Is my processor crashing?

[hynesy]

I have a Pentium 4 3.0 ghz processor, been great, up until recently, the computer just completely stops, the processor spots working completely in the middle of eg, converting songs with itunes or using internet explorer. This happens with other programs too. This happened with a previous computer and not long after it crashed, any hlep or info would be great
cheers hynesy

 

[Tedster]

are you getting errors?

Sounds like an overheating issue.

 

[hynesy]

No, but i have 4 fans in my cmoputer, its winter here in australia and if i feel insde my pc it is cool. I am not getting over heating warnings, this happen with a previous computer, first it was a couple of time every now and again, then every time then it would freeze during login. This has started the same way, computer is 2 years and 7 months old but has had alot of use, used as a work station, gaming station and use to watch movies on and play music thro.
If any more information ios need, dont hesitate to ask
cheers hynesy

 

[Peddant]

Do you scan for spyware ? Are you sure it not a spyware problem ?

If you would like to rule out that possibility entirely, go HERE then post an HJT log in the Security and the Web forum.

 

[N3051M]

Yeh, i do agree it gets freezing down under (with no snow..). That is why i use my pc as a room heater . Just wait till summer...

Although I still wouldnt cross out a temp problem so soon.

To expand on Tedster's comment on errors:
do you get sudden restarts or BSODs? If so goto %systemroot%\minidump folder (where systemroot is your local windows folder), zip up a few minidumps and post here.

Do the spyware scan as Peddant suggested as well, to eliminate that factor.

Download Everest Home and/or Speedfan, go to the sensors page and take a reading while nothing much is running on your pc, then fire up a high intensity program like a game or something then take another reading. Post all the Temperatures, and also the voltages noted.

Also, do you remember any environmental changes (hard/software) recently/before/after this problem happened?

 

[hynesy]

I will get right on the temperature and spyware and the mini dump, the only thing i have changed recently is, i installed game spy arcarde, i got a hell of alot sypware and adware from it, i turned on my pc after installing it and i have spy quake installed some how, and these notifications on my toolbar, but my anti virus scanner, bitdefender 9 got rid of it all. That promted me to install the free firewall form zone alarms. that is the only things i have changed recently, altho, i acidently installed zipcodec which had viruses too.

Also can u give me exact directions to get to the %system%
[edit]
The temperature read from SpeedFan are as follows:
I dont know which is which but please bear with me
I am including a screen shot
The image is available at http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b228/hynesydave/speedfan2.jpg
PS the highest i saw the third temperature was at 77C, my processor fan is always going at 100%

 

[hynesy]

using BIOS i checked the CPU temperature, it was running at 70 C or 158 F, any suggestions, i know this is way too hot

 

[hynesy]

URGENT processor running at EXTREMLY HIGH TEMPERATURES

using BIOS i checked the CPU temperature, it was running at 70 C or 158 F, any suggestions, i know this is way too hot :hotouch: URGENT

 

[korrupt]

Perhaps your hard ware has just had it...

Sometimes these things happen and there is nothing you can possibly do about it.

Regards,

Korrupt

 

[hynesy]

but the processor is only 1 and a half years old

 

[korrupt]

Yes, but hard ware is unpreditable. EG: I have had one hard drive for 7yrs, running at least 3 hours a day. A few weeks ago I bought a $200 hdd and it lasted 3 days. Pehaps it isnt a hard ware issue at all. I am just going through all the posibilities.

Regards,

Korrupt

 

[hynesy]

thats a very good point, could it be the fan, the fan is running at 100%, almot 5000rpm, it is however dusty, but no dustier than usual, i vacum my computer bout once every 3-6 months, also, my computer like dead freezes when converting songs ith itunes and doing disc defragmenter, could this mean the CPU is already damaged? the freeze is so bad its like looking at a screenshot

 

[N3051M]

can you get a reading off everest (dont forget the voltages)? the screenshot you provided is abit small. Clean up your background apps, and uninstall/disable things you dont use that arn't vital for the everyday functioning of the pc.

Cool down your CPU as suggested by people on your other thread, then we'll see if the hardware has any permanent damage. Although i have a sneaking suspicion that it could may be a combination of troubles.

Also can u give me exact directions to get to the %system%

you can copy and paste the text i gave you into the Run command box, and it will get you there, but default should be C:/windows/Minidump

 

[sllewe]

Wait, BIOS reports idle temps as 71? whoa thats hot. I would double check the temps with another proram, but that seem like your problem.

 

[hynesy]

I used speedfan, one of my temperatures read 70 C, this 70 had a little fire icon next to it, im going to get a can of compressed air to clean it. Is there anyway to test if the fan has a problems?

 

[Sharkfood]

If the fan is indeed spinning and the heatsink isn't packed up with dust and debris, it could be the heatsink has poor contact with the CPU surface.

You may simply need to remove the fan/heatsink (if it's working properly) and clean the heatsink and cpu surface with a bit of rubbing alcohol and re-apply some thermal paste.

If you're going to all this trouble though, it might be worth the $10-$20 US to get a new fan/heatsink and a tube of Arctic Silver 5 thermal compound then sit down and do it once forever.

 

[hynesy]

I think i will just dop the long term option and spend 60-100 Australian dollars and get a fan and heat sink that will last for a long time. Also my computer has always been loud, the fan has always been running at near 5000 RPM, could this mean that the ehatsink from the begining has been poorly installed?

 

[N3051M]

could be.. mine with stock cooling maxes about 2.4k RPM.. the fan running at max speed could be due to the CPU not getting sufficiant cooling, a bad BIOS update, or some 'smart cooling' technology on the motherboard is disabled.

If your in the market for a cooler Zalman are good brands, among others.. what state/area do you live around Aus? if you dont mind online shopping then goto www.staticice.com.au to find good deals on parts etc.. otherwise if you prefer retail then i know a few that are in the sydney area, and maybe the other guys like Korrupt knows shops in WA..