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General discussion

computer freezing, please HELP ME!

Mar 16, 2004 9:12PM PST

ok, heres the deal, I reinstalled my windows and all components a couple of months ago. Ever since my computer freezes while online and especially during a game(Nascar4 by Papyrus). When I reinstalled everything, I updated all drivers and Windows. I am at a total loss!!!!! Here is the message that appears when I reboot after a freeze...
"system has recovered from a serious error"
This is the Error Report:
c:\DOCUME-1\WILLY\LOCALS-1\TEMP\WERL.tmp.dir00\SYSDATA.xml and c:\WINDOWS\MINIDUMP\MINI031704-04.dmp
Here is my system:
AMD Athlon proc.
1.40 GHz...512 MB
Win XP (SP1+updates)
Nvidia GeForce4 mx 440 Vid, SB Live! series ver. 5.12.2.252

If anyone can help me I would GREATLY appriciate it. Thank you, Willy

Discussion is locked

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Re:computer freezing, please HELP ME!
Mar 16, 2004 9:17PM PST

Here's a few areas to explore.

1. "Frequently users blame problems like this on sloppily programmed drivers or hardware mined with errors.

But often it turns out that the power supply unit..."
- http://www.tomshardware.com/howto/20040122/

To sniff this out I drop the FSB from 266/200 to 100 MHz and the AGP rate to 1x. If its better...

2. Heat.

Pull the case cover, point a fan at it and try again.

3. BIOS.

Many builders won't install the latest BIOS. They (wrongly) think the new board would have a newer BIOS. This area seems to be very important with the AMD boards.

Bob

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Re:Re:computer freezing, please HELP ME!
Mar 16, 2004 9:48PM PST

Ok, first of all, thank you for your imput Bob. I can eliminate the overheating issue so thats one down( Had that issue a while back so I resolved it by dropping a bill on a proper fan). I must admit you went way over my head with the FSB and AGP info though, I have no idea what that is. As far as BIOS, is that an issue that can be resolved with updates? I Apologize for my amateurish questions but my computer knowledge isnt up to speed with the problems and solutions I am facing, thanks again, Willy

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Not so fast...
Mar 16, 2004 10:19PM PST

With all due respect and not to bruise you...

1. "I can eliminate the overheating issue so thats one down( Had that issue a while back so I resolved it by dropping a bill on a proper fan)."

This is not the final end to this issue. Removing the case cover and pointing a fan at the machine internals can reveal that heat can be still an issue or some component has become temperture sensitive. Its a simple test and if successful, doesn't always mean you need more fans or better ventilation. For instance, some parts can age and instead of working well at the warm temperature of the PC internals, now fail. The other issue is that as the CPU cooling fan runs, lint builds up on the cooling fans and some sites (home, workplace, etc.) are worse than others with the going rule of thumb being a yearly cleaning if you want to stay away from this issue.

"I must admit you went way over my head with the FSB and AGP info though, I have no idea what that is."

Here's a Google with links about setting the AGP RATE and such...
- http://www.ati.com/support/infobase/biostutorial.html#AGPMode
- http://www.google.com/search?&q=AGP+RATE+BIOS

"As far as BIOS, is that an issue that can be resolved with updates?"

MAYBE! XP is rather finicky about the BIOS being current. To update such, you follow the maker's instructions. Since there is no standard here, I can't tell you much more than your BIOS must be current. For some time I would write that we don't change the BIOS just because, but now find that too much hardware is shipping with old BIOS versions and pleas like yours are common.

"I Apologize for my amateurish questions but my computer knowledge isnt up to speed with the problems and solutions I am facing, thanks again, Willy"

Not amateurish. The person who doesn't ask, will never know.

In closing, the issues I've highlighted are from my hardware perspective and from what I run into too often. By the time people ask for help, they already have installed the OS numerous times, searched for drivers and more. My answers are the "other" things to check. Be sure your machine is PEST and PARASITE free since Antivirus programs don't test for such. Quick reading at http://www.doxdesk.com/parasite/

Bob

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Another approach.
Mar 16, 2004 11:05PM PST

1. You cite the error "system has recovered from a serious error", but isn't this really a Stop as described in the article [Q317277] which discusses a problem with a certain video adapter driver and IMHO could also be contributed to others as well as the discussion, "Stop 0x000000EA" Error Message When You Run Video-Intensive Programs (Q314215).

2. Also, since we're discussing in general "You Receive a "System Has Recovered from a Serious Error" Message After Every Restart (Q317277)", let's assume this memory dump (Minidump) is simply because there is a problem with the Windows Error Reporting tool itself, there is a problem of some sort with the User Profile used, that the article content perhaps leads to a situation where there is a problem concerning the Paging file, or perhaps all of this has to do with either a problem with the hard drive [Q331958] or actual space available. Another consideration perhaps is that certain Updates aren't installed.

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Re:computer freezing, please HELP ME!
Mar 17, 2004 3:42AM PST

Hi sdwlly,
What exactly do you mean by "re-installed my windows and all components"? It may be helpful if you could tell us your mobo model, memory type etc.