Computer randomly crashing.

Energize · 25 Jan 2013 at 00:16

Running Windows 7 here, my pc has been fine for months but in the last few days it has been crashing fairly frequently in different ways, sometimes applications like games will crash to desktop, sometimes I get a bsod saying uncorrectable hardware error, a couple of times the display has just been garbage with the pc making a buzzing noise and then shutting off. And sometimes the pc just freezes and I can't do anything, even the restart button doesn't work!

Can't figure out where to start really, tried putting cpu back to stock but that didn't makes a difference.

ExRayTed · 25 Jan 2013 at 09:53

Step 1. Reset CMOS
Step 2. Check memory sticks individually.
Step 3. Marvel how you've found the problem.

My money is on the RAM.

Benihana · 25 Jan 2013 at 10:04

^This.

If your unsure how to check RAM, google MemTest, it usually is pretty obvious if you have an issue! Other than that I would try re-seating components (such as GPU) and checking all PSU cables, but RAM sounds like the culprit.

Energize · 25 Jan 2013 at 18:05

Thanks guys, I'll do memtest in a min. Don't know if it's significant but when I tried to load a certain area in skyrim it kept crashing, but after I restarted it loaded normally.

wazza300 · 25 Jan 2013 at 19:14

look in event viewer aswell for any whea errors,esp when games crash to desktop,it can mean your cpu offset voltage is one/two clicks too low

can also be memory related

Energize · 25 Jan 2013 at 21:26

Ran memtest86 for 5 passes and 0 errors.

There were two WHEA warnings.

Code:

A corrected hardware error has occurred.

Reported by component: Processor Core
Error Source: Corrected Machine Check
Error Type: Internal parity error
Processor ID:

Code:

A corrected hardware error has occurred.

Reported by component: Processor Core
Error Source: Machine Check Exception
Error Type: Internal parity error
Processor ID: 0

Those warnings tally like this.

Installation Date = 10/07

15/08
26/08
01/09
03/09
04/09 2
09/09
13/09
25/09
05/11
14/11
07/12
19/12
22/12
27/12 2
30/12
01/01 2
07/01 2
12/01
14/01
16/01 2
17/01 2
18/01 16
19/01 3
20/01 29
21/01 117
22/01 88
24/01 11
25/01 3

wazza300 · 25 Jan 2013 at 23:16

needs a tiny bump in cpu v imo

Audigex · 25 Jan 2013 at 23:27

I had this exact problem for about a year after a windows install. Didn't suspect the new install, so carried on using it for months. Eventually I re-installed Windows (I tend to about once a year, it's far more effective than any maintenance) and haven't had a repeat of the problem since.

Am I right in saying that it's random in terms of timing - load doesn't seem to make much difference?

Your mileage may vary. I suspect a dodgy sector on my hard drive which was being used on the previous install for a criticical-but-not-always-used file - a sector which isn't being used at all or at least for anything vital on the current install.