[J1mmy]

This is the situation with Vista:

I used have a PC, not very old, which randomly started to lock-up after sometime, whether it be 5mins or 5hours. When it locks up EVERYTHING stops, there is no way to using it until you restart.

I then pretty much changed all the components inside the case, including the PSU and the case. The only old things I am using from the old PC is the mouse, keyboard and the screen.

Now the strange thing is, even after getting an almost new PC, I am still getting lockups

I've never been so stuck, really don't know what the issue is.

My brother used to use the same components I have now with no issues. He's taken my old componenets and they don't give him any problems. I have also got the latest SP1 SP2

Any suggestions.

[avarice]

i'd get a reverend and check my house for some serious haunting. lol

seriously, the issue can be anything. when exactly do you get the lock ups? running programs? games? if it s completely random, it can be due to power surges. but then again, there are infinite reasons that can lead to the effect. try swapping components with your friend one by one.. thereby you can narrow down the issue.
do check your hard drive for errors. run your computer with your friend's hard disk. hard disk errors mostly result in freezes or slow data transfer rates.
also try swapping rams. freezes can also be due to faulty ram.

[Phantom010]

You may also have a software conflict or even malware.

Try a Clean Boot to isolate a possible culprit.

[J1mmy]

It's very unpredictable. Sometimes it won't be 5 mins until it crashes, and then sometimes the PC will last for about 12 hours.

I may have noticed that whilst viewing flash/video sites it MIGHT lock up faster. But don't jump to conclusions it could be the flash installation, as it may also be related to resource usage. I've also tried checking logs, but fail to see any pattern.

I don't actually have any one PC to check it with. Though, this just go back to the point where these same components were being used by my brother (from whom I got them off) and he never had these issues.

I bought a brand new HD as I thought that was it, to my suprise that also failed to be the issue. I'm now thinking keyboard as these are the same components that I've been using for both my PC's. But keyboard and mouse doesn't sound right - I've been using this when it used to work properly too.

This is also a fresh install, so no malware, virus or anything like that. The same issue used to happen when I installed Windows 7 too.

A real difficult one here..

[Phantom010]

Have you also changed your RAM?

If not, you can try a Memtest. Burn the ISO Image to a CD/DVD and boot from it. Then, follow the on screen instructions.

[J1mmy]

Yes, the RAM is different from the one I originally had in my PC. I also tried testing with one stick then swapping, nothing.

[Phantom010]

Do you have roughly the same programs that were also installed on Windows 7?

If so, I would try to find a culprit. You did change almost every component on the machine.

It could also be a good idea to post a HijackThis log (hoping you don't have Vista 64-bit).

Please click here to download and install the HijackThis installer.

Run it and select Do a system scan and save a logfile.

The log will be saved in Notepad. Copy and paste the log in your next post.

Do not fix anything

[J1mmy]

We yes, pretty much the same programs.

I actually do have 64-bit Vista...

Though, I don't know if it's a software as much as it could be hardware.

[Phantom010]

HijackThis doesn't really support Vista 64-bit yet but it still can give a good idea of what's running on your computer.

If you want, I can have a look at your log. It's up to you.

[J1mmy]

I'll run it anyway and post it here...

[J1mmy]

Here it is

[Phantom010]

Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2
Scan saved at 4:36:20 PM, on 21/10/2009
Platform: Windows Vista SP2 (WinNT 6.00.1906)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v8.00 (8.00.6001.18828)
Boot mode: Normal
Running processes:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Live\Messenger\msnmsgr.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\uTorrent\uTorrent.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Nokia\Nokia PC Suite 7\PCSuite.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Sophos\AutoUpdate\ALMon.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Salling Software AB\Salling Media Sync\Salling Media Sync.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Nokia\MPlatform\NokiaMServer.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office12\OUTLOOK.EXE
C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe
C:\Users\Jamal\Downloads\HijackThis.exe
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant =
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,CustomizeSearch =
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Local Page = C:\Windows\SysWOW64\blank.htm
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar,LinksFolderName =
F2 - REG:system.ini: UserInit=userinit.exe
O1 - Hosts: ::1 localhost
O2 - BHO: Sophos Web Content Scanner - {39EA7695-B3F2-4C44-A4BC-297ADA8FD235} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Sophos\Sophos Anti-Virus\SophosBHO.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {5C255C8A-E604-49b4-9D64-90988571CECB} - (no file)
O2 - BHO: Groove GFS Browser Helper - {72853161-30C5-4D22-B7F9-0BBC1D38A37E} - C:\PROGRA~2\MICROS~2\Office12\GRA8E1~1.DLL
O2 - BHO: Windows Live Sign-in Helper - {9030D464-4C02-4ABF-8ECC-5164760863C6} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Windows Live\WindowsLiveLogin.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [GrooveMonitor] "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office12\GrooveMonitor.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files (x86)\QuickTime\QTTask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Salling Media Sync] "C:\Program Files (x86)\Salling Software AB\Salling Media Sync\Salling Media Sync.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NokiaMServer] C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Nokia\MPlatform\NokiaMServer /watchfiles startup
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Sidebar] C:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar\sidebar.exe /autoRun
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [msnmsgr] "C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Live\Messenger\msnmsgr.exe" /background
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [uTorrent] "C:\Program Files (x86)\uTorrent\uTorrent.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ehTray.exe] C:\Windows\ehome\ehTray.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [PC Suite Tray] "C:\Program Files (x86)\Nokia\Nokia PC Suite 7\PCSuite.exe" -onlytray
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-19\..\Run: [Sidebar] %ProgramFiles%\Windows Sidebar\Sidebar.exe /detectMem (User 'LOCAL SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-19\..\Run: [WindowsWelcomeCenter] rundll32.exe oobefldr.dll,ShowWelcomeCenter (User 'LOCAL SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-20\..\Run: [Sidebar] %ProgramFiles%\Windows Sidebar\Sidebar.exe /detectMem (User 'NETWORK SERVICE')
O4 - Global Startup: AutoUpdate Monitor.lnk = C:\Program Files (x86)\Sophos\AutoUpdate\ALMon.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~2\MICROS~2\Office12\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra button: Blog This - {219C3416-8CB2-491a-A3C7-D9FCDDC9D600} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Live\Writer\WriterBrowserExtension.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: &Blog This in Windows Live Writer - {219C3416-8CB2-491a-A3C7-D9FCDDC9D600} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Live\Writer\WriterBrowserExtension.dll
O9 - Extra button: Send to OneNote - {2670000A-7350-4f3c-8081-5663EE0C6C49} - C:\PROGRA~2\MICROS~2\Office12\ONBttnIE.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: S&end to OneNote - {2670000A-7350-4f3c-8081-5663EE0C6C49} - C:\PROGRA~2\MICROS~2\Office12\ONBttnIE.dll
O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - C:\PROGRA~2\MICROS~2\Office12\REFIEBAR.DLL
O13 - Gopher Prefix:
O16 - DPF: {D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000} (Shockwave Flash Object) - http://fpdownload2.macromedia.com/ge...nt/swflash.cab
O18 - Protocol: grooveLocalGWS - {88FED34C-F0CA-4636-A375-3CB6248B04CD} - C:\PROGRA~2\MICROS~2\Office12\GR99D3~1.DLL
O20 - AppInit_DLLs: C:\PROGRA~2\Sophos\SOPHOS~1\SOPHOS~1.DLL
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\Alg.exe,-112 (ALG) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\alg.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @dfsrres.dll,-101 (DFSR) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\DFSR.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\fxsresm.dll,-118 (Fax) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\fxssvc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @keyiso.dll,-100 (KeyIso) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @comres.dll,-2797 (MSDTC) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\msdtc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\System32\netlogon.dll,-102 (Netlogon) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: NVIDIA Display Driver Service (nvsvc) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\nvvsvc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\psbase.dll,-300 (ProtectedStorage) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\Locator.exe,-2 (RpcLocator) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\locator.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\samsrv.dll,-1 (SamSs) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: Sophos Anti-Virus status reporter (SAVAdminService) - Sophos Plc - C:\Program Files (x86)\Sophos\Sophos Anti-Virus\SAVAdminService.exe
O23 - Service: Sophos Anti-Virus (SAVService) - Sophos Plc - C:\Program Files (x86)\Sophos\Sophos Anti-Virus\SavService.exe
O23 - Service: ServiceLayer - Nokia - C:\Program Files (x86)\PC Connectivity Solution\ServiceLayer.exe
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\SLsvc.exe,-101 (slsvc) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\SLsvc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\snmptrap.exe,-3 (SNMPTRAP) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\snmptrap.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: Sophos AutoUpdate Service - Sophos Plc - C:\Program Files (x86)\Sophos\AutoUpdate\ALsvc.exe
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\spoolsv.exe,-1 (Spooler) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\spoolsv.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: NVIDIA Stereoscopic 3D Driver Service (Stereo Service) - NVIDIA Corporation - C:\Program Files (x86)\NVIDIA Corporation\3D Vision\nvSCPAPISvr.exe
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\ui0detect.exe,-101 (UI0Detect) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\UI0Detect.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\vds.exe,-100 (vds) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\vds.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\vssvc.exe,-102 (VSS) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\vssvc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\wbengine.exe,-104 (wbengine) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\wbengine.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%Systemroot%\system32\wbem\wmiapsrv.exe,-110 (wmiApSrv) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\wbem\WmiApSrv.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%ProgramFiles%\Windows Media Player\wmpnetwk.exe,-101 (WMPNetworkSvc) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Media Player\wmpnetwk.exe (file missing)
--
End of file - 7913 bytes

[Phantom010]

These Startup entries don't need to load with Windows nor run in the background:

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files (x86)\QuickTime\QTTask.exe" -atboottime

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NokiaMServer] C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Nokia\MPlatform\NokiaMServer /watchfiles startup

O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [msnmsgr] "C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Live\Messenger\msnmsgr.exe" /background

O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [uTorrent] "C:\Program Files (x86)\uTorrent\uTorrent.exe"

O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ehTray.exe] C:\Windows\ehome\ehTray.exe

[J1mmy]

I can get rid of them, but I don't think it will get rid of the crashing...

[Phantom010]

Maybe not but other than finding another culprit hardware component, I don't know what else to try.

Have you always used the same antivirus program?

What about error reports? Do you ever get any?

Do you have any minidump files you could show us?

They are located in C:\WINDOWS\Minidump. Please ZIP a few of your latest minidump files and attach them to your next post.