Computer Lockup

ste-sim2x9 · 13 Dec 2009 at 20:03

For some reason my computer keeps randomly locking up and i don't know why. The mouse don't move and holding ctrl, alt and delete does nothing. I get no blue screen of death or nothing. Any ideas.

alex24 · 13 Dec 2009 at 20:05

What are your full system specs?

Any hardware changes recently?

ste-sim2x9 · 13 Dec 2009 at 20:10

The only change is a PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-218L

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600
Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P
8192 MB (DDR2-800 DDR2 SDRAM)
ATI Radeon HD 4800 Series (1024 MB)
Samsung HD501LJ ATA Device (500 GB, 7200 RPM, SATA-II)
WDC WD10EAVS-00D7B0 ATA Device (931 GB, IDE)
PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-216D
PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-218L

alex24 · 13 Dec 2009 at 20:15

You forgot your power supply...

Lockups like that can be anything really, but in my experience they're often symptoms of a PSU problem.

As a next step though, I'd get memtest86+ running on that RAM and see if any of it has failed. Lockups are also common for RAM failure. Get yourself an 'ultimate boot cd' (look on google) and then run the test.

ste-sim2x9 · 13 Dec 2009 at 20:23

I have a Coolermaster 520w Modular power supply and i tested my ram 2 months ago due to having bsod here and there and was told to up the ram voltage due to having 4 sticks of ram.

alex24 · 13 Dec 2009 at 20:24

Up the RAM voltage or northbridge voltage? I'd run a test again just to be sure.

ste-sim2x9 · 13 Dec 2009 at 20:27

Like i said i upped the ram voltage to the max safe setting and upped northbridge voltage a notch a few months ago. Do i up the northbride another notch.

alex24 · 13 Dec 2009 at 20:29

You can do what you want, but you don't even know if that's the problem. My advice is to test your components with the normal tests and by taking unnecessary ones out and trying to narrow it down.

ste-sim2x9 · 13 Dec 2009 at 20:31

ok alex i'll run memtest overnight to see if the ram errors. thanks

ste-sim2x9 · 14 Dec 2009 at 08:16

I left my pc overnight testing the ram and after 3 passes on the 8gig there where no errors.

alex24 · 14 Dec 2009 at 11:40

Looks like your RAM is OK then.

I'd start taking unnecessary hardware out (PCI, PCI-E, USB etc) until there's the bare minimum, checking for the problem between each piece you remove. If you have a spare PSU to test that's powerful enough do that too.

m4cc45 · 14 Dec 2009 at 11:55

You said you've recently replaced the DVD - why not unplug that and test?

Sounds a logical route to go. I've known DVD drives to cause all kinds of errors in the past.

M.