(ISF) PC hardware issue

I have a Gateway computer with an AMD processor that is freezing up irradically. It seems to occur mostly after the system has been running for a while. It is running XP and runs fine for the most part but when it freezes the only alternative is the power button. I have upgraded the BIOS and other minor tasks recommended by Gateway's tech support website for this model but with no luck. I have pulled the memory, cards, and CPU and reseated all with no luck.

Is there any hope for it or should I start looking at replacements? Any ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Jeff

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-----original message-----
>>;I have a Gateway computer with an AMD processor that is freezing up irradically. It seems to occur mostly after the system has been running for a while. It is running XP and runs fine for the most part but when it freezes the only alternative is the power button. I have upgraded the BIOS and other minor tasks recommended by Gateway's tech support website for this model but with no luck. I have pulled the memory, cards, and CPU and reseated all with no luck. Is there any hope for it or should I start looking at replacements? Any ideas would be appreciated.>>

If the freezes are dependable, i.e. you know that it will happen if you leave it running unattended for, say 48 or 72 hours, boot off a LiveCD (such as Knoppix or Ubuntu). If it doesn't freeze up in the predictable timeline, then you can assume it's either disk or software dependent. If that's the case, a reformat, disk check, and reinstall should make it go away.

Who knows, you may even decide you like the LiveCD distro better than Windows... ;)

Note, though, that I'm not advocating you switch in this instance, simply that there's no "LiveCD" version of windows that's readily available and free. I'm simply suggesting the use of an alternative operating system as a diagnostic. No need for the religious war today.

--joshua.

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Not to belabor the obvious (though in tech support it's hard to be tooo obvious), but I'd suggest checking the cooling fan and making sure the vents are clear. Intermittent hardware problems like this are sometimes a symptom of overheating.

More than just brushing out the vents in the side of the box, though, look at where it is physically located. Many desktop systems get shoved into cabinets, onto close-fitting shelves, or under a desk where they "can't breathe". The hardware (fans, etc.) can be working fine, but there is no ventilation.

-----original message-----
>>;I have a Gateway computer with an AMD processor that is freezing up irradically. It seems to occur mostly after the system has been running for a while. It is running XP and runs fine for the most part but when it freezes the only alternative is the power button. I have upgraded the BIOS and other minor tasks recommended by Gateway's tech support website for this model but with no luck. I have pulled the memory, cards, and CPU and reseated all with no luck. Is there any hope for it or should I start looking at replacements? Any ideas would be appreciated.>>

Michael D. Walls

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Thanks. I tried an Ubuntu Linux LiveCD and it froze just the same. All the fans appear to be working fine but I will look at replacing them or adding others.

Jeff

-----original message-----
>>;If the freezes are dependable, i.e. you know that it will happen if you leave it running unattended for, say 48 or 72 hours, boot off a LiveCD (such as Knoppix or Ubuntu). If it doesn't freeze up in the predictable timeline, then you can assume it's either disk or software dependent. If that's the case, a reformat, disk check, and reinstall should make it go away.>>

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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