Tom's Hardware > Forum > Windows XP > Windows XP General Discussion > XP is not stable
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AlexC   11-23-2002 at 12:31:45 PM

Hi all:
One of the system in my house with XP Pro has a weird stability issue. After I just start or restart the computer (already in desktop), I will have to wait for a while, otherwise if I do anything with the computer (even just click on Start), XP will freeze. It usually takes about 5 minutes, after that the computer runs very stable and fast. But it's really annoying having to wait for a while everytime I start the computer.
I reinstalled the OS for 6 times and it still there.
I tried to have only OS in the HDD without anyother programs but not works.
Then I thought maybe it's too hot in there so I put 2 80mm fan in front and back. But no help too.
I also replace the PSU from a cheap 300W to Antec True330 but it seems it's not a problem of not enough power.
I also have all the lastest drivers but I did not update the BIOS.

Can anyone help here? Could it be the ram or IRQ? Or else?

My configuration is:
P4 1.6A
Asus P4S333
DDR266 512MB
Maxtor 40G 7200rpm
ATI Rageon 7500 oem
Asus 16/10/40 CDRW
SB Live 5.1
1 DLink NIC
Antec True 330 PSU

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Snorklis   11-23-2002 at 05:45:36 PM
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It could be som driver or service that dont start correct and after a while, releases its resources and dont hog the system... Have you checked your logs to see what it tells you?

Reply to Snorklis
AlexC   11-23-2002 at 05:50:38 PM
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No, where can I find it? And what it is I should look for?

Reply to AlexC
Snorklis   11-24-2002 at 01:32:19 AM
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When logged in, press ctrl-alt-delete... Watch all the services % of cpu time to see if some of them is eating alot, like >50 or over. Try to reinstall/end the program/service.

As administrator, go to start->programs->administrativetools->event viewer
Watch system and application for warnings, try to fix'em.

Reply to Snorklis
btvillarin   11-24-2002 at 01:58:39 AM
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If you have a DSL connection that connects uses PPPoE (username and password), then you use a Dynamic IP. Translation: when you turn your computer on, it doesn't have an IP until you connect with you username and password.

<b>Workaround:</b>
Go to Control Panel > Network Connections > Local Area Connection (make sure this is for your network card)

Click Properties in the Local Area Connection Status window that opens up. Click on Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), and click Properties. Under the General tab, change the first option to "Use the following IP address". Insert the following:

IP address: 192.168.0.2
Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0
Default gateway: (blank) or 0.0.0.0

Leave the DNS server entries blank, too.

OK the windows, and restart your computer.

<b>Explanation:</b>
When your computer turns on before, it relies on being assigned an IP address. But since you're not on a network, it looks for an IP address for a long time, even though there's none to be given. This way, you'll "fool" Windows into thinking you have a dummy IP, even though you're real one (external) is assigned when you connect.

That's it... :smile:

Bryan

<A HREF="http://www.btvillarin.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=329" target="_new"><b>My System Rig</b></A> (courtesy of <A HREF="http://www.btvillarin.com" target="_new">btvillarin.com</A> )

Reply to btvillarin
AlexC   11-24-2002 at 01:03:14 PM
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I went to task manager and the only thing eats CPU time is "System Idle Process" and it takes more than 90 of CPU. The rest are all 0. And I also found that my other P3 system also has this System Idle Process takes about 85 of CPU but this P3 system works very stable.

I also went to Event Viewer, under Application, there a few warnings and they are "cdrom", "W32Time", and "MSFTPSVC".
Under System, there are a lot of warnings and Errors.
Warnings are "userenv" and "winmgmt". Errors are "ESENT", "LoadPerf", "Com+" and "application hang/error.
All those application error and hang are from IE and OfficeXP. But I don't know what other warnings and errors are for. Again I also went to the stable P3 system, it has very similar numbers and types of warnings and errors. And again this system runs very stable.

What do you think? Is there anything wrong here causing the system unstable during start up?
From the log it seems all drivers are fine and I also minimize the number of start up programs but the issue never resolved.

Reply to AlexC
AlexC   11-24-2002 at 01:09:49 PM
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Thanks for your input!
Yes my ISP assign DHCP through cable but it does not use PPPoE. The IP assigned to me will not be changed unless I release the IP from IPConfig. I also checked this with my ISP. So I don't think lookup IP is the cause. I also have another 2 systems at home with same network setup and they runs very stable. Only this P4 gives me headache.

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AlexC   11-24-2002 at 01:22:56 PM
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Sorry I just noticed that you want me to restart the computer and go to Task Manager during start up.

Well, the biggest app taking CPU during start up is ICQ at 33, none of the rest take more than 20 except System Idle Process moves between 25-70. And again, the system freeze on me after I opened IE (normally if I wait for a few minutes it will run stable), the last look of Processes under Task Manager was - System Idle Process 85 CPU, the rest is 0.

It seems none of the serivices and apps are taking too much CPU during start up,

Reply to AlexC
cynosure   11-24-2002 at 03:58:49 PM
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Go to Device Manager and check that all your IDE Controllers aren't automatically set to detect devices if there isn't one there.

i.e.

Primary IDE Channel
-------------------
Device 0: Device Type: Auto Detection
Device 1: Device Type: None (if there isn't one since it defaults to auto detection)

Reply to cynosure
btvillarin   11-24-2002 at 10:01:15 PM
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Can you please list all the programs you have installed? And yes, I do mean <i>all</i>. :wink:

Better than MSCONFIG, I'd recommend trying <A HREF="http://mlin.net/StartupCPL.shtml" target="_new">Startup Control Panel</A> from Mike Lin.

If you see errors in Event Viewer, you might want to search through either Microsoft's <A HREF="http://support.microsoft.com/" target="_new">Help and Support</A> or <A HREF="http://www.microsoft.com/technet/" target="_new">Technet Online</A>.

I would suggest that if you still have any apps starting up, please kill them all off, for the purposes of troubleshooting. Also, if you want to check through my site, I have a few pages of Windows links.

Good luck (don't give up...we'll get this!)

Bryan

<A HREF="http://www.btvillarin.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=329" target="_new"><b>My System Rig</b></A> (courtesy of <A HREF="http://www.btvillarin.com" target="_new">btvillarin.com</A> )

Reply to btvillarin
AlexC   11-25-2002 at 11:15:58 AM
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Thanks to you all again!
cynosure, I just did that with both primary and secondary IDE controler but it still freeze when I open a app right after start up.

btvillarin, as I mentions, I re-installed the OS for several times. I tried many times with the computer only have a AGP card in slot and with no other program installed. The computer still freeze when I try to open IE.
I also did kill all start up apps.

But there is a funny thing, while I try everything with all you guys' suggestions, although none of them seem to fix the problem, the system is now very stable after all.
I don't know which of those suggestions work on it (the only thing I changed in response to all your posts is to change IDE controler's auto detect.) Well, I will keep on testing it see if the system still hangs on me when I click on any apps right after start up.

Reply to AlexC
btvillarin   11-25-2002 at 03:51:15 PM
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If you have a clean install, then you shouldn't have to kill any start up programs...there aren't any. You mentioned ICQ, also, which is why I questioned what programs you had installed:

Quote :

Well, the biggest app taking CPU during start up is ICQ at 33


Anyways, if it's stable, I'm glad. I'm not sure what was up, though. I hope it stays that way. :smile:

Bryan

<A HREF="http://www.btvillarin.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=329" target="_new"><b>My System Rig</b></A> (courtesy of <A HREF="http://www.btvillarin.com" target="_new">btvillarin.com</A> )

Reply to btvillarin
AlexC   11-25-2002 at 06:56:31 PM
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Oh well I mean that I DID try that before for many times wwth fresh install. Now my system is loaded with softwares so I tried to kill start up apps on system loaded softwares. Sorry for the misunderstanding.

Reply to AlexC
btvillarin   11-25-2002 at 08:32:39 PM
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Ah, okay. :smile:

<A HREF="http://www.btvillarin.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=329" target="_new"><b>My System Rig</b></A> (courtesy of <A HREF="http://www.btvillarin.com" target="_new">btvillarin.com</A> )

Reply to btvillarin
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