[Eleutherios]

Greetings.

Here are the stats:

Windows XP Professional SP2, with all the latest updates from Microsoft.
200GB Maxtor
3.2Ghz P4, HT
1GB DDR RAM

Software I run constantly:
ZoneAlarm Security Suite
AOL Instant Messenger
Mozilla Firefox
Mozilla Thunderbird

Recently, I've been experiencing problems with programs not responding. Mostly Firefox, but many programs also do it.

The computer also sometimes crashes after a long time of being on. It's the standard "lock-up" -- no blue screen or error, just a lockup.

It's been getting progressively worse. It confounds me, because this is a new computer.

I run Spybot and AdAware, and have completely updated Virus definitions.

 

[Michichael]

run hijack this and post hte log here

 

[Eleutherios]

Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.0
Scan saved at 10:54:31 PM, on 1/12/2005
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP2 (6.00.2900.2180)

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\TGTSoft\StyleXP\StyleXPService.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\RunDll32.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\CTHELPER.EXE
C:\Program Files\Winamp\winampa.exe
C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\cli.exe
C:\Program Files\Spybot - Search & Destroy\TeaTimer.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
C:\utopia\angel\Angel.exe
C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\CLI.exe
C:\Program Files\PGP Corporation\PGP for Windows XP2\PGPtray.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\VS7DEBUG\MDM.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\PGPserv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Winamp\winamp.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\rundll32.exe
C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ZoneLabs\isafe.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\ZONELA~1\ZONEAL~1\MAILFR~1\mantispm.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\rundll32.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ZoneLabs\vsmon.exe
C:\Program Files\AIM\aim.exe
C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe
C:\DOCUME~1\PANOPT~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\Temporary Directory 2 for hijackthis-2.zip\HijackThis.exe

O2 - BHO: (no name) - {53707962-6F74-2D53-2644-206D7942484F} - C:\PROGRA~1\SPYBOT~1\SDHelper.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Cmaudio] RunDll32 cmicnfg.cpl,CMICtrlWnd
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ATIPTA] C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI Control Panel\atiptaxx.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [CTHelper] CTHELPER.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [WinampAgent] C:\Program Files\Winamp\winampa.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [DeadAIM] rundll32.exe "C:\PROGRA~1\AIM\\DeadAIM.ocm",ExportedCheckODLs
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ATICCC] "C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\cli.exe" runtime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Zone Labs Client] "C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [SpybotSD TeaTimer] C:\Program Files\Spybot - Search & Destroy\TeaTimer.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [STYLEXP] C:\Program Files\TGTSoft\StyleXP\StyleXP.exe -Hide
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Utopia Angel] "C:\utopia\angel\Angel.exe"
O4 - Global Startup: Adobe Gamma Loader.lnk = C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Calibration\Adobe Gamma Loader.exe
O4 - Global Startup: ATI CATALYST System Tray.lnk = C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\CLI.exe
O4 - Global Startup: PGPtray.lnk = ?
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\OFFICE11\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\OFFICE11\REFIEBAR.DLL
O9 - Extra button: AIM - {AC9E2541-2814-11d5-BC6D-00B0D0A1DE45} - C:\Program Files\AIM\aim.exe
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O16 - DPF: {6414512B-B978-451D-A0D8-FCFDF33E833C} (WUWebControl Class) - http://v5.windowsupdate.microsoft.c...ls/en/x86/client/wuweb_site.cab?1105155957656
O23 - Service: Adobe LM Service - Unknown - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe Systems Shared\Service\Adobelmsvc.exe
O23 - Service: Ati HotKey Poller - ATI Technologies Inc. - C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
O23 - Service: ATI Smart - Unknown - C:\WINDOWS\system32\ati2sgag.exe
O23 - Service: CA ISafe - Computer Associates International, Inc. - C:\WINDOWS\system32\ZoneLabs\isafe.exe
O23 - Service: PGPserv - PGP Corporation - C:\WINDOWS\system32\PGPserv.exe
O23 - Service: StyleXPService - Unknown - C:\Program Files\TGTSoft\StyleXP\StyleXPService.exe
O23 - Service: TrueVector Internet Monitor - Zone Labs Inc. - C:\WINDOWS\system32\ZoneLabs\vsmon.exe

 

[Eleutherios]

No ideas? :-(

Occasionally, when I reboot after the crash, the CMOS is set to factory default.

 

[Old Rich]

Nothing in the log that jumps out . . but there are folks better with the log than I . .

The reseting of BIOS sounds like a PowerSupply problem, which could also be the cause of the lockups. What brand of PowerSupply and what is the wattage?

wrs

 

[Eleutherios]

It's a Diablo 550W. It's definitely enough for this setup --

Chassis Fan
3.2Ghz P4 with HT
1GB DDR RAM
1 200GB HDD
1 80GB HDD
2 CD-ROM Drives
ATI Radeon 9600 256MB
SoundBlaster Audigy
SMC Wireless Internet Card

The 550W should be well enough for all of these.

It seems to happen mostly when I run things that are video-oriented -- like a movie, or a game. It happens pretty quickly on some games, like Star Wars: KOTOR.

Music, web surfing, chatting, etc do not cause this problem. Nor does it happen EVERY time a movie or a game is played, although it seems to happen more with movies than games.

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Eleutherios]

Nobody?

 

[RAM-PAGE]

You could try reseating the RAM module(s) maybe adding more than the 1024 you have presently, and you can clean up your system of old games files with CCleaner and EmpTemp.

Another thing you can check are the Master File Table sizes. If you use the evaluation copy of Diskeeper 9 Professional with Frag-Shield you can then see if the MFTs are the right size or whether they should be padded out to make them bigger.

 

[WhitPhil]

Reseating the ram is a good suggestion, and running a memory test.

And, since it appears to be video related, have you checked for newer versions of your drivers. Or, go to the supplier side, and see if there are any reported problems with the version you are running. Perhaps you need to install an older (and less buggy) version.

Fragmented MFTs or not enough ram should not cause the symptoms that you are seeing.

 

[Eleutherios]

Mmm, I did all that stuff. I recorded down the error message --

CMOS Checksum Error -- Defaults Loaded

What do you think it might be?

 

[crjdriver]

I checked the specs on that ps. It is not what I would call a quality unit. It has only 20A on the 12V rail. You are running a lot of stuff that uses the 12V rail. While it may not be the problem, you would be doing yourself a favor by getting a quality unit. Wattage alone does not mean much.

As for your problem, I would check the cmos battery first then start checking other hardware.

 

[crjdriver]

Explanation of checksum error / defaults loaded:

A checksum is computed as an error-detecting code, to protect the BIOS settings stored in the CMOS memory. Each time the system is booted this number is recomputed and checked against the stored value. If they do not match, an error message is generated to tell you that the CMOS memory contents may have been corrupted and therefore some settings may be wrong. BIOSes react in different ways to encountering this sort of error. Some will warn the user and then continue on with whatever settings were in the CMOS. Others will assume that the settings that were in the CMOS were corrupted and will load default values stored in the BIOS chip "for safety reasons". The error message will indicate which your system is doing.

 

[Eleutherios]

The odd thing is that it only happens some of the time, and only really during video-intensive things.

 

[RAM-PAGE]

When running video intensive applications how much paging file is your system generating? If you Ctrl+Alt+Del and have a look at the performance tab you will see it there.

I don't particularly care for WinAmp or Firefox, but that's just me. I'll stick to MS Products wherever possible.

 

[agent pumpki]

Are you still having these problems? I am having similar symptoms.

 

[Eleutherios]

RAM-PAGE: How much should it be? It's 395MB now, but I'm not doing anything.

Agent Pumpki: Yep. What kind of computer do you have?

 

[WhitPhil]

New, as in purchased versus built?

If so, take it back to where you bought it and show them the failures.

To me, the symptoms all appear hardware related, and as pointed out above, could be power supply related.

Paging, software, etc should not be "hanging" the entire box.

agent pumpki
I would recommend starting your own thread, explaining the problems you are having, the hardware you are running, and what you have tried alreadu.

 

[Eleutherios]

This computer here is new, as in built.

I looked up that error a bit, and it said the battery on the CMOS might be bad. This is sort of odd, considering when it does it. But I'll look into this further.

Can a bad CMOS battery be doing this? It's sort of intermittent.

 

[crjdriver]

Did you read my post above explaining just that and the reason for the checksum error?

 

[WhitPhil]

On my prevous box, an old P2, a failing cmos battery gave me a variety of strange errors, all of which "looked like" ram problems or a failing disk drive.

Spontaneous reboots, hangs, corrupted files, FAT errors, at boot time would hang if I tried to get to the BIOS, etc etc

Spend $2.50 on a new battery and poof, all was well again.

Worth trying to start with.