XP random restarts and freezes

[woody1191]

The first test you ran is designed to test the CPU mainly, the second for both RAM and CPU and Blend the third test is for testing mainly the RAM.

What i explained above is a rough estimate on what the program tests since it wasn't designed for Hardware testing, but it does test just the CPU and RAM for calculations and memory addresses.

It may be RAM from the problem with the last test but is still inconclusive you need to see if you can get those first 2 tests to run again and post the results here.

 

[nimchip]

Well shouldn't restarts during both of those first tests indicate that there's something wrong with my CPU? I'll try running them again though.

 

[nimchip]

Test 1 ran and gave me the following:

[Aug 4 21:55] Work thread starting
[Work thread Aug 4 21:55] Work thread starting
[Work thread Aug 4 21:55] Beginning a continuous self-test to check your computer.
[Work thread Aug 4 21:55] Please read stress.txt. Choose Test/Stop to end this test.
[Aug 4 21:55] Beginning a continuous self-test to check your computer.
[Aug 4 21:55] Please read stress.txt. Choose Test/Stop to end this test.
[Aug 4 21:55] Test 1, 800000 Lucas-Lehmer iterations of M172031 using FFT length 8K.
[Work thread Aug 4 21:55] Test 1, 800000 Lucas-Lehmer iterations of M172031 using FFT length 8K.
[Aug 4 21:57] FATAL ERROR: Rounding was 0.5, expected less than 0.4
[Aug 4 21:57] Hardware failure detected, consult stress.txt file.
[Aug 4 21:57] Torture Test ran 2 minutes - 1 errors, 0 warnings.
[Aug 4 21:57] Work thread stopped.
[Work thread Aug 4 21:58] Test 2, 800000 Lucas-Lehmer iterations of M163839 using FFT length 8K.
[Work thread Aug 4 22:00] Test 3, 800000 Lucas-Lehmer iterations of M159745 using FFT length 8K.
[Work thread Aug 4 22:02] Test 4, 800000 Lucas-Lehmer iterations of M157695 using FFT length 8K.

 

[nimchip]

In Place Large FFTs


[Aug 4 22:06] Work thread starting
[Aug 4 22:06] Beginning a continuous self-test to check your computer.
[Work thread Aug 4 22:06] Work thread starting
[Aug 4 22:06] Please read stress.txt. Choose Test/Stop to end this test.
[Work thread Aug 4 22:06] Beginning a continuous self-test to check your computer.
[Work thread Aug 4 22:06] Please read stress.txt. Choose Test/Stop to end this test.
[Work thread Aug 4 22:06] Test 1, 4000 Lucas-Lehmer iterations of M19922945 using FFT length 1024K.
[Aug 4 22:06] Test 1, 4000 Lucas-Lehmer iterations of M19922945 using FFT length 1024K.
[Work thread Aug 4 22:10] Test 2, 4000 Lucas-Lehmer iterations of M19922943 using FFT length 1024K.
[Aug 4 22:10] Test 2, 4000 Lucas-Lehmer iterations of M19922943 using FFT length 1024K.
[Work thread Aug 4 22:15] Test 3, 4000 Lucas-Lehmer iterations of M19374367 using FFT length 1024K.
[Aug 4 22:15] Test 3, 4000 Lucas-Lehmer iterations of M19374367 using FFT length 1024K.
[Aug 4 22:16] FATAL ERROR: Rounding was 1.483249233e+016, expected less than 0.4
[Aug 4 22:16] Hardware failure detected, consult stress.txt file.
[Aug 4 22:16] Torture Test ran 10 minutes - 1 errors, 0 warnings.
[Aug 4 22:16] Work thread stopped.
[Work thread Aug 4 22:18] Test 4, 4000 Lucas-Lehmer iterations of M19174369 using FFT length 1024K.
[Work thread Aug 4 22:20] Test 5, 4000 Lucas-Lehmer iterations of M18874369 using FFT length 1024K.

 

[nimchip]

Hmm after i ran these tests and googled the error... i went to check some BIOS settings even though i haven't EVER overclocked my PC, but just wanted to make sure. I just browsed through the stuff and noticed everything was like it was supposed to be and then Windows didn't want to boot. It just went to the Login screen, gave me an error saying "One of the files containing the system's registry data had to be recovered by use of a log or alternate copy. The recovery was successful." and then just restarted. Then it went on a loop trying to load windows giving me the error and restarted, until i forced a shut down holding the power button for 5 secs. I didn't know what to do so I just switched my RAM's positions and it still gave me the error but it didn't restart and let me boot up as normally.

Let's recap: All of this is because my computer would restart or freeze after 30 mins to 1 hour of playing world of warcraft, and I could play it sometimes for long periods of time. I can use my computer for anything else and it doesn't restart or freeze. After replacing one of the sticks that was giving out errors according to memtest, the computer would still restart after playing some World of Warcraft for a while - so i put my other ram stick (the one with the errors back). I removed the sound card and still the restarts and freezes popped up. I tried installing a somewhat older video card that i borrowed and after playing it safe by booting into safemode, running driver cleaner and trying to install the drivers - the system would restart midway through the driver install (after that i checked and the fan on the card wasn't working so I just took it out). So i just put back my own card and began running prime 95.

I believe I haven't posted my specs so here they are:

CPU: 3.2 GHz Pentium 4 "Northwood" with Zalman fan.
Motherboard: Asus P4S800D-E. The on-board sound has been screwed for about 1 or 2 years.
RAM: 2 sticks of 512 Mb each. They are Corsair brand. DDR-400 PC 3200. One of which gives out errors in memtest.
Video Card: eVGA Geforce 7800 GS AGP
PSU: Antec Truepower 2.0 430W
Two HDDs: 60GB and 120 GB both Western Digital.
Soundcard is an old PCI Turtlebeach sound card which works great despite its age for headphone and microphone use.

The PC (motherboard, CPU and ram) has been working great for 4 years since March 1, 2004 when it was first ordered (by piece) and assembled. Then I replaced the video card after 2 years in 06 to what it has now because my old Radeon 9800's fan died and the graphics were being distorted. Everything was perfect until 2? weeks ago.

 

[nimchip]

My PC restarted tonight a few hours after posting that while i was browsing the internet. First time it happens while I'm not in the game. I'm thinking about buying new ram but I wanna make sure cause this is an old PC and I don't want to start blowing money on stuff that isn't gonna work.

 

[woody1191]

I would suggest you buy a new Motherboard because all the tests find errors with everything even though you replaced the RAM so it now sounds like a Motherboard failure.

Also you said your On-Board sound is screwed so i'm guessing something to do with that has resurfaced. Is there anyway you can test some of these parts in different comps to see if they work on them if you can and these parts do work then this confirms a Motherboard failure for sure. You don't have to test the CPU just say the RAM, Graphics Card, Sound Card and maybe the HDD's if possible.

 

[nimchip]

ill try to see if my friend can test these on his pc

 

[woody1191]

Please note that you have to make sure some of these parts are compatible e.g. RAM and HDD's, the Graphics Card and Sound Card should be ok, but the Drivers need to be installed for these and his/her Graphics Card and Sound Card needs to be removed and the Drivers,

 

[nimchip]

I think i found out what the problem is. It's the CPU. I borrowed a lower clock speed northwood and I'm testing it atm, but so far I've had no problems. I think Prime95 crashing was a dead give away for it and a friend commented that something like that had happened to him before and it was his CPU. I'll be ordering a refurbished one from ebay or something to squeeze 1 more year or so from this PC before i move over to new technology.

I'll post if something else happens but for now thanks for all the help!

 

[woody1191]

Yeah it was a dead giveaway, the only thing was I wasn't sure whether it was RAM or CPU since all tests were failing or the actual DIMM slots failing on the Motherboard for the RAM.

Thanks For The Update .

 

[nimchip]

I'm posting again cause the pc has started restarting again, after 2 weeks of use without problems - but this time it did it while Idle and usually not when playing WoW. I'm thinking its the motherboard or the PSU. I just finished repairing to use on another motherboard and I'll put up my PSU after I leave this one overnight to see what happens. Pretty sure it was always the motherboard.

 

[woody1191]

Ok Great to hear from you :grinthumb

If it is still under Warranty get it replaced, otherwise you need to buy a New Motherboard.