Computer freezes after login (problem soltek geforce fx5200)
This is another problem with my own PC… seems like I’m having a few problems lately.
Anyway, Mandy tells me the main PC suddenly reset the other day, and since then, it hasn’t been “right”.
Most of the hardware was recently updated, so I start looking for a software problem.
The PC starts and operates in safe mode.
The PC starts in normal mode, and sits at the login prompt without a problem.
About a minute after I login, it freezes, and I need to hit the reset button to restart it.
From safe mode, I disable all the startup apps, but it still freezes. Sometimes, I can press the start button and start doing some work before the freeze.
I start thinking a corrupt windows driver, or a corrupt system dll / registry.
So I do a repair install of XP.
Afterwards, I login without a problem… but as soon as I change my screen resolution to 1280 X 1024, the PC freezes.
A few more tests, and I’m homing in on a display problem.
I decide to pull out the soltek geforce fx5200, and run with the onboard VIA S3 video.
After pulling the soltek card, I see it has a “bulging capacitor”. There is my problem… a hardware problem, on a 5 month old card. Grumble, grumble
I replace the capacitor (can’t be bothered seeing if its still under warranty), and my system is finally back to normal.
Its funny how wrong assumptions can end up wasting many hours!
In this case, assuming it couldn’t be a hardware problem wasn’t the right thing to do.
I always boot up a Linux Live CD (such as Ubuntu), if it boots all the way and doesn’t crash then it’s safe to assume it’s a Windows problem.
If it crashes, then it’s safe to assume a hardware problem.
Doing that saves me heaps of time wasted on misdiagnosing a problem 🙂
I’ve found that using a linux live cd often doesn’t help.
The drivers (particularly video drivers) don’t exercise the hardware in the same way as windows drivers.
I have often found linux can tolerate hardware issues better than xp… which is good for linux, but bad for diagnosis.
Having said that, I need to do my 6-monthly linux distro research, and see whats good out there (last time I looked, I found puppy linux, and Mepis were very good in certain ways)… puppy is extremely efficient and small, Mepis is good for the windows crowd)
I’ve always had a thing for Ubuntu. It’s the most financially backed distro out there, and the owner is doing a lot of work to get it in the mainstream – including getting it shipped with Dell PCs.
I don’t bother too much with Linux, as personall I can’t see it overtaking Windows any time soon. Especially when it comes to program compatibility. Emulation is a dirty hack way of getting Windows apps to work in Linux.
I have to agree with you that Linux drivers seem better written and easier on the hardware, but it DOES rule out any Windows-related problems for sure. In all the testing I’ve done, booting Ubuntu was an excellent way of testing out hardware stability.
Update: looks like my card died again (3 months after the last failure). Same cause: bulging capacitor. This time, I replaced the 1000uF 6.3V capacitor with a 1000uF 16V unit. This should help if the problem is due to over-voltage, but if its heat related, then I guess it will fail again soon 🙁