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Computer help forum: My computer freezes when it starts, sometimes earlier

by: smagrum February 2, 2013 12:30 PM PST

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My computer freezes when it starts, sometimes earlier

by smagrum - 2/2/13 12:30 PM

im running windows xp, and suddenly it has started "freezing" upon startup and sometimes even earlier before windows begins to boot up.
its not a memory issue either. I have plenty of that
Im just wondering what I can do, I would like to try a system restore but I usually dont have enough time to attempt one before the computer freezes.

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Memtest

by pyrrhus55 - 2/2/13 4:03 PM

In Reply to: My computer freezes when it starts, sometimes earlier by smagrum

You may have plenty of ram. But are all the sticks good?? I would suggest running memtest.

Check that you have working fans , a adequate well working PSU,

This statement from you: "sometimes even earlier before windows begins to boot up"

Makes me think a POST problem , rather than a OS problem.


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??

by smagrum - 2/2/13 7:21 PM

In Reply to: Memtest by pyrrhus55

The sticks are pretty new, about a year old
How do i fix a post problem?


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Do you know what Bob means by "bad caps"?

by wpgwpg - 2/2/13 7:26 PM

In Reply to: ?? by smagrum

In case you don't know, "bad caps" means the capacitors on your motherboard. Sometimes on older computers these can go bad and cause the symptoms you describe. If this is your problem, the resolution is to replace the motherboard, so if you don't find an easier solution, I'd have it checked by a service technician.

Good luck.


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its been resolved (i think)

by smagrum - 2/2/13 9:09 PM

In Reply to: Do you know what Bob means by "bad caps"? by wpgwpg

I checked the capacitors their all fine, i finally got enough time to do a system restore and its only been about 15 minutes but all seems fine


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This is a classic symptom of bad caps.

by R. Proffitt Moderator - 2/2/13 12:33 PM

In Reply to: My computer freezes when it starts, sometimes earlier by smagrum

Google BAD CAPS to learn what to look for as well as the cause of this plague. If this is combined with a missing heatsink then both together mean the machine will never boot.

Why do you suspect the OS?
Bob


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Try Safe Mode

by wpgwpg - 2/2/13 12:34 PM

In Reply to: My computer freezes when it starts, sometimes earlier by smagrum

Try booting to Safe Mode to do the System Restore. While there, I'd do a full system scan with the antivirus program.
To get into Safe Mode when you first power up, hit F8 about once a second until you get the menu and select Safe Mode.


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