Hello, I was looking for some help and ideas on my problem with my COMPUTER. My computer will freeze CONSISTENTLY when something gets done downloading, and it will also freeze during some installations. At first I thought it was a no brainer, HD is failing, bad sectors, whatever. I then ran Seatools diagnostics on the drive as well as chkdsk, they both came up clean. I thought maybe it was a driver/software issue, I updated all drivers including chipset and flashed the BIOS, nothing. Then did a clean format and install of windows, updating all drivers afterwards. The computer froze during install the first time, but not the second. The computer continued to freeze up on every download for a driver and windows update download. I then tested my memory overnight, they also came up clean.

Possible processor/mobo malfunction?

Specs:
nForce 650i SLI chipset mobo
intel 2.4gig quad core
GeForce 8800 GTX video
2gig OCZ PC2 6400 RAM 5-5-5-12
320gig Seagate SATA drive

I'm running out of ideas here and was wondering if anyone has come across this at all or had any ideas. Any help would be greatly appreciated.This is not a bad thing. If you have an antivirus scanner, it is taking this time to scan your downloads. Do not disable your antivirus scanner. It is important that all new downloaded files are scanned.

If you dont have a scanner, its a different problem. In that case, get a scanner ( www.avast.com , use the Free for Home Use edition if you are a home USER) and be sure to tell us what browser you are usingI've tried letting the computer run for multiple hours after first hanging on a download/install. With the clean install of windows I do not currently have a virus scanner, but I did have AVG previously. I'm just using IE6 for my browser at the moment.Chances are, half the issues you will encounter are related to not having a virus scanner.

Download Avast! Antivirus:
http://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html

When prompted, do a boot time scan. If no viruses are detected, let us know, and we shall CONTINUE to search for other problems. No viruses were detected.any spy ware protection?
download s&d

http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.htmlI have Lavasoft's Adaware, no spyware, fresh install of windows.

With the computer having froze during the fresh install of windows after a complete reformat I was thinking RAM fail, but like stated before I tested all of my sticks of RAM thoroughly, they are all the exact same brand, and completely compatible with the motherboard.Sounds like a unique issue
A few more questions:


First, how exactly did you check your RAM?

Second, when you ran CHKDSK, ,did you set it to have your computer reboot, and do a scan before the desktop appeared?

What operating system do you have? (Pardon me if you already mentioned, I have a small headache)


Possible solutions: (Notice the WORD, Possible? I would answer the questions above first)
Download and install FireFox, install the addon Windiz Update. (If you have XP, that is. Vista uses it own updater). Allow it to update whatever you need (specifically, drivers).
Could be hardware failure, Memory should be tested with Memtest86
Operating system fault, no plausible reason for it to be caused
Issue with your service provider, call and make sure you didn't go over your bandwidth I've checked my RAM once with Memtest86 and three times with the extended Windows Memory Diagnostic.

I did in fact do a boot time CHKDSK as well as several SeaTools diagnostic tests on the hard drive.

I have Windows XP Pro, I did eventually get all of the updates downloaded and installed in safe mode. Took about 5 boots to get through them all as the computer froze several times.

Also, now the computer will freeze shortly after it boots up after being off all night, will do this several times before it will become stable. When I've left it on all night, however, it will sometimes freeze overnight but when I turn it back on in the morning it will not freeze several times, only once at most, and there is absolutely nothing running in the background trying to download/install on boot. Oddly enough it seems once it "warms up" it is fine, also after boot the system seems completely stable for net browsing, videos, music, games, etc. for the entire day. This is the weirdest thing I've ever seen.Well the RAM and hard drive have beeen tested so we'll move on.
Are you experiencing any video issues ? ?
Reason i sak is the symptom you described that after the machine has been running for awhile and warmed up it seems to do better.
Remove a side panel and get a can of compressed air to clean out the fans and heatsinks. Use a QTip to hold the fan blades in place while blasting them,
DO NOT use a vacuum inside the case and make sure all power is disconnected before working in the case.
Re-seat the vid card making sure the contacts are clean and there is no debris in the slot.
Plug everything back in and re-boot and watch the fans to see if they all are operating properly.

If after all this you still have the same issues then the next suspected culprit would be the PSU...
Borrow a known good one of the same or greater wattage and swap it in there.
Take the machine thru it's paces to see if the issue stops ...if it does replace the PSU.

P.S. Don't buy a twenty dollar special or you'll be doing this again soon.