System Freeze

[bjam2]

I got a barebones system where all you added was a hard drive and cd drive. Installed windows 95 worked fine for a couple hours. Then it would freeze when you got to the windows startup screen every time. Formated and installed windows 98 and it did the same thing. Sent it back and they installed a new motherboard (at least they said they did and they sent a empty m/b box back with the system).

It worked fine for about week then started freezing at the same place, if you hit restart it would always startup.
Now it's started getting worse and worse you'll have to press restart like 4 times before it starts now and it's started freezing after you've been on for a little while. I’ve tried many things like different memory and a different hard drive.

Specs.
850 athlon t-bird
128 mb ram
20 gb hard drive
windows 98
onboard video, sound

Please help I built this system for my mom.
I'm guessing it would be hopeless to try XP.

[Gallaeglagh]

Sounds like all the hardware has been swapped out excepting the processor

------------------
The definition of a flashlight is a place to keep dead batteries

[mjc]

What size power supply?

What kind of cooling (CPU, case fans, etc)?

Any thing else happens when it freezes, like error messages? Does the caps lock light come on if you hit the key when it is frozen?

What motherboard is in it? Do you have the latest drivers (chipset/motherboard, video card)?

------------------
mjc
Links list:Computer Links

Celts are the men that heaven made mad, For all their battles are merry and their songs are all sad.

[ranchdog]

What does that unit have in it for a power supply? Do you have a good stout unit you could try in that PC? What Mboard is it? Is it a decent HS/F unit for the CPU?

Luck.


mjc..... ya got there ahead of me.

------------------
......Indecision may or may not be my problem......
...... Kickin' A Rock....

[This message has been edited by ranchdog (edited 12-01-2001).]

[bjam2]

Pretty sure the ps is 300 watts.

It has a big cpu fan/heasink and thats it except for the ps fan.

Nothing else happens (no errors) and the caps lock won't come on unless its on then it won't go on.

The motherboard is a ECS EliteGroup K7VZA (KT133A/686B).

I'm fairly positive I have all the newest drivers.

I tried installing Windows XP and it does the same thing.

I think I tried another ps and it did the same thing.

Please try to help before I go insane. I built this system for my mother.

[ski]

Make sure the CPU and power supply fans are running.
Check that the CPU, memory, and all cards are securely seated(Pull and reinstall them if necessary).

Check the motherboard's documentation for the method on how the CPU's speed multiplier is changed. It's usually done with jumpers or switches on the MB. Newer MB's may do it in BIOS. Then, make sure the CPU is not being overclocked.

Change the memory's speed to 100MHz if it's currently at 133MHz(Redo the CPU's ratio multiplier so it will run at the correct speed).

Go into the CMOS setup by holding the Del key(or what ever key is shown on the main BIOS screen) at startup, and make sure select Standard(or Default, or Setup) settings are selected.

Check that the CPU's heat sink is properly and securely installed.
You may also want to apply new heat transfer gel between it and the heat sink.

[bjam2]

The fans are running.
Everything is seated correctly, plugged in, etc.
The bios has the spped set correctly.
I've tried all speeds available.
Tried the default and best performance settings.
Heatsink looks good.

Anything else it could be.

[rond36]

Have you tried flashing the BIOS? I think the latest version is 3.4 instructions on flashing your BIOS are on page 39 of your Mainboard User's Guide. Also don't use the flash utility that comes ziped with .bin file if it is awd77.exe use awd801 from your CD that came with your board Do you have the latest 4in1 drivers installed? You can find the BIOS flash and 4in1 drivers at the ECS web site If you didn't get a manual with your board you can get a PDF ver at the ECS site also.

------------------
I think Windows XP and Microsoft use more of my bandwidth than I do!