Fixing a PC. Level: NIGHTMARE

[9r2e5i3k]

OK guys, some of you already know about my PC hanging up often. I'm completly out of ideas how to fix it, and out of patience to live with it. Especially when I thought I finally fixed it.

The symptom:
Sudden freeze of the whole PC. This happens most of the time while playing games, but also happens when browsing the web, listening to music or even when the system is idle.

If there was any audio playing, there would come out a short buffer crackfart at the point of hanging up. If the HDD was active, the LED on the case would continue to glow even if the HDD stopped.

After my last fiddling with the BIOS, the PC sometimes does not fully hang up, but only the audio chip and USB devices freeze/fail.

Most likely cause:
f**k knows really. Could be the motherboard, read about it that it might have problems with voltages. But that's not even sure.

Base Hardware:

Mobo:	Gigabyte GA7-N400S-L
CPU:	AMD Sempron 2200+ @ 1,49GHz (166*9) AMD Athlon XP 2700+ @ 2.15GHz (166*13)
RAM:	1GB: 1*512MB DDR1 PC400 Kingston + 1*512MB DDR1 PC400 Nanya (both @ 3-3-3-8 timings)
GFX:	Gainward GeForce FX5200 Ultra [AGP 8x, 128MB]
HDD1:	Maxtor 6Y060L0, 60GB (PATA)
HDD2:	Seagate ST3320620AS, 300GB (SATA)
HDD3:	Maxtor 7Y250P0, 250GB (PATA)
CD1:	SAMSUNG CDRW/DVD SM-348B (PATA)
CD2:	Samsung CDDVDW SH-222AB (SATA)

If need more details, ask.

Windows XP Service Pack 3, 32bit. All updates.
THIS ALREADY HANGS UP.

What I've already tried (all failed/no error found):
Reinstalling Windows,
Upating as well as not updating the OS via Microsoft Update,
Using different GFX drivers (incl. default windows drivers),
Using different chipset drivers (incl. no drivers),
Using different sound drivers (incl. no drivers),
Testing RAM w/ different programs,
Testing the system hard drive,
Clearing CMOS settings,
Downclocking the FSB to 100/133MHz,
Switching to another video card,
Installing the OS on another hard drive,
Disabling every unused port/feature in the BIOS,
Disconnecting/replacing pretty much every part that's possible to replace in a PC,
and other things I might've forgotten about.

Halp guise.


Sorry for any typos, I broke my second keyboard and had to type this ith the OSK.

[Squeak]

Same thing happened to me, reinstalled Windows XP three times. I'll turn the computer on and it'll run fine for about 15 minutes, then it'll lock up and become unresponsive to anything.

[Ted]

Might be a temperature issue somewhere have you checked the bios for temperatures or even a program? Are you able to remove the sound card or is it onboard?

Did you change anything inside your computer shortly before this started to occur?

[9r2e5i3k]

Might be a temperature issue somewhere have you checked the bios for temperatures or even a program?

Temperatures are acceptable.

Are you able to remove the sound card or is it onboard?

Integrated. Most I can do is disable it in BIOS.

Did you change anything inside your computer shortly before this started to occur?

It was like that since always I think...

Same thing happened to me, reinstalled Windows XP three times. I'll turn the computer on and it'll run fine for about 15 minutes, then it'll lock up and become unresponsive to anything.

What were your PC's specs?

[Manoleas]

What do suggest me to do a great pc with low ammount of money?

[Bilbo]

Try running the system on another hard drive disk. That means swapping the system hard drive and installing the operating system on it. If the problems still occur, the problem lies within your motherboard.

[9r2e5i3k]

Try running the system on another hard drive disk. That means swapping the system hard drive and installing the operating system on it. If the problems still occur, the problem lies within your motherboard.

Did not help, also hung up.

What do suggest me to do a great pc with low ammount of money?

Already considred, but haven't got enough money yet.

[Salmonella]

I would've guessed you had a really dusty laptop looking at the symphtoms..

Anyways, You've done a lot of Software updates while it's probably something you should do in hardware.. I would take it apart, take mobo out, cpu out, RAM out, etc etc, then put everything back.

If that wont work buy a new mobo, shouldn't be expensive with these specs.

[9r2e5i3k]

I would've guessed you had a really dusty laptop looking at the symphtoms..

It's not a laptop.

Anyways, You've done a lot of Software updates while it's probably something you should do in hardware.. I would take it apart, take mobo out, cpu out, RAM out, etc etc, then put everything back.

Already done before.

If that wont work buy a new mobo, shouldn't be expensive with these specs.

Spending money on this piece of junk is uneconomic at least anyway. I anyhing, I'm considering upgrading the whole base.

[Aimzz]

Have you checked your CPU temp?

[9r2e5i3k]

Have you checked your CPU temp?

>Temperatures are acceptable.

[Mikal]

I used to have nearly EVERY problem, my computer eventualy blew up....

Try opening it up, vacume it out and get any dust off the fans.
Try a system restore (If you already havent).

I don't know much about computers, but this is how I've fixed 2 of mine... 

[Aimzz]

What is your current BIOS version?

[9r2e5i3k]

@Mikal
PC is already dust free, andfor the third time tempratures are normal.
A system restore will not help.
>Level: NIGHTMARE

@Aimzz
F5 - newest available from Gigabyte's site.

[Julio.]

If possible, get a hold of some Industrial Strength Alcohol Cleaner and dip the board in it, I've been informed i works very well at cleaning.

Then again, then I'd get blamed if it broke, so Meh :|