XP or Hardware problem? System crash

puppet · #1 06-29-2003, 11:16 PM

I have been using WP2000 Professional on Asus A7V motherboard with AMD 800 Athlon chip, ATI XPert 2000 Pro graphics card, 384 MB Ram, 20 GB HD, SB-Live sound card, and US robotics Modem for the last two years.
Recently my system started crashing, mostly freezing, sometimes restarting and seldom showing the blue screen (though I can't remember the error report).
It always happens on certain games but also (almost always) happens using just the regular system programs.
Sometimes immediately after opening the system, sometimes after few hours.
It even crashed when I tried to reinstall the XP again, at the very initial stages. Once it crashed at bios set up screen(!).
I am pretty certain that it is a hardware problem but I am unable to detect in which part it is.
Fans seems to be working OK.
Is there any program to check each component?
Any help would be appreciated...

augie2 · #2 06-30-2003, 12:49 AM

I had something similar with XP. Turned out to be RAM. Try www.memtest86.com to rule that out. You'll need a bootable floppy to run it.

puppet · #3 06-30-2003, 01:38 AM

Thanks augie2, I run the test and memory seems OK.
I also had disconnected almost every card (except the graphics) and even the CD's but still had crashes.

curtybob · #4 06-30-2003, 07:45 PM

I will guess you hard drive may be at fault. If you can get in at all, try running a scandisk or something similar. I like the utilities provided by the manufacturers, as they are free, and optimised for their own drives. But, read the instructions, and follow them carefully. And, only use the utility that is actually for your drive's make and model #.