Computer crashes and freezes

[subzero20001]

My computer crashes and says: "collecting data for crash dump" and counts to a hundred and then turns off altogether. Sometimes instead, it just freezes. When I turn it back on a lot of times I have to restart it multiple times before i can boot it up without a freeze. Can someone please help?

 

[snowchick7669]

Hi there,

Could you please attach the latest 3-4 mini dump files to your next post.

They can be found in

Start > My Computer > Local Disk C: > Windows > Minidump

Someone will be able to debug them for you

 

[subzero20001]

hmm, it says I don't have permission to open the file, even though I'm on the administrator log in.

 

[snowchick7669]

Can you access it via safemode?

 

[subzero20001]

let me check

 

[subzero20001]

It's not giving me the option to start in safemode

 

[snowchick7669]

Sorry, I should have explained it a bit better.

When your machine is booting up, tap F8 repeatedly and it should direct you to a black screen with white writing. It should have multiple options, including three options for Safemode. You want the first option of just 'Safemode'

 

[subzero20001]

The file isn't even there anymore. Hmm. Should I just post it the next time it happens?

 

[subzero20001]

okay, it happened again, and I tried to open the file in safe mode, but I couldn't. My computer also doesn't recognize the format it's in.

 

[subzero20001]

Oh by the way, this was happening when my computer was using vista, and then I switched to windows 7 and it's still happening.

 

[snowchick7669]

Ok, need a bit more info on the crash.

When does this crash happen?

Is there anything in eventviewer. To get there

Start > Run > Type eventvwr > System. See if there are any recent Red Errors and post the details here

 

[subzero20001]

It usually crashes while I'm playing World of Warcraft, but it's crashed once or twice while I wasn't

 

[snowchick7669]

Hi subzero20001,

Could you give us your complete system specs

 

[subzero20001]

I'm sorry, I'm incredibly bad when it comes to computers, what do you mean by system specs? haha.

 

[snowchick7669]

No problem. Just list what your hardware is. For example, my system specs are

Cpu - Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200
RAM - G-Skill 2GB
PSU - Antec 800W
Graphics card - NVIDIA GeForce 9600GT
Motherboard - Asus P5Q
OS - Windows XP Pro

Or, if it is not custom made or doesn't list these specifically. Then just let me know what brand and model your machine is

 

[subzero20001]

nice computer lol

 

[snowchick7669]

Graphics card needs updating and possibly more RAM.

Sadly I cannot afford because I have little things to pay like rent, power and food.

Nothing important

 

[subzero20001]

It doesn't it's an HP Pavillion Media Center mB 100n TV PC, sorry it crashed while I was typing this.

 

[subzero20001]

and I have a graphics card that I got. But that was installed a while before this started, so it's probably not the problem.

 

[snowchick7669]

I'd suggest testing your video RAM as a start. I wouldn't rule it out just now.

Download this tool here, and run it. Its pretty straight forward and only takes around an hour or so

 

[subzero20001]

Yeah, I tried testing it three different time, and it froze every time.

 

[snowchick7669]

Is the card still under warranty?.

Since your just putting stress on your graphics card, and the machine is freezing then I'd suggest either returning the card. Or trying a different card in the machine

 

[subzero20001]

I took the graphics card out for a little and it still crashed. this was a couple of days ago.

 

[snowchick7669]

Then it might be time to move onto the actual system RAM.

Here is some info on running memtest

Make sure it passes for at least 7 times. Most people run this test overnight

 

[subzero20001]

How do I know how many sticks of RAM are in my computer?