intermittent boot freeze

Recently have developed a strange problem:

intermittently, the computer freezes during boot, before XP loads. This
has happened about 20-30 times in the past three weeks, about 1/4 boot
attempts. Memory checking and HDD checking programs (booting from CD) have
found no problems there. Throughout this experience, there have been no
problesm once windows has launched. In fact, once the HDD light flickers,
there will be no problem.

On the other hand, sometimes the freeze occurs within the BIOS setup program.

I'm hoping this isn't MB.

Thanks for your help.

"krcmd1" <krcmd1@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:3E66B7B5-77CD-4382-ADA5-8C1CAA8630DA@microsoft.com...
> Recently have developed a strange problem:
>
> intermittently, the computer freezes during boot, before XP loads. This
> has happened about 20-30 times in the past three weeks, about 1/4 boot
> attempts. Memory checking and HDD checking programs (booting from CD) have
> found no problems there. Throughout this experience, there have been no
> problesm once windows has launched. In fact, once the HDD light flickers,
> there will be no problem.
>
> On the other hand, sometimes the freeze occurs within the BIOS setup program.

That alone points more towards a hardware problem. The fact that it's intermittent
makes it difficult to test, let alone with software tools. I'd guess,, it's not the HDD, as
the HDD isn't needed to boot the BIOS.

You might try reseating the RAM modules, check for any corrosion on the contacts.
If more than one module, remove/swap then test / etc.

Check/reseat all other MB <-> device connections. (Blow out the dust bunnies.)
Eyeball the MB for leaking/bulging capacitors. A flakey PSU is another possibility.
You might want to swap test with a another.



> I'm hoping this isn't MB.

That is always a possibility.


> Thanks for your help.

You might consider replacing the CMOS battery on the motherboard.

A battery near the end of it's life could cause BIOS problems and
it turn the PC could fail to boot.

JS

"krcmd1" <krcmd1@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:3E66B7B5-77CD-4382-ADA5-8C1CAA8630DA@microsoft.com...
> Recently have developed a strange problem:
>
> intermittently, the computer freezes during boot, before XP loads. This
> has happened about 20-30 times in the past three weeks, about 1/4 boot
> attempts. Memory checking and HDD checking programs (booting from CD)
> have
> found no problems there. Throughout this experience, there have been no
> problesm once windows has launched. In fact, once the HDD light flickers,
> there will be no problem.
>
> On the other hand, sometimes the freeze occurs within the BIOS setup
> program.
>
> I'm hoping this isn't MB.
>
> Thanks for your help.

Thank you. How is the hardware/programs different before windows launches?
Am I wrong to think that this might be a bios program or DOS or interrupt
problem? For example, last night I booted PC Doctor from CD. It was running
fine, for about an hour, but then it wouldn't respond later to keyboard
command to stop the PCDoctor.

How does a hardware problem fit with this?

Never a problem once Windows is running.

"Bill Blanton" wrote:

> "krcmd1" <krcmd1@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:3E66B7B5-77CD-4382-ADA5-8C1CAA8630DA@microsoft.com...
> > Recently have developed a strange problem:
> >
> > intermittently, the computer freezes during boot, before XP loads. This
> > has happened about 20-30 times in the past three weeks, about 1/4 boot
> > attempts. Memory checking and HDD checking programs (booting from CD) have
> > found no problems there. Throughout this experience, there have been no
> > problesm once windows has launched. In fact, once the HDD light flickers,
> > there will be no problem.
> >
> > On the other hand, sometimes the freeze occurs within the BIOS setup program.
>
> That alone points more towards a hardware problem. The fact that it's intermittent
> makes it difficult to test, let alone with software tools. I'd guess,, it's not the HDD, as
> the HDD isn't needed to boot the BIOS.
>
> You might try reseating the RAM modules, check for any corrosion on the contacts.
> If more than one module, remove/swap then test / etc.
>
> Check/reseat all other MB <-> device connections. (Blow out the dust bunnies.)
> Eyeball the MB for leaking/bulging capacitors. A flakey PSU is another possibility.
> You might want to swap test with a another.
>
>
>
> > I'm hoping this isn't MB.
>
> That is always a possibility.
>
>
> > Thanks for your help.
>
>
>

How old is the motherboard? maybe bad capacitors if it is 2000-2002 or so.

krcmd1 wrote:

> Recently have developed a strange problem:
>
> intermittently, the computer freezes during boot, before XP loads. This
> has happened about 20-30 times in the past three weeks, about 1/4 boot
> attempts. Memory checking and HDD checking programs (booting from CD) have
> found no problems there. Throughout this experience, there have been no
> problesm once windows has launched. In fact, once the HDD light flickers,
> there will be no problem.
>
> On the other hand, sometimes the freeze occurs within the BIOS setup program.
>
> I'm hoping this isn't MB.
>
> Thanks for your help.

delivered by IBM 2004

"Bob I" wrote:

> How old is the motherboard? maybe bad capacitors if it is 2000-2002 or so.
>
> krcmd1 wrote:
>
> > Recently have developed a strange problem:
> >
> > intermittently, the computer freezes during boot, before XP loads. This
> > has happened about 20-30 times in the past three weeks, about 1/4 boot
> > attempts. Memory checking and HDD checking programs (booting from CD) have
> > found no problems there. Throughout this experience, there have been no
> > problesm once windows has launched. In fact, once the HDD light flickers,
> > there will be no problem.
> >
> > On the other hand, sometimes the freeze occurs within the BIOS setup program.
> >
> > I'm hoping this isn't MB.
> >
> > Thanks for your help.
>
>

The fact that it freezes randomly, and within different boot axis,
(Windows loading, BIOS setup, PCDoc booted to CD) very strongly
suggests hardware.

BTW, what do you mean by "freeze"? If the only problem is not being
able to use the keyboard, then swapping that out would be a good
starting point.



"krcmd1" <krcmd1@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:07299AF3-73F6-4FF6-9473-59C10234D9CE@microsoft.com...
> Thank you. How is the hardware/programs different before windows launches?
> Am I wrong to think that this might be a bios program or DOS or interrupt
> problem? For example, last night I booted PC Doctor from CD. It was running
> fine, for about an hour, but then it wouldn't respond later to keyboard
> command to stop the PCDoctor.
>
> How does a hardware problem fit with this?
>
> Never a problem once Windows is running.
>
> "Bill Blanton" wrote:
>
>> "krcmd1" <krcmd1@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:3E66B7B5-77CD-4382-ADA5-8C1CAA8630DA@microsoft.com...
>> > Recently have developed a strange problem:
>> >
>> > intermittently, the computer freezes during boot, before XP loads. This
>> > has happened about 20-30 times in the past three weeks, about 1/4 boot
>> > attempts. Memory checking and HDD checking programs (booting from CD) have
>> > found no problems there. Throughout this experience, there have been no
>> > problesm once windows has launched. In fact, once the HDD light flickers,
>> > there will be no problem.
>> >
>> > On the other hand, sometimes the freeze occurs within the BIOS setup program.
>>
>> That alone points more towards a hardware problem. The fact that it's intermittent
>> makes it difficult to test, let alone with software tools. I'd guess,, it's not the HDD, as
>> the HDD isn't needed to boot the BIOS.
>>
>> You might try reseating the RAM modules, check for any corrosion on the contacts.
>> If more than one module, remove/swap then test / etc.
>>
>> Check/reseat all other MB <-> device connections. (Blow out the dust bunnies.)
>> Eyeball the MB for leaking/bulging capacitors. A flakey PSU is another possibility.
>> You might want to swap test with a another.
>>
>>
>>
>> > I'm hoping this isn't MB.
>>
>> That is always a possibility.
>>
>>
>> > Thanks for your help.
>>
>>
>>

Bravely opened it up, swapped the two memory cards, tested the cmos
battery(it's OK), and blew out major league dust bunnies from the air intake
manifold.

Too soon to know if that will make a difference.




"krcmd1" wrote:

> delivered by IBM 2004
>
> "Bob I" wrote:
>
> > How old is the motherboard? maybe bad capacitors if it is 2000-2002 or so.
> >
> > krcmd1 wrote:
> >
> > > Recently have developed a strange problem:
> > >
> > > intermittently, the computer freezes during boot, before XP loads. This
> > > has happened about 20-30 times in the past three weeks, about 1/4 boot
> > > attempts. Memory checking and HDD checking programs (booting from CD) have
> > > found no problems there. Throughout this experience, there have been no
> > > problesm once windows has launched. In fact, once the HDD light flickers,
> > > there will be no problem.
> > >
> > > On the other hand, sometimes the freeze occurs within the BIOS setup program.
> > >
> > > I'm hoping this isn't MB.
> > >
> > > Thanks for your help.
> >
> >

No joy.




"krcmd1" wrote:

> Bravely opened it up, swapped the two memory cards, tested the cmos
> battery(it's OK), and blew out major league dust bunnies from the air intake
> manifold.
>
> Too soon to know if that will make a difference.
>
>
>
>
> "krcmd1" wrote:
>
> > delivered by IBM 2004
> >
> > "Bob I" wrote:
> >
> > > How old is the motherboard? maybe bad capacitors if it is 2000-2002 or so.
> > >
> > > krcmd1 wrote:
> > >
> > > > Recently have developed a strange problem:
> > > >
> > > > intermittently, the computer freezes during boot, before XP loads. This
> > > > has happened about 20-30 times in the past three weeks, about 1/4 boot
> > > > attempts. Memory checking and HDD checking programs (booting from CD) have
> > > > found no problems there. Throughout this experience, there have been no
> > > > problesm once windows has launched. In fact, once the HDD light flickers,
> > > > there will be no problem.
> > > >
> > > > On the other hand, sometimes the freeze occurs within the BIOS setup program.
> > > >
> > > > I'm hoping this isn't MB.
> > > >
> > > > Thanks for your help.
> > >
> > >

Do you have any external USB or Firewire devices connected when you boot, if
so disconnect them and then boot the PC.

JS

"krcmd1" <krcmd1@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:9671459D-6A05-4773-9470-1570A4F17BA0@microsoft.com...
> No joy.
>
>
>
>
> "krcmd1" wrote:
>
>> Bravely opened it up, swapped the two memory cards, tested the cmos
>> battery(it's OK), and blew out major league dust bunnies from the air
>> intake
>> manifold.
>>
>> Too soon to know if that will make a difference.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> "krcmd1" wrote:
>>
>> > delivered by IBM 2004
>> >
>> > "Bob I" wrote:
>> >
>> > > How old is the motherboard? maybe bad capacitors if it is 2000-2002
>> > > or so.
>> > >
>> > > krcmd1 wrote:
>> > >
>> > > > Recently have developed a strange problem:
>> > > >
>> > > > intermittently, the computer freezes during boot, before XP loads.
>> > > > This
>> > > > has happened about 20-30 times in the past three weeks, about 1/4
>> > > > boot
>> > > > attempts. Memory checking and HDD checking programs (booting from
>> > > > CD) have
>> > > > found no problems there. Throughout this experience, there have
>> > > > been no
>> > > > problesm once windows has launched. In fact, once the HDD light
>> > > > flickers,
>> > > > there will be no problem.
>> > > >
>> > > > On the other hand, sometimes the freeze occurs within the BIOS
>> > > > setup program.
>> > > >
>> > > > I'm hoping this isn't MB.
>> > > >
>> > > > Thanks for your help.
>> > >
>> > >

JS wrote:
> Do you have any external USB or Firewire devices connected when you boot, if
> so disconnect them and then boot the PC.
>

I just fixed that problem with an external hard disk by disabling Legacy
USB support on my computer.


> JS
>
> "krcmd1" <krcmd1@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:9671459D-6A05-4773-9470-1570A4F17BA0@microsoft.com...
>> No joy.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> "krcmd1" wrote:
>>
>>> Bravely opened it up, swapped the two memory cards, tested the cmos
>>> battery(it's OK), and blew out major league dust bunnies from the air
>>> intake
>>> manifold.
>>>
>>> Too soon to know if that will make a difference.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> "krcmd1" wrote:
>>>
>>>> delivered by IBM 2004
>>>>
>>>> "Bob I" wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> How old is the motherboard? maybe bad capacitors if it is 2000-2002
>>>>> or so.
>>>>>
>>>>> krcmd1 wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Recently have developed a strange problem:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> intermittently, the computer freezes during boot, before XP loads.
>>>>>> This
>>>>>> has happened about 20-30 times in the past three weeks, about 1/4
>>>>>> boot
>>>>>> attempts. Memory checking and HDD checking programs (booting from
>>>>>> CD) have
>>>>>> found no problems there. Throughout this experience, there have
>>>>>> been no
>>>>>> problesm once windows has launched. In fact, once the HDD light
>>>>>> flickers,
>>>>>> there will be no problem.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On the other hand, sometimes the freeze occurs within the BIOS
>>>>>> setup program.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I'm hoping this isn't MB.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Thanks for your help.
>>>>>
>
>