New PC build instability... looking for help!
 

Hello,

I recently built a new PC based on the hardware below. I have had
instability issues with this system. I have contacted the motherboard
supplier for support (thinking that may be a likely cause) but wanted
to open it up to the group in case someone has had similar issues.
Any help is appreciated! Thanks.......


Computer configuration

Case: Antec Sonata II with 450W power supply
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6300
Motherboard: Asus P5N-E SLI
BIOS: Version 0703 (latest available)
Memory: 2Gb (2 x 1Gb) Kingston PC5300 DDR2 667Mhz RAM
Video: EVGA GeForce 7100GS PCI-E
Hard Drives: Western Digital 80Gb (SATA channel 1)
Western Digital 300Gb (SATA channel 2)
External USB 120Gb drive
OS: Windows XP Pro (32 bit)



Issues:

Frequent corrupt files (mainly JPGs on WD300 but has occurred on
various file types on all 3 drives)

Spontaneous reboots with errors like "NTFS.SYS -
page_fault_in_non_paged_area" and "irql_not_less_or_equal"

Programs failing to launch and needing to be reinstalled

QFAN control in BIOS resetting itself to "disabled"

Instability

Intermittent noise / interference coming through onboard audio output


Tests performed:

SMART check on hard drives, no issues found

MEMTEST86+ run with no issues found

This copy of Windows XP Pro tested on other PC with no issues

I have reformatted and reinstalled Windows 3 times and the problems
all return



What tests or checks would be the next to perform? What is the best
way to diagnose issues like this? Any help is appreciated.

Thank you

Re: New PC build instability... looking for help!
 

Anything shown in Event Viewer?

"cJ" <jedcrocker@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1191886482.045879.324340@57g2000hsv.googlegro ups.com...
> Hello,
>
> I recently built a new PC based on the hardware below. I have had
> instability issues with this system. I have contacted the motherboard
> supplier for support (thinking that may be a likely cause) but wanted
> to open it up to the group in case someone has had similar issues.
> Any help is appreciated! Thanks.......
>
>
> Computer configuration
>
> Case: Antec Sonata II with 450W power supply
> CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6300
> Motherboard: Asus P5N-E SLI
> BIOS: Version 0703 (latest available)
> Memory: 2Gb (2 x 1Gb) Kingston PC5300 DDR2 667Mhz RAM
> Video: EVGA GeForce 7100GS PCI-E
> Hard Drives: Western Digital 80Gb (SATA channel 1)
> Western Digital 300Gb (SATA channel 2)
> External USB 120Gb drive
> OS: Windows XP Pro (32 bit)
>
>
>
> Issues:
>
> Frequent corrupt files (mainly JPGs on WD300 but has occurred on
> various file types on all 3 drives)
>
> Spontaneous reboots with errors like "NTFS.SYS -
> page_fault_in_non_paged_area" and "irql_not_less_or_equal"
>
> Programs failing to launch and needing to be reinstalled
>
> QFAN control in BIOS resetting itself to "disabled"
>
> Instability
>
> Intermittent noise / interference coming through onboard audio output
>
>
> Tests performed:
>
> SMART check on hard drives, no issues found
>
> MEMTEST86+ run with no issues found
>
> This copy of Windows XP Pro tested on other PC with no issues
>
> I have reformatted and reinstalled Windows 3 times and the problems
> all return
>
>
>
> What tests or checks would be the next to perform? What is the best
> way to diagnose issues like this? Any help is appreciated.
>
> Thank you
>

Re: New PC build instability... looking for help!
 

cJ <jedcrocker@hotmail.com> wrote:

>Issues:
>
>Frequent corrupt files (mainly JPGs on WD300 but has occurred on
>various file types on all 3 drives)
>
>Spontaneous reboots with errors like "NTFS.SYS -
>page_fault_in_non_paged_area" and "irql_not_less_or_equal"
>
>Programs failing to launch and needing to be reinstalled

SATA ports shot or misconfigured.
--

Food Fight
http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne...8040355&size=l

Re: New PC build instability... looking for help!
 

On Oct 8, 8:14 pm, "old man" <d...@spoofmail.notme> wrote:
> Anything shown in Event Viewer?
>
> "cJ" <jedcroc...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:1191886482.045879.324340@57g2000hsv.googlegro ups.com...
>
>
>
> > Hello,
>
> > I recently built a new PC based on the hardware below. I have had
> > instability issues with this system. I have contacted the motherboard
> > supplier for support (thinking that may be a likely cause) but wanted
> > to open it up to the group in case someone has had similar issues.
> > Any help is appreciated! Thanks.......
>
> > Computer configuration
>
> > Case: Antec Sonata II with 450W power supply
> > CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6300
> > Motherboard: Asus P5N-E SLI
> > BIOS: Version 0703 (latest available)
> > Memory: 2Gb (2 x 1Gb) Kingston PC5300 DDR2 667Mhz RAM
> > Video: EVGA GeForce 7100GS PCI-E
> > Hard Drives: Western Digital 80Gb (SATA channel 1)
> > Western Digital 300Gb (SATA channel 2)
> > External USB 120Gb drive
> > OS: Windows XP Pro (32 bit)
>
> > Issues:
>
> > Frequent corrupt files (mainly JPGs on WD300 but has occurred on
> > various file types on all 3 drives)
>
> > Spontaneous reboots with errors like "NTFS.SYS -
> > page_fault_in_non_paged_area" and "irql_not_less_or_equal"
>
> > Programs failing to launch and needing to be reinstalled
>
> > QFAN control in BIOS resetting itself to "disabled"
>
> > Instability
>
> > Intermittent noise / interference coming through onboard audio output
>
> > Tests performed:
>
> > SMART check on hard drives, no issues found
>
> > MEMTEST86+ run with no issues found
>
> > This copy of Windows XP Pro tested on other PC with no issues
>
> > I have reformatted and reinstalled Windows 3 times and the problems
> > all return
>
> > What tests or checks would be the next to perform? What is the best
> > way to diagnose issues like this? Any help is appreciated.
>
> > Thank you- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Thanks for your reply.

The most common errors shown in the event viewer are;


"The driver detected a controller error on \Device\Harddisk3\D."

"The device, \Device\Harddisk5\D, has a bad block."

"The file system structure on the disk is corrupt and unusable. Please
run the chkdsk utility on the volume Z:."


The 2 internal hard drives are new and seem to test ok. I had the
same corrupt file issue with a 3rd new hard drive I tried.

Thanks again for the help

Re: New PC build instability... looking for help!
 

In edition to Pennywise;
Ensure you are using correct drivers supplied by hw manufacturers
I didnt check but does your chipset impliment the Nvidea firewall? if so
this caused file corruption issues in some cases, but I thought that this
had been fixed.
I assume you used the hd manufacturers disk checking utility
I slightly iffy pwr supply can cause file corruption issues

"cJ" <jedcrocker@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1191896404.986222.21230@d55g2000hsg.googlegro ups.com...
> On Oct 8, 8:14 pm, "old man" <d...@spoofmail.notme> wrote:
>> Anything shown in Event Viewer?
>>
>> "cJ" <jedcroc...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>>
>> news:1191886482.045879.324340@57g2000hsv.googlegro ups.com...
>>
>>
>>
>> > Hello,
>>
>> > I recently built a new PC based on the hardware below. I have had
>> > instability issues with this system. I have contacted the motherboard
>> > supplier for support (thinking that may be a likely cause) but wanted
>> > to open it up to the group in case someone has had similar issues.
>> > Any help is appreciated! Thanks.......
>>
>> > Computer configuration
>>
>> > Case: Antec Sonata II with 450W power supply
>> > CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6300
>> > Motherboard: Asus P5N-E SLI
>> > BIOS: Version 0703 (latest available)
>> > Memory: 2Gb (2 x 1Gb) Kingston PC5300 DDR2 667Mhz RAM
>> > Video: EVGA GeForce 7100GS PCI-E
>> > Hard Drives: Western Digital 80Gb (SATA channel 1)
>> > Western Digital 300Gb (SATA channel 2)
>> > External USB 120Gb drive
>> > OS: Windows XP Pro (32 bit)
>>
>> > Issues:
>>
>> > Frequent corrupt files (mainly JPGs on WD300 but has occurred on
>> > various file types on all 3 drives)
>>
>> > Spontaneous reboots with errors like "NTFS.SYS -
>> > page_fault_in_non_paged_area" and "irql_not_less_or_equal"
>>
>> > Programs failing to launch and needing to be reinstalled
>>
>> > QFAN control in BIOS resetting itself to "disabled"
>>
>> > Instability
>>
>> > Intermittent noise / interference coming through onboard audio output
>>
>> > Tests performed:
>>
>> > SMART check on hard drives, no issues found
>>
>> > MEMTEST86+ run with no issues found
>>
>> > This copy of Windows XP Pro tested on other PC with no issues
>>
>> > I have reformatted and reinstalled Windows 3 times and the problems
>> > all return
>>
>> > What tests or checks would be the next to perform? What is the best
>> > way to diagnose issues like this? Any help is appreciated.
>>
>> > Thank you- Hide quoted text -
>>
>> - Show quoted text -
>
> Thanks for your reply.
>
> The most common errors shown in the event viewer are;
>
>
> "The driver detected a controller error on \Device\Harddisk3\D."
>
> "The device, \Device\Harddisk5\D, has a bad block."
>
> "The file system structure on the disk is corrupt and unusable. Please
> run the chkdsk utility on the volume Z:."
>
>
> The 2 internal hard drives are new and seem to test ok. I had the
> same corrupt file issue with a 3rd new hard drive I tried.
>
> Thanks again for the help
>

Re: New PC build instability... looking for help!
 

"cJ" <jedcrocker@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1191886482.045879.324340@57g2000hsv.googlegro ups.com...
> Hello,
>
> I recently built a new PC based on the hardware below. I have had
> instability issues with this system. I have contacted the motherboard
> supplier for support (thinking that may be a likely cause) but wanted
> to open it up to the group in case someone has had similar issues.
> Any help is appreciated! Thanks.......
>
>
> Computer configuration
>
> Case: Antec Sonata II with 450W power supply
> CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6300
> Motherboard: Asus P5N-E SLI
> BIOS: Version 0703 (latest available)
> Memory: 2Gb (2 x 1Gb) Kingston PC5300 DDR2 667Mhz RAM
> Video: EVGA GeForce 7100GS PCI-E
> Hard Drives: Western Digital 80Gb (SATA channel 1)
> Western Digital 300Gb (SATA channel 2)
> External USB 120Gb drive
> OS: Windows XP Pro (32 bit)
>
>
>
> Issues:
>
> Frequent corrupt files (mainly JPGs on WD300 but has occurred on
> various file types on all 3 drives)
>
> Spontaneous reboots with errors like "NTFS.SYS -
> page_fault_in_non_paged_area" and "irql_not_less_or_equal"
>
> Programs failing to launch and needing to be reinstalled
>
> QFAN control in BIOS resetting itself to "disabled"
>
> Instability
>
> Intermittent noise / interference coming through onboard audio output
>
>
> Tests performed:
>
> SMART check on hard drives, no issues found
>
> MEMTEST86+ run with no issues found
>
> This copy of Windows XP Pro tested on other PC with no issues
>
> I have reformatted and reinstalled Windows 3 times and the problems
> all return
>
>
>
> What tests or checks would be the next to perform? What is the best
> way to diagnose issues like this? Any help is appreciated.
>
> Thank you
>



cJ

I had 3 new systems 2 years ago that didn't work well with 80GB SATA drives.
(ECS mb's, 2 with VIA SATA chipset, 1 with STLab SATA PCI card, Segate & WD
drives)
Symptoms similar to yours.
One I eventually traced to overheating (buried in a cupboard and covered
with paper, mouse cable so hot it drooped like a bit of wet string) even so
I replaced the SATA with an IDE. (this one was the one with a STLab
chipset.)
The other two I also replaced the SATA drives with IDE and the problems went
away.

The STLab card and SATA drive went into a test PC of mine and has not
stopped, the other two drives were RMA'd, but came back as not faulty.
I put one of these into a USB enclosure and so far it hasn't given any
trouble, the other I gave to a mate with the same motherboard chipset as the
two problem PC's.
He stopped using it within a month complaining of the same symptoms as you.

Conclusion, something odd with early VIA SATA chipsets and or 80GB SATA
drives or a combination of the two.

Possible solutions, make the 300GB the OS (C:) drive, swap out the 80 SATA
for an 80 IDE, try a PCI SATA card with a different chipset.

Best
Paul.

Re: New PC build instability... looking for help!
 

Pennywise@DerryMaine.Gov wrote:

<snip>

Food Fight
http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne...8040355&size=l

Love this pic! :)

Re: New PC build instability... looking for help!
 

On Oct 9, 12:26 pm, Geoff Realname <realn...@no.spam.ntlworld.com>
wrote:
> Pennyw...@DerryMaine.Gov wrote:
>
> <snip>
>
> Food Fighthttp://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=1208040355&size=l
>
> Love this pic! :)

Terrific, Geoff. Thanks. :-)

Re: New PC build instability... looking for help!
 

sandy58 wrote:
> On Oct 9, 12:26 pm, Geoff Realname <realn...@no.spam.ntlworld.com>
> wrote:
>> Pennyw...@DerryMaine.Gov wrote:
>>
>> <snip>
>>
>> Food Fighthttp://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=1208040355&size=l
>>
>> Love this pic! :)
>
> Terrific, Geoff. Thanks. :-)
>
Oops,not from me: quoted from Pennywise's sig.

Re: New PC build instability... looking for help!
 

"cJ" <jedcrocker@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1191886482.045879.324340@57g2000hsv.googlegro ups.com...
> Hello,
>
> I recently built a new PC based on the hardware below. I have had
> instability issues with this system. I have contacted the motherboard
> supplier for support (thinking that may be a likely cause) but wanted
> to open it up to the group in case someone has had similar issues.
> Any help is appreciated! Thanks.......
>
>
> Computer configuration
>
> Case: Antec Sonata II with 450W power supply
> CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6300
> Motherboard: Asus P5N-E SLI
> BIOS: Version 0703 (latest available)
> Memory: 2Gb (2 x 1Gb) Kingston PC5300 DDR2 667Mhz RAM
> Video: EVGA GeForce 7100GS PCI-E
> Hard Drives: Western Digital 80Gb (SATA channel 1)
> Western Digital 300Gb (SATA channel 2)
> External USB 120Gb drive
> OS: Windows XP Pro (32 bit)
>
>
>
> Issues:
>
> Frequent corrupt files (mainly JPGs on WD300 but has occurred on
> various file types on all 3 drives)
>
> Spontaneous reboots with errors like "NTFS.SYS -
> page_fault_in_non_paged_area" and "irql_not_less_or_equal"
>
> Programs failing to launch and needing to be reinstalled
>
> QFAN control in BIOS resetting itself to "disabled"
>
> Instability
>
> Intermittent noise / interference coming through onboard audio output
>
>
> Tests performed:
>
> SMART check on hard drives, no issues found
>
> MEMTEST86+ run with no issues found
>
> This copy of Windows XP Pro tested on other PC with no issues
>
> I have reformatted and reinstalled Windows 3 times and the problems
> all return
>
>
>
> What tests or checks would be the next to perform? What is the best
> way to diagnose issues like this? Any help is appreciated.
>
> Thank you


I would try taking it all apart again (everything) and rebuilding it, making
sure everything is clean,
especially conectors. Noise on the audio side suggest a bad connection, but
probably on the analouge
side? First thing I though of was memory, you could try running it with just
one stick in for a start.
Try stripping it down to the minimum it needs to run and see if you still
get problems.
Can you also monitor temperatures etc? Virus scan won't do any harm.
Maybe somethingis generating a lot of electrical noise, Would explain audio?


>