I have problems with my PC.
I don't know if it's the OS (WinXP 32bit) or the hardware (E7600 + GTX285).

The PC is on 24/7.
After 16-24 hours the PC make:
a self reboot
frozen, switch off/on needed
very slowly, I press the mouse and 20 sec. later the mouse pointer walk over the screen

If I made a reboot and open BOINC Manager I see 4 NV AP GPU WUs started, no checkpoint saved, 0% progress.
BOINC calculate them correctly then (after the reboot).
With stock r1316 and opti r1843.


I don't think it's because of the AP GPU apps, because over months/years the apps work very fine.

So currently I make a reboot every ~ 12 hours and since then nothing happened from the above.


Maybe someone know what's going on?

Which tool I could use to test the whole hardware (CPU, GPU, system-RAM, mobo, chipset)?
Is there a tool with which I could test the OS?


To the time I found the problem (or I changed GPU card and installed Win8.1 64bit) I would like that the PC make every 12 hours a reboot automatically. How?

After the reboot after 2 mins. some .batch files should start automatically (I could make it with Task-Manager (start at Windows start, but then it's immediately)) is there a command which I could use inside/at the beginning of/ the .batch file a wait of 120 seconds?


Thanks.

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Random reboots/lockups are often power supply or memory related.

The fact that it's taking over 12 hours to occur, memory is more likely- over time unused memory is used for caching, programmes if they have a memory leak tend to use more & more memory.
If there is faulty memory at a high address, then over time the system may eventually try to make use of it, and that's when things come to a halt.

I'd suggest running a memory diagnostics programme. If you have a spare power supply swap it over just to make sure, or if you have a multimeter check just how close the voltages are to what they should be.

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Grant
Darwin NT

is there a command which I could use inside/at the beginning of/ the .batch file a wait of 120 seconds?

There are two easy ways:

ping localhost -n 110 >nul
[adjust the "110" to the time you want - it is NOT seconds, just a counter]

and

choice /T 120 /D y /M "Delay for 120 seconds" >nul

is there a command which I could use inside/at the beginning of/ the .batch file a wait of 120 seconds?

There are two easy ways:

ping localhost -n 110 >nul
[adjust the "110" to the time you want - it is NOT seconds, just a counter]

and

choice /T 120 /D y /M "Delay for 120 seconds" >nul

The one I use is:

timeout /t 15

The example gives a 15 second delay.
I use this on several Windows 7 machines, but think I used it on XP as well.

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How is your temperature, fans and ventilation?
speedfan will give you info in that area
MBM motherboard monitor is another

yes you can use batch files

to wait until a certain time
pause
wait so long
check for existence of a file
reboot
etc

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Mike Bader
BOINC V7.16.5
http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/team_join_form.php?id=5 - Join Our International Team
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I use this on several Windows 7 machines, but think I used it on XP as well.

Not XP Home, I fear.

C:\test>ver

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]

C:\test>timeout /?
'timeout' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

I use this on several Windows 7 machines, but think I used it on XP as well.

Not XP Home, I fear.

C:\test>ver

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]

C:\test>timeout /?
'timeout' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

Nor in Win XP Pro SP3.
But in Vista:

P:\bin\BoincData>timeout /?

TIMEOUT [/T] <таймаут> [/NOBREAK]

Описание:
Принимает значение таймаута, задающего фиксированный период времени
ожидания (в секундах), или ожидание до нажатия клавиши. Имеется также
параметр, зaдающий игнорирование нажатий клавиш.

Параметры:
/T <таймаут> Время ожидания в секундах.
Допустимый интервал: от -1 до 99999 секунд.

/NOBREAK Игнорировать нажатия клавиш, ждать указанное время.

/? Вывод справки по использованию.

Примечание: значение таймаута, равное -1 задает неограниченное время
ожидания до нажатия клавиши.

Примеры:
TIMEOUT /?
TIMEOUT /T 10
TIMEOUT /T 300 /NOBREAK
TIMEOUT /T -1

I pretty much have to replace my power supplies every 2 to 3 years. I usually buy cheap ones in 40-50 dollar range.

Also 285 is kinda old and power hungry. You might want to replace it... this way you get to do more work and save money on power supply because you will not need a high wattage psu.

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Thanks to all.


I prepared MemTest for a system-RAM test (in Windows) - which will be done soon.
Then if there is no error, I will take Memtest86+ (bootable CD).

The cooling/temps are fine.

I can't remember correctly, I guess the system-RAM and PSU are ~ 9 years old.
Both Corsair, DDR2-800/5-5-5-18 and 520W.
The mobo/CPU/GPU cards changed but system-RAM/PSU were always the same over this period of time.


A brand new AMD R9 270X is ready to jump in this PC case and Win8.1 64bit is prepared for the old HDD.
Other system-RAM which had no problems in an other now retired PC could be used, if the currently system-RAM is faulty.

I have here a brand new 950W PSU, which would be very oversized if the PC use ~ 250W.
So I guess if wost case I would need to buy a new ~ 500W PSU.


I worry, maybe the mobo or CPU is faulty (IIRC both ~ 4 years in use) ...
I install a brand new Win8.1 64bit OS at this hardware and later I see the mobo (chipset) or CPU is faulty ...
This Win OS is used, and I can't install it on an other PC (a new mobo/CPU combi) ...
Then it's like I have burned the money which I had paid for this OS.

Is there a tool which could test the mobo and CPU?


In short time I will be away for 2 or 3 days. So I can't make the 12 hours reboots.
It would be fine if the PC could crunch SETI/AP tasks during this time and will not idle/be frozen or what ever ...

So I would need an automatically reboot every 12 hours.
How should look the .bat file ... ? Started with the OS ... ?
I'm a beginner concerning .bat files. ;-)
A counter at the start ... and so on ... how the whole entries?

12 hours = 43200 secs.

choice /T 43200 /D y /M "Delay for 43200 seconds" >nul

Like this and then ... ?

And ...

choice /T 120 /D y /M "Delay for 120 seconds" >nul

... this in the first line of my other .bat files - for a 120 secs. delay?


Thanks.


BTW.
It can't be the old WinXP 32bit which is after 3 or 4 years (after SP3 no updates installed) 'damaged' now with too much software and so on ... ?
Or virus, tronjan ... ? (up-to-date virus scanner show no infect)

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You do defrag your machine on a regular basis don't you .As this can cause this to happen if you haven't defrag for a long time.

Ans is common problem that i have encounted over the years .

---

I did defragmentation one time in past at an other PC.
The result after was that 'everything' was broken and I needed to install the OS new.

What you think will happen if I do this now with an OS which never were defrag?
After 3 or 4 years the 1st time?

Maybe I'll 'damage' again the OS ... ?

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What you think will happen if I do this now with an OS which never were defrag?
After 3 or 4 years the 1st time?

Maybe I'll 'damage' again the OS ... ?

That should usually not happen, unless the hardware is broken somehow, than errors may happen. But disk fragmentation should not lead to issues like yours. The PC might be slower on some things (those, that access the disk a lot), but it should always clear up itself without a reboot.

First thing you should do is run Memtest86+. 3 complete passes at least. This tests BTW also parts of the CPU and mainboard.

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So I would need an automatically reboot every 12 hours.
How should look the .bat file ... ? Started with the OS ... ?
I'm a beginner concerning .bat files. ;-)
A counter at the start ... and so on ... how the whole entries?

12 hours = 43200 secs.

choice /T 43200 /D y /M "Delay for 43200 seconds" >nul

Like this and then ... ?

I don't have XP any longer, but I think the command is

XP SHUTDOWN -r -t 01

[Reboot after a 1 second delay]

Perhaps "HELP SHUTDOWN /?" will tell you for sure.

choice /T 120 /D y /M "Delay for 120 seconds" >nul

... this in the first line of my other .bat files - for a 120 secs. delay?

Yes. This will wait for 120 seconds and then continue execution following this command.

I use this on several Windows 7 machines, but think I used it on XP as well.

Not XP Home, I fear.

C:\test>ver

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]

C:\test>timeout /?
'timeout' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

The timeout.exe included in Server 2003 can be copied over to XP. It was also available in some older OS resource kits.
I think when I tired to copy the Windows 7 version to XP there was a compatibility error, but I don't recall at the moment. I don't have any XP boxes running at home.

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SETI@home classic workunits: 93,865 CPU time: 863,447 hours
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If you haven't Defrag'd for 3 yrs ............

you mite find that it has , on the scheduler . automatically depends how you set the machine up and if you changed anything .

I would Analyze the drive and see if it needs it FIRST !

If it's above 10% it may take a while .
It also depends on your drive and how full it is

You can have a drive so badly fragmented it will fail eventually .

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