Strange Access effect on CPU

[Chase Kimball]

I have a computer I built myself, running XP Professional, 512 megs
PC3500 RAM, AMD 2800+ overclocked to about 3400+, Volcano 11 cooler with
variable speed fan, ATI Radeon 9800 Pro, soundblaster audio card, OS
partition is on a Maxtor 160Gig HD.

I have a simple database someone made for me for cataloguing my
classical CDs and LPs. It was made using Access 97. I have used it
without incident for years. Thursday it started acting very strangely,
and what I determined was that every time I started the program my CPU
usage was pegged at 100%, causing my computer to overheat and reset
after about 45 seconds. When I have the program going, if I access the
helpfile the usage drops down to about 4%, shooting back up as soon as I
close the helpfile. I have tried reinstalling the database, or using
other MDB files, underclocking my CPU, nothing is working. None of my
other programs cause this to happen.

I changed my setup a bit last weekend. First, I replaced my Nvidia
videocard with the Radeon, the installation went reasonably well but I
had to reinstall DirectX for some reason to get it to work. Second, I
changed the CPU cooler a little; previously I had manually changed the
fanspeed with a little controller inserted into a PCI slot, and I
removed that and put in an automatic thermostatic controller that fits
UNDER the CPU and is held in place with thermal tape.

I don't know if either of those changes are what made this problem
occur, but I can think of nothing else I have done recently. As I'm
sure you can imagine, I find this problem baffling. Any ideas out there?

--
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++++++
+Chase Kimball (ch***@aros.net), nom de Plum "Lord Brancaster"
+aka "Hannibal" in the Quake Clan "Zero Tolerance."
+Associate editor at http://www.gaminggroove.com
+
+"Sun-treader, light and life be thine for ever!" Robert Browning,
+"Pauline."
+
+Visit my home page at http://www.aros.net/~chase to view the
+virtual gallery of fantasy art of Jesse Allen, and the home site
+of the Wasatch Avian Education Society.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++++++

[Rick Brandt]

"Chase Kimball" <ch***@aros.net> wrote in message
news:OhNbc.68688$w54.407123@attbi_s01...

I have a computer I built myself, running XP Professional, 512 megs
PC3500 RAM, AMD 2800+ overclocked to about 3400+, Volcano 11 cooler with
variable speed fan, ATI Radeon 9800 Pro, soundblaster audio card, OS
partition is on a Maxtor 160Gig HD.

I have a simple database someone made for me for cataloguing my
classical CDs and LPs. It was made using Access 97. I have used it
without incident for years. Thursday it started acting very strangely,
and what I determined was that every time I started the program my CPU
usage was pegged at 100%, causing my computer to overheat and reset
after about 45 seconds. When I have the program going, if I access the
helpfile the usage drops down to about 4%, shooting back up as soon as I
close the helpfile. I have tried reinstalling the database, or using
other MDB files, underclocking my CPU, nothing is working. None of my
other programs cause this to happen.

I changed my setup a bit last weekend. First, I replaced my Nvidia
videocard with the Radeon, the installation went reasonably well but I
had to reinstall DirectX for some reason to get it to work. Second, I
changed the CPU cooler a little; previously I had manually changed the
fanspeed with a little controller inserted into a PCI slot, and I
removed that and put in an automatic thermostatic controller that fits
UNDER the CPU and is held in place with thermal tape.

I don't know if either of those changes are what made this problem
occur, but I can think of nothing else I have done recently. As I'm
sure you can imagine, I find this problem baffling. Any ideas out there?

Access very often uses 100% of available CPU, but except when it is actually
doing something intensive, it is on a low priority and readily gives up the CPU
to other processes that need it.

If your system cannot run at 100% for any length of time without overheating it
suggests that your overclocking is too high or you cooling is inadequate.
--
I don't check the Email account attached
to this message. Send instead to...
RBrandt at Hunter dot com

[Chase Kimball]

Rick Brandt wrote:

"Chase Kimball" <ch***@aros.net> wrote in message
news:OhNbc.68688$w54.407123@attbi_s01...

I have a computer I built myself, running XP Professional, 512 megs
PC3500 RAM, AMD 2800+ overclocked to about 3400+, Volcano 11 cooler with
variable speed fan, ATI Radeon 9800 Pro, soundblaster audio card, OS
partition is on a Maxtor 160Gig HD.

I have a simple database someone made for me for cataloguing my
classical CDs and LPs. It was made using Access 97. I have used it
without incident for years. Thursday it started acting very strangely,
and what I determined was that every time I started the program my CPU
usage was pegged at 100%, causing my computer to overheat and reset
after about 45 seconds. When I have the program going, if I access the
helpfile the usage drops down to about 4%, shooting back up as soon as I
close the helpfile. I have tried reinstalling the database, or using
other MDB files, underclocking my CPU, nothing is working. None of my
other programs cause this to happen.

I changed my setup a bit last weekend. First, I replaced my Nvidia
videocard with the Radeon, the installation went reasonably well but I
had to reinstall DirectX for some reason to get it to work. Second, I
changed the CPU cooler a little; previously I had manually changed the
fanspeed with a little controller inserted into a PCI slot, and I
removed that and put in an automatic thermostatic controller that fits
UNDER the CPU and is held in place with thermal tape.

I don't know if either of those changes are what made this problem
occur, but I can think of nothing else I have done recently. As I'm
sure you can imagine, I find this problem baffling. Any ideas out there?

Access very often uses 100% of available CPU, but except when it is actually
doing something intensive, it is on a low priority and readily gives up the CPU
to other processes that need it.

If your system cannot run at 100% for any length of time without overheating it
suggests that your overclocking is too high or you cooling is inadequate.

I fixed the problem by backing off just a touch on the overclocking,
based on your advice. THANKS!

--
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++++++
+Chase Kimball (ch***@aros.net), nom de Plum "Lord Brancaster"
+aka "Hannibal" in the Quake Clan "Zero Tolerance."
+Associate editor at http://www.gaminggroove.com
+
+"Sun-treader, light and life be thine for ever!" Robert Browning,
+"Pauline."
+
+Visit my home page at http://www.aros.net/~chase to view the
+virtual gallery of fantasy art of Jesse Allen, and the home site
+of the Wasatch Avian Education Society.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++++++