strange xp wireless hang

  • Thread starter Thread starter a95johjo@hotmail.com
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a95johjo@hotmail.com

Hello,
I have a funny (strange, not haha) problem with my Dell Dimension 9150
running Windows XP SP2.
I have the computer connected to a adsl modem with a network cable.
Moreover I have a wireless USB device (3Com OfficeConnect 11g (55
mbits I think) ) that connects my computer to my media box. I use the
media box to watch movies and such. The funny thing is that when I
exhaust the wireless network by watching a dvd, the computer (!!)
completely hangs after about 20-30 minutes, everything works fine
until then. If I watch something more compressed like divx it works
fine for hours.
I don't get a bsod, it just hangs, does not respond to mouse or
keyboard so I have to restart the computer with the power button.
There is nothing written in the Event Log.

My idea is that this is caused by "overheating" the usb in some way...
Without using the wireless device the computer can be on for weeks
without problem.
I thought the problem was connected to installing f-secure antivirus
instead of kaspersky, but I have tried to disable antivirus, same
problem (I haven't tried to uninstall it though..).

any ideas (other than to buy an external wireless bridge) ??
Best regards
Johan
 
a95johjo@hotmail.com wrote:
> Hello,
> I have a funny (strange, not haha) problem with my Dell Dimension 9150
> running Windows XP SP2.
> I have the computer connected to a adsl modem with a network cable.
> Moreover I have a wireless USB device (3Com OfficeConnect 11g (55
> mbits I think) ) that connects my computer to my media box. I use the
> media box to watch movies and such. The funny thing is that when I
> exhaust the wireless network by watching a dvd, the computer (!!)
> completely hangs after about 20-30 minutes, everything works fine
> until then. If I watch something more compressed like divx it works
> fine for hours.
> I don't get a bsod, it just hangs, does not respond to mouse or
> keyboard so I have to restart the computer with the power button.
> There is nothing written in the Event Log.
>
> My idea is that this is caused by "overheating" the usb in some way...
> Without using the wireless device the computer can be on for weeks
> without problem.
> I thought the problem was connected to installing f-secure antivirus
> instead of kaspersky, but I have tried to disable antivirus, same
> problem (I haven't tried to uninstall it though..).
>
> any ideas (other than to buy an external wireless bridge) ??
> Best regards
> Johan
>

And if you open Task Manager on the computer that is about to
freeze, how does the free memory look ? Leave Task Manager running,
so it continues to update right up until the time of the freeze.
Is there a memory leak, and is all memory being used up ? What
about processes using cycles - anything running at 100% ? Look
for anomalies in Task Manager, by pressing <ctrl-alt-delete>.

USB doesn't "overheat". The processor can overheat, if it is doing
some processing at 100% utilization. That is why they put that heatsink
and cooling fan on the CPU, to handle the 100% loaded situation. The CPU
should not overheat, no matter how much computing it does, if the cooler
is a good one.

Run this program, and see how long it runs without freezing. If it reports
an error, report back here and tell us how long it took before the
error it reports, showed up. Just run this program, and don't do any other
tests at the same time. This is a stability test.

Orthos - a tester good for CPU and memory - heats up the processor, so will
also test whether your cooling is good enough. Watch the CPU temperatures,
while this is running...

http://sp2004.fre3.com/beta/beta2.htm

Paul
 
On 29 Sep, 05:03, Paul <nos...@needed.com> wrote:
> a95jo...@hotmail.com wrote:
> > Hello,
> > I have a funny (strange, not haha) problem with my Dell Dimension 9150
> > running Windows XP SP2.
> > I have the computer connected to a adsl modem with a network cable.
> > Moreover I have a wireless USB device (3Com OfficeConnect 11g (55
> > mbits I think) ) that connects my computer to my media box. I use the
> > media box to watch movies and such. The funny thing is that when I
> > exhaust the wireless network by watching a dvd, the computer (!!)
> > completely hangs after about 20-30 minutes, everything works fine
> > until then. If I watch something more compressed like divx it works
> > fine for hours.
> > I don't get a bsod, it just hangs, does not respond to mouse or
> > keyboard so I have to restart the computer with the power button.
> > There is nothing written in the Event Log.
>
> > My idea is that this is caused by "overheating" the usb in some way...
> > Without using the wireless device the computer can be on for weeks
> > without problem.
> > I thought the problem was connected to installing f-secure antivirus
> > instead of kaspersky, but I have tried to disable antivirus, same
> > problem (I haven't tried to uninstall it though..).
>
> > any ideas (other than to buy an external wireless bridge) ??
> > Best regards
> > Johan
>
> And if you open Task Manager on the computer that is about to
> freeze, how does the free memory look ? Leave Task Manager running,
> so it continues to update right up until the time of the freeze.
> Is there a memory leak, and is all memory being used up ? What
> about processes using cycles - anything running at 100% ? Look
> for anomalies in Task Manager, by pressing <ctrl-alt-delete>.
>
> USB doesn't "overheat". The processor can overheat, if it is doing
> some processing at 100% utilization. That is why they put that heatsink
> and cooling fan on the CPU, to handle the 100% loaded situation. The CPU
> should not overheat, no matter how much computing it does, if the cooler
> is a good one.
>
> Run this program, and see how long it runs without freezing. If it reports
> an error, report back here and tell us how long it took before the
> error it reports, showed up. Just run this program, and don't do any other
> tests at the same time. This is a stability test.
>
> Orthos - a tester good for CPU and memory - heats up the processor, so will
> also test whether your cooling is good enough. Watch the CPU temperatures,
> while this is running...
>
> http://sp2004.fre3.com/beta/beta2.htm
>
> Paul- Dölj citerad text -
>
> - Visa citerad text -

thanks a lot I'll try it out.
 
I solved the issue. The problem was that there seems to be a conflict
between the 3Com OfficeConnect Wireless Utility and the "Zero
configuration" that is in XP. By disabling the 3com util and enabling
the zero configuration the problem went away. I also see increased
speed (2x!!) in file transfers.
Thanks again,
Johan
 
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