Laptop running slow

I am hoping that someone can help me – my frustration level has reached the point where I am just about to throw the whole thing out the window and start again.

My computer is a homegrown model – before we get into the possibility of stupid mistakes, it must be pointed out that I have been building my own since about 1993, and never had a problem before.

The hardware:
Abit KT7A-Raid motherboard
AMD T’bird 1.33 GHz processor
GlobalWin FOP32 cooler (arctic silver)
512MB Crucial CAS2 Memory (2×256)
Guillemot/Hercules 64mb Geforce2 Pro graphics card
SB Live! X-Gamer sound card
USR Courier v.everything 56k modem (ISA)
Creative 12x DVD
Plextor 16-10-40 CD-R
Antec full tower case – fans galore, 300w ps
Iiyama Vision Master Pro 510 22″ monitor, 1280×1024 32bit settings in Win98
Microsoft Intellimouse PS2
CH Products F16 Fighterstick/Pro Throttles/Pro Pedals connected to Creative gameport joystick port
Win98 Second Edition OS

IBM Ultra/100 30gb HDD – Primary master, first controller
Creative DVD – Primary slave, first controller
IBM ATA/33 14.4gb HDD – Primary master, second controller
Plextor CD-R – Primary slave, second controller

All drivers are up to date – chipset, bios, etc from VIA and Abit, all hardware drivers the latest, 12.41 nvidia drivers. I have tried released Abit bios, experimental bios – just about everything I can get my hands on has been tried.

The computer will periodically lock up, not following any specific action, though it seems to happen either during mouse move or typing an address in Internet Explorer window (hmm, both Microsoft products??). The screen freezes, fans keep whizzing, but it will not come back to normal. Only a hard reset will bring it back to life. It will lock up every time when left on with no action for an extended period of time (I can’t leave it on all the time).

Overheating does not seem to be the problem – CPU seldom gets far above 50 Celsius, system temp hovers about 31.

I have tried all safe settings in bios, I have tried methodically setting to optimum settings in bios, all with the same eventual result.

Nothing is overclocked. IR is disabled at the motherboard, USB is not. AGP 4x is disabled in bios, 128mb aperture size is set.

I have tried to rearrange the order (slots) in which hardware is installed on MOBO to no avail. I recall having read some time ago in this forum that the specific slots for different devices could make a difference. Perhaps someone could help by re-posting this order.

Initially I had WindowsME operating system, and thinking this was the culprit I changed to Win98, same thing.

This is my gaming computer. I can play the online games I play (WWII Online or Aces High flight sim) for an extended period of time with no problem whatsoever, the lockup seems to be apparent either on the desktop or in IE or Microsoft Word, Excel, etc.

I am at a complete loss. I thought I would begin my plea for help with the members of this forum, the opinions of most I have come to respect as valid information. ANY help one might be able to give would be greatly appreciated.

Prozak and a sledgehammer are the next alternative.

Thanks much in advance.

Edited by nethawk on 07/28/01 10:37 AM.

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