Random Crashes

[Synister]

I don't know any other forums to post this and SSForum is full of ppl that know this stuff and have helped me before so I ask one more time

 

My comp randomly started crashing. I ran a virus scan with Vipre Antivirus and found nothing. I use Advanced System Care Pro and I have defragged my comp and checked all the components.

The ram seems fine and so does the hard disk. I can't seem to figure out what is causing these crashes and I really don't want to reformat. Anyone?

[Shock]

What kind of crashes? BSOD/Reboot?

 

If so, upload C:\WINDOWS\Minidump so I can view.

 

Also, why in god's name are you using Advanced System Care Pro?

[»Xog]

check the temps of your video cards and look up its normal running temperature and compare them

[L.C.]

1. Dust out your computer
   
   • Can of compressed air
     
   • Vacuum cleaner
     
   • Air compressor
     

[*]Verify that your CPU is at normal idling and stressing temperatures (report both averages here)

• Use a program like Hardware Monitor to monitor temperatures
  
• Use a program like Intel Burn Test to stress
  

[*]Change thermal paste for CPU if necessary

• Arctic Silver 5 or Arctic Ceramique recommended
  

[*]Verify that your video card is not overheating when idling or stressing

• Feel the top and bottom of your video card (or its heatsinks) when it is idling and when it is stressing
  
• Use a program like GPU-Z to monitor temperatures
  
• If you have an ATI card, your video card's control panel should have a temperature meter somewhere
  
• Use programs like FurMark or rthdribl to stress
  

[*]Execute these instructions just to be sure - http://www.joyunbound.com/2009/07/one-fits-all-solution-for-most-viriimalwarespyware-problems/

• Before doing this, you should hit the WinKey+R hotkey, enter in msconfig, go to the Services tab, check "Hide all Microsoft services," take note of what is checked in the list, click on "Disable All," go to the Startup tab, make note of what is checked, click on "Disable All," click on Apply then OK, and restart your computer
  
• After following through those instructions, you can come back here and recheck the stuff that was originally checked
  
• Additionally, you could also type out all the stuff you have under Services (with "Hide all Microsoft services" checked of course) and under Startup (including the physical addresses under the "Command" column), and we suggest to you what to check/uncheck
  

[*][OPTIONAL] http://www.joyunbound.com/2010/04/securing-your-network-and-browsing-experience/

 

I wrote this chronologically by priority. Alternatively you could do 5-6 second (1 will still be first), and then do 2-4.

[Synister]

What kind of crashes? BSOD/Reboot?

 

If so, upload C:\WINDOWS\Minidump so I can view.

 

Also, why in god's name are you using Advanced System Care Pro?

I heard it was a good program to have lol.

 

And crashes like it freezes and my keyboard doesnt work, mouse won't work. Only thing that works is a force shutdown by holding the power button.

 

And thanks for those instructions L.C. I will try those right now and I'll let you know.

Edited August 11, 2010 by Synister

[Shock]

Any disk errors in Event Viewer?

[Synister]

Whats event Viewer and whats that minidump thing u wanted me to upload?

 

Im not an expert on computers and I don't have the time to learn cuz im busy with my job so its like yea

Edited August 12, 2010 by Synister

[Synister]

I ran that HardWare Monitor and here are the results:

HWMonitor1.txt

[Samapico]

The event viewer is accessible from Administration tools, in the Control panel

 

If your computer fans are more noisy than they used to, it could be a build-up of dust somewhere making it overheat and freeze. As it was suggested, shut it down, open the case, dust out everything you can (avoid contact with the components, but it's not like it will blow up if you touch something either, just so you don't stress too much). Check especially the fans, they're probably full of dust anyway if you never cleaned it. You can also double-check the CPU fan... I once had a thick layer of dust accumulated between that fan and the heatsink, the only way to clean it was to unmount the fan completely. It fixed my 'computer is noisy as hell + crashes every day' problem.

 

Lots of programs can give you the system's temperature, you could compare before and after and see if there's a difference. A standard PC usually idles at 40-50, and probably shouldn't go higher than 60 under normal/light load. The GPU can be in the 70's easily...

Edit: Your attached report states 77 for the GPU... was it under any particular load? If that's the idle temperature, I think it's quite high. If it's cooled by a fan, make sure it's running well and that it's not drowning in dust.

 

This is just to give you an idea of what to expect, all machines are different, this isn't a universal truth .

[L.C.]

Geez man. Where do you live and where is your computer? Is it in a good location and gets good ventilation? 77C for your video card looks a bit too high, and I can definitely tell you that ~55C for your CPU -- again, if these are idle temperature -- is way too high. If thermal paste is applied correctly (and you are using Arctic Silver) and have at least a stock heatsink with fan, your idle temperatures should be between 30C to 45C (or =< 49C).

 

For a Q8400 at 2.33GHz, you should not be getting those temperatures (if you are idling -- you never said! ).

 

(EDIT: FYI my old computer has a Q9450 with a stock clock of 2.66GHz, but is overclocked to 3.6GHz and doesn't even warm the heatsink. Of course, it also happens to have a Prolimatech Megahalem with a Delta 120mm fan blowing air through the heatsink and out the back of the computer.)

Edited August 13, 2010 by L.C.

[Synister]

Maybe the thermal paste ran out? And yes this is idle, and when running internet.

Also it has been making more noise lately

[Synister]

Well I cleaned out my comp like took a fan and just cleared ALL the dust.

Now my CPU is around 39-45 Degrees Celsius.

 

But my GFX Card is still at 70.. idk whats wrong with it :x

[L.C.]

Now my CPU is around 39-45 Degrees Celsius.

Much better. Normal.

 

But my GFX Card is still at 70.. idk whats wrong with it :x

Have you tried #4 to see if it is your video card causing the problem? Try stressing it (and monitoring it) for a couple hours.

[Samapico]

Is your graphics card cooled by a fan? Did you make sure the fan is working?

 

I had a fan die on last video card

[Shock]

Eww.. I saw a lower end video card with a fan idle at 77C. Popped the heatsink off and the GPU burnt the back of the heatsink. It's probably a defective card. If you have onboard video, try taking the video card out and running with it instead for a few days.

[Synister]

Its a Geforce 8500 GT and it has a fan on it that works..

[Samapico]

You could try running with your onboard video for a while, popping out the nVidia. If it fixes your problem, it might help you find the solution...