PC locks up for no apparent reason

Soldato
Joined
31 Oct 2003
Posts
4,566
Location
Derby, UK
This has only started happening in the last few days as far as i remember i havent installed anything.

I can be doing anything, even when i'm not stressing the CPU whatsoever and the computer will lock up. If listening to music the sound will stop and start for a few minutes (stopping for 30 seconds at a time) and the hard drive is constantly being accessed. The HDD light on the case is lit up constantly for this time when normally it only flashes once or twice a minute.

The mouse still can be moved around the screen but clicking anything doesn't bring it in to focus or do anything. Ctrl Alt Del doesn't even do anything until it starts to respond again after a couple of minutes.

I really am at a loss as to what to do. I only built this computer 4 months ago so a bit concerned! I'd be hugely grateful if you have any ideas guys. The spec is C2D E2180, 2gb ram, Abit IP35-E.

Guess its time to back everything up just in case :(

Thanks again for any suggestions, Rob.
 
Have you checked your memory for possible problems.

Might be worth grabiing a copy of memtest86 and let that run for a bit. This will verfiy the memory is ok.

Have you checked that the memory is at the correct timings and the voltages are correct. Check the manufacturers website for details and make sure the memory settings are at the recomended settings in the BIOS.

When you have checked that, just a CHKDSK

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315265

Check for bad sectors and repair
 
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Its XP SP2 i did think about memory being the source of the problem but its been running fine for 4 months?! Everything is stock with regards the bios, i'm too lazy to bother going to all the hassle of overclocking etc as it's fast enouh for me as it is!

With regards memtest, i'll give that a go but i dont have any blank discs at the moment :( damn being a poor student!
 
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Right i ran chkdsk and nothing untoward was found. Just got hold of a blank dvd so memtest is next!

Funnily enough, now i can't seem to reproduce the problem, even though its happened about 5 times today already, it's hiding from me!

Cheers for the advice guys :)

Rob
 
Right just finished the memtest stuff and it passed after half an hour or so. I'm even more confused now, i wish i'd found something broken so i knew what to fix!
 
Right i ran chkdsk and nothing untoward was found. Just got hold of a blank dvd so memtest is next!

Funnily enough, now i can't seem to reproduce the problem, even though its happened about 5 times today already, it's hiding from me!

Cheers for the advice guys :)

Rob

If your not getting the problem since the CHKDSK then I'm guessing that the CHKDSK flagged some bad sectors on your disk and/or repaired some system files.
 
Right its happened twice more since last night, once when itunes was open, and once when GB-PVR was open (PVR software for my tv card)

Ive tried changing the video renderer on the software to see if this was the issue. I'm going to try and get GB PVR to crash the computer again as it keeps logs so ill check those if i can get it to happen again. I shall report back my findings!
 
After half an hour? Did it scan the whole of the memory then?

Well the top status bar got up to 100% after around half an hour then started again, in the middle of the page it said it had passed the test. I presume that's what i was after?
 
Is the base unit under a desk/near a heat source?

Mine was locking up last week and I was checking everything to no avail, I moved it out from it's hidey hole in the desk and left the side off whilst checking stuff.

No problems whatsoever so I put it down to overheating. Couple of new fans and all is aok again :)
 
Are you running Vista 64?

I get the same thing, the HDD light will stay on and the whole system will lock up apart from the mouse, after about 2-3 minutes everything will be back to normal.

If you find a cure then let me know, I put it down to Vista index service.
 
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Argh! Its happened a few more times today. Every time it has happened, itunes has been open, is it possible that the new version is doing this? I think thats the last thing i installed before my computer started playing up.
 
1. Uninstal that itunes.
2. Get yourself avast free home edition , install, run antivirus check.
3. Check the memory timings and voltage for your chips and set them manually in BIOS to those.
4. Run defrag.

And about the memtest, do it once again for more than half an hour, you can try to leave it for night so it scan 200-300%, im sure it wont scan whole memory in half an hour.

Also install HJT http://www.whatthetech.com/hjt202/HJTInstall.exe?
and paste the log here.
--

If no one of those helps then i've got no more ideas.
 
Heres the logfile :) Don't think theres anything in there that looks untoward?


Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2
Scan saved at 16:59:38, on 12/04/2008
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v7.00 (7.00.5700.0006)
Boot mode: Normal

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ZoneLabs\vsmon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe
C:\WINDOWS\RTHDCPL.EXE
C:\Program Files\PowerISO\PWRISOVM.EXE
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12\GrooveMonitor.exe
C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_03\bin\jusched.exe
C:\Program Files\UltraMon\UltraMon.exe
C:\Program Files\Windows Live\Messenger\msnmsgr.exe
C:\Program Files\Microsoft ActiveSync\wcescomm.exe
C:\Program Files\WinTV\Ir.exe
C:\Program Files\Logitech\SetPoint\KEM.exe
C:\Program Files\devnz\gbpvr\GBPVRTray.exe
C:\Program Files\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe
C:\Program Files\Devnz\GBPVR\GBPVRRecordingService.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\MI3AA1~1\rapimgr.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\VS7DEBUG\MDM.EXE
C:\Program Files\UltraMon\UltraMonTaskbar.exe
C:\Program Files\Logitech\SetPoint\KHALMNPR.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\wscntfy.exe
C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe
C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunes.exe
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12\WINWORD.EXE
C:\Program Files\Windows Live\Messenger\usnsvc.exe

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://localhost:7647/gbpvr/Guide.aspx
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54729
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=55245&clcid={SUB_CLCID}
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings,ProxyOverride = *.local
O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Reader Link Helper - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: Groove GFS Browser Helper - {72853161-30C5-4D22-B7F9-0BBC1D38A37E} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\Office12\GRA8E1~1.DLL
O2 - BHO: SSVHelper Class - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_03\bin\ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {7E853D72-626A-48EC-A868-BA8D5E23E045} - (no file)
O2 - BHO: Windows Live Sign-in Helper - {9030D464-4C02-4ABF-8ECC-5164760863C6} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Windows Live\WindowsLiveLogin.dll
O2 - BHO: ZoneAlarm Spy Blocker BHO - {F0D4B231-DA4B-4daf-81E4-DFEE4931A4AA} - C:\Program Files\ZoneAlarmSB\bar\1.bin\SPYBLOCK.DLL
O3 - Toolbar: ZoneAlarm Spy Blocker - {F0D4B239-DA4B-4daf-81E4-DFEE4931A4AA} - C:\Program Files\ZoneAlarmSB\bar\1.bin\SPYBLOCK.DLL
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ZoneAlarm Client] "C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SkyTel] SkyTel.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [RTHDCPL] RTHDCPL.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Alcmtr] ALCMTR.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PWRISOVM.EXE] C:\Program Files\PowerISO\PWRISOVM.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [GrooveMonitor] "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12\GrooveMonitor.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Adobe Reader Speed Launcher] "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Reader 8.0\Reader\Reader_sl.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] "C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_03\bin\jusched.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AtiPTA] atiptaxx.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Logitech Hardware Abstraction Layer] KHALMNPR.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [UltraMon] "C:\Program Files\UltraMon\UltraMon.exe" /auto
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [iTunesHelper] "C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\QTTask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [msnmsgr] "C:\Program Files\Windows Live\Messenger\msnmsgr.exe" /background
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [H/PC Connection Agent] "C:\Program Files\Microsoft ActiveSync\wcescomm.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ccleaner] "C:\Program Files\CCleaner\CCleaner.exe" /AUTO
O4 - Startup: GBPVRTray.exe.lnk = C:\Program Files\devnz\gbpvr\GBPVRTray.exe
O4 - Global Startup: AutoStart IR.lnk = C:\Program Files\WinTV\Ir.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Logitech SetPoint.lnk = C:\Program Files\Logitech\SetPoint\KEM.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: Download with Rapget - C:\Program Files\Rapget\rapget.htm
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\Office12\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_03\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_03\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra button: Send to OneNote - {2670000A-7350-4f3c-8081-5663EE0C6C49} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\Office12\ONBttnIE.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: S&end to OneNote - {2670000A-7350-4f3c-8081-5663EE0C6C49} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\Office12\ONBttnIE.dll
O9 - Extra button: Create Mobile Favorite - {2EAF5BB1-070F-11D3-9307-00C04FAE2D4F} - C:\PROGRA~1\MI3AA1~1\INetRepl.dll
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {2EAF5BB2-070F-11D3-9307-00C04FAE2D4F} - C:\PROGRA~1\MI3AA1~1\INetRepl.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Create Mobile Favorite... - {2EAF5BB2-070F-11D3-9307-00C04FAE2D4F} - C:\PROGRA~1\MI3AA1~1\INetRepl.dll
O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\Office12\REFIEBAR.DLL
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O16 - DPF: {20A60F0D-9AFA-4515-A0FD-83BD84642501} (Checkers Class) - http://messenger.zone.msn.com/binary/msgrchkr.cab56986.cab
O16 - DPF: {C3F79A2B-B9B4-4A66-B012-3EE46475B072} (MessengerStatsClient Class) - http://messenger.zone.msn.com/binary/MessengerStatsPAClient.cab56907.cab
O18 - Protocol: grooveLocalGWS - {88FED34C-F0CA-4636-A375-3CB6248B04CD} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\Office12\GR99D3~1.DLL
O22 - SharedTaskScheduler: IE Component Categories cache daemon - {553858A7-4922-4e7e-B1C1-97140C1C16EF} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\ieframe.dll
O23 - Service: Ati HotKey Poller - ATI Technologies Inc. - C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
O23 - Service: ATI Smart - Unknown owner - C:\WINDOWS\system32\ati2sgag.exe
O23 - Service: Bonjour Service - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe
O23 - Service: FLEXnet Licensing Service - Macrovision Europe Ltd. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Macrovision Shared\FLEXnet Publisher\FNPLicensingService.exe
O23 - Service: GB-PVR Recording Service - WelltonWay - C:\Program Files\Devnz\GBPVR\GBPVRRecordingService.exe
O23 - Service: InstallDriver Table Manager (IDriverT) - Macrovision Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\Driver\11\Intel 32\IDriverT.exe
O23 - Service: TrueVector Internet Monitor (vsmon) - Zone Labs, LLC - C:\WINDOWS\system32\ZoneLabs\vsmon.exe

--
End of file - 7402 bytes
 
Looks like your zone alarm is fighting with rapimgr.exe ;-).
Try uninstalling zone alarm and check if it helps.
Also look into that sync thing with whatever you're using be it iphone,mp3 player or smartphone go there into options and take it off automatic sync or something.

Also try this:
1. Click Start, click Run, type services.msc in the Open box, and then click OK.
2. In the list of services, right-click Windows User Mode Driver Framework, and then click Properties.
3. Click the General tab.
4. In the Startup type box, click Disabled or Manual, and then click OK.
5. On the File menu, click Exit.


--
BTW on my first post, the NUMBER 1 thing to do was uninstalling itunes, from what i see in the log you didnt do it as well ? ;-). You didnt do the scancheck i asked for too.

PLEASE do all of them carefully, no one can help you if you cant follow simple instructions :).
 
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