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Games Cause PC to Lock Up
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Posted by: Bliznab
I won't bore you with my lamenting over how I am at wits end in my pursuit of finding why my computer has been locking up and rebooting (at times) when I play games.
(Home Built) PC Specs:
Processor: AMD Athlon XP 2000+
Heatsink: OEM Fan in box with CPU
Power Supply: Antec TruPower 430Watt
OS: Windows XP Pro (Pre SP1)
Mainboard: MSI KT3 Ultra-2 (MS-6380)
RAM: Both are 256 DDR PC-2100 RAM, 1 is Corsair, other is not.
Sound Card: Soundblaster Audigy Gamer
Video Card: AOpen Nvidia GeForce4 MX440 64meg
Hard Drive: Maxtor 40GB 7200RPM (2 Partitions, 15gig for XP in NT, rest in FAT32)
CD-Rom: Sony CD-RW (Forgot Speeds of RW/W) 40x Read
Addl Items: 2 Case Fans
Just for the record, over the past year I have reformatted the HD numerous times while making sure to delete partitions. I have always installed the drivers from scratch and updated them to the latest available from the manufacturers website. I keep a clean ship and run continuously Webroot Spysweeper, & Spykiller to keep spyware off. I was using Norton for quite a while as my Antivirus, but I deleted it.. and use ES Firewall & Antivirus..which I always keep on and updated.
Now, what happens is this. As long as I do not play any games which require 3D usage.. the computer runs just fine like any other PC. But when I play my games, the problem arises out of no where. I play Counter-Strike online, Day of Defeat, & Wolfenstein. These games will start up fine and I can play for a while.. but out of the friggin' blue, 1 of 2 things will happen - -
1. Screen will lock up, computer will lock up, and some sound will go into a loop & continue to play. This will stay like this until I restart the computer by holding the power button 5secs or hitting RESET.
2. Computer will Reboot. Completely, no shutdown.. nothing... a complete Reboot.
It seems that with the higher end game (graphics wise), the faster the problem happens. I have recently begun playing Neverwinter Nights: Gold. I can play the game just fine.. but when it goes to load towns or areas... the bar will fill up til just about a lil over 3/4 and will pause. Either it will continue to load, or I will have the lockup or reboot issue.
Max Payne has been giving me trouble.. but only during play and not when loading.
For the Love of Pete, if anyone can help me... please. I am losing touch with my favorite pass time due to this issue. I do not want to buy another PC, since this one is my Baby. But I just haven't a clue what to do now... I keep everything up to date, secure, and I don't ever tax my system.
Posted by: Xboxguy
I'd personally suggest patching the games to the most recent updates, update the drivers on all your hardware i.e. videocard, as well as patcing your OS up to SP2 although since you only have the one hard drive I'd worry about you screwing things up and losing all your save games if SP2 causes the incompatability issues that everyone is talking about.
Posted by: Bliznab
The games are at their most recent versions, and my hardware has been updated to the max. Even upgraded the Bios for my Mobo, & I have downloaded ALL other updates for XP, just not the service packs, but nothing has fixed the issue. Only thing I can possibly pin it on is either lack of SP1 or SP2... but now you worry me.
What is the possible issue with SP2?
Posted by: Hambones
There is a known issue when using a geforce 4 in conjunction with certain SB audigy cards.
I see you've already installed the latest drivers for all your hardware so try removing the sound card and using the mobo's audio. I do beleive the KT3 has onboard audio.
If that doesn't work, it may be time to (A) get a new video card, or (B) turn your AC down to 15 degrees and run your PC from inside the freezer. Good luck.
Posted by: WatchDragon
I have this exact problem..
MSI Geforce 6800
Asus a7n8x deluxe
win xp pro, SP1
runnig a maxtor hard drive
I am wondering if this person's drive clicks and locks up liek mine does. I have no idea what is up, i spend 2 weeks trying movign cards around, reinstalling windows and drivers, with the same problem. I have been noticing with all these problems, its been a Nvidia card with a maxtor hard drive, i know maxtor drives suck, could this be something?
Warcraft 3, homeworld 2, doom 3, quake 3, roller coster tycoon 3, battlefield 1942... they all lock up, and are all updated.. I can edit video, audio, and anythign else jsut fine, when my 3d card gets involved it jsut locks up
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