XP PC freezing - store says time to buy new - NOT

In March my XP desktop started to freeze, screen would freeze with no response from mouse or keyboard. Reset was only option.

I went through Major Geeks malware process (separate post) and found nothing. I thought things were OK when the PC ran well for 2 weeks then suddenly FREEZE time.

Then I proceeded with:
Repair install of XP SP1 and all updates to SP3 - still froze.
New harddisk with new XP SP3 install - still froze.
UBUNTU - running from CD = less freezing, actually only a few freezes.
Memory test - all 4G using MS Windiag memory test extended = overnight test resulted in multiply ERAND failures of all 4 sticks and one LRAN failure.
Memory test - 528M sticks individually with MS Windiag and Memtest - multiply extended tests on each stick only one stick resulted in ERAN errors others were OK.
Cleaned AGP PC card edge connector contacts. = still freezing.

Checked for new AGP graphics cards but now we are spending money which could go for a new PC. I do have a number of graphics programs including CS2 which I would need to upgrade if I go to Win 7. Current configuration is adequate for my needs, if it stops freezing. Current specs are attached.

More info: I tried to isolate it to a program am unable. It occurs mostly while surfing but that is because that the primary purpose of the machine. The freezing has also occurred with other programs.

 

Hi

First, Windows' RAM test isn't the best (though if it found errors, your RAM is probably an issue)... try using Memtest86, if there are errors with the RAM then your RAM is faulty and needs to be replaced. Several RAM manufacturers provide a lifetime warranty on their RAM, if that's the case then you can simply send it in for a replacement... if not, RAM isn't a lot of money (especially in your case).

If you're comfortable doing so, it would also be a good idea to remove the CPU heatsink, clean the heatsink and top of the processor (rubbing alcohol on paper towels works well). Be sure to not touch them after cleaning them though, as the oils from your skin are bad for heat transfer. Once they're clean, reapply thermal paste (I personally use Arctic Silver 5, it's ~$10 for a tube that's good for several applications). A rice grain-sized amount on the center of the top of the processor before clamping the heat sink down once again is good... don't use too much. The reason I mention doing this is because I've seen cheap thermal paste go bad before, and the freezing could definitely be due to your CPU overheating (and/or because your RAM is faulty).

Also, when the freezing occurs, does the sound freeze along with the monitor? If you haven't tried, test that. If the sound freezes WITH the video, it's almost definitely not a graphics card issue, but moreso the RAM or CPU. Hope this helps.

EDIT: Also, a freezing issue would be more of a Hardware issue than a Software issue.

 

Thanks for your reply.

#1 memory stick is the one that first failed with MS on extended test, failed ERADN and if failed MEMTEST with 20 errors.

As I recall when the PC freezes all activity stops, keyboard response, mouse response and sound and video, i.e, watching youtube or Vimeo... everything comes to a halt.

The memory that is failing is Corsair VS - Values series.

This is a PC that has been very reliable for the last 3-4 years. I am surprised that it would fail and so intermittently, but stuff happens.

 

Yeah, switch the RAM sticks and run the test again. Let's be sure it's the RAM stick, and not the motherboard slot that's gone bad.

 

I have tested all the memory one stick at a time. Only one stick a Corsair product turned up with fault. I removed it and installed 2 identical 512M in the correct slots - both blue to start. I am now running 1G vs. 2G which is what had been running well up to March 2011, running well for 3-4 years.

I thought things were going well till just a few minutes ago when Mr. Freeze showed up again. I had tested the Corsair memory for over 7 hours each stick and the other memory for over 1 hour each stick. I do not think it is memory, but what do I know?

Last ditch effort is to buy a new AGP card (hard to find in town) and test it. Any other suggestions???? I have not re-lubed the CPU heatsink. Process controls says it runs around 100F to 110F which seems reasonable to me.

Thank for eveyone's comments. I realize that at some point I have to pull the plug but I am beginning to feel like a detective that needs to solve this case!

Mark