Hi there. This problem is driving me nuttz.

I have 2 computers which are having the same problems.

Whenever I enter a program, like Maplestory and warcraft 3, after maybe 5-10 mins of game time the entire screen will freeze. The only way is to either press the restart button or hold the on button to swtich the computer off. This freezing doesn't happen if I surf the internet.

After restarting the computer, it is usually very hard to get back into windows. It will always bring me to the options screen (safe mode, last known good configurations, start windows normally etc.) Safe mode works. However when i select Last known good configurations or Start windows normally, it will bring me to the Loading windows page ( the one with the blue bar). After that it will juz bring me to a blank screen. The monitor will then receive no reading, i know cos the power light will start to flicker (the similar flicker when the CPU's off). No choice but to restart again. The whole thing will go in a cycle again. It only works after I've allowed the computer to stay shut down for a long period of time. Then it will be able to boot into windows.

There are certain times when the freezing doesnt happen at all, and I am able to use the computer for long periods of time.

I've just recently reformated my computer. However the same problem persists.

The other computer has the same problem too, but i've not reformated it, seeing how reformating doesn't 'cure' it.

This freezing seems to have started about 3 weeks back for both PCs. I've not installed any new software or hardware into both PCs since or anytime before that.

Thank you in advance for any help.

If this was a single computer I would say: Graphics Card.

With two computers having the same problem? The same programs? Are they connected? Networked? Do they share a router and or modem? Or is this sheer coincidence?

Anyway:

Look in your Event viewer: rt. click My Computer then click Manage then Event Viewer.
Or: Administrative Tools/Event Viewer or Start/Run/ eventvwr
Open the system as well as the application tabs & look for red X errors. Click error line for details.
Post back the source & event id & Description especially of errors that seem to coincide with this issue.
Also check the Information lines that might coincide with this issue.

How to view and manage event logs in Event Viewer in Windows XP


Also run chkdsk as seen here:

Try running Check Disk:

start Run... cmd

Type:

chkdsk /f

When asked if you want to run on next boot? Y or N?

Type: Y

And reboot,

This will check for and fix any hard disk errors.


Also:

Go to start | search (type in) .dmp
Note the location of your .dmp files.
Remember this location and the path that leads to it.

Then:

1) Download and install the
Debugging Tools from Microsoft

All you need do is download and install this. Make no attempt to start or run it.

2) Download and install this
debugwiz

This is a DOS based batch file that will command the above Microsoft Tools.

3) Open the Wiz & Browse to, or paste in the path to, your .dmp file.

4) After the Wiz creates a Text document attach it back to this thread.

Ok.
Yes both computers are hooked up to a router.

I've run chkdsk before and it yielded nothing.

For the Event Manager, there were several X.

Under the Application Tab, there were 2 X.


1st X:-
Source : VSS
Event Id : 8193
Description : Volume Shadow Copy Service error: Unexpected error calling routine CoCreateInstance. hr = 0x80040206.

For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.

2nd X:-
Source : EventSystem
Event ID : 4609
Description : The COM+ Event System detected a bad return code during its internal processing. HRESULT was 8007043C from line 44 of d:\nt\com\com1x\src\events\tier1\eventsystemobj.cp p. Please contact Microsoft Product Support Services to report this error.

For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.



Under the System Tab, there were 3 X

1st X:-
Source : W32Time
EventID : 34
Description : The time service has detected that the system time needs to be changed by +150387455 seconds. The time service will not change the system time by more than +54000 seconds. Verify that your time and time zone are correct, and that the time source time.windows.com (ntp.m|0x1|192.168.0.3:123->207.46.232.189:123) is working properly.

2nd X:-
Source : W32Time
EventID : 34
Description : The time service has detected that the system time needs to be changed by +150387455 seconds. The time service will not change the system time by more than +54000 seconds. Verify that your time and time zone are correct, and that the time source time.windows.com (ntp.m|0x1|192.168.0.3:123->207.46.232.189:123) is working properly.


3rd X :-
Source : W32Time
EventID : 34
Descriptopm : The time service has detected that the system time needs to be changed by +150387455 seconds. The time service will not change the system time by more than +54000 seconds. Verify that your time and time zone are correct, and that the time source time.windows.com (ntp.m|0x1|192.168.0.3:123->207.46.232.189:123) is working properly.

It appears that they are all the same.


I've ran search for my main Drive but it did not manage to find any .dmp files.
Hmmm...

I've also realised something. When i am able to boot up my PC, if i let it idle or surf internet for awhile before opening my games, it doesnt freeze at all and i am able to play for long periods of time. Even if it does freeze, it usually takes a longer time to freeze than if i immediately open the programs after the PC has booted into windows.

Thanks lots. You're a great help.
nuttz.

Oh yea,

the prev post is from the recently formated computer.
the other computer has much more files.
I look up the Event Viewer and there are alot of Xs.

Under Application, the error that keeps occuring is this.
Source : Application Error
EventID : 1000
Description : Faulting application white.exe, version 1.0.0.0, faulting module white.exe, version 1.0.0.0, fault address 0x0020caa2.

Under System, the error that keeps occuring is this.
Source : DCOM
EventID : 10010
Description : The server {FBA44040-BD27-4A09-ACC8-C08B7C723DCD} did not register with DCOM within the required timeout.

Do the Event Viewer errors appear the same on both computers?

On the computer with the Time error I would adjust the time via: start > Control Panel > Date and Time

If the time does not stick you may need to check the BIOS clock.

Otherwise those errors are basically benign. The one white.exe is a game is it not?


I would try troubleshooting possible router or modem problems as this appears to be the connection between these two machines with the same issues.

Can you remove one of the computers from the network and see if the problem persists?