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Windows Forum / Windows XP / General Topics 1 / May 2008hangs / freezes
I am working on a Dell OptiPlex GX280 that up till last week worked fine (~3 years). 1GB RAM, 2.8GB Pentium, 80GB HDD SATA, CD-RW, XP SP2. Is a network workstation. Virus & malware signatures updates hourly. Has decent firewall. Recently had added second 512MB RAM strip, but ran with no issues for weeks following. Run MS Updates routinely, but not yet loaded XP SP3 (it was not yet released at time hang/freeze issue began). Has suddenly begun to hang/freeze at about 2-3 minutes post log-in. Gives no warning, no error messages, no error beeps, continues all green lights on back panel. Initially reset to earlier restore point with no positive effect. Then did repair of OS with no positive effect. Ran Dell Diagnostics which found no hardware issues - all tests passed. Specifically retested Memory and HDD and all still passed those further diagnostics. Have tested USB keyboard and USB mouse separately and both are fully functional. Ultimately reformatted HDD and did clean install, but still continues to hang/freeze at about 2-3 minutes post log-in. Can boot to CD and during lengthy OS repair or install there was no hang. Can boot to Safe Mode and device will eventually hang/freeze at about 10-12 minutes post log-in. When hang begins, red light on optical mouse flickers (slow at first then increases to rapid, then suddenly stops); also during this, audio begins to crackle and similarly increases in pace, then stops same as mouse optic light. Did find some info @ MS regarding an "interrupt storm" but the prescribed "fix" for that did not alter my issue in any way. Presently the GX280 still hangs/freezes and nothing I've done has resolved the issue. Has anyone suffered through this type of problem before, and how did you ultimately resolve it? With all your normal peripherals attached check both the bandwidth and power consumption on your USB Root Hubs and controllers. It seems like you've got a overload of some type that is causing the machine to lag. >I am working on a Dell OptiPlex GX280 that up till last week worked fine >(~3 [quoted text clipped - 35 lines] > Has anyone suffered through this type of problem before, and how did you > ultimately resolve it? Thanks for the suggestion... However, I'm maybe an intermediate level tech, so how do I go about checking the bandwidth and power consumtpion as you suggest? > With all your normal peripherals attached check both the bandwidth and > power consumption on your USB Root Hubs and controllers. It seems [quoted text clipped - 39 lines] > > Has anyone suffered through this type of problem before, and how did you > > ultimately resolve it? Device Manager USB category Double-Click each Controller to open Details, Advanced (TAB) to view Bandwidth usage Double-Click each Root Hub to open Details, Power (TAB) to view the % of maximum power consumed > Thanks for the suggestion... However, I'm maybe an intermediate level > tech, [quoted text clipped - 54 lines] >> > you >> > ultimately resolve it? Sorry for being so ignorant... Even as I had sent my previous post I thought to check the Device Manager, etc, (just as you replied) in order to compare to a similar machine, and there I found the info. Nevertheless, thanks for your direction. with the GX280 hanging, it took some time/effort to review as you suggested, and I hope I can relay it to you in a sensible manner, but what I find does not appear in my limited understanding to be too unusual: Universal Serial Bus controllers: Self-powered; 500 mA per port; 4 ports available -Intel(R) 82801FB/FBM USB Universal Host Controller - 2658 @ 20% Bandwidth -Intel(R) 82801FB/FBM USB Universal Host Controller - 2659 @ 23% Bandwidth -Intel(R) 82801FB/FBM USB Universal Host Controller - 265A @ 10% Bandwidth -Intel(R) 82801FB/FBM USB Universal Host Controller - 265B @ 10% Bandwidth -Intel(R) 82801FB/FBM USB2 Universal Host Controller - 265C @ 10% Bandwidth -USB Root Hub (w/2 ports available @ 0 mA) -USB Root Hub (w/2 ports available @ 0 mA) -USB Root Hub (HID-compliant mouse @ 100 mA and 1 port available) -USB Root Hub (HID-compliant mouse @ 100 mA and 1 port available) -USB Root Hub (Generic USB Hub w/8 ports available @ 0 mA) As compared with my other similar PC (GX520) it is only marginally greater on the first listed controller (20% on the GX280 vs. 10% on the GX520). One odd thing was that the second-to-last controller on the GX280 lists an HID-compliant mouse (a second time) @ 100 mA vs. an HID-compliant keyboard @ 70 mA as shown on the GX520. Does the above make any sense to you? Can you determine if that indicates some possible problem with the USB controllers &/or keyboard? > Device Manager > USB category [quoted text clipped - 60 lines] > >> > you > >> > ultimately resolve it? Looks OK, however there shouldn't be two instances of a HID mouse as you note. Most USB mice are USB1(.1) technology and you seem to have two mice being hosted on separate controllers. You need to investigate and try to determine why the USB device tree has those 2 instances of a Human Interface Device mouse. What brand mouse do you use and also do you run the vendor specific control software ( For MS would Intellipoint and Logitech either MouseWare or SetPoint ). > Sorry for being so ignorant... Even as I had sent my previous post I > thought [quoted text clipped - 112 lines] >> >> > you >> >> > ultimately resolve it? All hardware/HIDs are Dell specific, as is controller software. Also, keep in mind I reformatted the HDD and did a clean install, again with original delivered software and resource CD, so controllers were same as originally installed. It is puzzling, though that the mouse shows up twice and the keyboard doesn't specifically show. I've checked Dell support, but cannot find any software/firmware updates related to the USB. For now it is Status Quo. > Looks OK, however there shouldn't be two instances of a HID mouse > as you note. Most USB mice are USB1(.1) technology and you seem [quoted text clipped - 120 lines] > >> >> > you > >> >> > ultimately resolve it? In case you did not see it previously, please see my reply to your lastest post. For now, problem is unresolved, and Dell nor MS seem to have any USB controller updates available. Nevertheless, I want to say that I greatly appreciate your wisdom and assistance provided herein. If you (or any other reader) should have any further guidance regarding my woe please do not hesitate to post a next step. Kudos to R. McCarty on a valiant effort. > Looks OK, however there shouldn't be two instances of a HID mouse > as you note. Most USB mice are USB1(.1) technology and you seem [quoted text clipped - 120 lines] > >> >> > you > >> >> > ultimately resolve it? The date and time was 5/9/2008 8:55 AM, and on a whim, Riskman pounded out on the keyboard: > I am working on a Dell OptiPlex GX280 that up till last week worked fine (~3 > years). 1GB RAM, 2.8GB Pentium, 80GB HDD SATA, CD-RW, XP SP2. Is a network [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > Has anyone suffered through this type of problem before, and how did you > ultimately resolve it? You stated "added second 512MB RAM strip". I read on Dell's site that the GX-280 is a dual channel memory board. Did they add two 256 DIMM's? What was the original RAM?  SignatureTerry R. ***Reply Note*** Anti-spam measures are included in my email address. Delete NOSPAM from the email address after clicking Reply. Terry, thanks for jumping in... I'm back in today (Monday) for another go-round... To answer your question, the original was a single 512MB strip, and while Dell encourages dual channel, the device was originally configured (by them) with a single strip which does typically work fine, it is just more efficient with two similar strips. My later update was to round it out with another 512MB strip to make it an even 1G RAM, and in that configuration it ran fine for a couple of weeks. I have since tested the system with each individual strip-only onboard just to make sure the anomoly of hang/freeze was not somehow related to one or the other of the memory strips, but it continues to do that behavior whether I have either or both strips onboard. > The date and time was 5/9/2008 8:55 AM, and on a whim, Riskman pounded > out on the keyboard: [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] > the GX-280 is a dual channel memory board. Did they add two 256 DIMM's? > What was the original RAM? Hello all. Just wanted to chime in that I'm having the same proble with two seperate Optiplex GX280s. It doesn't matter whether I' running windows, or a bootable Linux live-cd. The machine simply hang up after a few minutes. On windows, the fan speeds up as fast a possible, and the only way to turn it off is to pull the power plu (holding the power button doesn't work). In Linux, the computer freezes, but the power button still works accurate-sys;671079 Wrote: > Hello all. Just wanted to chime in that I'm having the same proble > with two seperate Optiplex GX280s. It doesn't matter whether I' [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > In Linux, the computer freezes, but the power button still works. Hello again all. Sorry to double post, but I found a resolution afte a few more minutes of browsing. The problem seems to be caused by ba capacitors on this particular model (GX280). this thread on badcaps.net talks about this specific model: 'Badcaps Forums - dell Optiplex gx280 (http://www.badcaps.net/forum/showthread.php?t=1034) and this is what to look for on your motherboard: 'Badcaps.net - How To Identify' (http://badcaps.net/pages.php?vid=5) the capacitors in question are manufactured by Nichicon, and this CNE article has a picture of them (black with copper bars) 'PCs plagued by bad capacitors - CNET News.com (http://tinyurl.com/566pug) If Dell does not agree to replace the defective motherboard for you badcaps.net has a tutorial on replacing the capacitors yourself. I hope this information is helpful. Good luck! -Ra Ray, thanks for your input... The bad caps appear to be precisely the problem. Upon close inspection of the board I do see no less than at least five capacitors that appear to have blown with leakage easily observed, and there could be more. I would have not recognized this had you not provided your input and links. I have emailed Dell, but suspect they will disavoy since our warranty period has expired. Thanks so much for your help. I wish I could have somehow known it sooner because it sure would have saved me considerable frustration and wasted effort. Nevertheless, you are spot on with diagnosing the root cause. Thanks again. > accurate-sys;671079 Wrote: > > Hello all. Just wanted to chime in that I'm having the same problem [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] > I hope this information is helpful. Good luck! > -Ray |
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