PC hardware monitor

**TheMonkey** · 12 June 2006, 09:18

I usually just buy another PC!

It may be memory - that's what usually causes hard lock. Run memtest86 on it for a while (may be on the SuSE boot CD or get the ISO and burn it from here: http://www.memtest86.com/ )

**Pondlife** · 12 June 2006, 09:24

Cheers. Will have a go at the weekend.

**DaveB** · 12 June 2006, 09:44

Originally posted by Pondlife

Hi All,

I have a PC at home that runs XP Pro & SUSE Linux but it keeps crashing. When it hangs the monitor stays on but the keybd, mouse and network card all freeze.

Anyone know of a freebie utility that I can use to track the cause down? Or has anyone seen similar?

Thanks.
PL

Has it started recently? If so it could be overheating in the hot weather if it doesnt have good ventilation. If your happy getting your hands dirty then open it up and remove all the PCI cards etc and memory and give it a good clean out to clear any dust from the fans and interior of the case before refitting and checking everything is seated correctly.

Problems like this can also crop up when you get dust particles getting into the card and memory slots so a good clean should fix that problem as well.

**Pondlife** · 12 June 2006, 09:47

Originally posted by DaveB

Has it started recently? If so it could be overheating in the hot weather if it doesnt have good ventilation. If your happy getting your hands dirty then open it up and remove all the PCI cards etc and memory and give it a good clean out to clear any dust from the fans and interior of the case before refitting and checking everything is seated correctly.

Problems like this can also crop up when you get dust particles getting into the card and memory slots so a good clean should fix that problem as well.

Thanks DaveB - Built it myself, so might take it apart and get the Dyson on it.

**DimPrawn** · 12 June 2006, 10:01

One of my PC's locked up the other day and yep it was overheating.

Downloaded and installed this utility:

http://www.snapfiles.com/get/mbm.html

Now I get an email if the box (used as a server) gets too warm.

**DaveB** · 12 June 2006, 10:22

I used to support a bunch of Sun boxes used in a research lab. They were kept on mini shelving units at the end of each run of desks and the grad students would regularly pile papers on top of them untill the fell down the side and back and blocked the fans. 30 mins later I get a warning on the management console that a box had died. After the first few times I started shredding any papers I found on or around the machines when this happened.

PC hardware monitor