Randall Schulz wrote:

On Thu, 05 Aug 2004 02:18:44 +0000, Martin 53N 1W wrote:

[...]

Machine or CPU overheating? Overclocked? Choked with dust? PSU on its way
out?? Other bad hardware or a bad 'interaction' with whatever Windoze
virus scanner??

Complete sentences?

As I said, I'm running Linux.

This symptom has occurred on two different versions of Linux (two
different distributions and two different kernels) and on two different
hardware setups (motherboard and CPU). The power supply has ample excess

[...]

Weird, eh?

[...]

Well, you won't be needing to waste CPU cycles running a virus scanner then (:-))


It sounds like you have hardware problems causing the CPU/software to fail intermittently.

Dirt, knackered/noisy fans, or other overheating is the first guess. Bad power feed comes next.

If you've ever disturbed the CPU heatsink, it is very worthwhile cleaning and reseating it with new thermally conductive grease.

Another problem point can be the northbridge heatsink/fan. If there is a small fan on there, refit a large passive heatsink. Better and more reliable and a lot less noisy.


Check out your system with:
Memtest86;
Your HDD manufacturer's disk diagnostics tests;
GIMPS torture test.

See what you find.

Computers should be _completely_ _reliable_, and consistent and repeatable for their results.


Let us know what you find.

Good luck,
Martin