Most common causes of lockups?

After quite a while of trouble-free computing on my new rig, something has gone wrong....

I keep getting random lockups, its even happened during the Windows XP setup 3 times so it isn't driver/software related.

I never get a BSOD or any other error, just a hard lock.

I changed the PSU last night and will probably try switching the CPU this evening.....my main issue is a PCI-E gfx card....I have no way of testing (grrr).....is it likely that a gfx card could cause random system locks, even during windows setup?

Memory

bad luck

but yes, i'd concur with memory as the most likely cause, but whether its the cpu's cache memory, memory sticks, gfx card or the mobo's memory will take a bit of working out, usually with swapping out components. Its going to be a tough one to sort, atleast with a blue screen you get info come up saying where and why its crashed.

Nox

Most common = software in general, but as you've ruled that out :p then could be memory (check seating) or even just hard disk drive connectors being loose, which can cause the same symptoms.

I've had few hardware problems, but one I did have was with a gfx card - the reason I say that is all my problems with a gfx card occured only when booting the computer - ie the computer would't get through POST and certainly not as far as being able to setup windows.

Sotware/drivers. Memory. Overheating. gfx card issue. PSU. Hard drive on the blink. Virus. Blown mobo capacitor. Dodgy drive cable/connection

Sotware. Must be the problem, bloody drunken programmers! :p

Memory, at least, should be easy to test. Looking specifically at your setup, shaithis, people have had trouble with your hard disks, your mobo, and the NVidia IDE drivers, but you're probably aware of that.

Embarred to say that I dont think Windows setup was locking up....more like it would ignore input from my USB devices once it reached a certain point :Oops:

Still, the plot thickens........

I have now installed Windows XP (32bit) on a spare partition and cannot get my USB or firewire working...

OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host Controller
Texas Intruments OHCI Complient IEEE 1394 Host Controller
Standard Enhanced PCI to USB Host Controller
Standard OpenHCD USB Host Controller

Are all showing up with ! next to them......have tried installing 6.66 Forceware and removing/rebooting, letting windows redetect, reinstall 6.66 etc No joy. No USB devices work in Windows.

Is it possible that part of the motherboard has gone south and is showing different symptoms depending on wether 32 or 64 bit Windows is loaded? i.e. 64 bit loads USB/Firewire drivers but then randomly locks the PC when they are used and 32 bit Windows just refuses to load the drivers?

Or has a fresh install of Windows gone instantly bad?

Confused :shocked2: