Computer freezes

[shamone]

Hey guys, I just installed XP on this older computer and when you leave it on for a bit it freezes so i hafta reboot. It's an intel celeron 1.7GIG with 256Ram. Any ideas as to what is going on. I am clueles to computer problems like these. Cheers

 

[johnwm]

Well you haven't given many clues for us to work on, but there is a few things to check.

1. Although XP (on its own) will run on 128M of RAM, in practice 256 is absolute minimum for running simple apps. I wouldn't attempt to run anything complex (CAD, or two Office type apps) in less than 512M RAM

2. Harddrive space. The OS needs around 2G, plus your apps, plus your data. Even for simple apps you'll need at least 20G empty drive to install and work with XP. I wouldn't consider doing an XP install on less than 60G free.

3. Did you install on a freshly formatted HD, or is this an upgrade? If upgrade, then your registry is almost certainly full of old junk. You will do better to back up all your old data (and check the backup!), then format your drive (if it's big enough, see above), install XP, re-install all your apps, then restore your data.

4. Celeron is generally reckoned to be about half the speed (in true performance terms) of an equivalent number Pentium 4, so you're at the bottom end of the acceptable performance range for simple apps. and considerably under-spec for graphics or CAD usage.

5. Look at the apps you are running. Your system should be OK for email and web browsing, but won't be up to scratch for anything much heavier.

6. Virus/spyware/other malware. If you've been on the internet, or received any emails you may be infected. Make sure you have one good antivirus program running continuously, plus at least one spyware checker running. You should also run a second independent antivirus and malware checker at least once a week, or more if your machine slows down or shows any signs of instability.

7. Google for antivirus and antispyware. I use AVG and EWIDO for frontline use and PANDA as an alternative. For spyware I use Lavasoft Adaware and Spybot, but there are plenty of others.

When you have digested that lot you can come back and let us know what apps you're using and how you get on. Updating old machines can be a very time-consuming and unsatisfactory operation, and with the current cost of new machines is often not commercially viable.

Good Luck
johnwm
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[shamone]

Thanks for the reply and sorry for the lack of information. Here is some more detail:

-Installed XP on a formatted 20GIG harddrive
-When I turn on computer it sometimes beeps at me and says "CMOS configured wrong" or "CMOS battery low" and it gives me options on how to continue such as "F1 for setup" or "F11 for boot up"
-once it loads up alright and i am logged and leave it for like 5-10min it freezes up on me. I can't do anything such as move the mouse, press any keys or Ctrl+Alt+Del.

There are no programs at the moment loaded, the internet is running however this apparently was a problem when we got the computer(the freezing up part). That is pretty much all i can think of right now.

Cheers

 

[analogkid2digitalman]

I would start by replacing the CMOS battery and making sure all settings are correct in CMOS, especially the processor, bus, and memory speeds.

Wheels within wheels / In a spiral array
A pattern so grand / And complex
Time after time / We lose sight of the way
Our causes can't see / Their effects.

 

[shamone]

Strange, I put a new battery i still keep losing the CMOS settings and the time when the power cable is removed from the computer. Any suggestions??

 

[johnwm]

Sounds like a hardware problem. Check if there any motherboard jumpers - there is sometimes a jumper to reset cmos which could inadvertently be in place. Also check that your new cmos battery is OK

Good Luck
johnwm
________________________________________________________
To get the best from these forums read faq731-376 before posting

UK steam enthusiasts:

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[shamone]

Thanks johnwm, it was a CMOS jumper that was missing so that problem is fixed. It seems to be running well so far. I set it to high performance mode and don't seem to be freezing up so hopefully that is it for this chapter. Thanks for the help guys.

P.S Does updating the BIOS going to help or should I just leave it?

 

[lilliput1]

Did you replace any cable or wiring? The cable wires may not be properly connected to the connector or terminals. Or wires may be frayed and touching others intermittently.