Random reboots plague

[sparow]

Hi all,

I'm experiencing, since the last major version upgrade, a constant random reboot problem. But I feel that it is not directly related with Aces High because freezing and rebooting also happens when I am doing other stuff in the computer. It got so accute - with some BSOD and "Hardware Failure" messages - that led me to dump 100 euros on a new HDD for this obsolete machine of mine... Hélas, it still hangs up and reboots randomly, the problem not beeing the HDD, apparently... I have "upgraded" this machine a year ago with a new GC a bit against the advice of Skuzzy. I had a MX 440 64Mb GC and installed a FX5500 256Mb GC. AH got marginally better but I know now that I have gained very little. At the time, a friend of mine gave me 512Mb of RAM and it all worked well until a couple of months ago. I am planning to "downgrade" the GC first and, after, the RAM. I should be able to trace the faulty component. I had two HDDs and I removed the 1Gb old one (Western Digital Caviar heading to the museum), there should be no conflict there... If you have a clue about this, please, send me some advice on how to solve this issue. Here's my DxDiag:

------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 4/23/2012, 15:59:21
       Machine name: PAULO-DD85BE85E
   Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 3 (2600.xpsp_sp3_gdr.111025-1629)
           Language: Portuguese (Regional Setting: Portuguese)
System Manufacturer: VIA
       System Model: K7VT2
               BIOS: Default System BIOS
          Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) XP 2000+,  MMX,  3DNow, ~1.7GHz
             Memory: 1024MB RAM
          Page File: 204MB used, 2256MB available
        Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
    DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
     DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.5512 32bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
  DirectX Files Tab: No problems found.
      Display Tab 1: No problems found.
        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: NVIDIA GeForce FX 5500
     Manufacturer: NVIDIA
        Chip type: GeForce FX 5500
         DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
       Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0326&SUBSYS_00000000&REV_A1
   Display Memory: 256.0 MB
     Current Mode: 1024 x 768 (32 bit) (100Hz)
          Monitor: Philips 109S (109S1)
  Monitor Max Res: 1920,1440
      Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
   Driver Version: 6.14.0011.7516 (English)
      DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
 Driver Date/Size: 5/3/2008 05:46:00, 6108160 bytes
      WHQL Logo'd: Yes
  WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
              VDD: n/d
         Mini VDD: nv4_mini.sys
    Mini VDD Date: 5/3/2008 05:46:00, 6554496 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B71E3E-4066-11CF-EC7E-0B2000C2CB35}
        Vendor ID: 0x10DE
        Device ID: 0x0326
        SubSys ID: 0x00000000
      Revision ID: 0x00A1
      Revision ID: 0x00A1
      Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_A ModeMPEG2_B ModeMPEG2_C ModeMPEG2_D
 Deinterlace Caps: {212DC722-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,2) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {212DC723-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_MedianFilteri ng
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalSt retch
                   {212DC722-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,2) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {212DC723-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_MedianFilteri ng
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalSt retch
                   {212DC722-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x32315659) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,2) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {212DC723-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x32315659) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_MedianFilteri ng
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x32315659) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalSt retch
                   {212DC722-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,2) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {212DC723-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_MedianFilteri ng
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalSt retch
         Registry: OK
     DDraw Status: Enabled
       D3D Status: Enabled
       AGP Status: Enabled
DDraw Test Result: Not run
 D3D7 Test Result: Not run
 D3D8 Test Result: Not run
 D3D9 Test Result: Not run

-------------
Sound Devices
-------------
            Description: VIA AC'97 Audio (WAVE)
 Default Sound Playback: Yes
 Default Voice Playback: Yes
            Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_1106&DEV_3059&SUBSYS_41611106&REV_50
        Manufacturer ID: 1
             Product ID: 100
                   Type: WDM
            Driver Name: viaudio.sys
         Driver Version: 6.14.0001.3900 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
            WHQL Logo'd: Yes
          Date and Size: 3/24/2003 12:19:00, 88960 bytes
            Other Files:
        Driver Provider: VIA Technologies, Inc.
         HW Accel Level: Full
              Cap Flags: 0xF5F
    Min/Max Sample Rate: 8000, 48000
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 1, 0
 Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0
              HW Memory: 0
       Voice Management: No
 EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: No, No
   I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No
               Registry: OK
      Sound Test Result: Not run

------------------------
Disk & DVD/CD-ROM Drives
------------------------
      Drive: C:
 Free Space: 134.3 GB
Total Space: 152.6 GB
File System: NTFS
      Model: WDC WD1600AAJB-00J3A0

      Drive: E:
      Model: HL-DT-ST DVD-RAM GSA-H50L
     Driver: c:\windows\system32\drivers\cdrom.sys, 5.01.2600.5512 (Portuguese), 4/14/2008 00:10:48, 62976 bytes

[fuzeman]

I'm definitely not an expert but the "Page File: 204MB used, 2256MB available" seems quite large for an XP system.
How many processes do you have running? If you cut them down before AH , repost with those closed down.

I'd bet my left kidney Skuzzy or another more knowledgeable person will shine a light on other things but that's one I noticed on my first cup of coffee. I doubt all those running processes would casue random reboots also. Cleaned it up recently? Make sure it's not dusty or dirty inside and all fans spinning well.

[sparow]

Hello Fuzeman!

Thank you for your help. I have 38 processes running last time I saw in Task Manager. That's a bit too much, isn't it? Also, the Page File size may be a bit too much, really... it´s on automatic, that I remember...

Now, about fans... well, we took out the CPU, was cleaned, thermal paste added (was dry!) all re-assembled and working. The fan works although she is a bit noisy and that is not a good sign, I know...

Thank you for your inputs. Don't bet ANY of your kidneys, please! You may need them one day! Let's wait for The Man opinion (i know he will tell me this is a basket case but...) to be heard!

Cheers,

[fuzeman]

I do believe 38 is quite a few for an XP rig. I used fs_autostart when I ran my XP system and I got it down to around 20 and a wiz would even get that down to the mid teens I'm pretty sure.
fs_ autostart has been upgraded and is now called alarritypc.
http://alacritypc.kensalter.com/

[Bino]

Possible heat issue on the CPU?  Grab a copy of a temperature monitor program (i.e. HWMonitor) and keep an eye on the CPU temp as you browse. etc.

Possible flaky power supply?  Put a volt/ohm on it and measure what comes out.

Have you tried re-seating all the motherboard connections and expansion cards?

[The Fugitive]

With a computer that old it may just be a weak power supply. You up graded the video and memory which will pull more power. How many USB devices do you have running on it?  You can't have more than a 250 watt in that thing unless you swapped it out already.

[sparow]

Hello all! Thank you for your help!

The machine is clean and all well pluged in. I installed the HW Temp program recommended and it doesn't look bad:

Hardware monitor   Winbond W83697HF
   Voltage 0   1.65 Volts [0x67] (CPU VCore)
   Voltage 1   3.17 Volts [0xC6] (AUX)
   Voltage 2   2.86 Volts [0xB3] (+3.3V)
   Voltage 3   5.19 Volts [0xC1] (+5V)
   Voltage 4   11.73 Volts [0xC1] (+12V)
   Temperature 0   39°C (102°F) [0x27] (TMPIN0)
   Temperature 1   35°C (94°F) [0x46] (TMPIN1)
   Fan 0      5114 RPM [0x84] (FANIN0)

I must report a freeze right at the beggining only with IE open. Rebooted and uninstalled several HP cra** totally unnecessary. Pushed it a bit entering AH and playing online, Task Manager HW Monitor and IE open simultaneously. Hold on for a bit, then AH crashed. It was not a full sistem crash, it was a specific Aces High hang-up and crash...
This is a new HDD, a full new Aces High Download plus Mitsu's SP. When I went to check the Task Manager, I could see that the CPU load was very high and dropped as soon as AH crashed. I had the Micosoft Windows usual error message to report the problem...

Now, I am going to open the box to check for the Power Supply. It's higher than 250 Watts, that I remember, can't remember exactly, though. My last resort will be a GC downgrade to the old MX 440 64Mb I had before... After that, I will have to take this to a pro...

[Skuzzy]

That 3.3V rail looks pretty weak.  .5V down is quite a bit for the 3.3V rail.

[fuzeman]

Another thing I just noticed, and you mentioning Mitsu's sound pack fired that synapse, is this:

Description: VIA AC'97 Audio (WAVE)
          HW Accel Level: Full

Is this not an onboard sound device?  It is not recommended to run them full acceleration and not with a custom sound pack. Back that down a notch, which can be done through DxDiag, under the sound tab.

[sparow]

Hi all!

Just looked at the Power Supply. Fuzeman, you're right on! It's a 250W unit...  Skuzzy, that voltage problem is board related? Will upgrade the Power Supply solve it or fry it?

Also, downgraded the GC to the MX440 and nothing much happened relative to the FX 5500, but AH locked-up in a couple of minutes... I was answering a phone call and I was in twr. I distinctively heard the HDD boot up and there he was, nothing moved, had to go for the reboot button...

Fuzeman, I'm going to downgrade the sound a bit. At this moment, my the temperature program gives the following readings:

Hardware monitor   Winbond W83697HF
   Voltage 0   1.65 Volts [0x67] (CPU VCore)
   Voltage 1   3.22 Volts [0xC9] (AUX)
   Voltage 2   2.86 Volts [0xB3] (+3.3V)
   Voltage 3   5.13 Volts [0xBF] (+5V)
   Voltage 4   11.61 Volts [0xBF] (+12V)
   Temperature 0   35°C (94°F) [0x23] (TMPIN0)
   Temperature 1   32°C (89°F) [0x40] (TMPIN1)
   Fan 0      3553 RPM [0xBE] (FANIN0)

Will return here as soon as I tweak the sound down a bit. I believe it's not GC related. IBIOS, MoBo, something else... maybe.

[Skuzzy]

The voltage problem is power supply related.

[sparow]

Hi all!

Two good news: lowered the sound performance and had no lock-ups or HDD reboots. The MX440 hold his ground valiantly only the frame rate is lowish... Sucks polys and textures quicker than the FX5500...

Tomorrow will be power supply shopping day! will buy one that has some future 

Will still change the GC. It's marginally better and I need the frame rate for air combat...

Will post the results by Friday, hopefully. Thank you ALL very much for your help.

Cheers,

[sparow]

Hi chaps!

Well, it's been a busy day in this side of the pond... Bought the Power Supply (Hantol ATX 660Watt Dual Fan) and managed to switch it safely... First read is with the MX440, the 3,3V rack power problem is still there...

Hardware monitor   Winbond W83697HF
   Voltage 0   1.65 Volts [0x67] (CPU VCore)
   Voltage 1   3.30 Volts [0xCE] (AUX)
   Voltage 2   2.85 Volts [0xB2] (+3.3V)
   Voltage 3   5.21 Volts [0xC2] (+5V)
   Voltage 4   11.86 Volts [0xC3] (+12V)
   Temperature 0   34°C (93°F) [0x22] (TMPIN0)
   Temperature 1   29°C (83°F) [0x39] (TMPIN1)
   Fan 0      4720 RPM [0x8F] (FANIN0)

I then plugged in the FX5500 and nothing much hapenned... here's the reading:

Hardware monitor   Winbond W83697HF
   Voltage 0   1.65 Volts [0x67] (CPU VCore)
   Voltage 1   3.18 Volts [0xC7] (AUX)
   Voltage 2   2.85 Volts [0xB2] (+3.3V)
   Voltage 3   5.21 Volts [0xC2] (+5V)
   Voltage 4   11.80 Volts [0xC2] (+12V)
   Temperature 0   39°C (102°F) [0x27] (TMPIN0)
   Temperature 1   27°C (79°F) [0x35] (TMPIN1)
   Fan 0      4927 RPM [0x89] (FANIN0)


It never goes over 2,85V... If it means a MoBo issue, it's the end of the line... Still, the last 2 tests are still to be done: stability and AH. Starting now the endurance and performance test. I'll tell you how it went!

Cheers,

[sparow]

Hello all!

I have played Aces High for many hours today without a problem! At last, it seems that the problem was solved, thanks to your help and advice.

Thank you very much for your help. You really made the difference.

Cheers,