Computer keeps freezing...

Hullo all,

My Compaq keeps freezing on me and can only be restarted by pushing
the power button. I mean, if you use the computer constantly it works
fine, but if you let it sit unattended it freezes in about 10 minutes.

Why it do dis?

Can anyone helps me?

Thanks.

Lacking further detail about the model of computer the version of software
running, I would hazard a guess that its power management settings in the BIOS
or in the operating system (Windows maybe?) are incorrect for some reason.

.... Ben Myers

On Mon, 14 Jan 2008 05:38:21 -0800 (PST), AlphaOmega <kcgb414@gmail.com> wrote:

>Hullo all,
>
>My Compaq keeps freezing on me and can only be restarted by pushing
>the power button. I mean, if you use the computer constantly it works
>fine, but if you let it sit unattended it freezes in about 10 minutes.
>
>Why it do dis?
>
>Can anyone helps me?
>
>Thanks.

On Jan 14, 9:09 am, Ben Myers <ben_myers_spam_me_...@charter.net>
wrote:
> Lacking further detail about the model of computer the version of software
> running, I would hazard a guess that its power management settings in the BIOS
> or in the operating system (Windows maybe?) are incorrect for some reason.
>
> ... Ben Myers
>
> On Mon, 14 Jan 2008 05:38:21 -0800 (PST), AlphaOmega <kcgb...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >Hullo all,
>
> >My Compaq keeps freezing on me and can only be restarted by pushing
> >the power button. I mean, if you use the computer constantly it works
> >fine, but if you let it sit unattended it freezes in about 10 minutes.
>
> >Why it do dis?
>
> >Can anyone helps me?
>
> >Thanks.

Wellllll... Its a HP Pavilion A320N Running Windows XP 512 memory.

I would check the power-saving options in the BIOS. The usual, best and most
modern setting is S3. The go to Control Panel and click the Power Options icon
and look at the Power Schemes. You may have to modify a Power Scheme to get
the computer to behave as you want it. This may be a process of
trial-and-error.

Install any and all critical Windows XP updates. I'm sure that Microsoft
tweaked the power schemes somewhere along the way between the 2001 classic XP
and today... Ben Myers

On Mon, 14 Jan 2008 07:44:04 -0800 (PST), AlphaOmega <kcgb414@gmail.com> wrote:

>On Jan 14, 9:09 am, Ben Myers <ben_myers_spam_me_...@charter.net>
>wrote:
>> Lacking further detail about the model of computer the version of software
>> running, I would hazard a guess that its power management settings in the BIOS
>> or in the operating system (Windows maybe?) are incorrect for some reason.
>>
>> ... Ben Myers
>>
>> On Mon, 14 Jan 2008 05:38:21 -0800 (PST), AlphaOmega <kcgb...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> >Hullo all,
>>
>> >My Compaq keeps freezing on me and can only be restarted by pushing
>> >the power button. I mean, if you use the computer constantly it works
>> >fine, but if you let it sit unattended it freezes in about 10 minutes.
>>
>> >Why it do dis?
>>
>> >Can anyone helps me?
>>
>> >Thanks.
>
>Wellllll... Its a HP Pavilion A320N Running Windows XP 512 memory.

On Jan 14, 11:29 am, Ben Myers <ben_myers_spam_me_...@charter.net>
wrote:
> I would check the power-saving options in the BIOS. The usual, best and most
> modern setting is S3. The go to Control Panel and click the Power Options icon
> and look at the Power Schemes. You may have to modify a Power Scheme to get
> the computer to behave as you want it. This may be a process of
> trial-and-error.
>
> Install any and all critical Windows XP updates. I'm sure that Microsoft
> tweaked the power schemes somewhere along the way between the 2001 classic XP
> and today... Ben Myers
>
> On Mon, 14 Jan 2008 07:44:04 -0800 (PST), AlphaOmega <kcgb...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >On Jan 14, 9:09 am, Ben Myers <ben_myers_spam_me_...@charter.net>
> >wrote:
> >> Lacking further detail about the model of computer the version of software
> >> running, I would hazard a guess that its power management settings in the BIOS
> >> or in the operating system (Windows maybe?) are incorrect for some reason.
>
> >> ... Ben Myers
>
> >> On Mon, 14 Jan 2008 05:38:21 -0800 (PST), AlphaOmega <kcgb...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >> >Hullo all,
>
> >> >My Compaq keeps freezing on me and can only be restarted by pushing
> >> >the power button. I mean, if you use the computer constantly it works
> >> >fine, but if you let it sit unattended it freezes in about 10 minutes.
>
> >> >Why it do dis?
>
> >> >Can anyone helps me?
>
> >> >Thanks.
>
> >Wellllll... Its a HP Pavilion A320N Running Windows XP 512 memory.

Thanks, I will try your suggestions. And if it don't work it will be
dismantled and disposed of.

My guess is that using an "Always On" power scheme will work. In other words,
leave the hard drive on all the time, do not allow the system to go into sleep
or hibernation mode, etc. That's the extreme setting that should stop a system
from going into some sort of deep sleep without any possibility of waking again.
And if THAT does not fix it, something is very likely wrong with the hardware.

.... Ben Myers

On Mon, 14 Jan 2008 08:34:14 -0800 (PST), AlphaOmega <kcgb414@gmail.com> wrote:

>On Jan 14, 11:29 am, Ben Myers <ben_myers_spam_me_...@charter.net>
>wrote:
>> I would check the power-saving options in the BIOS. The usual, best and most
>> modern setting is S3. The go to Control Panel and click the Power Options icon
>> and look at the Power Schemes. You may have to modify a Power Scheme to get
>> the computer to behave as you want it. This may be a process of
>> trial-and-error.
>>
>> Install any and all critical Windows XP updates. I'm sure that Microsoft
>> tweaked the power schemes somewhere along the way between the 2001 classic XP
>> and today... Ben Myers
>>
>> On Mon, 14 Jan 2008 07:44:04 -0800 (PST), AlphaOmega <kcgb...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> >On Jan 14, 9:09 am, Ben Myers <ben_myers_spam_me_...@charter.net>
>> >wrote:
>> >> Lacking further detail about the model of computer the version of software
>> >> running, I would hazard a guess that its power management settings in the BIOS
>> >> or in the operating system (Windows maybe?) are incorrect for some reason.
>>
>> >> ... Ben Myers
>>
>> >> On Mon, 14 Jan 2008 05:38:21 -0800 (PST), AlphaOmega <kcgb...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> >> >Hullo all,
>>
>> >> >My Compaq keeps freezing on me and can only be restarted by pushing
>> >> >the power button. I mean, if you use the computer constantly it works
>> >> >fine, but if you let it sit unattended it freezes in about 10 minutes.
>>
>> >> >Why it do dis?
>>
>> >> >Can anyone helps me?
>>
>> >> >Thanks.
>>
>> >Wellllll... Its a HP Pavilion A320N Running Windows XP 512 memory.
>
>Thanks, I will try your suggestions. And if it don't work it will be
>dismantled and disposed of.

> Thanks, I will try your suggestions. And if it don't work it will be
> dismantled and disposed of.

No need to dispose of it just yet - there are a couple of other things
to try too, to help determine whether it's a software or hardware
issue.

a) try a live linux CD, and see if it keels over as often

b) is the CPU fan actually spinning ?

c) unplug and replug every "major" connection on the motherboard - the
contacts shouldn't oxidise, but if it's just a crap connection, this
might sort it

d) run memtest86 on it (there are two variants from competing
suppliers, one of whom has a paid-for version available too) - you can
usually tell within a few seconds if the memory is flaky !

For strange hardware problems / lock-ups, (d) might be a smart first
choice :-)

On Jan 14, 2:42 pm, Colin Wilson
<REMOVEEVERYTHINGBUTnewsgr...@phoenixbbsZEROSPAM.c o.uk> wrote:
> > Thanks, I will try your suggestions. And if it don't work it will be
> > dismantled and disposed of.
>
> No need to dispose of it just yet - there are a couple of other things
> to try too, to help determine whether it's a software or hardware
> issue.
>
> a) try a live linux CD, and see if it keels over as often
>
> b) is the CPU fan actually spinning ?
>
> c) unplug and replug every "major" connection on the motherboard - the
> contacts shouldn't oxidise, but if it's just a crap connection, this
> might sort it
>
> d) run memtest86 on it (there are two variants from competing
> suppliers, one of whom has a paid-for version available too) - you can
> usually tell within a few seconds if the memory is flaky !
>
> For strange hardware problems / lock-ups, (d) might be a smart first
> choice :-)

a) no

b) yes

c) done

d) big hassle to get to work, easier to just smash computer.

On Jan 14, 2:17 pm, Ben Myers <ben_myers_spam_me_...@charter.net>
wrote:
> My guess is that using an "Always On" power scheme will work. In other words,
> leave the hard drive on all the time, do not allow the system to go into sleep
> or hibernation mode, etc. That's the extreme setting that should stop a system
> from going into some sort of deep sleep without any possibility of waking again.
> And if THAT does not fix it, something is very likely wrong with the hardware.
>
> ... Ben Myers
>
> On Mon, 14 Jan 2008 08:34:14 -0800 (PST), AlphaOmega <kcgb...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >On Jan 14, 11:29 am, Ben Myers <ben_myers_spam_me_...@charter.net>
> >wrote:
> >> I would check the power-saving options in the BIOS. The usual, best and most
> >> modern setting is S3. The go to Control Panel and click the Power Options icon
> >> and look at the Power Schemes. You may have to modify a Power Scheme to get
> >> the computer to behave as you want it. This may be a process of
> >> trial-and-error.
>
> >> Install any and all critical Windows XP updates. I'm sure that Microsoft
> >> tweaked the power schemes somewhere along the way between the 2001 classic XP
> >> and today... Ben Myers
>
> >> On Mon, 14 Jan 2008 07:44:04 -0800 (PST), AlphaOmega <kcgb...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >> >On Jan 14, 9:09 am, Ben Myers <ben_myers_spam_me_...@charter.net>
> >> >wrote:
> >> >> Lacking further detail about the model of computer the version of software
> >> >> running, I would hazard a guess that its power management settings in the BIOS
> >> >> or in the operating system (Windows maybe?) are incorrect for some reason.
>
> >> >> ... Ben Myers
>
> >> >> On Mon, 14 Jan 2008 05:38:21 -0800 (PST), AlphaOmega <kcgb...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >> >> >Hullo all,
>
> >> >> >My Compaq keeps freezing on me and can only be restarted by pushing
> >> >> >the power button. I mean, if you use the computer constantly it works
> >> >> >fine, but if you let it sit unattended it freezes in about 10 minutes.
>
> >> >> >Why it do dis?
>
> >> >> >Can anyone helps me?
>
> >> >> >Thanks.
>
> >> >Wellllll... Its a HP Pavilion A320N Running Windows XP 512 memory.
>
> >Thanks, I will try your suggestions. And if it don't work it will be
> >dismantled and disposed of.

Tried that and still no luck.
Thanks anyway guys.

Is the CPU fan spinning fast enough? Are the CPU fan clear of all dust and
debris?

Instead of smashing the computer, drop it off here (Harvard, MA) if you are
nearby, or I can pick it up, or donate it to a charity as-is with an explanation
of what is wrong... Ben Myers

On Mon, 14 Jan 2008 12:01:04 -0800 (PST), AlphaOmega <kcgb414@gmail.com> wrote:

>On Jan 14, 2:42 pm, Colin Wilson
><REMOVEEVERYTHINGBUTnewsgr...@phoenixbbsZEROSPAM. co.uk> wrote:
>> > Thanks, I will try your suggestions. And if it don't work it will be
>> > dismantled and disposed of.
>>
>> No need to dispose of it just yet - there are a couple of other things
>> to try too, to help determine whether it's a software or hardware
>> issue.
>>
>> a) try a live linux CD, and see if it keels over as often
>>
>> b) is the CPU fan actually spinning ?
>>
>> c) unplug and replug every "major" connection on the motherboard - the
>> contacts shouldn't oxidise, but if it's just a crap connection, this
>> might sort it
>>
>> d) run memtest86 on it (there are two variants from competing
>> suppliers, one of whom has a paid-for version available too) - you can
>> usually tell within a few seconds if the memory is flaky !
>>
>> For strange hardware problems / lock-ups, (d) might be a smart first
>> choice :-)
>
>a) no
>
>b) yes
>
>c) done
>
>d) big hassle to get to work, easier to just smash computer.