Help with system crashes =/

DangerMouse18

Hello!

I know this is kinda long, but keep going - I really need your help on this one


I recently built a computer for someone using components I had lying around, using the following:

Jetway 845D Pro Mobo
P. Celeron 2.4Ghz processor
512mb TWINMOS RAM
80Gb WD HDD
GeF4 440Mx 64mb
300W A.D.T PSU
Windows 98
The usual floppy & Liteon CD drive.

The mobo and the RAM were from my own stuff and had been used fine before; the processor and the HDD were bought new. I installed a clean copy of Windows 98 on the HDD, and everything else went smoothly. The system goes fine, and since the person I built it for only wants it for the web and word processing/email, the specs are good too. However, at seemingly random moments, it freezes completely. No response to the mouse, keyboard (including Ctrl+Alt+Delete), or anything except the reset button. It started at around once an hour, but has now begun happening when Windows is loading, usually at the same point while adding taskbar programs. During normal use it often crashes when using IE, and sometimes when using the CD drive.


I have discounted the following problems by changing components:

1) Graphics card. I tried an old Voodoo PCI card, and the problem persisted.
2) RAM. I changed it for 512mb of my beloved new Corsair RAM. No joy.
3) The old hard drive, which I had slaved for a while. I disconnected it. Same thing.

After the CD drive seemed to be causing some problems, I disconnected that too, partly to reduce power consumption, but to no avail. I still think the power consumption could be a problem, but when PSUs are being overworked, don't they usually get hotter? Well this one barely gets warm CPU temperature is at 40c or below, and system temperature is at like.. 30c or below. I'm at a loss as to what the problem could be. Any help?Hello!

Al_Vampyre

I would check what programs are loading to the sys tray when it crashes, it may be there is something in the start up menu that is causing a conflict...

DangerMouse18

Thanks, but it's been happening long before there was even anything _in_ the system tray. It just happens more at that point now for some reason. I don't get what IE could be doing to take the whole system down O.o

Al_Vampyre

In my experience, when you build a PC for someone that uses it purely for the net and some word processing etc it very likely that the problem is being caused by something that they have downloaded (intentionally or unintentionally) and is probably being loaded at startup.

Firstly I would run Spybot - Search and Destroy to make sure there is nothing there that shouldn't be, and if there is still no improvement then format and reinstall. You appear to have checked all the relevant hardware possibilities but it might be worth checking the IRQ's to make sure there are no conflicts...

I seriously doubt that its a power issue unless the PSU is failing, there is nothing in the specs to suggest a large current draw and I would think 300W would run that quite happily. My own 2.4b system ran for over a year on a 330W power supply with a Radeon 9700Pro, 2 HDD's and DVD, and DVD-Writer, and 5 case fans!

Good luck!

The_Neon_Cowboy

i'd run nortan system works windoctor on it myself.....

as for the stuff they could of downloaded part. god knows what some people do to these poor things ...

make sure your running all the latest drivers, bios, etc
also make sure ur useing ie6