I start that manually?

[Sylvander]

Depends upon the file system[s] in use on your partition[s]. NTFS or FAT[32]?

If NTFS and/or FAT[32]
Within Windows...
Go to Start->Run->Open: and type CMD in the window and click on the OK button.
A command window should open.
Type a command similar to:
chkdsk c:
[The drive letter can be changed from c: to any other appropriate letter]
This command will only read the partition [to check it for errors], but if any errors are found it will display them and ask permission to fix at the next Startup.

If FAT[32]
You should use MS Scandisk run outside of Windows by loading it from a suitable bootable disk.
I use the rather nice copy on the Emergency Boot CD = EBCD, but you could use the copy included on Bob Cerelli's Win98 or ME Boot Floppy (http://www.onecomputerguy.com/install/floppies.htm#boot_floppy).

[Zalera]

EDIT: I ran the chkdsk and here are the results:

C:\Windows\system32>chkdsk c:
The type of the file system is NTFS.

WARNING! F parameter not specified.
Running CHKDSK in read-only mode.

CHKDSK is verifying files (stage 1 of 3)...
61504 file records processed.
File verification completed.
55 large file records processed.
0 bad file records processed.
2 EA records processed.
44 reparse records processed.
CHKDSK is verifying indexes (stage 2 of 3)...
240821 index entries processed.
Index verification completed.
5 unindexed files processed.
CHKDSK is verifying security descriptors (stage 3 of 3)...
61504 security descriptors processed.
Security descriptor verification completed.
9465 data files processed.
CHKDSK is verifying Usn Journal...
37480424 USN bytes processed.
Usn Journal verification completed.
Windows has checked the file system and found no problems.

192670096 KB total disk space.
32583844 KB in 50577 files.
29176 KB in 9466 indexes.
0 KB in bad sectors.
170208 KB in use by the system.
65536 KB occupied by the log file.
159886868 KB available on disk.

4096 bytes in each allocation unit.
48167524 total allocation units on disk.
39971717 allocation units available on disk.

[Zalera]

I also noticed that my hard drive used to be partitioned into a 250gb c: and a 50gb d:. I tried to get rid of that partition because I didn't use it much by deleting it, and now the d: is gone but I don't have 300gb on my c: still, I only have the same amount that I did on the c: before I erased the other partition. Maybe this is causing problems?

[Sylvander]

1. "Windows has checked the file system and found no problems"
Good result! :)

2. "I only have the same amount that I did on the c: before I erased the other partition"
You presumably have 50GB of unallocated space on the physical HDD.
You could confirm that by using Killdisk (http://www.killdisk.com/downloadfree.htm) to give a rather nice display of the partition layout and any unallocated space.
Then if you wanted to non-destructively resize your 250 GB Windows partition to fill the 300GB space, you could use BootIT NG [BiNG] (http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/downloads-bootit-next-generation.htm) to do that.
[After making an image backup of the Windows partition using BiNG or Image for DOS [IforD] (http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/downloads-image-for-dos.htm)]

3. "Maybe this is causing problems?"
Hmmm, can't think of anything obvious that jumps to mind.
Was there anything [a file or two] on that partition that was needed by Windows or a program on C:?
[With its location specified in the registry?]
Or were there only data files on there that had no location specified in the registry?
What method did you use to "delete" that partition?
Did you use "Disk Management"?
[That would be the good way to do it since Windows would then know about the change (The registry would be altered)]

[Zalera]

Alright now that I think that is fixed and the problem is still here, I any suggestions as to what another source of the problem can be. I noticed again for about 10 hours I left my PC running fine but after running WoW on it for like 2 hours then it locked up and got slow again.

[Quark]

It is overheating.
Blow the dust out of it.

[Sylvander]

1. "It does this every time I power off and on and just keeps crashing unless I let it sit for a couple hours off, and when I do that it starts up fine"
I'm wondering if your CMOS battery is going bad and causing the BIOS's configuration settings to go chaotic.
[Except where the battery is given a rest]
This would then by chance result in either a failure to attempt to boot the correct drive as per the BIOS's boot device list [attempts to boot drives in the wrong order]...
And/or the drive parameters are all wrong.
This perhaps due to them no longer being set to "Auto".
See 2 below.

2. "disk read error, press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart"
I'm seeing info out on the web that suggest this is caused by MISCONFIGURATION OF THE BIOS.
Possibly due to a failing CMOS battery, and resulting chaos of BIOS configuration settings.
See Error Message "A disk read error occurred ... Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart" When Attempting to Boot Windows 2000/XP/2003 from HD1 (http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/kb/article.php?id=293)
Especially this...
"Cause:
Windows is looking for startup files (NTLDR, etc.) only on HD0, and not on HD1, where they reside (as determined by the BIOS)."
The BIOS, its config settings having become chaotic, is attempting to look on the wrong [or non-existent] HDD for the Windows boot files.

Remember also that Windows can only control the hardware via the BIOS, so if the BIOS's configuration settings become chaotic, mayhem most likely ensues [its a probability thing].

Or are my speculations wrong? :confused:

[Quark]

Sylvander, please dont give false & misleading info to Zalera.

If the CMOS battery was bad then Windows would show the wrong time.
If the time is correct CMOS battery is ok.
If the CMOS battery was dead drives would be forced to boot in the correct order because the BIOS would revert to default, which is auto detect.
The CMOS battery is of no consequence when PC is powered up.

[mjc]

Actually, the problem described does suspiciously sound like the BIOS is being reset...which would occur with a battery that isn't quite dead yet, after sitting for several hours.

And yes, even brand new motherboards can come with dead/dying batteries...I usually replace the battery as a matter of course.

Replacing the battery is a very cheap and easy thing to do that can be helpful to, if nothing else, at least eliminate that as a possibility of being the source of the problem.

[Quark]

Hi Zalera
Yes the battery is cheap and easy to replace.
But take the old battery in with you and ask them to test it before you buy the new one, that way you find out for sure if the battery might have had something to do with the problem.

[Zalera]

Sorry about the delay in response to this thread, been busy with work and last nights UFC PPV. Anyways thank you foor all of the input. As for that battery it doesnt hurt to give it a shot, so what type of place do I go to for that? Also can anyone help me with instructions on getting that battery from the mobo? I have experienced installing a mobo before but never tampering with anything on it. Also if this helps, I updated my BIOS a bit back to see if that would change anything and it still has the same problem, so I am not sure what to do. If those batterys are cheap I may as well pick one up anyway. My mobo is Intel DG965WH that came with the Intel Retail Edge a while back if you guys are familiar with that program. Thanks again for the help!

EDIT: Also know that letting my PC sit on the desktop *usually* makes it not crash or lock up, but getting into something graphic intensive (like I said my games before) usually starts making this problem occur. I left my PC off all day yesterday and now its playing fine. It just seemed to me with my problems that it would be a heating issue and not a battery because the way it crashes, but my knowledge is limited. I do have an nVidia 6600GT that is pretty outdated and I want to upgrade it just don't want to waste money yet if the video card isn't the problem. Figured I would just ride this card out till it dies being that it handles the only game I play now. I do drool over those 8800GTX's though. Worst case scenario if this problem gets worse im going to start building a new PC and turn this into an extra.

[Whyzman]

You might want to try running the more intense stuff with the side of the case removed and a fan blowing gently on the innards.

What type of cooling do you have (i.e., how many fans...where are they placed)?

[Sylvander]

See post #2 HERE (http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?t=25502).

[Whyzman]

Sylvander, didn't know if you were aware of this procedure, but if you click on the actual post number in the thread it will isolate that post's URL...

[Sylvander]

Didn't know that. :)

Ideally it would bring a chosen post into the frame but allow the user to scroll through the others.

[Quark]

As for that battery it doesnt hurt to give it a shot, so what type of place do I go to for that?



Well you can get one at any place that sells computers, and most hardware stores should have it.

[Whyzman]

Didn't know that. :)

Ideally it would bring a chosen post into the frame but allow the user to scroll through the others.Yeah, I wasn't sure if that was your plan... ;)