ComputerGuy55
Posts: 392 +14
Restoring the PC back to factory is not always the best option before further troubleshooting.
Tons of people have information they want to keep and would rather fix the issue if possible, and a lot of issues have a fix..
Dowz:
Are you familiar with Event Viewer? If so ignore the steps on how to open and view it and explain what you can find (Errors and Warnings related to the time of crash)
Click the Start Menu, -> right click My Computer -> Select Manage, then on the left hand side select Event Viewer -> select Windows Logs, from here you have a bunch of different ones to look at, the ones that are most important are the Application and System ones. If you can, please cause the computer to Crash as it normally does during gameplay, then go back to this event viewer and record any Errors
or Warnings that appear in either System or Application.
If the event viewer holds no helpful information:
a few possible reasons the computer crashes while playing games would be:
As already listed and talked about: Overheating but this seems like the most reasonable: if you have dusted out the computer, all fans, including the heatsink and/or fan on the Graphics Card, and temperatures seems fine, then we can probably say that it's not overheating. HOWEVER, since you say you are not too knowlagable about fixing computers I would assume you did not re-apply new Thermal Paste in between the CPU and the Heat sink above it..
I do not really suggest putting new thermal paste on yourself as applying too much can cause the fan to sit too far off the CPU and applying too little can damage or cause further overheating.. But if you feel comfortable doing it then you can say so here and I can explain (as best I can) how to properly apply the Thermal Paste.
Also, with the computer's Case Side off, start a game and check if the Graphics Card's fan is working properly, make sure its not rubbing, making a noise, or just not cooling it down quick enough.
WARNING: When touching any components inside the case make sure you are grounded, discharge the components by unplugging the computer and pressing the Power On button a few times. Also make sure to keep a hand touching the metal case of the computer (on the inside, silver parts of the metal) or do as RayRay suggested with the homemade Anti-Static wrist strap.
Bad RAM: This could be a possible issue, though you would more then likely get a BSoD, or have it Freeze, rather then a blank screen and looping audio. One way to test out RAM quickly is, if you have more then 1 stick of RAM, all but 1 stick out, try a game (something that does not require much for RAM such as Roller Coster Tycoon) if it does not freeze, take that stick out, try the next one, repeat till all sticks are tested. if issue goes away then reseat ALL RAM and test for issues. If the problem arrises your RAM may have an issue working together (Semi-common issue with RAM Kits's, although unknown to me why this happens)
Software: Has any new software been installed on the computer since trying to play your games?
Hope this helps, post back with results.
Tons of people have information they want to keep and would rather fix the issue if possible, and a lot of issues have a fix..
Dowz:
Are you familiar with Event Viewer? If so ignore the steps on how to open and view it and explain what you can find (Errors and Warnings related to the time of crash)
Click the Start Menu, -> right click My Computer -> Select Manage, then on the left hand side select Event Viewer -> select Windows Logs, from here you have a bunch of different ones to look at, the ones that are most important are the Application and System ones. If you can, please cause the computer to Crash as it normally does during gameplay, then go back to this event viewer and record any Errors
or Warnings that appear in either System or Application.
If the event viewer holds no helpful information:
a few possible reasons the computer crashes while playing games would be:
As already listed and talked about: Overheating but this seems like the most reasonable: if you have dusted out the computer, all fans, including the heatsink and/or fan on the Graphics Card, and temperatures seems fine, then we can probably say that it's not overheating. HOWEVER, since you say you are not too knowlagable about fixing computers I would assume you did not re-apply new Thermal Paste in between the CPU and the Heat sink above it..
I do not really suggest putting new thermal paste on yourself as applying too much can cause the fan to sit too far off the CPU and applying too little can damage or cause further overheating.. But if you feel comfortable doing it then you can say so here and I can explain (as best I can) how to properly apply the Thermal Paste.
Also, with the computer's Case Side off, start a game and check if the Graphics Card's fan is working properly, make sure its not rubbing, making a noise, or just not cooling it down quick enough.
WARNING: When touching any components inside the case make sure you are grounded, discharge the components by unplugging the computer and pressing the Power On button a few times. Also make sure to keep a hand touching the metal case of the computer (on the inside, silver parts of the metal) or do as RayRay suggested with the homemade Anti-Static wrist strap.
Bad RAM: This could be a possible issue, though you would more then likely get a BSoD, or have it Freeze, rather then a blank screen and looping audio. One way to test out RAM quickly is, if you have more then 1 stick of RAM, all but 1 stick out, try a game (something that does not require much for RAM such as Roller Coster Tycoon) if it does not freeze, take that stick out, try the next one, repeat till all sticks are tested. if issue goes away then reseat ALL RAM and test for issues. If the problem arrises your RAM may have an issue working together (Semi-common issue with RAM Kits's, although unknown to me why this happens)
Software: Has any new software been installed on the computer since trying to play your games?
Hope this helps, post back with results.
