Possible computer problem?

[Dridmar]

Hello everyone, I recently got to using a different computer which use to be my brothers computer. For some reason, this computer will freeze up and require a reboot for working properly again. It can freeze up during a game, while browsing the web, idling, or even right after it boots up. I talked to my brother and he said this never happened to him whilst he had this computer so I want to ask if anyone has any ideas what is causing the computer to do this. Thanks guys.

 

[Kuroneko]

Eeyup, sounds like a problem.




Anywho, unless you have some attachment to the current install of the OS, reinstall.

 

[Thothie]

If that don't work... Time to look into hardware problems. Start replacing things with spares you have laying around and see if it still crashes.

If you get a BSOD load up the memory.dmp file someplace, and maybe we can figure out what it is with the debugger (or at least give the stop error code and a dxdiag report). Short of that, the symptoms you describe are indicative of too many different things.

 

[Kuroneko]

If that don't work... Time to look into hardware problems. Start replacing things with spares you have laying around and see if it still crashes.

If you get a BSOD load up the memory.dmp file someplace, and maybe we can figure out what it is with the debugger (or at least give the stop error code and a dxdiag report). Short of that, the symptoms you describe are indicative of too many different things.

Well, he says it's just freezing. No mention of BSOD

 

[Cycho]

Personally I would start with the cooling with the freezing and restarting...spray out your computer with compressed air and get all of that dust out...then maybe try opening the side of the case and putting a nice fan right there and see if that works... and check to see if your computer has a temp. sensor for your cpu and your video card and check what temps. it is running at while idle and running games...

Other then that I would check your memory...you should be able to find a memory checker online...

 

[Thothie]

Twue that - go get health monitors for your hardware/motherboard, or maybe speedfan will work for you, if you can't find em. Sometimes graphics cards will do that when they are overheating, but usually CPU's will shutdown the computer when they do said... (Which reminds me, should give similar advice to that other guy with the shutdown issues.)

It's also quite likely, however, some bit of hardware (mobo/cpu/gfx) has some mild static damage or some such, as that is a typical symptom.

Well, he says it's just freezing. No mention of BSOD

Well I said "If you get a BSOD"


For sake of redundancy, I'll send what I gave the shutdown issues guy, with some relevent edits:

Things to check:
• Make sure stuff is not overheating
- CPU or North Bridge overheating will make your system shut down (although on some of the lower end motherboards, the northbridge overheating will only lead to lock). Go get health monitors for your hardware/motherboard, or maybe speedfan will work for you, if you can't find em. You can likely also see your CPU heat in your CMOS under "PC Health" or some such.
• PSU
- Similarly, check your power levels, it maybe yer PSU is failing, but this usually results in shutdown or loss of video, rather than lock, however, a really crapped out PSU can overjuice bits, and that tends to lead to lock.
• Virals
- Particularly if you've not been updating your Windows, there are several viruses that can shut down the computer, so ye old viral scan maybe in order (even if you've reinstalled windows recently, as some of the nastier and more prevalent worms do this too.) Locking, oddly enough, is less common, but it happens, so worth checkin.

 

[Dridmar]

Thanks guys, I'll look into some of your suggestions soon.

 

[Tetsmega1]

Things to check:
• Make sure stuff is not overheating
- CPU or North Bridge overheating will make your system shut down (although on some of the lower end motherboards, the northbridge overheating will only lead to lock). Go get health monitors for your hardware/motherboard, or maybe speedfan will work for you, if you can't find em. You can likely also see your CPU heat in your CMOS under "PC Health" or some such.

I heard water cooling works well.

 

[Sabre]

Things to check:
• Make sure stuff is not overheating
- CPU or North Bridge overheating will make your system shut down (although on some of the lower end motherboards, the northbridge overheating will only lead to lock). Go get health monitors for your hardware/motherboard, or maybe speedfan will work for you, if you can't find em. You can likely also see your CPU heat in your CMOS under "PC Health" or some such.

I heard water cooling works well.

Overrated and dangerous, imo.

 

[Thothie]

More the former than the latter. But it at least makes ye look l337.

 

[Sabre]

More the former than the latter. But it at least makes ye look l337.

LED fans in my power supply, and an 8800GT, make me look 1337. xD