AMD 1.4 Mhz ProcessorASUS MBNVidia GeForce 3- 40.xx drivers512 MB 133 memoryWin XP & 98 (Different Drives)On Board Sound (C-Media)- DisabledI have had frequent but random FREEZE/LOCKUP problems for a long time now and am trying to narrow it down. I say "not related" to FS2002 in the title because it freezes on desktop, in FS2002, or just about any other program.*I have tried different drivers (NVidia, to no avail. I got so frustrated months ago that I F-Disked and erased both my C & D drives and re-installed O/S's (run 98 on C/Win XP on D). It EVEN froze up NUMEROUS times while trying to install the O/S's! So that kinda takes the display driver out of the loop seeing that no driver was even installed yet!*I have tried taking out each PCI card (sound/ehternet/USB, etc). I even tried buying a NEW video card. No dice. brought back the video card and exchanged for a new AUDIO card. Still locked up...kept the audio card I liked it better than the on board sound features.*I have tried by removing the ethernet card with a BIT more success. I mean, I was able to take off and fly from Orlando to Talahassee FL before it locked up, on my way to Birmingham. Whereas normally it will freeze while taxiing at MCO.* It does not seem to be heat related, temps LOOK fine (although I hear that those temp. monitors are not that accurate).* I tried to get all ALi chip updates, AGP, etc. Everything in the book you can think of except by bringing the box outside in the driveway and running the &*^%'n thing over!* I also tried removed memory sticks one at a time thinking it may be memory. Nope- still locked up. I tried swapping memory slots as well, in case if one stick was slower than the other or something.* Have tried just about every BIOS setting posssible. I do have COM1 and COM2 disbaled since I use cable modem.* never get the "blue screen". Just locks with NO keyboard, no mouse, nothing. Have to reset or cold reboot. I prefer the cold reboot (power down then on again) because just about EVERY time I "reset/warm reboot" after a lockup it locks up again DURING bootup!AHRRRGGGGGGGGGH!! I am getting mad just thinking about it.Any help/suggestions would greatly be appreciated!

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The only thing I haven't seen you mention is your power supply... With two HD's and a GEF-3, I'd suggest 350W... 300W is borderline. Take away that, the other thought is some type of background process that shouldn't be running... Or God forbid some type of boot sector virus--just diagnosed one of those on one of my peer's systems, and I hadn't run into one in a long, long time. Only solution in the end was a low level format--couldn't even get XP to run without it. The virus was never picked up by any scanning software, but sure enough, the symptoms (similar to yours) vanished after the low level format.When it comes to heat, someone had a problem recently and discovered the fan on the graphics card had failed. Also, think of your MB as an environment, with hot and cold "climates". You may have memory that is in a ventilation "shadow" that is overheating. Try removing the case cover, and run a table fan so that the air runs laterally over the MB, front to back. See if this helps improve stability.For what it's worth, I've managed WAN workstation and server support for years, but I qualify that by also saying I run into baffling issues every day. With so many variables in play, sometimes you have only your intuition and experience to help you. From what you posted, you sound just as up on the issues as any of my techs. Hopefully even given your experience, I've given a few more things to take a peek at.-John

Thanks, John.Yes- it's a 300W-I will look into that. And make it 3 HD's! I also have a small 3GB on there as an E: drive and wanting to remove it. In fact, it could be eating up power so I'll try that first as soon as I get home. Although before adding the "3rd" (115 GB) hard drive it was still locking up.Low level format- sounds like it will be disheartening lol- I will search the internet on how to do that.Thanks for your help!

Hi,Yes I would bet money that it is a power supply problem.Has all the symptons !I suggest a quality power supply of at least 350 or even 400.

Thank you too- Paul,I guess that (power supply) will be the next thing I will do. But one more thing before I shell out the cash for that-If it matters or you happen to read this thread again, here's another clue? (both tests with cover on):* If I start from cold boot and go straight into FS2002 and fly, I can't seem to get it to lock up.* If I do the same above but open explorer or any other program like MS word or paint or something(as if using more memory)THEN open FS2002 and fly, it locks up randomly pretty quick...seemingly a memory issue like it is filling up the memory to a certain point then BAM goes the RAM! Yet I have no way of testing/tracing just where this is occuring cause I need to do a full reboot and lose all data. Sounds like RAM but would using other programs first eat up more power/voltage? I wouldn't think so but I'm no expert. BUT- as mentioned above how could this be memory if it locked up before even getting into Windows- here we go!I'm getting too much into this and driving myself in circles (hmm, heat? power/voltage? hard drive? I'm glad there are others here who can shed some new light on my thinking and peg this thing down.I will re-open FS2002 now and see if I can get this wrig to lock up since I'm in the forum now and using more memory:-eek

Search for a utility called MemTest. You run it from a bootable floppy in a clean environment and it aggressively scans every conceivable aspect of your memory - it might just nail some obscure problem that is otherwise hard to detect. Sorry, I can't remember where I got it.

I've used memtest before.... It's an interesting utility, and good at finding basic faults with memory. Still have the disk somewhere (its amongst my diminishing collection of floppies). Memtest can fail to diagnose a chip with an intermittent problem, such as that caused by changes in temp or voltage on the MB. But I've had it catch problems regardless, and it's a good tool if one can still find it.

Thanks- will try! (Anything at this point!) Oh, and so much for my theory above. I rebooted after a lockup and as soon as I clicked the Fs2002 shortcut it locked! (no other programs started before it):-boom First memtest- then 450W power supply.If not COMPUTER = "Lockup" ThenI shall have fun flying AND getting my work doneElseSMASH computer to smitherenes!End If

I know it has been a long time but how did you solve your problem? I have been experiencing the same for quite a while.Thanks

Gordius,Solved problem about 6 months ago- got a Pentium 2.2x, not a lockup since. Granted I also had to get new motherboard and decided to get Win XP, I still think it was the processor itself that was cauasing the lockups. Unfortunately I didnt have another (AMD) processor laying around (TG!) to try my theory, but will never stray from PENTIUM again!!!

yes most probably a psu problem but some mobo/cpu/mem combinations are just cruddy, particulasrly older AMD based systems...

Interesting. Also using AMD CPU! I need to replace hard disk this weekend and install XP. FYI I will post what happens here in a couple of weeks when I get back to work after holiday (bad news = only have web at work, good news = I live alone and have nowhere to go for two weeks so two weeks free for carrying on with Airbus Panel and Cruising (assuming PC hold out)).

Thanks Tom. Have to install new hard disk and XP this weekend. i also have an AMD processor of only 1 Gig to be upgraded in time for COF so hopefully one or the other will resolve the issue.Whoops posted twice lol

Nice speaking to you.Upgraded to Pentium 2.2, 80GB HD, 512 RAM, Win XP.Now I can't get MSFS to crash despite trying :-)