WinXP freezes and inability to shutdown

Thanks for the quick reply Steven. I'm currently using my parents' PC and will check mine when I get home later.

More information - at certain times programs that crash with open windows leave "window trails" when dragging the dialog boxes if that helps narrow down potential problems.

especially video? and especially using the MS update function to do this? Since it doesn't happen in safe mode, drivers can be suspect. Power use is also a possibility and is easy to troubleshoot just by disconnecting non critical components to cut down on current draw. If that helps, you PS is possible suspect. Good luck.

Hi Billzhills,

You might be right with the failing HDD but I've just run the WD diagnostic tool "Data Lifeguard" and there were no errors reported on either HDD. Funny that it reports the suspect drive fine, but when connected the PC is symptomatic; disconnecting the drive solves the problem.

Should I try the drive on a different SATA bus on the MB?

Thanks for evy little bit of help here guys, you sure know your stuff.

Cheers,
Nick

Followed the posts since I was last here and seen many good suggestions.
And yes I've had hdd pass the diagnostic utilities but are failing.

Solutions suggested and attempted w/o any results suggest a failing drive.

Have you touched the drive when running?
If not do so, if it is hot, not warm, then the drive is failing.

Luck

Bill

Hi Bill, I will try hooking the drive up again and see if it gets hot and will report back. The question is, how long should I leave the PC running like that to gauge heat? I ask because I'm using the PC in "normal" XP mode without the drive connected, but will have to reconnect and run it in "safe mode" for my human diagnostic test

Cheers and thanks once again,
Nick

If this is not the primary drive run the defrag application. You'll know with in 5 mins.

If it is the primary drive by the time Windows boots.

Bill

Hi Bill, I'll run the defrag tonight when I get home from work and will post results here.

The drive has its power supply connected currently, the SATA cable is disconnected from the drive. It is no warmer than the primary drive.

Why would a failing HDD be 100% accessible whilst in safe mode and not normal Windows though?

Cheers,
Nick

Missed that the drives are Ok in Safe Mode, looks like I'll have to retract a failing drive unless the drive controller is causing an issue in Normal Mode.

Beyond that I don't have a clue ... hopefully someone else may.

Bill

Hi again Bill,

I decided to drop the SATA connection from the MB and reconnect on another SATA slot - the drive now works normally again. I'd say there's something wrong with the MB itself.

I may decide to reconnect it to the previous slot in order to confirm, but at the moment I've got a few other things to do with my time.

Thanks again to all who offered helpful suggestions in troubleshooting my problematic system. It's comforting to know that plenty of knowledgeable people are out there and willing to take the time to respond.

Cheers,
Nick

Hi guys,

Thanks for all the tips. Last night when I returned from my folks' place, I disconnected a DVD burner, one SATAII HDD and a chassis fan. I then booted up and the system works fine.

I think it's pretty clear the PS is the culprit and on its way out. In a couple of days I'll be installing a Cooler Master iGreen 500W Silent PSU and hopefully the problems will be a thing of the past.

When I say 'several' SATAII HDD, it's only 2 - a 160GB and a 250GB, but also a 20GB IDE drive. Other drives are a CDRW and a DVDRW. I've been running the 3 HD drives for around 10 months now.

I'm 100% certain there's no spyware/malware/virii on my pc as I run firewall, anti-virus and anti-spyware. I also perform daily scans and daily updates.

I'll let you know how I go when I get the PSU... should I fork out the extra AUD$33 for a 600W supply, or stick with the 500? I'm led to believe the CoolerMaster is a fairly good reliable power supply.


Thanks again for your most accurate help!

I'm seeing USB memory sticks with that much in the works. If you must, get an external case for it.

500W of a good make should be fine but what was in that box? I can't get a clear picture of what's in the machine now.

Bob

Hi Bob,

I actually had a good look inside the box and realised that I'd already removed the IDE and stuck it into my old PC. I can't even remember doing it! The one I read as 20GB is a partition on one of the physical drives and is reserved for DVD burning duties only. I used to use the 20GB for it.

The degrading power supply is only a 380W Cooler Master; I thought Id built it with a 500W PS when I assembled it a couple of years ago...

Cheers,
Nick

Well, having installed a new PSU, and having similar problems once reconnecting, I'm almost 100% postitve it's one of the HDD's causing my woes. I disconnected the SATA cable and it's working. Currently downloading the Western Digital diagnostic software and will boot the CD to get an idea what's wrong.

Even though the PSU may not've been the trouble, I'm glad I replaced it anyway. I hope the data on my drive it retrievable. Updates may follow...

Hi Rick,

Sounds interesting, will give it a go perhaps. What would be the downside of disabling read-only?

The thing that I find peculiar is that I can read my D:\ whilst in safe mode, but when running XP normally I have problems.

XP would lock up when I went to use drop down menus, someone made these hidden.

Had trouble getting into the control panel, someone made these hidden and they were read only. I unchecked both and applied the changes to sub folders also. Everything went back to working great.

New policy. When I walk away from the computer, I log out. Not lock it, log out.

The other accounts are limited accounts. This way I know what's going on.


Rick

Hi Rick,

I tried your suggestion, but it hasn't helped. Interestingly, the attributes of the C:\Windows folder and subfolders have all returned to read-only on reboot.

I still don't have a solution

I know you received good help in this thread and this LINK may give some insight.

Tom

Hi Tom, thanks for the link. I've perused that page before and doesn't seem to help in any way shape or form.

I have narrowed it down to connecting the second HDD. If the drive is connected the computer only functions (normally) in Safe Mode; disconnect the drive and all is well. Manufacturer diagnostic utilities show no problem with the hardware itself.

What situations would cause the symptoms described?

Thanks again for all solutions offered so far!

Nick

Does either HD work individually but not when both are connected? If so, how about jumpers on the drives. Are both SATA2 and does the MB fully support these? Try changing the jumpers in either case so they are both configured the same. As well, some MBs allow RAID configurations on an SATA set. These generally have different controllers on the MB and can also be used as individual drives. But, to do so, BIOS settings need to be correct and the correct driver for the controller needs to be installed.

Hi Steven,

When in safe mode, both drives work fine together, but when in normal XP mode, having the second HDD connected causes problems. The system hasn't changed in nearly 12 months in its current configuration of drives.

Mobo supports SATA2, jumpers haven't been touched. I don't have them in a RAID configuration with mirroring etc, but just 2 standalone drives running independently.

I might try plugging the lead into a different SATA slot on the MB if the defrag check doesn't result in a hot drive like mentioned in a post up higher.

Keep the responses coming people, they're most appreciated.

Thanks,
Nick