sleeping PC ???

[SPKmes]

Howdy guys. My PC died a few weeks back ...more the Hard drive but but the old thing seems to be struggling a little in all areas....any how...I managed to get and old hard drive...very old in fact 20gb sucker from an old PC laying around . It wouldn't boot but using ubuntu managed to reformat it so that I was able to put a fresh windows OS on it.. I have put on XP home and have only put on what is needed and Aces ..... now everything works fine with it until I leave it on for a few hours without use .... When I come back to it nothing seems to work...the screen saver will be doing its thing, I move the mouse and bring the desktop up and all looks good but if I click on to get into aces it looks like it is working but then nothing....sometimes it does work and I will get in game only to find that it has lost the sound card(if I check prior to entering aces it is not showing also) .... this is for all things , ping plot, mozzila, e-mail ....I restart and all is back to normal .... I have checked the power settings and nothing is set to hibernate or power save in anyway

Now before we get onto "get a new PC" it was my plan however money that could have been used for it has gone on my dog who is very sick and family come before my computer games.....

Cheers guys
   

[Dragon]

Sounds like something software related causing it to bind up, Windows Update maybe?  Try disabling all updates and see if it helps.

If not, I'd say just shut it down when not in use since it works fine on restart.

[SPKmes]

yeah that's pretty much what I thought...yes updates are disabled...there doesn't seem to be support for XP any more anyway ...so what I have is it from what I can gather.

[BaldEagl]

yeah that's pretty much what I thought...yes updates are disabled...there doesn't seem to be support for XP any more anyway ...so what I have is it from what I can gather.

Huh?  I still get updates for XP a couple of times a month.

[715]

Yeah, automatic update still works on XP... just had one today.  Of course I have SP3... maybe there is a catch 22 that they don't support SP2 or earlier and your CD was an earlier SP??

[TequilaChaser]

Tongs,

how much memory are you running on that PC and how large is your pagefile, since the Hard Drive itself is only 20GB before being formatted?

how many processes do you have it tweaked down to, also? you should be down to around at least 20 to 18 processes at startup/idle with only Aces High running with such a small HD on a 32 bit OS...... and for WinXP, most say have a pagefile 1.5 times your memory size, but since you reloaded /freshly installed WinXP & Aces High....... your pagefile might be set to be auotmatic via WinXP.......... thus making your Computer / OS to cause to freeze up.......

this might not be the reason at all, but it is the first thing I thought of after reading your opening post.....  the memory  & the pagefile can not keep up with the necessary file swapping due to sizeof the HD and/or memory ....... causing the issue , perhaps

TC

[SPKmes]

hmmmm. After reading the posts here regarding updates and then your post TC I thought I better have a look...It seems I only have SP1 so I try to download SP2 and it tells me I need .netframework 2.o which I can get from Microsoft download center...I can not get directed to the microsoft site at all...google tells me that it could be typed wrong.....this is nuts....
processes on start is 21 . I don't know which I can and can't remove but this is lower than what I was getting prior to loosing the old hard drive so I thought leave it be. Below is my DXdiag please don't laugh  hahahaha

[SPKmes]

System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 1/12/2012, 21:29:38
       Machine name: HOMEACES
   Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 1 (2600.xpsp1.020828-1920)
           Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: AWARD_
       System Model: AWRDACPI
               BIOS: Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
          Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.00GHz (2 CPUs), ~3.0GHz
             Memory: 1536MB RAM
          Page File: 166MB used, 3268MB available
        Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
    DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
     DxDiag Version: 5.03.0001.0904 32bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
  DirectX Files Tab: No problems found.
      Display Tab 1: The file ati2dvag.dll is not digitally signed, which means that it has not been tested by Microsoft's Windows Hardware Quality Labs (WHQL).  You may be able to get a WHQL logo'd driver from the hardware manufacturer.
        Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
          Music Tab: No problems found.
          Input Tab: No problems found.
        Network Tab: No problems found.

--------------------
DirectX Debug Levels
--------------------
Direct3D:    0/4 (n/a)
DirectDraw:  0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectPlay:  0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow:  0/6 (retail)

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
        Card name: ATI Radeon HD 4600 Series
     Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc.
        Chip type: ATI display adapter AGP (0x9495)
         DAC type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
       Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_9495&SUBSYS_0028174B&REV_00
   Display Memory: 1024.0 MB
     Current Mode: 1280 x 1024 (32 bit) (60Hz)
          Monitor: Plug and Play Monitor
  Monitor Max Res: 1600,1200
      Driver Name: ati2dvag.dll
   Driver Version: 6.14.0010.6962 (English)
      DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
 Driver Date/Size: 5/16/2009 16:38:14, 335872 bytes
      WHQL Logo'd: No
  WHQL Date Stamp: None
              VDD: n/a
         Mini VDD: ati2mtag.sys
    Mini VDD Date: 5/16/2009 16:58:44, 4069888 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B71EE2-D7D5-11CF-C96F-2220A1C2CB35}
        Vendor ID: 0x1002
        Device ID: 0x9495
        SubSys ID: 0x0028174B
      Revision ID: 0x0000
      Revision ID: 0x0000
      Video Accel:
 Deinterlace Caps: n/a
         Registry: OK
     DDraw Status: Enabled
       D3D Status: Enabled
       AGP Status: Not Available
DDraw Test Result: Not run
 D3D7 Test Result: Not run
 D3D8 Test Result: Not run
 D3D9 Test Result: Not run

-------------
Sound Devices
-------------
            Description: Sound Blaster 5.1
 Default Sound Playback: Yes
 Default Voice Playback: Yes
            Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_1102&DEV_0006&SUBSYS_10011102&REV_00
        Manufacturer ID: 1
             Product ID: 100
                   Type: WDM
            Driver Name: P16X.sys
         Driver Version: 5.12.0001.0202 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
            WHQL Logo'd: Yes
          Date and Size: 7/22/2005 15:20:04, 1275776 bytes
            Other Files:
        Driver Provider: Creative Technology Ltd.
         HW Accel Level: Full
              Cap Flags: 0xF5F
    Min/Max Sample Rate: 8000, 48000
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 64, 63
 Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 64, 63
              HW Memory: 0
       Voice Management: No
 EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: Yes, Yes
   I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No
               Registry: OK
      Sound Test Result: Not run

---------------------
Sound Capture Devices
---------------------
            Description: Sound Blaster 5.1
  Default Sound Capture: Yes
  Default Voice Capture: Yes
            Driver Name: P16X.sys
         Driver Version: 5.12.0001.0202 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
          Date and Size: 7/22/2005 15:20:04, 1275776 bytes
              Cap Flags: 0x41
           Format Flags: 0xFFF

-----------
DirectMusic
-----------
        DLS Path: C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\drivers\GM.DLS
     DLS Version: 1.00.0016.0002
    Acceleration: n/a
           Ports: Microsoft Synthesizer, Software (Not Kernel Mode), Output, DLS, Internal, Default Port
                  Sound Blaster 5.1, Software (Kernel Mode), Output, DLS, Internal
                  Microsoft MIDI Mapper [Emulated], Hardware (Not Kernel Mode), Output, No DLS, Internal
                  Sound Blaster 5.1 Synthesizer [Emulated], Hardware (Not Kernel Mode), Output, No DLS, Internal
                  Microsoft GS Wavetable SW Synth [Emulated], Hardware (Not Kernel Mode), Output, No DLS, Internal
        Registry: OK
     Test Result: Not run

-------------------
DirectInput Devices
-------------------
      Device Name: Mouse
         Attached: 1
    Controller ID: n/a
Vendor/Product ID: n/a
        FF Driver: n/a

      Device Name: Keyboard
         Attached: 1
    Controller ID: n/a
Vendor/Product ID: n/a
        FF Driver: n/a

      Device Name: CH PRO PEDALS USB
         Attached: 1
    Controller ID: 0x2
Vendor/Product ID: 0x068E, 0x00F2
        FF Driver: n/a

      Device Name: Saitek X52 Flight Control System
         Attached: 1
    Controller ID: 0x0
Vendor/Product ID: 0x06A3, 0x075C
        FF Driver: n/a

      Device Name: Cyborg X
         Attached: 1
    Controller ID: 0x1
Vendor/Product ID: 0x06A3, 0x0836
        FF Driver: n/a

Poll w/ Interrupt: No
         Registry: OK

-----------
USB Devices
-----------
+ USB Root Hub
| Vendor/Product ID: 0x1039, 0x7001
| Matching Device ID: usb\root_hub
| Service: usbhub
| Driver: usbhub.sys, 8/30/2002 01:00:00, 51968 bytes
| Driver: usbd.sys, 8/30/2002 01:00:00, 4736 bytes

----------------
Gameport Devices
----------------

------------
PS/2 Devices
------------
+ Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard
| Matching Device ID: *pnp0303
| Service: i8042prt
| Driver: i8042prt.sys, 8/30/2002 01:00:00, 51072 bytes
| Driver: kbdclass.sys, 8/30/2002 01:00:00, 23424 bytes
|
+ Terminal Server Keyboard Driver
| Matching Device ID: root\rdp_kbd
| Upper Filters: kbdclass
| Service: TermDD
| Driver: termdd.sys, 8/29/2002 03:46:42, 38024 bytes
| Driver: kbdclass.sys, 8/30/2002 01:00:00, 23424 bytes
|
+ PS/2 Compatible Mouse
| Matching Device ID: *pnp0f13
| Service: i8042prt
| Driver: i8042prt.sys, 8/30/2002 01:00:00, 51072 bytes
| Driver: mouclass.sys, 8/30/2002 01:00:00, 22016 bytes
|
+ Terminal Server Mouse Driver
| Matching Device ID: root\rdp_mou
| Upper Filters: mouclass
| Service: TermDD
| Driver: termdd.sys, 8/29/2002 03:46:42, 38024 bytes
| Driver: mouclass.sys, 8/30/2002 01:00:00, 22016 bytes

----------------------------
DirectPlay Service Providers
----------------------------
DirectPlay8 Modem Service Provider - Registry: OK, File: dpnet.dll (5.03.0000.0900)
DirectPlay8 Serial Service Provider - Registry: OK, File: dpnet.dll (5.03.0000.0900)
DirectPlay8 IPX Service Provider - Registry: OK, File: dpnet.dll (5.03.0000.0900)
DirectPlay8 TCP/IP Service Provider - Registry: OK, File: dpnet.dll (5.03.0000.0900)
Internet TCP/IP Connection For DirectPlay - Registry: OK, File: dpwsockx.dll (5.03.0001.0904)
IPX Connection For DirectPlay - Registry: OK, File: dpwsockx.dll (5.03.0001.0904)
Modem Connection For DirectPlay - Registry: OK, File: dpmodemx.dll (5.03.0000.0900)
Serial Connection For DirectPlay - Registry: OK, File: dpmodemx.dll (5.03.0000.0900)

DirectPlay Voice Wizard Tests: Full Duplex: Not run, Half Duplex: Not run, Mic: Not run
DirectPlay Test Result: Not run
Registry: OK

-------------------
DirectPlay Adapters
-------------------
DirectPlay8 Serial Service Provider: COM1
DirectPlay8 Serial Service Provider: COM2
DirectPlay8 TCP/IP Service Provider: Local Area Connection - IPv4 -

-----------------------
DirectPlay Voice Codecs
-----------------------
Voxware VR12 1.4kbit/s
Voxware SC06 6.4kbit/s
Voxware SC03 3.2kbit/s
MS-PCM 64 kbit/s
MS-ADPCM 32.8 kbit/s
Microsoft GSM 6.10 13 kbit/s
TrueSpeech(TM) 8.6 kbit/s

-------------------------
DirectPlay Lobbyable Apps
-------------------------

------------------------
Disk & DVD/CD-ROM Drives
------------------------
      Drive: C:
 Free Space: 12.0 GB
Total Space: 19.1 GB
File System: NTFS
      Model: WDC WD200EB-75CPF0

      Drive: D:
      Model: HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GP10NB20 USB Device
     Driver: c:\windows\system32\drivers\cdrom.sys, 5.01.2600.1106 (English), 8/30/2002 01:00:00, 47488 bytes

--------------
System Devices
--------------
     Name: Sound Blaster 5.1
Device ID: PCI\VEN_1102&DEV_0006&SUBSYS_10011102&REV_00\3&61AAA01&0&50
   Driver: C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\drmk.sys, 5.01.2600.1106 (English), 8/29/2002 01:32:34, 57856 bytes
   Driver: C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\portcls.sys, 5.01.2600.1106 (English), 8/29/2002 02:01:00, 134272 bytes
   Driver: C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\stream.sys, 5.03.0001.0904 (English), 7/9/2004 04:27:28, 48512 bytes
   Driver: C:\WINDOWS\System32\wdmaud.drv, 5.01.2600.0000 (English), 8/17/2001 22:37:04, 22016 bytes
   Driver: C:\WINDOWS\System32\ksuser.dll, 5.03.0000.0900 (English), 12/12/2002 00:14:32, 4096 bytes
   Driver: C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\P16X.sys, 5.12.0001.0202 (English), 7/22/2005 15:20:04, 1275776 bytes
   Driver: C:\WINDOWS\System32\P16XRes.Dll, 5.12.0001.0103 (English), 4/22/2002 13:26:00, 33792 bytes
   Driver: C:\WINDOWS\System32\P16X.dll, 1.00.0000.0016 (English), 7/22/2005 15:12:58, 39936 bytes
   Driver: C:\WINDOWS\System32\A3d.dll, 80.00.0000.0003 (English), 4/11/2002 06:41:00, 65536 bytes
   Driver: C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\eapci2m.ecw, 1/21/1999 22:31:00, 2259070 bytes


 

[MrRiplEy[H]]

hmmmm. After reading the posts here regarding updates and then your post TC I thought I better have a look...It seems I only have SP1 so I try to download SP2 and it tells me I need .netframework 2.o which I can get from Microsoft download center...I can not get directed to the microsoft site at all...google tells me that it could be typed wrong.....this is nuts....
processes on start is 21 . I don't know which I can and can't remove but this is lower than what I was getting prior to loosing the old hard drive so I thought leave it be. Below is my DXdiag please don't laugh  hahahaha

1) Only SP3 level XP:s still get updates, others are phased out
2) If your computer cannot access Microsoft download center etc. it's possible that your computer is infected with a virus / malware that blocks the site to stop you from removing the infection. Do a scan with http://www.eset.com/home/products/online-scanner/ and if that won't work either it's time to consider a format and reinstall.

[Bizman]

You can download XP ServicePack 2 from here and SP 3 from here as standalone packages. You might need a new version of Windows Updater before being able to install SP2. If SP2 fails, it will inform you to install one or two updates from the Windows Update site. They'd be the first recommended ones, after which you'd need to reboot. Don't install any other updates before installing the SP's, many of them are already covered inside of them. After SP 3 there are still about one hundred smaller updates ATM.

[MrRiplEy[H]]

You can download XP ServicePack 2 from here and SP 3 from here as standalone packages. You might need a new version of Windows Updater before being able to install SP2. If SP2 fails, it will inform you to install one or two updates from the Windows Update site. They'd be the first recommended ones, after which you'd need to reboot. Don't install any other updates before installing the SP's, many of them are already covered inside of them. After SP 3 there are still about one hundred smaller updates ATM.

Your link to SP3 is blank.

[Bizman]

Your link to SP3 is blank.

Fixed, thank you for telling.

[SPKmes]

cheers guys.... looks like a reinstall is on the cards ... I can not get directed to any of the three links you have there ... I'm trying malwarebytes ...not sure if this will be ok but i was able to get to this to download....  or perhaps I just leave it...I only use it for aces and have another hard drive with ubuntu for general day to day stuff.....if it works don't fix it ...even if it is just working hahaha



EDIT : well just tried to get the .net framework 2 sp2 I needed and the download wouldn't finalize and the same deal with the malware bytes tells me I need the administartors permission....but hang on...I am the administrator hahaha.... looks like MrRipley has it on the button...a virus of some sort... Cheers for the help guys I will re format and install and work from there..

[Bizman]

You can download the SP's even with Ubuntu on a memory stick and run them from there. I have them on a stick due to my job and usually copy the files first on the desktop to make the installation smoother. At first, remember not to have your network cable plugged before you have either Windows' or some other firewall on, assisted with an antivirus. So the procedure would be:

• 1) Reformat and reinstall Windows. Fixmbr would be a good idea before installing.
• 2) Copy the Service Packs on the Desktop
• 3) Install SP 2
• 4) Install your motherboard drivers from cd, or get them on a stick with another computer and install them from there. SP2 has many drivers built-in, that's why I suggest it done here. No harm doing it after the initial install, either
• 5) Install SP 3
• 6) Install an antivirus of your choice, from cd or stick, make sure you're behind a firewall
• 7) Plug in the network cable and go to Windows Update to download the rest of updates

I don't know your mileage, but I hope this list helps at least someone.