Windows XP Pro Freezing randomly?

Question

I just recently pulled a hard drive from a computer I used for a good while, in hopes to upgrade the hardware I was using. I went from a dell dimension 2400, to a home-built system. The dell was running 2.2ghz, 512mb ddram, 2 40GB hard drives(which were switched to the new system), as well as the two cd drives which I moved over as well. The new system is 2.4ghz, 786MB pc-133mhz ram, unsure of the type, I do know it's all the same kind in the system however. It's got a goofy SiS video card, an older model with the proper drivers installed. After the switchover, it started randomly freezing, I just reinstalled windows (without formatting) and am currently doing a chkdsk. Any ideas to why it was and possibly will still be randomly freezing?

Thanks

It's not because of programs running, I believe it's being caused by malfunctioning hardware, or possible registry errors. The chkdsk is at stage 4, no problems yet.

The ram is all of the same type, that's guaranteed.

Oops, sorry, it's 768, and it's also 5:30AM =p

It's setup 3x256, that's the max I can put in it at the moment, no 512's laying about.

I believe I'll replace the motherboard tomorrow, because I've got PC wizard, and 70degrees F isnt too bad for this box. By the way, it just crashed while doing a chkdsk..what does that tell you =p

The ram is good, that's a forsure because it was in my server box just a bit ago, and working perfectly.

Answer 1

If, by freezing, you mean that the mouse cursor wont move anymore, this is typically a hardware problem.

Most commonly, it's overheating. Clean out the CPU fan on the motherboard. I usually just remove the fan from the heat sink without removing the heat sink from the motherboard (that way you don't have to put on more thermal conductive grease). Then remove any large chunks of dust.

If it still freezes, check the that the heat sink is properly seated on the CPU. If it is, take it off and clean off the thermal grease and apply new grease.

If it's still freezing, the next step is to replace the RAM chips as those might be bad. After that, motherboard. If you've replaced the motherboard, memory, and CPU, and it's still freezing, then call the Ghost Busters.

Answer 2

A little but hard to say from the symptoms you have given us - usually if it was a hardware fault windows would give you a BSOD

So it is likely a problem with the operating system either a driver issue or a hanging module

Great that you are doing a chkdsk this would have been my first answer

Do a system file check > click on start then run >type > sfc /scannow

let that check

also do a defrag in safemode > you can also download disk cleaner on a free trial - this will defrag out side of windows and also defrag the MFT
www.executive.com

Also check the eventviewer on the system and application to see if there are any errors - google the results to give you vital clues
start > control panel > adminstrative tools > eventviewer > choose application or system - double click on the error and it will give you a description

Also check the device manager for any driver conflicts
also on the system propreties check the advanced and then the virtual memory > make sure the paging file is set to system managed or not set too low

also do check the MSCONFIG for startup items - just in case that maybe causing a conflict

Also do a memory check > the hard ware may not be working properly do a memory check as well

hope this helps

Answer 3

I think you should reformat your PC, also make sure your RAMs are the same brand, not 2 different brands. Kingston RAMs are the best. When you buy a RAM buy them in one size for example if you have for slots for RAMs get 4 256 MB RAMs, this will make faster your PC performance. But I think you should format your PC. If above things don't help call someone who knows better than me and you.

Answer 4

My xp pro freezing was usually caused by media player taking up way too much cpu. Minimize it when u can, and never run the visualisations- thats a killer

Answer 5

Above answers are right, and also make sure all your RAM sticks have equal values. I thought I'd point that out, because you can't achieve 786 RAM with equal sticks. May wanna check that out.

Answer 6

properly u have get the wonderful time set & the wonderful time zone additionally, & what's making it freeze is ur understanding of RAM, to many classes working in the history, bypass into msconfig & on the initiating tab take out ninety 9% of then go away ur anti virus beginning in the tray, get carry of stepped forward SystemCare the unfastened one, set up & run all this is classes, it is going to sparkling ur junk & temp archives & ur registry this is risk-free & large for that, run all of them & ur pc will run like a bullet.:)