Please help - PC keeps crashing randomly :(

[elbubsio]

Hi all,

My PC has been giving me problems for a while now ever since the PSU blew up and took the mobo with it a couple of months ago. Replaced them both and ever since the PC has crashed during many programs (especially mpeg encoding)and thrown up BSODs agogo.

Just replaced the graphics card, mobo (again) and memory and done a clean install of xp pro and although those problems seem to have disappeared, now the PC will restart for seemingly no reason (no BSOD i can see, just restarts randomly). Since my most recent upgrades, games (GTA:SA and Far Cry) will freeze (no sound, graphics stop and no response from mouse or k/b) for a few seconds and then continue normally. They also sometimes just crash back to desktop or throw up a "critical exception" error box. Doom3 displays similar crashes often during level loading but doesn't seem to suffer from the freezing. Also IE crashes more often than i think it should with mshtml.dll or jscript.dll errors. As I say, the problems seem completely random. A friend came to visit me for a couple of days (1st-3rd) and we played games, watched films, browsed the net etc with not a single problem, then I've had loads in the last couple of days and today only a couple.

I've tried changing the graphics drivers (tried 71.89, 76.45 and 77.72), tried a different HD, retried my old graphics card and moved the new memory to different slots and the problems persist.

I've built a system for a friend using the same mobo, RAM and OS and he has no probs. Can someone please help me out with this problem as it's VERY annoying.

Many thanks
El Bubsio

System specs -
ASUS A7V8X-X mobo (replacing ASRock K7VT4A+) (VIA 4in1 4.56 drivers)
Athlon XP 3000+ (barton)
512MB RAM (new) and 2x256MB (old, not sure if damaged or not)
160GB Seagate HD (new IDE cable and VIA IDE accelerator drivers installed)
ASUS N6600GT TOP graphics card (drivers tried as above)
Onboard SoundMAx Sound
Conexant ADSL PCI modem (currently in PCI slot 6)
NEC 3520A DVD writer
JeanTech Phong case (2x120mm fans)
520W Super Flower PSU (20a on 12v+ rail)
Windows XP pro with SP1 and all updates)

I can find error files in event viewer but which ones should i post here (there's a lot - about 50 in the last 3 days)

 

[etones]

my compaq done that last year for a few weeks but somehow it sorted its self out, but now its doing it again so i sent it to get repaired cause i am to busy to fix it myself. hope you get it sorted out. cant really give you any info to help cause i never done anything to my computer to get it working again it just started working itself.

 

[elbubsio]

You say you've sent it to be repaired cause it's doing it again. Could you find out what they do to fix it and let me know on here if possible please. I'd be very grateful

 

[etones]

ok sure, well its still away getting fixed but ill let you know as soon as i get it back.

 

[elbubsio]

Update!

Thanks for that mate, but i think i've tracked the prob down now. Last night I left memtest running and it found 27 errors in 1 pass

Time to RMA the RAM i guess

 

[elbubsio]

btw, do you play counter strike at all. Your name seems familiar and I play on a NI server (RHKP) :grinthumb

 

[etones]

i dont play counter strike, where abouts r u

 

[etones]

can u help me with a problem, my printer keeps printing pages with loads of rubbish on it when ever i turn the computer on. and also when i print stuff and extra page comes out with the same rubbish on it, and also when i shut the computer down it does it

 

[elbubsio]

hmmm,

1. Make and model of printer?
2. Is any of the printed stuff readable (header/footer etc)
3. Operating system?
4. Do you normally use a special program to print stuff?
5. Have you scanned for viruses and nastyware?

Btw, i'm from north wales :bounce:

 

[etones]

its a HP deskjet 930c
none of its readable its just loads of letters
windows xp pro
no just the standard programs
scanned for viruses using McAfee 1 found and removed still same problem

 

[elbubsio]

well,

apart from the obvious reinstalling the drivers and making sure they're up to date, the only things i can suggest are run a spyware scan with spybot or adaware, check your startup folder to see if any dodgy programs have crept in and if it's a USB printer, try it in a different port. Also, if you feel ok doing it, have a look around the BIOS for any settings that may affect it. Don't mess with the BIOS if you don't know what you're doing though. Also, you could try it on a mate's PC and that'll tell you whether the prob lies with the printer or ur PC.

If I think of anything else, i'll let u know mate :monkey: