Mysterious problem cannot resolve

dbnavan

Hi guys

I fix pc's from home for last number of years (nixers), so i would be considered "well read" when it comes to IT but I have pc in the house now for the last week cannot figure out problem, every time I dial up to the net it crashes, I started with usual virus & spyware scan no joy, completly formatted Hard disk (twice)nope, changed modem, no change, just added memory, and changed all slots around, reseated processor, now every second or third time i boot, it crashes just going into windows.

Any ideas?

Raam

Are all the drivers up to date?

Maybe you've already tried this... but it could also be some dodgy hardware.
Remove one piece of hardware (eg cd drive) and boot.
If it still crashes, try a different piece of hardware and so on until finally it boots and works OK.
If it still doesnt work OK, then maybe try using a different hd that already has an OS installed on it.

just my two cents!

KR

stevenmu

I remember a problem like this with win 98 or maybe 95, but a reinstall sorted that out. It seems like dodgy hardware alright, try it with only one stick of memory, if the problem persists try in different slots and with different sticks and see if you can find a combination that works.

dbnavan

normally, i'd agree and will try it but doubt it will work cause dodgy hardware will stop machine going into windows, its the fact it mostly crashes 60-90 seconds after connecting to the net that stumps me.

stevenmu

I presume you're using some kind of firewall when you connect ? These days even dial up needs one to connect for a few minutes.

uch

I had a problem recently completely different hardware but sounds like the same problem, my Processor was running way to hot and causing the PC to Hang randomly.
Might be worth looking at the tempratures inside the case, this was the cause of all my problems.

dbnavan

stevenmu wrote:

I presume you're using some kind of firewall when you connect ? These days even dial up needs one to connect for a few minutes.

While a firewall is preferable on all internet connections and yes should be used at all times, i would disagree that you NEED one to connect, the computer is blank, apart from windows xp, has just been formated. problem still exists sending it to a friend of mine for second opinion, may be the motherboard.

skywalker

dbnavan wrote:

While a firewall is preferable on all internet connections and yes should be used at all times, i would disagree that you NEED one to connect, the computer is blank, apart from windows xp, has just been formated. problem still exists sending it to a friend of mine for second opinion, may be the motherboard.

If its a blank xp install & the inbuilt firewall isnt enabled its not the blaster worm is it?

Stephen

Install service pack 2. It REALLY looks like you're getting hit by blaster/sasser type worms.

Sleipnir

Stephen wrote:

Install service pack 2. It REALLY looks like you're getting hit by blaster/sasser type worms.

after a format? Definately not blaster or sasser.

It's certainly a hardware issue. The only thing you can do is start with as little hardware as possible and then add bit by bit until you get the problem again.
Try the memory on another system.
try the modem on another system.
etc etc

egan007

Stephen wrote:

Install service pack 2. It REALLY looks like you're getting hit by blaster/sasser type worms.

If this is the case the system shoudl throw an error
Does it report an error or just power off

Is the power off a windows shutdown or a voilent power outage?

dbnavan

couldnt possibly be blaster or sasser, as i said before i even changed the hard drive, and formatting would wipe the worms, back to the drawing board.

Stephen

Sleipnir - You can get owned by blaster/sasser on an unpatched XP machine after just a couple of minutes online without a firewall. So therefore, even though its been freshly reformatted, it is very possible that this is the problem. He said it only happens when he goes online.

Sleipnir

Stephen wrote:

Sleipnir - You can get owned by blaster/sasser on an unpatched XP machine after just a couple of minutes online without a firewall. So therefore, even though its been freshly reformatted, it is very possible that this is the problem. He said it only happens when he goes online.

He also said that when he formatted and then re-installed the OS, it crashes the OS every 2nd or 3rd boot. I do corporate security for a living and I would bet a BILLION pounds it's not a worm. [/open cheque book]

pontovic

run a memory test on it for about 12 hours (overnight) and if that succeeds, then its not a RAM problem. I had a computer that crashed all the time and I would attribute it to memory problems nearly all the time. The high memory prices that we had when i built the machine 5 years ago meant I had to plump for dodgy generic memory, which caused me alot of headaches later on.

can you describe the PC more ?

Stephen

Oops, never noticed that bit at the end of the first post

that'll teach me to quickly skim through the thread.

the_syco

My machine (Win2K, SP4) used to hang alot when booting. MSConfig sorted it out.

dbnavan

pontovic wrote:

run a memory test on it for about 12 hours (overnight) and if that succeeds, then its not a RAM problem. I had a computer that crashed all the time and I would attribute it to memory problems nearly all the time. The high memory prices that we had when i built the machine 5 years ago meant I had to plump for dodgy generic memory, which caused me alot of headaches later on.

can you describe the PC more ?

I have changed the memory 256meg sdram, pentium 4 windows xp home, cant think of processor speed off top of my head,

ressem

What sort of modem? Guess it's PCi. DSL or plain old telephone system?

Also think it's a hardware issue, could also be motherboard drivers? (issue with default MS drivers)

Can you borrow a serial/usb modem/ drag to broadband + nic + remove the PCI modem and see if it crashes on network connection? To try and rule out software.

What sort of crash is it? Bluescreen/ reset/ frozen screen/ everything unresponsive for 30 minutes?

smeggle

60-90secs is more than enough time for a worm to target an un-protected comp though I doubt that is the issue here.

ok you've formatted a couple of times, you've changed the ram out so that won't be the issue. Modem? very unlikely IMO, without the full specs/age of comp I'd have to say the hd is becoming unstable or maybe a bios issue?

Give full specs plus full details of what is actually happening (Including any error messages if any) will give a better indication of whats wrong but I suspect an unstable hd myself.

Wandering Dazed

Does it crash in safe mode? Turn of auto restart in System\Advanced\Startup and recovery and see what error it gives. That should give you an idea. How about booting off a knoppix cd?

dbnavan

Machine has been given to a colleague of mine will post info when i get second opinion