1. Home
  2. General Toyota Forum
  3. Re: {{ OT }} Computerj (PC) Troubles with PCI Buss

Re: {{ OT }} Computerj (PC) Troubles with PCI Buss

I have a PC that was running okay, but developed a problem where the

> mouse locks up -- stops moving -- and the entire rest of the computer > freezes at the same time. In the grand scheme of chicken-and-egg, I > don't know that the computer freezes and the mouse stops moving, or the > mouse stops and the computer freezes. I only know that the computer has > stopped because the mouse no longer responds. > > I have to physically shut the computer off by holding the power switch. > > After many hours of checking, I discovered that if I remove the > wireless adaptor, the computer works properly for days on end. When I > install the wireless adaptor, the computer will lock up within a few > minutes. > > I'm certain that I have a hardware problem, and I think I have a power > supply issue on my hands. The wireless adaptor is a PCI bus device, and > I'm thinking the bus power supply is teetering on the brink of > collapse, and the adaptor pushes it over the edge. > > The motherboard is based on Celeron architecture, I forget the clock > speed but 900 MHz sticks in my head. > > This machine worked for years without ever giving me a problem. I > installed the wireless adaptor about two years ago and was a broadband > bandit for more than a year before I broke down and bought fiber optic > service for my internet access. In the past ten days, I bought a new > Core-2 Intel something-or-other, and was going to sell the Celeron to > my brother in law. While removing my files, the mouse started acting > up, and I jumped through all kinds of hoops trying to get the machine > to work, I finally bought another Core 2 something-or-other for my BIL. > > I found that the Celeron machine now works flawlessly for days and > days, but I did not realize the wireless adaptor was a key. I installed > a new wireless adaptor -- different from the original one -- and the > problems began again within minutes. Sometimes the machine will lock up > on the Desktop while booting, other times it will boot okay but lock up > a while later. In any case, it always locks up in less than about 20 > minutes. The PC is completely stripped right now, it has a keyboard, > mouse, and monitor only. No printer or any other peripheral, including > CD drive or 3.5" floppy. From the view of the power supply, there is > only a motherboard, mouse, keyboard, and monitor. > > When the wireless adaptor is installed into any of the 3 PCI ports, the > computer locks up. > > Is this a power supply issue?

It sounds like an IRQ problem. The other PCI devices in your machine do not like the wireless adapter. Have you also added any other PCI cards, new OR replacements, to your box recently? Also check the wireless adapter manufacturer's site for updated drivers which may address the issue.

When the box locks up, can you get any reaction from the Windows key on your keyboard?

Kinda tough diagnosing remotely. That's all I can think of right now.

Reply to
witfal
Loading thread data ...

Do you have driver software for the wireless device?

Reply to
dbu.,

One other possibility, though remote: Try disabling the wired network connection before a lock-up. If it still does it, I'd guess your original theory looks better; a dying bus on the motherboard, most likely a heat-sensitive component.

New MBs are pretty cheap now if you don't want the lastest and greatest. Just re-use the rest and do a clean re-install of WinBlows.

Reply to
witfal

Possibly:

o Interference from another IR or other wireless-style source

o Firewall/router not placed at the end of the chain to internet connection

o IRQ conflicts, which can easily be brought on by:

o Power fluctuations

I'm having this same problem, due to power fluctuations in my area due to downed lines and the cleanup efforts. IF your power backup/surge protector goes off, there should be a log of when and why it shut down or reacted. Can't say where that log file is as I don't do Windoze.

PF

Reply to
Pink Freud

You mean the wireless doesn't run, the computer otherwise works fine?

Reply to
dbu.,

Could be a windows update bit you and a driver is actually hosing up your system. Wouldn't be the first time.

I'd wade through removing all the drivers and reinstalling them.

Also check the crash log. IIRC it's here. C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\Dr Watson

Happy bug hunting. :/

Reply to
DougW

I wonder if the old drivers are still in the computer or do the new ones overwrite the old?

I'm not so sure it's hardware. If it were me I'd be looking at SW/driver before replacing an otherwise good running machine.

Aren't computers fun...GL

Reply to
dbu.,

What is the OS, and what kind of machine, and everything else? Can you check for conflicts?

Reply to
Moe

You may not have a cable plugged in, but I'll wager you've got an active connection. Check it via the Control Panel's icon.

I doubt it. When they go, as a rule they go big. But at least your MBR has that code successfully entered. That'll do fine if it finds its way to another MB. Remember, even if the install is fresh, you'll need to do it again with another MB if you choose to go that way.

Reply to
witfal

Have you gone into the BIOS and disabled the on-board NIC? My machine here locks when I install an Attache 'thumb drive', unless I remove my Trackball and use an optical mouse.

My previous machine would lock up when the On-Board NIC was enabled. Damn thing never worked, so when I installed a 3Com card NIC it would freeze up unless the On-Board was disabled.

Reply to
Hachiroku $B%O%A%m%/(B

Jeff, power supplies are real cheap, I think you said that too. I have two or three lying around as spares, just in case. I don't think it will fix it, but you never know until you swap it out.

I like a recent Windows upgrade as another possible culprit, or the software that comes with the wireless card.

Are the CPU fan and the one in the power supply turning? I had one just stop once. I spotted it before anything else failed.

Cheers,

Earle

Reply to
Earle Horton

Jeff, is the fan on the power supply running? If the fan locks up, the power supply will overheat causing the lock ups you describe, but there are other things as well. I'd check the fan, easy stuff first.

Spdloader

Reply to
Spdloader

Yeah, I caught that in a different post. Sorry.

At this point, my money is on your original guess: A dying PCI bus, on the MB.

Reply to
witfal

It doesn't have a built-in NIC? Most new MoBos and machines have a NIC already installed, and the connection is near the USB ports as a rule.

I never liked them either, and the first MoBo I bought that had one confirmed my suspicions...

Reply to
Hachiroku $B%O%A%m%/(B

Have all your drivers ready. Power down the system and switch the positions of all the PCI cards. This will case a driver/IRQ shuffle and _might_ solve your problem.

Reply to
Scott in Baltimore

He tried the wireless card in all slots with the same results.

Reply to
witfal

Jeff, everyone seems to be concentrating on the wireless - let me suggest another subtle (and cheap) place to check. What you describe is typical of an overheating component on the mb - either the CPU or the interface chipset. I've actually seen more of the 828x chipsets overtemp than CPU.

Check the fan. Blow all the accumulated fuzz, dog hair, etc. out of the case and the vent holes. Blow the CPU heatsink clean as well. The fan can probably be oiled, just to make sure. One side of it will have either a foil tape or rubber plug covering one end of the fan shaft - it it's really gummy, spray some WD40 into the bearing, let it run for a few minutes, the blow the WD40 out and put a couple of drops of light oil (3-in-1 weight) into the cavity.

If you mb has temp sensors on it, check the component temps - anything over

45C is suspect.

You might also pull the PS plug > I have a PC that was running okay, but developed a problem where the mouse

Reply to
Will Honea

If you have removed the heatsink then you have disrupted the thermal paste that was on the bottom of the heat sink.

Since it seems to be a heat related problem (uh, perhaps) you should take an alcohol wipe and remove the thermal transfer stuff and replace it fresh. Staples used to seel the stuff, but I haven't seen it. If you have a CompUSA nearby, get a syringe of the stuff, make three 'coils' on the top of the CPU and reinstall the heatsink. (If, I'm being too simplistic, sorry...)

However, I bought a new MoBo and CPU last summer about this time, and AMD, which has always supplied the proper thermal material in the past has stopped doing so. I had a fairly fast CPU, but the only stuff I could find was the white stuff they sell at Radio Shack for $4~5. Not the silver oxide stuff, nothing fancy, just plain old white goop.

It's been just about a year, overclocked by about 12%, and the system shut down on me twice last year for going overtemp on 100+ degree days. Other than that, it rarely gets over 112 degrees F, well below the meltdown point.

Would the silver oxide stuff have made a difference? Maybe, but for lees than 1/2 the price of that stuff, I have about 8-10 more applications, and I have also used it for a power supply and a guitar amp I have repaired...

YMMV, esp if you have a faster CPU than 2.8 GHz...

Reply to
Hachiroku $B%O%A%m%/(B

MotorsForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.