Windows xp Pro SP3 hangs after idle sometimes

Put new computer together all was well for couple of weeks, no issues. I did some work in the computer room and unplugged the computer. Reconnected and rebooted and it hung while trying to boot. Did hard shut down and it started and all was fine. Ran a few days and tried to start Internet Explorer it hung again. Rebooted with hard shut off, ok for a few days, then it hung again after being up and running fine for a few days when I attempted to start Outlook 2003.

Now every so often or maybe two or three times in a day it will hang and I have to shut down and reboot. After every reboot all is fine and working. I run XP Pro and have a SATA HD, which is the only thing I did not change with the new computer, I reused my hard drive. When it is running, all is very fine with no hangs or errors and all programs function properly. No hard drive activity when it hangs after trying to start IE or Outlook.

It all started on the shut down, unplug and restart. (Coincidental??)

New system specs:

Motherboard: Intel H55HC
CPU: Intel Core i3 540
Memory: OCZ PC3 4GB 1333Hz DDR3
PSU: Ultra LS500 500W
OS: XP Pro SP3 all Updates

Correction Attempts:

- installed all appropriate drivers with hardware as needed, I believe.
- have reseated memory and checked all connectors
- have no driver issues in device drivers, all looks good
- I run anti-virus and find no malware (that I see or none is reported)
- Defragged drive and a couple of days later it still hung
- ran CCleaner and it will still hang
- ran Sea Tools on my Maxtor drive and it checks out fine according to Sea Tools
- Does not seem to be overheating, when ever I check Intel Utilities all temps are green

It will be fine all day and if you leave it set for a while it may hang. I have turned off Stand-by and Hibernate and stop HDrive, only use turn off monitor.

It seems to be a windows issue but I am lost. Are there any log files created by windows under these conditions that may help diagnose? I have not done a restore to before the shut down and unhook but can do that or a reload but would like to know/fix what is wrong.

 

In order to ascertain whether the problem is software or hardware related, I would use a Linux Live cd. Puppy an good choice 100mb and loads entirely in ram.

My suggestion would be to boot to Puppy Linux via cd (you can remove the disc after desktop) and leave the pc on to check whether it does hang or not.

If it does then you know that you are faced with a hw error. If not software.

If the pc ran fine until you did some work, then genrally speaking the last thing you changed will be responsible. Since you have not stated the nature of those changes it is not possible to venture a guess.

 

risk-reversal, thanks for the reply. First paragraph stated it was a new build with no issues for a little more than two weeks. I shut down and unplugged the machine to do some carpenter work in the room. When finished, I restarted the machine and that was the first hang.

I replaced the old system due to a motherboard memory buss issue and the only thing I reused was the hard drive. What has me stumped is the fact that other than the occasional hang that I can not pin to any particlar activity other than the machine being idle for a while, it runs perfect, fast and smoothly.

I have Linux on CD and can try that but this is my home desktop the wife used and she doesn't even know what Linux is, nor would want to learn how to use it. The linux idea is a good one I did not think of, so far my machine has not had a glich in two days?

My first two thoughts were, hard drive/drivers or power settings but they seem ok. Will keep looking and report if I find the answer.

Thanks, oldguy51

 

Until you isolate whether this is a hw issue (ie ram, psu or other) or software related problem you know that it will be more difficult to find the route cause of the issue.

Using a Linux Live cd is very easy. Download the .iso. Burn. Start from cd and get to desktop. Then just move the mouse around and have an explore. It's loaded in ram only. When exiting just select 'DO NOT SAVE'.

New system builds can be tricky as they sometimes do not develop issues immediately but instead have intermittent issues which can surface after a short while.

I am sure that you know this already, but after new system build it is adviceable to run memtest and Prime95 (torture) to ascertain stability of system. Running those progs is also a good idea as it burns in the components.

Sorry when you said earlier on that you did some work, I misread the bit about the room I though you did some work on the pc.

 

Thanks risk-reversal, I ran Prime95 as suggested for 9 hours and all passed and ran 2 passes of memtest86+ from ubcd and passed. System seems fine and no temp issue while running test according to Intel Utilties w/MB.

System has been fine also with no hangs until I tried to enter BIOS durning boot to verify boot order settings for UBCD usage. I missed my timing for F2 and hit ctl-alt-del repeatedly durning boot to restart and it hung the machine and I had to do a hard shutdown and rebooted fine and has been fine since.

I have Ubuntu Linux and dual boot it on my laptop with XP so if needed I can run it but it appears that hardware is fine. Do you agree?

I looked back at system restore points (windows restore) and see on or about time of first issue I had loaded Easy Cleaner. I did not have any issue though until I shut the machine down and restarted. I do not remember if this was loaded to help fix this issue or loaded before just to try it. I did use CCleaner to address this issue after it happened, found and fixed some errors.

What would you suggest at this point? (Attached Prime95 results)

 

Additional Info: Forgot to state that I ran "scanpst.exe" in outlook to repair possible issues in .pst files because one time in had hung while starting Outlook 2003. Outlook does start faster now but did still hang after this fix last week.

 

New Hang after just doing normal operations, internet, emal, etc?

System was idle for a while, when I came home and tried to execute a mouse click to open email, windows or email froze.

Here's what you could and could not do during the hang:
You can move mouse cursor and right click to get menu on desktop and icons menu and click start button to bring up programs menu BUT when you left click to execute a command, it is non-responsive but it may respond in 2-3 minutes for that "one" click execution. Then in 2-3 minutes the next command "may" execute or not. IE window opened but did not load page but you could go to task bar and minimize and restor IE window but not close it. A right click to close it got you a "not responding", click close and it may in 2-3 minutes or not. I clicked the start button to shutdown, nothing but hour glass for many minutes and all clicks were non-responsive. Did "Hard Shutdown" and Restart and all is well and working fine after full reboot.

This is exactly what I did and what happened, any ideas?

 

To pop in with a thought if I may, during one of these 'hangs', have you looked in task manager to see what % cpu usage you are at? What you are describing sounds very much like a problem I had while working on a friend's computer; a newly installed program was causing his cpu to spike at 100% for intermittent periods of time, during which you could do nothing that was not on a considerable delay. I wound up removing and reinstalling the program to fix the issue. If you do happen to be at a very high % cpu usage during the hang, check the processes tab and you should be able to see what it is that is gobbling resources, if that is the case.

 

You DID remember to install some Thermal Paste on your CPU before installing the heat-sink, didn't you?
Also the right amount. Too much is as bad as none at all.

 

hrlow2-Yes a thin coat of high quality thermal paste was installed and spread/flatened with a card. Then a little pressure and twist to finish it. Temp monitor says it is ok also. No alarms/alerts in the green of meter.

ScoobySnack - got into task manager once while this happens, only Idle process 92%, CPU was 0%.

New Info: I checked Event Viewer for times close to or before the freezes. I found an Applivation event - ssidrv event 26 and w32time 36. Some lookup reading found these two can be linked together and suggest to stop the server, unregister and register, restart the time server in windows - I did that and will see what will happen. Also, ssidrv is associated with SpySweeper that I run, so I stopped SSweeper and stopped it from loading on start up. Hope this does somethiing good! Thanks for all your thoughts.

 

Still had a hang last night after idle time - damn! Removed a printer update from HP which I found can be buggy but will have to see. Seems that SpySweeper and time sync were not the issue but I still have SS turned off. I will take a good look at the MB drivers and other possible conflicts. Still could use some good ideas. Thanks

 

Off the beaten path perhaps but what kind of kb and mouse are you using usb or ps/2?

 

Both are USB devices and both use Microsoft Drivers both do not show issues in device manager but hey, so what?

what confuses me is that both the keyboard and mouse work fine (I think) during hang but after you click to choose something, it takes 2-3 minutes for it to happen if it does. What I mean is IE 8 will open but not load page. Every time I reboot and all seems good and I never get a notice about improper closing of windows.

I was looking at computer info in windows (msinfo32) and see irq sharing but not any conflicts or issues they all report OK.

I am still looking at every log and info file I can find in windows to find a error or conflict. I also am going to recheck MB drivers and info from Intel.

Thanks for following....

 

Personally, I would use a ps/2 mouse and kb during the diagnostics period.

 

Thanks for the suggestion risk-reserval, I know that on older systems especially, USB can do some wierd things. That is one of the things that may have been different when I plugged it back in, I am not always anal about using the exact same usb port. Sometimes when sometimes when things don't work quite right I will switch usb ports and it will get recongized and work properly.

Do you know why usb is so "iffy"?

Right now I am on day 3 after removing an HP printer update and have not had a hang since (keep fingers crossed). I think I will wait and see if it is stable this way before I change the mouse and keyboard. I don't want to make to many changes at once. I want to know what went south for next time. I also set windows update to download but ask to install so I can check updates. I hate it when MS keeps setting update to "Automatic", this is just asking for trouble.

Thanks and Happy Easter!
Oldguy51

 

Personally, I find the MS updates tedious and stopped using them quite sometime ago. I prefer to update specifically on a case basis.

As a point of observation the only reason I suggested using a ps/2 mouse and kb was because you talked about the lag which you withnessed with the mouse ie context menus would pause.

You have now unisntalled the HP printer software. I don't suppose you recall if the printer was on when you had the freezes. Maybe it was a driver clash usb mouse / kb and printer.

Good Luck

 

I had a similar problem till yesterday.

PC works fine on fresh boot. Then progressively gets slower and slower. After 2 or 3 hours, each click will cause the window or page to hang for a few minutes, sometimes several minutes. Clicking again will give a 'Not responding' prompt. During the hang, nothing else works nor responds to being clicked.

If I reboot, I am back to normal operations and speed. But as I continue working, the problem quickly starts again.

I had this problem for the last several months, and lately, have wanted to throw my PC against the wall.

I had also noticed for some time that in Windows Task Manager my CPU Usage was constantly between 70% and 100%. Even a klutz like me knows that this can't be normal.

Did a search online for the application showing huge resources usage in Task Manager: wmpnscfg.exe. Others were having the exact same problem. The fix for me: in Windows Media Player, go to Library, click Media Sharing... and Uncheck the box saying 'Share my media' and click OK.

It took a while to reconfigure. But after that, my PC feels like it's working at lightning speed, especially after what I've had to put up with before. And no more hangs and CPU Usage now shows mostly between 2% and 10%.

BTW, you may have to disable your Firewall temporarily if you do the above. Somehow, there is a connection between Windows Media Sharing and Windows Firewall.

Hope you sort out your problem, Oldguy.

 

Resolved I hope! and Observations

risk-reversal - Yes printer is always on and yes I am still hang free going on 5 days now. I have had bad experiences with my printer software before, that is why when I saw a new update I did not install myself, I removed it.

getthegoose - Difference on my hangs if I read your note properly is that my machine was just fiine until it sat idle and when you went to use it it would hang and be unresponsive. I believe risk-reversal was on good idea that my printer which is usb and my other usb software was clashing. So far so good, we will see.

Looking Back: It always pays to watch what is being installed by any update program. I was keeping track of them but MS keeps changing the setting to automatic with the downloads - wish they would stop that.

My other observation is not to forget programs that are set to run on the task scheduler like virus scans, printer updates (which I shut off), spyware or anything else. These programs make changes in small ways sometimes if nothing other than quarentining a file you may need.

I hope this is done now and I am over it, if not, I will just keep searching.

Happy Easter to all and many thanks for the thoughts, they always help.