Random PC Lock Ups! Frustrating!!!

[MOUSY]

Yes folks, my 5 year old Compaq Presario 5000 is doing it's best to irritate the hell out of me again. >:(

It freezes at random and unexpected times: before/during and after Windows loads. When opening my first program (Firefox for example), even while typing up this message. Sometimes after it freezes, the monitor won't even come on when I switch it off and on again. It won't go through the BOOT sequence (currently set at CD -> floppy -> HD) It stops after the CD drive.

Over the past 3 years I've upgraded many parts on this PC. These are the current specs: (* indicates upgraded parts)
06e4h Compaq Motherboard
AMD Duron 700MHz
128MB Nvidia FX5200* (On AGP 4x)
640MB PC133 memory* (all unmatched, not necessary for this board)
100GB HDDs(80+20)*
250W PSU
52x CD Burner*

Now I know the list of possible causes of these random lock ups is near infinite, but I'm so frustrated that I'm hoping that through some miracle, someone here will be able to guide me through pinpointing that irritating anomaly.

I've tried everything, from a MemTest86+ scan, defragging my drives, to completely disconnecting every component and reconnecting them numerous times. The freezing seems to be independent of all this and still continues.

I know for a fact that my HD is slowly going bad and may be a cause of these problems, but I'm leaning to the posiibility of a failing mobo as well. Sometimes I need to disconnect my 20GB HD or the system won't find the OS on the 80GB HD. (Yes things are that bad ). I also get msgs saying that PCI.sys file is corrupt. Though those are rare. Other problems also include the system completely failing to recognize memory sticks. I only recently got it to see all 640 after removing and replacing them an infinite amount of times.

PLEASE! ANY help is GREATLY appreciated!

[jimcooper1]

Like you say, the possibilities are almost infinite. Probably PSU or corrupt OS.

I would first suspect your PSU...not only is it now old but it has a low wattage to begin with.

[Politically Incorrect]

For the missing file try a recovery using a Win XP disc.

I would almost think that your RAM is causing the random freezes. But like you stated there is a infinite number of possibilities.
Try to run the computer with just the 512 stick of RAM and see if it stays stable for a possible solution.

[MOUSY]

Thanks for the help and quick replies guys. Yes, I have suspected that the PSU is failing to keep up with my upgraded hardware. However I have no means of obtaining a new one to test. Not even a new HD to test as well. I know for a fact that my system is virus/spyware clean. Did a scan recentl;y and I also take very good care of my system in that regard.

I also have tried many combinations of RAM sticks... along with trying them individually. Either way, I still get the lockups. So I doubt it may be the RAM.

I should also say that the courruption messages have stopped for awhile now.

Any further suggestions are welcomed. I will have to go begging for a PSU or HD as Jim suggested.

[justpassingthrough]

One lesson I learned from someone around here was to run a full disk-check every 3 months to make sure there is no corrupt sector on the hard drive

It can be run 2 ways. The first way is by right clicking the drive, select properties and then tool. Select disk check and when the box pops up check both options so it does the full scan. It will tell you it has to reboot and will do it offline.

That scan can take anywhere from 45min to 8 hours depending on the size of the drive and the amount of information on it, and the number of errors it finds. It starts itself over from the beginning if it finds a bad sector and marks it so Windows won

[MOUSY]

Thanks miltestpilot, I've been meaning to ask how this was done. This was my next resort. Seems you read my mind. I suspect I'll need to set aside 18 hours of my time...

[MOUSY]

I know this is quite an old thread, but just wanted to say that I recovered my PC after it finally died one month ago... well sort of... LOL....

Turns out the OS was corrupt like Jim suspected. Bad sectors on the HD.
Took one month of several run-arounds with some rip of guy who charged me about $30 US for a job that was never done, and loads of google research.
Eventually found out that one of my RAM sticks bought recently was preventing the Windows CD from loading up (incompatible with XP). Had to remove it to reinstall my OS.
Bad news is I forgot to back up my My Documents Folder first. Lost all my photos and documents (which was a sh!tload). Fortunately my programs and music are intact.

Now to get to building up my collection of FS9 screenies.

[NickN]

Bad sectors on the HD.

Which is what caused the Windows corruption I am sure.


If get a HDD that shows any bad sectors I typically chuck it. The repair scan is there to get you back in the game to recover and backup data but as far as I am concerned, bad sectors means the drive is trash

[caveman16]

Hey Guys,  Wishing you a nice day .

    WOW,  sounds like my first PC.   I can't be of any help but here  is what I did to help myself  and to make use of such a terrible situation.   I used a credit card and bought another PC after figuring how much I could pay on it each month.  

    Then I used that first PC and started taking it apart by asking a lot of questions and study.   I wanted to learn all I could so I wouldn't be faced with not knowing which way to turn in the future.   Well,  I find that I still ask even more questions than before and love it.  This is a great place to look for help and now I feel like I'm helping myself also by my studies.  

    Should you go in that direction, - -  obtaining another PC - - -  use the bad one in your studies,  it feels great to be able to sometimes solve the problems and look back and tell yourself that   " I DID THAT MYSELF ".    

     Sorry I can't help on this problem,  I sure do wish you luck with it

     Have a good one,  caveman