Hi guys,

Need some serious tech help.

Basically, my computer keeps crashing. The speed is fine, the only prob is that it crashes at random moments. Started when I played a game, then it started happening when I played another game, now it happens at least three to four times a day no matter what I'm doing.

For the record, the games haven't given me any trouble in the 2 years I've been playing them.

Anyways, the crash happens in one of three ways:

1 - It will freeze, then give me a blue screen saying something about a physical dump of memory (I can't see what it says because the text is too large and it overlaps).

2 - It will freeze, monitor will go black.

3 - It will simply turn off and restart.

My OS (that I remember, I'm on another comp) is Windows XP Professional, 512 MB RAM.

Things I've tried so far:

Virus scan, patches for the games, uninstalling possible dangerous software, removed all popups and spyware, updated drivers, cleaned out box (of dust), and a few dozen other things that I can't remember (I made a list, but again, its on my other comp).

Its been happening for around a month now and is becoming more frequent.

Someone suggested checking my RAM...if thats the case, how do I check its ok? Also how do I fix it?

Any other suggestions would be cool...I'm willing to try anything at this point.

Thanks,
MM

PS. If you need additional info on my OS or anything else let me know.

Ya sounds like RAM, whatever that means...

But try this, restart PC, press del to go into BIOS, choose Load Default Setting, or Optimal Settings. Save and exit. If it doesnt blow up, you're cool. But if it still crashes, take a big hammer and smash it into tiny pieces. Bad computer!

I wont lose any programs or saved info on, say, Microsoft Word will I?

For example; will it restore back to the 01/02/04 and forget everything its done after that time resulting in alot of info disappearing?

I'm a little dense at this kinda stuff

What anti-virus do you have? when was the last time U updated it?

Do you have Spybot search and destroy 1.3-if not goggle it it is a free download and of course updates.

Do you have adaware se-if not goggle it, it is a free download and of course updates.

Do you have microsoft antispyware, if not goggle it, it is a free download (you must have legit copy of OS)

Have you downloaded all the OS and Office updates from the Microsoft website? If not-you need to.

When was the last time you defraged the harddrive? How old is the harddrive, does it make more noise than when you first bought it-ie could HD be dieing?

Your answers to these as well as what else you have done will tell us the next steps to do.

No, you wont lose any files. It only restores BIOS settings... you know BIOS

Norton Anti-Virus, installed it and updated it completely and paid for a new warranty about a month ago (just after this mess started).



I have downloaded, installed and run full system scans with by AdAware and Microsoft AntiSpyware and have removed a crapload of stuff. No effect.



Yep. Checked for updates around the same time I did Norton. No updates were needed.



Never. I did it a few computers ago but I've forgotten how...can you explain?



The computer itself I bought early 2003, one of the drives (which I use for downloads) is about four years old though.



When I started it up today (about three hours ago) it sounded like it was on its last leg...grinding and churning about like it was about to keel over...but started running smoothly once I reached desktop.



Just FYI...I haven't had a crash since I started it up today...but those noises were concerning...done them before though, ages ago.



I have no idea, sorry

I'm at a complete loss when it comes to the newer systems, MM, its too bad bleeding_heart hasn't been around recently, the guys a wiz at computer probs. You may want to check to see if he logs in over at Ambyglams forum, he's an administrator there.

Magikman

I've had the same problem for years, and i've never gotten to the bottom of why it happens. The computer will either display a random blue screen, freeze or simply reboot by itself at random times.

I've replaced the power supply, the memory, swapped my hard disk when my old one packed in, replaced the Operating System, tweaked BIOS and run more checks, scans, troubleshooting and maintenance programs than I can count, and nothing has ever made the slightest bit of difference. I've posted on forums, consulted technical support and looked up numerous guides and help, but again to no avail.

I'm so used to it crashing now I just accept it as the norm.

Sounds exactly like my prob.

ATM I'm in contact with a professional (she's adamant to get it sorted) so if its resolved I'll post here and let you know what we did.

Sounds like the only thing you havent replaced is the motherboard. wink wink

It can also be due to overheated CPU. Check you temp.

Probably a bug put in by Bill Gates just to make you buy a newer computer, you should have posted this in the conspiracy forum

I've looked into that too, even replaced the CPU fan. The temperature seems to be fine, and sometimes a crash can occur only a couple of minutes after starting up, when the PC is still quite cool, yet can often run almost all day without a single crash happening.

Same here. I've also replaced the fan and had another installed. I also clean the box out regularly.

The only times my comp gets overheated is when its on for a couple days.

Then replacing the motherboard is your best bet

Trouble is, if i'm going to replace the motherboard then i'm effectively building a new computer which is not something I need to do because apart from the crashes my machine is perfectly fine.

Also, you can try clocking down you ram speed in BIOS.

I've tried doing that aswell, but nothing I did with the memory settings in BIOS ever made the slightest difference to the random crashes.

Call a psychic, your computer is cursed!

*lol* i'm starting to wonder

Saru, is your message similar or identical to the one below?

"problem has been detected and Windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer.

?? VER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL

If this is the first time you've seen this stop error screen ?? start your computer. If this screen appears again, follow these steps:

Check to make sure any new hardware or software is properly installed.

?? this is a new installation, ask your hardware or software manufacturer ?? any windows updates you might need.

?? problems continue, disable or remove any newly installed hardware or software. Diable BIOS memory options such as caching or shadowing.

?? you need to use Safe Mode to remove or disable components, restart your computer, press F8 to select Advanced Startup Options, and then select Safe Mode.

Technical information:

?? STOP: 0x0000000D1 (0x300279A0, 0x00000002, 0x00000000, 0x300279A0)

Running dump of physical memory
Physical memory dump completed
Contact your system administrator or technical support group for further assistance."

The "?" are because I can't see that portion of the message...the text is always a little big.

If its the same message then we pretty much need to do the same thing to fix the problem.

Yeah it is, often with a different STOP code or error message, but it's the same screen. I've looked into the meaning of the STOP messages, the only information I can ever find is incredibly vague, references to a 'possible driver or hardware fault', and thats as much as it ever says.

Not very helpful.

Last Idea, do you guys use network cards? Tried replacing those?

I have an ethernet card, and haven't tried replacing it. If i get a hold of a spare card from somewhere i'll swap them over and see if it helps.

Try that also with the sounds and video cards if different NIC doesnt help

It sounds like you are getting "bad sectors" on your harddrive. The grinding death noises are a big clue.
In my opinion, your harddrive is about to take a dump. Before you do anything else, back up any important data you have-documents, music,video's, save data in games.....
Once that is done, you can try to defrag, here is how you do it.

click start button, move the mouse pointer to "programs"-a new list pops up, move the mouse pointer to accessaries-a new menu pops up, go to system tools-defrag.

When i had a harddrive that was dieing, it did what you described. It kept getting fraged very fast and having reboots and bsod's.

My hard drive is new, it was replaced quite recently. The random crashes still occured within days of a fresh Windows install on the new disk.

Hmmm some good advice, however have you tried rebooting your PC holding the power button in for 30 seconds ?






Sorry Couldnt help it

You could defribulate the gilasector interface using a simple fragulmentation technique also a new gyro synced filament processcor GUI could help the problem.

Failing al that get a MAC

Dumb question, but how do you back up files?

I had this problem on mine and I found a website that you can get software pretty cheap. You can either download it or pay extra and buy the disk. The program I bought was Norton's System Works 2005. It has a couple programs that will check out your system and see what files or programs that are broken or bad and fix them. It is pretty good software. If anyone would like I could try and send the zip file with the installation instructions via email, if you just can't afford the download online. the website is : http://depreciate.activesoftwareve.com/
I hope this will help.

Problem SOLVED! Yipee! Horray!

Cleaned my DIMM with rubbing alcohol (99%) and now its not only running without crashing but appears to be going faster.

Yipee!

Which games do you play?

I alternate between four:

Star Wars - Jedi Knight: Jedi Outcast
Star Wars - Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy
Project Entropia
Star Wars Battlefront

JK games are cool but I was dissapointed in Battlefront. It feels too simplistic, me thinks.

I didn't like it either...but can't help going back every now and then and play online

Glad to see one of you solved the problem!

Just wanted to point out that a highly fragmented HD can become quite noisy too. The drive heads have to work extra hard, going back and forth trying to find needed data that is all over the place. Not defragging causes a lot of unnecessary wear & tear on the HD for this reason. Defragging regularly is a very good thing!!!

I can't tell you how many times I've been called to look at someone's dying computer only to find out it needed to be defragged badly.

i got this problem and dont understand how i can get rid.

explain in simple terms

thankyou

I've actually finally managed to fix the problem - the only thing that worked in the end was to get a new motherboard and completely rebuild my PC.

This had to be the single most difficult computer related problem to diagnose, I had to replace just about every component in the machine to eliminate them as possibilities before I came to the conclusion that it was the motherboard at fault.

Harry, if you don't know your way around the inside of your PC then I strongly suggest taking it down to a computer shop so that they can get a look at it. Describe the problem to them and they should be able to help you out.

I reccommend everyone who doesn't know their way round a computer take one of the free or low-cost computer driving license course in your area. It'll take a few weeks out of your life, but trust me it will be worth it long-term.

I have worked as a hardware engineer and am moderator of a huge PC site called http://forums.extremeoverclocking.com/ so either join up there to ask more specific computer questions, or just shoot me a PM.

Chances are though if you search that forum you'll find an answer to something. And if not then people are always willing to help.

And Saruman, you made a good choice rebuilding the PC, sometimes it's just got to be done.

That plus it gave me the ideal excuse to upgrade to an Athlon 64 system

Yeah I remember when I first did that... it was like heaven, the difference was amazing.