The computer:
WinXP Pro, 2.66mHz, 1024MB RAM, primary drive 160G WD, slave drive 60G WD. CD-ROM/Burner, DVD burner.
Started locking up once in awhile and it got progressively worse over a period of about 3 weeks, to where is would lock up anywhere from a few seconds after it started to an hour or so. It acted like a video card so a new Nvidia (PNY) 256MB GeForce 6600 was installed. It still locked up.
I ran all the diagnostics on the Ultimate Boot CD, along with a couple other diagnostic programs for the video card and the HDD?s.
The only problem found was the Motherboard temperature and the processor temp. were too high. I changed the motherboard and the processor. The heat problem was fixed, but the machine still locked up.
So I did a ?clean? reinstall of WinXP Pro ? it still locked up.
I hooked up a new mouse ? still locked up.
I took the machine to Computer Nerdz who charged me $60 and told me the power source was not adequate for the machine?s requirements, so I installed a new Allied 450W power source. The machine still locked up.
The locks up from a few minutes to a few hours run time.
I took the computer back to Computer Nerdz and sat with it for 21/4 hours in which time it didn?t lock up.
So we thought the auxiliary power supply might be the culprit, even though the ?B? computer which is hooked to the same APS was not experiencing any problems.
I decided to completely isolate the computer from all peripherals and the computer room in general, so I moved the computer into the garage where it could be on it?s own circuit, and hooked up the monitor, mouse, and keyboard only.
The machine ran for 9 hours and then locked up. I called Nerdz and the technician told me it was probably the monitor and to try a new monitor cable first. I purchased a new cable and installed it ? the computer ran 13 hours, then locked up.
So I replaced the new Acer monitor with my old SVGA monitor ? the computer ran 11 hours then locked up.
The computer has a 5 cooling fans total.
To summarize:
I have replaced – the Operating system, (clean reinstall)
The motherboard, processor, heat-sink & fan
The mouse, keyboard and monitor
The video card
I have isolated the machine from the ?computer room?.
I have run WD?s diagnostics on the WD HDD?s
I have removed the RAM chips one-by-one and run the machine on each chip separately. The chips pass the diagnostics 100%
The System Log shows no negative events; the machine has locked up 3 times when I open that log.
I have virtually rebuilt the machine. I have more money in trying to repair it than I paid for it originally!
The technicians and I are at a total lose.
Someone please help.
Thank you.
