8 Year old Packard Bell Easynote H5 running XP Professional 32, Pentium "Northwood", 1 GB of memory, Samsung MP0603h 60GB disk.

Had this problem where the laptop either freezes during boot or just after full boot and can only be re-started by cold restart using the BRS.Also, shortly before it started to freeze, I experienced another problem with total loss of audio output - not even the system sounds would work or any of the hardware sound tests, despite all the software appearing to be A OK.

Basically, the system will only boot and remain stable in Safe-Mode.

I've done the usual thing of looking at the system event viewer in the administrative tools section of XP and that has been consistently showing a problem with the DCOM process - so there's a possibility its something network related.

I tried disabling the boot load of all the system *.ini files as well as task bar icons using the msconfig software in the Command Line. No joy.

I tried using the combination of CHKdsk /r in the command line, followed by the Re-image software package to replace like-for-like sections of the system software. I've been through this cycle about three times now, and although Chkdsk first reported and fixed about 4 defective clusters on the whole disk and Re-Image initially replaced about 1% of registry entries and 2% of system software, both packages are now reporting that the system is 100% secure and 100% stable and clear of all defects. Yet still its locking up at boot-up or shortly after.

The only other I think might be causing the problem is a third party application or hardware.

I did notice that at the time of the first crash, the Norton internet Security package was showing that part of the virus protection had been disabled - not by me ! And of course Norton doesn't load in Safe Mode.

Also, I wonder whether the hard disk is on its way out - is there a self test routine that I can access for that ?

Further, the machine, particularly the screen has always been overdriven from a voltage point of view - default setting for screen is always overbright and has to be turned down via the keyboard controls. This may be because, it was purchased as a PC World refurb and possibly supplied with the wrong charger - although the battery is only rated at 14V, the machine was supplied with a Lite-On charger which supplies 20v 6amp (Always gets well warm) - I note that replacement chargers for this model presently offered on the web deliver 19V @ 3.2amp.

Any ideas ?

Postscript

Just had a flash of inspiration. I remembered that a previous problem I had had with this machine had been solved by switching off the Speedstep Technology option in the BIOS - did this and switched-off the power management option for good measure as well and guess what - no more freezing. I'm guessing that perhaps a recent third party software addition , possibly in Norton, had activated/was interacting this BIOS feature ?

The remaining problem - no sound.

Anybody ?

Nick

Edited 4 June, 201115 yr by Clunkclick

Charger - the laptop will only draw the amount of power it wants, so that should be fine.

DCOM error - again unlikely to be the root of your problems.

tbh: for an 8 year old machine is it probably on its last legs, especially if the system restore is failing to resolve the issue. I assume you have checked all the airways are clear and the machine is not over heating?

The Re-Image package which scans all system functions reports CPU @49C and system board @ 51C, and said it was within limits. I will have a quick look to check for dust/fluff, but I'm not expecting to find much as the machine has only been lightly used and bagged up at all other times. Keyboard looks brand new.

Shame to get-rid, 'cause the chassis is built like a brick-chicken house (In its time it was, retail, a £1000 machine,mainly because it had a heavyweight desktop processor), which I got for a substantial discount. from the reports I've been reading, particularly on this site, I doubt whether contemporary machines are as solidly built. If I can get 10 years out it that will spread the cost nicely, making the COO slightly over £1 a week. Hopefully if two years time, a replacement machine, I have had my eyes on the current four-core machines (The only ones worth having IMHO) will be old-hat and available in the below £500 bracket.

Nick

Edited 4 June, 201115 yr by Clunkclick

If you have two memory cards, then try using one at time. I had this problem on Sony vaio with the same chipset. In safe mode, it just doesn't use all the memory.

If you have two memory cards, then try using one at time. I had this problem on Sony vaio with the same chipset. In safe mode, it just doesn't use all the memory.

Could be memory, in that the second 512MB wasn't original equipment and was bought some time later That said, I thought I took a lot of care in selecting the add-on memory - even going to the length of ordering it from Packard Bell UK, who then strangely supplied it from France !

Nick

Also, I wonder whether the hard disk is on its way out - is there a self test routine that I can access for that ?

There's a variety of tools you can use to read the S.M.A.R.T. status of the hard drive which is meant to compare various parameters against set standards to identify whether the hard drive is failing a certain parameter. However I don't find this particularly useful as I've seem drives report SMART failures for years and work without issue while others have died without ever reporting an issue through SMART. If you run a chkdsk it's not unusual for there to be a few errors but on subsequent runs these errors should be gone if chkdsk was run with the repair option. However if the drive is failing another run of chkdsk will usually show more errors and keep showing errors no matter how many repairs you run.

Just had a flash of inspiration. I remembered that a previous problem I had had with this machine had been solved by switching off the Speedstep Technology option in the BIOS - did this and switched-off the power management option for good measure as well and guess what - no more freezing. I'm guessing that perhaps a recent third party software addition , possibly in Norton, had activated/was interacting this BIOS feature ?

You've mentioned above that your laptop has a desktop processor, are you sure that's the case? This is going back a while but from memory, desktop Pentium4 Northwoods didn't have any speedstep functionality at all as it was only implemented later on in the Prescott cores in a fairly basic form compared to the P-M's. The mobile Northwoods though did support speedstep.

If you disabled speedstep and power management on the Pentium-m's, it actually locked the processor down at its lowest state not the highest which would mean a Pentium-m 1.5Ghz would run at just 599 Mhz and the OS would be unable to clock it up and down as needed. The symptoms you describe sound very much like they are caused by thermal issues (very common in Northwood based laptops), if disabling speedstep/power management has underclocked your processor down it may explain why your system is now stable. There's a free progam called CPU-Z which will tell you exactly what processor you have and what clock speed it's currently running at. If you want to test the CPU's thermals directly there's a tool called Prime95 which can run a torture test which is designed to push the processor as hard as possible which in normal use the machine should be able to handle without issue. It's available as part of the Ultimate Boot CD (and others I'm sure) which means you can test outside your OS and hard drive.

In answer to your question as to what uses the bios feature, it's the operating system itself that uses speedstep/power management to control the power state on the processor depending on the current workload.

On the slight side note of replacement, there are plenty of contemporary machines which will be built as well if not quite a bit better it's just there's a lot of cheap machines out there which understandably don't give the best build quality. However if you go up the range there's plenty of extremely solid and durable machines out there particularly if you go into the business range which doesn't need to be expensive.

John

John -thanks for a superb response.

I've been running the laptop today and had no problems. Although, disabling Speedstep seems to have made video a bit juddery and scrolling down a page an agonising processes - looks like the clock rate on the processor has been turned down.

Checked out the system using CPUID and it reports the CPU as a Prescott (!!), rated at 3.2Ghz but currently running at 1.9Ghz. I'm sure on-line documentation I'd seen previously stated it was a Northwood. If I'm brave tomorrow I'll try re-enabling Speedstep to see what happens to the reported running rate. Reference your comments regarding Northwoods and like processors running hot, I can confirm that they do, and how. I have got a USB cooled undertray which I occasionally use - should have used it on Saturday, then, maybe, I would have avoided all this. Monday's weather is going to be bit cooler down here - it was hot down here when I first started experience problems.

Anyway, the hard disk seems to be running OK now after the Chkdsk /r I performed yesterday chased out all the bad clusters (they haven't returned)and Re-Image re-made the consequentilly corrupted system software. I fixed the sound problem, after checking all the various software and keyboard level switches and then re-loading all the sound drivers (Realtek), only to find that the thumbwheel volume control on the side of the unit had been turned down !

Only remaining problem I have had today is trying to make and maintain a wi-fi radio link from the laptop to my BT Home Hub (Mk2). Because there are at least 8-9 other wi-fi capable modems belonging to other householders within range + 2 X mobile phone repeaters nearby (London !!!) I'm having hellish problems trying to establish a connection and maintain it - attempted to use two different sets of radio hardware, both the same vintage as the laptop, a BT voyager wi-fi capable PCMIA card (1060) and a 2-wire USB wi-fi adapter. No joy with either of them at ground floor level, five feet away from where the hub is - go up to the first floor and its fine ? -had no problem recently getting a radio link when I was staying at my sisters place in the West Country - the London effect again.

I think that one cause for concern as regards use of Speedstep has been removed. CPUID reports both memory sticks with identical construction, latencys, voltage, although they are diffrent manufacturers - earlier one (04) is Infineon and the alter one (06)is Micron technolgy.

Postcript

Just run Prime 95 with speedstep still disabled - no probs at all, in fact laptop was running cooler than Saturday, at least I wasn't getting any system generated temperature warning messages poppimg-up from the taskbar.

Then tried re-enabling Speedstep in BIOS and re-booting. The thing froze at the first attempt. So now Speedstep is turned-off again. I've just checked the web and even Windows 7 users are reporting the same problem and that turning-off Speedstep cures it.

That said heat management on the Easynote is poor. The processor is cooled by a fan assisted copper heat-pipe (Good !) but the downside is that the exit vent for the heat is on the underside (!! - no concessions to the laws of thermal dynamics there) of the laptop, left and foward of the keyboard. In addition, if you rest it on your lap without the use of an undertray, your clothing blocks the heat exit and it overheats.

Nick

Nick

Edited 6 June, 201115 yr by Clunkclick

Overheating was my first thought. Are the fans clear of dust?

Might be worth blowing through with an air duster.

Also tbh queer faults like than can often be down to the motherboard dying.

Could be a memory problem, try something like memtest (there is also a microsft version as well included with UBCD), let it run overnight and see if it finds a problem.

Alternatively it could be the graphics cardoverheating rather than the CPU, though that generally makes the screen go nuts.

I have an easynote at home that has a problem the MB, if you press on the casing just left of the mouse pad it locks up. It was dropped at some point in the past though.

John -thanks for a superb response.

I've been running the laptop today and had no problems. Although, disabling Speedstep seems to have made video a bit juddery and scrolling down a page an agonising processes - looks like the clock rate on the processor has been turned down.

Yep that sounds right, the P4's were meant to be able to dynamically clock themselves down automatically when they got too hot and I remember seeing this demonstrated in practice with a video showing the heatsink being removed and the machine continuing to run (although very slowly) but I find in reality that doesn't tend to be the case as instead the machines shut freeze or shut off when they think they're getting too hot.

Checked out the system using CPUID and it reports the CPU as a Prescott (!!), rated at 3.2Ghz but currently running at 1.9Ghz. I'm sure on-line documentation I'd seen previously stated it was a Northwood. If I'm brave tomorrow I'll try re-enabling Speedstep to see what happens to the reported running rate. Reference your comments regarding Northwoods and like processors running hot, I can confirm that they do, and how. I have got a USB cooled undertray which I occasionally use - should have used it on Saturday, then, maybe, I would have avoided all this. Monday's weather is going to be bit cooler down here - it was hot down here when I first started experience problems.

That would make more sense as the desktop Prescotts did support Speedstep but it wasn't as drastic as the Pentium-m's at the time so didn't clock as low. I think you're probably right about the warmer temperatures triggering the behaviour as it does have a large effect on the temperature of the machines.

Anyway, the hard disk seems to be running OK now after the Chkdsk /r I performed yesterday chased out all the bad clusters (they haven't returned)and Re-Image re-made the consequentilly corrupted system software. I fixed the sound problem, after checking all the various software and keyboard level switches and then re-loading all the sound drivers (Realtek), only to find that the thumbwheel volume control on the side of the unit had been turned down !

Although hard drive failures are not an exact science that sounds like the HD is fine. Glad to hear your audio problem was a simple one which can make you feel a bit daft but at the same time there's the immediate relief it's fixed and it was something simple.

Only remaining problem I have had today is trying to make and maintain a wi-fi radio link from the laptop to my BT Home Hub (Mk2). Because there are at least 8-9 other wi-fi capable modems belonging to other householders within range + 2 X mobile phone repeaters nearby (London !!!) I'm having hellish problems trying to establish a connection and maintain it - attempted to use two different sets of radio hardware, both the same vintage as the laptop, a BT voyager wi-fi capable PCMIA card (1060) and a 2-wire USB wi-fi adapter. No joy with either of them at ground floor level, five feet away from where the hub is - go up to the first floor and its fine ? -had no problem recently getting a radio link when I was staying at my sisters place in the West Country - the London effect again.

I'm not sure how the BT Homehubs assign channels, have you looked into that side of it at all? Unfortunately the choice of channels is fairly limited in terms of those that don't overlap at all but you may find performance is a bit better on a lower channel, I find (or at least used to) that a lot of routers seemed to default to the higher channels so currently have my router set to channel 1 where performance is fine. On 11 the connection is unusable due to the interference from neighbouring routers.

I think that one cause for concern as regards use of Speedstep has been removed. CPUID reports both memory sticks with identical construction, latencys, voltage, although they are diffrent manufacturers - earlier one (04) is Infineon and the alter one (06)is Micron technolgy.

It sounds like you've found the root problem but if you ever want to check memory there's a handy tool called memtest86 which you can boot directly into.

John

Edited 6 June, 201115 yr by JohnMcL7

Changed channel on the WiFi and now the laptop and other devices have no problem connecting.

Nick

Overheating was my first thought. Are the fans clear of dust?

Might be worth blowing through with an air duster.

Also tbh queer faults like than can often be down to the motherboard dying.

Although I've had the back off a couple of times over its 8 year life, i would imagine that, due to the excessive heat it generates it could be caked with dust.

As regards the limits of use, my moto its not dead 'til the tops have blown-off all the capacitors - as I witnessed recently on somebody else's M/board. Even then it was working with some screen corruption.

Nick

Edited 8 June, 201115 yr by Clunkclick