Computer Freezes when I stand up off my chair...

[MorePower]

I've been trying to troubleshoot my computer freezing...

It seems to happen only when i leave the room and come back. It also seemed to happen after i got my Auzentech Forte, Sennheiser 555 headphones and Zalman clip on mic.

There may also have been a heat issue that would cause freezing with my Auzentech Forte which i think i resolved by even better airflow and ram sinks.

However my computer is still freezing. After all sorts of trial and error i think i've determined that it's the actual act of getting up off my chair that causes it to happen. My screen freezes, sound stops and i can sometimes see a little hd led activity. I'm forced to restart.

I have also from time to time seen a flicker of an hourglass before it freezes or been able to move the mouse briefly before it froze after i got up which was truly odd.

I've put my computer up on a wooden board and i thought i had an anti static chair mat. Now i'm not so sure if it does its job. Tapping/Moving/Shaking the computer doesn't appear to make it freeze. I've tried sitting on a box and getting up and it didn't happen.

My scenario includes:
carpeted floor
chair mat
office chair
aluminum mouse pad
G9 braided cord mouse
HX1000 Corsair psu
Antec 900 modified case - cut some holes for wiring and psu.
11 socket power bar (full).
30" monitor
4870x2 video card

So i've got a bunch of stuff plugged into this 11 socket power supply but that doesn't appear to be the problem because it will happen even when only the computer and a couple other things are on. I've tried the computer plugged directly in the wall and into the power bar (currently in wall).

This seemed to only happen when i had the Auzentech Forte installed. I should mention that it has the bracket wrapped in electrical tape to avoid a hiss so i assume it's grounded through the pci-e slot?

Could this be a static problem? I've tried grounding myself on the case before i stand up and it seems to be working.

How can i fix this once and for all?

Could static be traveling from my chair into the mat and up through my desk through the usb cables or something?

Should i buy one of those outlet testers to see if i'm properly grounded?

This is so bizarre. Thanks.

[shovenose]

solve the problem: dont get up :) lol im kidding.
but this is weird! never heard of that beofre

[MorePower]

Ya it's a strange one lol.

I just touched my computer and let off a small shock and it didn't freeze the computer... yet standing up off of my chair somehow freezes it.

[Elledan]

Is the PC connected to a grounded outlet? Is the ground of the outlet properly installed?

[MorePower]

Yes afaik it is grounded. 3 prong plug fully inserted into wall socket.

I read somewhere that if you get a shock from touching something than either you or what you touch is supposed to have a good ground?

I've currenty hooked up my anti static wrist strap to the back of the case and i'll try touching it when i get up.

[jonnyGURU]

I would make sure those outlets are grounded. Just because the outlet in the wall has three prongs doesn't mean that the center prong is grounded. I've seen where the outlet is installed and the ground wire is just hanging inside the wall, attached to nothing. Or it's attached to the box, which would be grounded if the conduit actually went all the way back to the panel, but the conduit just goes up to the attic where the wire just lays across the rafters with no conduit.

[shovenose]

yeah i agree with jg-in fact i have the same problem with my grounding
http://www.badcaps.net/forum/showthread.php?t=11543

[p4l1ndr0m3]

When I bought my house a couple years ago, the previous owners advertised "ALL NEW ELECTICAL!" The house was build in 1927, so that is a really nice thing to have done. Found out that all that had been replaced were the receptacles, the wiring was still nob and tube in 90% of the house, including the kitchen (a.k.a. no grounding anywhere!). Luckily my father has been an electrician for 30 years and was able to give me a hand in rewiring the entire house. Now I know it is done correctly and I don't have to worry about it when powering my expensive electronics.

Go to your local home improvement store and pick up a Greenlee kit for like 14 bucks. It includes a 3-prong outlet tester, pen tester, and multimeter. Should be all you need to figure out your problem.

[MorePower]

I actually had an electrician come by my apartment the other day to fix the breaker box (for another area of the apartment) and had him take a look.

He said everything appears to be fine with the outlet after using his little red laser gadget. He said I should try putting my computer up on my desk or away from other devices such as modems etc.

Well it sounded like a good idea but unfortunately it didn't solve my problem.

It's definitely related to my Auzentech Forte sound card and possibly my case. I have the card taped up so it doesn't contact the case. There is a hiss if it does touch the case. There is a hiss if i use the front audio jacks. I'm pretty sure this is common to the Antec 900 case. I assumed the sound card would ground through the motherboard. Perhaps the card isn't grounding. In the few attempts i made - the computer didn't freeze when i had my headphones and mic unplugged while i stood up.

I'd get a new case if it would solve the problem. I think case manufacturers could really use "shielded front panel wires" as a selling point.

I'll try allowing the sound card to touch the case for a while testing it to see if it solves the problem. It didn't before but that may or may not have been related to overheating.

I've currently got my anti-static wrist strap attached to my aluminum mouse pad. I have to be touching it while i stand up lol.

I feel like I'm in some bizarre experiment... I'll be reaching to touch something every time i stand up now!

And i can't get rid of the chair.. it's one of those Steelcase Leap deals.

Thanks for your advice

[Adrian K]

And i can't get rid of the chair.. it's one of those Steelcase Leap deals.
Awww man, I came here because I wanted to suggest to change the chair. :D

[allikat]

Try bouncing up and down on the chair? See if that makes it happen?

[p4l1ndr0m3]

Pull the sound card out, use the onboard motherboard sound temporarily. Test and report back.

[EOmfD]

Hey man, my computer freezes sometimes when I stand up to haha. I am pretty sure it has something to do with static. I have headphones connected to the front ports of my PC and I take them off to stand up. Let me know if you ever find a solution.

[deimos3428]

Does this happen without the aluminum mouse pad?

[DonBear]

So MorePower, I am having the exact same problem as you are.

Whenever I stand up, my computer crashes, my screen goes black, and the LED lights on my g15 keyboard flicker at a high speed.

I have to restart to get it working again.

Everybody that I have asked have simply replied with "Your haunted" or "Get a new computer." or they simply laughed at me and walked away. I am very pleased that someone out there is having the same problem. (although I do feel for you, it's really annoying.)

So far, I have fixed the problem by (laugh if you will, but it works.) scooting my chair away from my computer (about a yard or so) and then standing up from there. The computer stays on. It also doesn't seem to happen while i'm standing up, it ONLY happens when I get up from my chair while it is infront of the computer.

I also looked over the similarities in our situation, the only connections that I found are that we both have our computers on a carpeted area (Although I don't have a floor mat.) and that we both recently bought a new headset. (Mine being a G35) I also have my headset plugged into a USB port on the front of my tower.

I'm going to try some of your quick fixes you mentioned, i'm just happy i'm not the only one having this problem.

Quick question. Is your tower on your desk, next to your monitor? Or is it on the floor?

[Oklahoma Wolf]

Listen up, folks - this forum has rules for a reason. Follow them, and we'll be ok. Using the forums to intentionally mess with people is not cool.

[DonBear]

I am also having a problem with my G35. At first I thought it was unrelated, but after reading about your new headset and the crashing problem, i'm thinking it might not. I use a program called Ventrilo, which is used for talking to people like Skype. Whenever I leave my computer (if it doesn't crash upon standing up.) sometimes when I return, I find my headset non-operational, as though it as been unplugged. So I unplug it from the USB port, and replug it in. It then replays, upon being plugged in, all of the conversations held on Ventrilo while I was absent. At normal speed, until it catches up with the current conversation. Are you having any similar sound problems MorePower?