Computer Help - Random Crashing/Freezing

OllieT

OllieT

OllieT

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Joined
24 May 2009
Posts
4
Hi, I'm wondering if anyone can help me as I am out of ideas.

My computer will randomly freeze meaning that I have to hit the reset button to use my computer again. I haven't been able to find any logs caused by the crash (although admittedly I'm not 100% on what I'm looking for), and also it has crashed before windows has loaded on a couple of occasions. I know that the description indicates that it could be a huge range of things causing the problem, but I'm having trouble narrowing it down. I have tried a mem test which came back fine, and also a video card mem test which came back fine. I unplugged my DVD drive and secondary HDD from the mobo and power to see if this would make a difference, but no luck. ( I also guess this would also take a little strain off my PSU, so possibly not a problem here?) I checked my temps which are fine, and also re-installed windows which didn't solve it. All of my drivers are up to date.

As I have reformatted and it has crashed before windows has loaded I am guessing that this is a hardware problem, so I hope that I have put this in the right place!

Can any one give me any ideas as to what it could be? Or tests to run to narrow it down further?

This is a real annoyance, especially when I'm in the middle of doing something and it will just freeze!

My PC spec is as follows:

CPU: Intel Core2 Quad CPU Q6600 @ 2.40GHz @ 2.4GHz
RAM Total: 2GB (Crucial Ballistix Tracer)
Display: Samsung SyncMaster 940BF on NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GX2
Sound: Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Gamer 7.1
Power: Corsair HX 620W
OS: Microsoft® Windows Vista™ Ultimate 64 bit

If you want any more details just ask and I'll do my best to answer!

Many thanks

Ollie
 
How long between freezes ? Minutes, hours, days ?
From personal experience I've had faulty memory that caused my PC to hang randomly.

It's just so difficult to troubleshoot if you haven't got spare parts or lots of money.
I guess if it was me, I would take as much out of the equation, so take out the sound and even the 9800 if your mb has onboard display, also if your memory is 2 x 1gb, take out 1.
 
Hi Dutchman, thanks for the response!

The time between freezes seems to be completley random! I can go a day without it freezing, or it can happen 5 mins into booting, and even before windows has even started! It seems very strange. I don't know if its coincidence, but usually if it freezes it will then freeze within a few mins of rebooting a couple of times and then be fine for a few hours.

I will try removing bits of hardware, the only problem is i'm in the middle of exams right now and so don't have much time to sit down and test bits of hardware. In a week or so I will be able to though!

Another question, could the memory still be faulty even though it has done a mem test fine?

Cheers!
 
I've seen some reviews crtising the Ballistix. They aren't my favourite but you can't fault the memory. What your motherboard. And Welcome to OCuK forum communiity
 
Thanks for the welcome!

My motherboard is the Nvidia nForce780i-SLI (hope that makes sense)

EDIT:
I was also advised to check the minidump files, however I cleared all the files and when my PC crashed no new ones were made.
 
Minidumps are only going to be there if your OS crashed and restarted, The fact that your PC freezes and you hit the reset button means the OS won't be creating these.

I think your best bet is to start with the minimum hardware you can and see if it's okay and run it for a while before adding the rest.
Could the memory be faulty even after running memtest ? Not sure, haven't had too much experience with a lot of faulty memory and such, but guess you can't rule it out.
 
does it freeze randomly or are you using multiple applications at the time?

seems as if the RAMS had its day to me, try using just one stick see if it crashes then

*i haven't read every post os sorry if this has been said or im totaly gone of course
 
Hey did you check with the nividia to see I the ram work eith that mobo. GO to nvidia support (QVL to check the ram) I giving thhe blame to the ram but check it out.
DO you have other memory modules to try
 
Sorry for the very late reply, the code for my RAM is BL2KIT12864AL106A I believe. This isnt on the list as far as I can see. Could this be my problem? I'm fairly sure my PC has run fine with this RAM, although to be honest I've had this problem for so long now I can't really remember!

I'm getting really annoyed with this problem now, but just can't see a way to solve it easily!
 
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