Computer totally locks up! no idea

[carbon-rod]

hey
i have a problem which i am totally stumped my computer totally locks up sometimes it used to do it all the time when i first start my computer after its been off over night it used to totally freeze when loading windows (2k) it also used to freeze when trying to create a CS game after i just start windows. i have updated my mouse and video drivers and have tried different ram but i still have this problem.
i am running
p4 1.7
asus p4pe
512, 2100
20 gig seagate
40 gig seagate
gf4 mx 440

i am also having problems with my 20 i dont think it causes the freezing but sometimes when i restart it doesnt detect or if i leave it idle for a while it dissapears form my computer and i have to switch the computer off for a while for it to redetect.
i have checked all connections to the hard drive and internally and thye are all properly fitted. i hope someone can help because i am totally stumped any ideas would be much appreciated.
thanx

[Beemer]

Welcome to techimo.

It could be many things or one thing.

1.) To many Startup items. Start, Run, msconfig,Startup tab. Remove the uneccessary startup items.

2.) Reboot your PC into Safe Mode, Control Panel, System Properties, Device Manager and remove all disk drives and search all categories for duplicate devices and remove all duplicates.

Check these out and let us know how things are.

Cheers!

[ragtop]

Hey carbon-rod - welcome to TechIMO!!

Those types of problems can be frustrating & difficult to troubleshoot at times. The first thing I would do is try to eliminate that 20G hard drive as the source of the problem. Assuming its not the boot drive, why don't you disconnect it for a while and see what happens (disconnect both the power and ribbon cables).

Let us know if that helps - if it doesn't, someone will surely have some other ideas to try.

[Bill in SD, CA]

Could also be a flaky IDE cable. Do you have a new one to swap out? I just went through a HDD problem where the system would not boot all the time and now that I switched out the cable the problem seems to have stopped.

Bill

Edit: I forgot to say: Welcome to TechIMO!

[carbon-rod]

hey
i have minimal startup items starting up i wish i could use msconfig it is soo much easier but i am running 2000 ill disconnect my drive for a while and see what happens that sounds like a good idea i tried a different cable thinking tha could be the problem before but it didnt work and all my cables are brand new so im pretty sure thats not the fault i had a look in th ehardware configuration and there doesnt seem to be any duplicates in there or conflicts ill wait and see if disconnecting my 20 will stop the problem. thanx

[carbon-rod]

hey
i have minimal startup items starting up i wish i could use msconfig it is soo much easier but i am running 2000 ill disconnect my drive for a while and see what happens that sounds like a good idea i tried a different cable thinking tha could be the problem before but it didnt work and all my cables are brand new so im pretty sure thats not the fault i had a look in th ehardware configuration and there doesnt seem to be any duplicates in there or conflicts ill wait and see if disconnecting my 20 will stop the problem. thanx

[Beemer]

i had a look in th ehardware configuration and there doesnt seem to be any duplicates in there or conflicts

Did you take a look in Safe Mode? Windows will lie to you otherwise.

Cheers!

[carbon-rod]

really but what do u mean by duplicates just 2 of the same drive?