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hander

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18 years ago

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hander

19 Posts

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August 6th, 2007 10:00

Dimension 8400 Vista freezing

I've got a Dimension 8400 with the following spec:
3.2 Ghz PIV
2GB RAM 250GB
IBM 74GB Raptor
Radeon X1650 Pro
samsung DVD
NEC DVDRW
Audigy 2ZS Platinum Pro

Recently installed Vista 32-Bit Ultimate. I'm getting 'freezes' lasting between 15-60 seconds every few hours or so. They seem to appear at random - can't find any link between their happening and my activity. During the freeze, nothing responds (incl. Task manager); though you can still move the mouse cursor.

Can't see anything relevant in Event Viewer.

Can anyone help? This is proving annoying. Thanks.

Message Edited by hander on 08-06-2007 01:19 PM

Message Edited by hander on 08-06-2007 04:51 PM
  • SR45

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    Posted August 6th, 2007 11:00

    No fix, but I to notice a freeze for about 15/25 seconds from time to time.  Just wait, and its fixes it self for some reason.  Hopefully a fix is soon to be released or someone knows what is going on.
  • C3PO5

    2 Intern

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    Posted August 6th, 2007 12:00

    Hi hander
    I see you have the ATI 1600 pro i have that same video card do you
    have the new ATI driver for it , it is 7.7 now .
    I would install the new driver and see if it will fix your freezing !
    My D8400 has no problem with freezing at all with Vista 32 or 64 bit Ultimate!
    The only other thing is i am using the onboard SoundMax Intergrated Digital audio
    driver so i do not know if that might be a driver problem with your sound.
    See Yea
    edit do you have the new bios A09 ?
     


    Message Edited by C3PO5 on 08-06-2007 06:48 AM
  • hander

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    Posted August 6th, 2007 14:00

    Thanks for replies.

    Actually I've got a 1650 - but don't think it makes a difference. Yes, drivers are up to date.

    And yes, BIOS is A09.

    Any other ideas?

    Message Edited by hander on 08-06-2007 04:53 PM
  • Mary G

    6 Operator

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    Posted August 6th, 2007 15:00

    It might get better in the next week or so. When Vista is first installed, Indexing can cause this until Vista "settles in" and finishes all the initial indexing.
  • hander

    19 Posts

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    Posted August 6th, 2007 16:00

    Um ... it's been installed on this machine for several months now.
  • hander

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    Posted August 6th, 2007 18:00

    Hi Bill,

    Thanks. Yes, I've heard about this solution with other Dell Desktops.

    1) No raid
    2) I have an NEC drive and a Samsung Drive:
    - the NEC has a firmware update. Done.
    - the Samsung SD-616E is not listed under Vista drivers. Check for yourself - select Dimension 8400 and Vista.

    Look forward to hearing any further help you might be able to offer.
  • C3PO5

    2 Intern

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    Posted August 6th, 2007 19:00

    Hi hander
    Go to device manager click on
    + ide ata/atapi controller-266f
    right click on the drivers
    ATA Channel 0
    Intel{R} 82801FB/FBM Ultra ATA Storage Controllers -266f
    then select update this drivers for each one see if windows
    can update the drivers
    and go to
    + storage controller look and see if you have
    intel{R}82801FR SATA RAID Controller
    if you do check to see if it will update i know when i first
    installed Vista 32\64 bit mine was a little slow and would lag
    at times because i was using the older drivers!
    Now when i have to reinstall i use the Intel drivers or use the
    driver that come on the Vista DVD because they are the newer divers!
    If this does not work i am at a loss as to what the {Lag} problem might be!!
    OH if they do update go to system to see if windows is still activated
    sometime when this is done it will ask you to reactvate windows !
    Good Luck
  • hander

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    Posted September 15th, 2008 11:00

    Well, the time had come yesterday to do something about this problem. The freezing problem had simply got worse and it was costing me time and frustration.

     

    After reading elsewhere of success with sata cabling repositioning, I thought I'd have a go. The 8400 has four sata points on the motherboard, marked 0, 1, 2 and 3.

     

    All I've done at the moment is move the SATA cables from the two installed drives (not configured in RAID) from the connectors marked 0 (which had the OS drive) and 1 (which had another drive) on the motherboard to 2 and 3 respectively.

     

    Finally, in BIOS - switch off SATA ports 0 and 1 and switch on SATA ports 2 and 3.

     

    So far, and I'm not betting on any long-term outcome, I've had no freezes for about 6 hours. I will report back if I DO get any.

     

    OTherwise this actually seems a positive development. :smileyvery-happy:

     

    Thanks to all who replied and helped.

     

    Message Edited by hander on 09-15-2008 01:16 PM