Bizarre Computer Problem

[Checkmite]

After I boot my computer, if I do absolutely anything within a certain amount of time - even so much as move the mouse - my computer will freeze after approximately 5 minutes. I can still move the mouse pointer, but I cannot do anything else with it. In fact, even the little "working" light on my HD stops flashing. It really irks me when I'm in the middle of doing something (like reading the forum).

If, however, I boot my computer and wait 5 minutes or so before doing anything, after the 5 minutes I can use the computer normally for an indefinite period, without experiencing any lock-ups.

Now, I've learned to live with the "wait 5 minutes" rule; it doesn't bother me and the computer will work just fine. But I would still like to know why it freezes up under those circumstances.

[Brian]

Did the problem coincide with any changes you made? New hardware or software?

[Checkmite]

Originally posted by Brian
Did the problem coincide with any changes you made? New hardware or software?

Apparently not.

Running a Factory Restore on the computer does not solve the problem.

[FFed]

What OS are you running?
Since you did a factory restore what brand and model number is it?

[ShowMe]

Originally posted by Joshua Korosi
After I boot my computer, if I do absolutely anything within a certain amount of time - even so much as move the mouse - my computer will freeze after approximately 5 minutes

Many times anything that happens consistantly after a certain time can be narrowed down to Power Saving, or a driver being loaded.

First thing I would try is going into BIOS and turning off any type of APC & power control. disable it completely, and do the same for any video blanking.

Also turn off an "legacy USB device support".

If that works you can add things back one at a time to see what's causing your headache.

[richardm]

Have a look in your event logs and see if there's something having trouble starting up.

[El Greco]

Can you display the list of running processes by pressing ctrl-alt-del during these 5 mins ?

[bignickel]

Are you connected to the Internet thru cable or DSL.

If so, it might be a worm that reached out and touched you. You might have to upgrade Norton/McAfee/whatever, and have it search.

Have you installed all the critical updates/patches from MS?

[Colloden]

We've had machines lock up because of over heating. Are the CPU / other fans working ?

[Shadowhawk]

Download HijackThis (http://tomcoyote.com/hjt/HijackThis.exe), run it, and scan your system. Save a log, and paste the log into this thread for analysis.

[michaellee]

Boot up in safe mode. Do not wait 5 minutes. Move your mouse. Hit a key. Does the same thing occur? No? Then a device driver or software program is not loading or is operating incorrectly during the first 5 minutes after boot up. Check your msconfig startup list and uncheck all 3rd party, unnecessary programs; also check Device Manager for missing or bad drivers.

[Phil]

Have you checked the Flux Capacitor?

[Captain_Snort]

I assume you are using windows?

In control Panel, hardware, is anything showing up with a ? or ! beside it? Drivers corrupted?

Is a complete reinstall viable? solves most things.

[Soapy Sam]

Joshua- Yesterday, I detonated a coffee bomb on the floor (white, no sugar), from which mucho fallout entered my PC.

I switched off (at the wall, no messing around) dried it off, gave it twelve hours for evaporation, then fired it up, with similar symptoms to those you describe.

Tried various software fixes, safe mode, no joy. Finally pulled each PCI board , one after another, switching off and rebooting between. (A USB2 card, an Ethernet LAN, a modem.)
It was the LAN card. Yes, it worked, and neither XP Device Manager nor Sisoft Sandra found anything wrong with it. I replaced it with an old Netgear board and everything went back to normal.
So you might give that a try.

[Zep]

Seen this sort of thing before.

Check the "power saver" settings on your PC - you can get bizarre combinations that do weird things. In the BIOS, note the current power-save setting, then change them to "all off" or whatever setting is no power saving mode. Then run the PC without the "5 minute rule". If that is OK, change it back to the original setting and see if the problem recurs. If it does, you can usually work through the individual power save items (hard disk spin, video, low-speed CPU, keyboard, etc) to find the guilty party.

Guestimate: If you have a USB mouse, check that the USB power save setting in particular is OFF, ie. no power saving operating.

[Checkmite]

A complete factory software restore does not correct the problem. Even a repartition and subsequent complete factory restore does not correct the problem.

I believe my CPU fan is working, though I doubt overheating could be the problem anyway, as the problem occurs only in the first 5 minutes after restarting, and the computer can run fine for days on end after doing the wait thing.

I will try the BIOS settings; I'll let you know how it goes later.

I've got an EMachines 733i. 733 MHz Celeron, 64 RAM. I use ethernet, and a non-USB mouse.

[Luceiia]

Does your computer ever freeze up if you've let it sit the entire ~5 minute time period? (this includes several hours or even days later)

Does your computer ever not freeze up if you've interacted with it during the first ~5 minutes after bootup?

Please try to be very sure of your answers, as it's very easy to 'detect' patterns where they may not truly be.


Luceiia

[DangerousBeliefs]

Originally posted by Joshua Korosi
A complete factory software restore does not correct the problem. Even a repartition and subsequent complete factory restore does not correct the problem.

I believe my CPU fan is working, though I doubt overheating could be the problem anyway, as the problem occurs only in the first 5 minutes after restarting, and the computer can run fine for days on end after doing the wait thing.

I will try the BIOS settings; I'll let you know how it goes later.

I've got an EMachines 733i. 733 MHz Celeron, 64 RAM. I use ethernet, and a non-USB mouse.

You probably have a hardware failure.

I would first check the RAM to see if it is bad (use a free tester software available on the Internet). If not, then I would suspect either the video or motherboard.

My money is on the motherboard.

I've run into similar problems several times before. Usually, it's the motherboard but fixing the RAM is cheaper and easier, so always check it first.

On a side note, your computer is VERY old and lived its life... perhaps its time to let it go and buy a new one. You already have the moniter and perphireals, so buying a new computer is really very inexpensive. Just don't buy one of those crappy eMachines again. :D

[Checkmite]

Originally posted by Luceiia
Does your computer ever freeze up if you've let it sit the entire ~5 minute time period? (this includes several hours or even days later)

There has been more than one occasion over the past year that my computer has "locked up". These lockups are always different from the 5-minute lockup, in that either the entire screen (including the mouse) locks up, or I am still able to launch different windows, but the windows do not "disappear" when they are closed, and remain on the background. On both of these occasions, the "disk in use" orange light on the tower continues to flash (along with the associated relay clicking sounds). In the 5-minute lockup, no applications or windows may be launched, the mouse pointer moves (even though you can't click on anything), and the disk in use light remains dark.

Originally posted by Luceiia
Does your computer ever not freeze up if you've interacted with it during the first ~5 minutes after bootup?

After all this trouble started, there was one occasion - about 3 months ago - that the 5-minute lockup didn't happen. Ever since then, when I reboot the computer I always try working immediately, just to see if it will not-happen again. In 3 months, it hasn't.

Originally posted by Luceiia
Please try to be very sure of your answers, as it's very easy to 'detect' patterns where they may not truly be.

[Checkmite]

Originally posted by DangerousBeliefs


You probably have a hardware failure.

I would first check the RAM to see if it is bad (use a free tester software available on the Internet). If not, then I would suspect either the video or motherboard.

My money is on the motherboard.

I've run into similar problems several times before. Usually, it's the motherboard but fixing the RAM is cheaper and easier, so always check it first.

I bought the entire system from my boss a year ago for $250. It is fully functional enough, except for this problem. I also broke the eMachines seal on the back so I could install an ethernet card, thus voiding any "exchange" possibilities. So you're right, I probably could simply go with a new one.

[Zep]

Oh ho! I think I saw a clue in some of your posts above!

Please check this sequence:

1. Once the machine is running, when you reboot, do you do the Ctl-Alt-Del type reboot? That is, you do not power-off?

2. If you reboot doing a power-off, do you switch back on again with about 10 secs?

3. Do either or both these reboot sequences mean the PC reboots OK without the "wait syndrome"?

IF SO, you MAY have a failing hard drive. The HD is one of the components that fails most frequently in PCs. One of the first signs they are on the way out is that they fail to load properly or promptly on start from cold. Sometimes it may take a few minutes for them to warm up and then go online. Older HDs are especially prone to this. However, it also means they are close to total collapse anyway, with little hope of economic repair.

I take it you do know how to listen for the symptoms? Are you able to try a different HD temporarily?

[Luceiia]

Originally posted by DangerousBeliefs


You probably have a hardware failure.

I would first check the RAM to see if it is bad (use a free tester software available on the Internet). If not, then I would suspect either the video or motherboard.

My money is on the motherboard.

I've run into similar problems several times before. Usually, it's the motherboard but fixing the RAM is cheaper and easier, so always check it first.

On a side note, your computer is VERY old and lived its life... perhaps its time to let it go and buy a new one. You already have the moniter and perphireals, so buying a new computer is really very inexpensive. Just don't buy one of those crappy eMachines again. :D

Your (Joshua's) responses to my questions have me wanting to post exactly what DB has said. I would bet it's a bad motherboard.

I'd guess one of the logic circuits gets garbaged when it receives some user input before it's completely initialized. If you're technically inclined, you might try flashing your BIOS ( http://www.wimsbios.com/ ), or you might grab a cheap replacement motherboard ( http://www.newegg.com ). One of the forum members might even have an old mobo they'd send you for free that will support your cpu and ram.

If it's an ETower 733i, then the mobo is:
Cognac Micro ATX (ATX V1.2 form factor) motherboard, TriGem, Korea Intel Socket-370 (370pin PPGA Socket) for Intel FC-PGA Celeron CPUs Integrating on-chip Graphics controller and Memory Controller Hub (GMCH): Intel FW82810, as well as Intel I/O Controller Hub (ICH) and AC 97' Controller.
( from http://www.emachines.com/support/view_faq.html?faq=1004986892 )

Manual for the board:
http://www.motherboards.org/files/manuals/125/cognac.pdf


Luceiia