Computer Issues, Yet Again...

[Incompl te]

I know that all of you out there are probably sick of all the computer issue threads and that i made one not too long ago but i cannot be stuffed searching through old posts for half an hour to resurrect a dead thread and my computer will probably soon crash.

Now the problem with my computer as some may recall is that it once was working fine until I bought WoW. After installation the game ran fine for about 2 days, then it started to freeze and crash about 40 mins in. This got worse and worse and eventually the computer wouldn't turn on with a message saying "A Disk Read Error Occurred, Press CTRL + ALT + DELETE to restart". That was around March last year. Long sotry short, basically everything in the computer got replaced and only after a new motherboard was put in did it work again.

Until recently, the computer has been working fine. Games have been running smoothly (Java based, flash based, shockwave based, and standard games [e.g. Sims 2]). Near the end November I bought Guild Wars. This worked fine for about 2 weeks and then the above problem occurred without the crashing. Now the weird thing is, when I took it for repairs, the technician plugged it all in and turned it on and it worked fine. He played games (Solitaire etc.) to try to make it freeze but to no avail. I took it home and it worked fine for the night. Next day however, it stopped working. So now it only works for about 5 minutes before freezing or for some reason it works for 4-5 hours continuesly during the night (6pm-11pm). Does anyone have any idea what might be causing this problem? I'm taking it in for repairs again tomorrow and I might suggest any answers I get here (Hes stumped on the problem).

If any computer details are needed please tell me and I will post the required information. Thank you for your help Escapists.

EDIT: For people who have been contributing to this thankyou and you may recall me ending with the computer running by using a wired keyboard/mouse. This worked for 2-3 weeks and now on startup an Microsoft Startup Error box appears saying nothing more but a DLL file/drive isn't present. THe computer sometimes works without problems or it sometimes refuses to start like in the above ^^. So should i just give up and get a new computer or is there still a single ray of hope?

 

[acer840]

Overheating? My computer does that now. I play KOTOR and halfway in a game it will lock up. Can't even CTRL+ALT+DEL. Restart it and it won't boot. Is that similer to your problem?

 

[Incompl te]

Similar to my problem yes but doesn't make sense why it suddenly works fine at the computer repair place...could it be perhaps the temperature of the room? (the room the computer is in can get pretty warm). Still don't get the only working at night thing though...

EDIT: looking at the thermometer in the room its 28 degrees celcius at the moment. Its about what the temp outside is so its not overly hot in here...

 

[Mariena]

Check the temperature of your GPU with the tools available (I don't know whether Rivatuner works for ATI). Speedfan will work fine.

Coretemp for the CPU, or Speedfan (again!).

If your harddrive supports SMART monitoring, use Speedfan or HDDHealth to check the attributes and corresponding performance.

Memory tests like memtest86(+) will check the health of your memory. No errors should be detected. A completely solid test will take about 8 hours, just to be completely sure. Though if the memory test detects 10 errors within 2 seconds, well, you obviously don't need to run it that long

You can use various programs, including speedfan, to check the voltage of your PSU and make sure they're not completely off the scale.

Just a few basic pointers.

 

[Corpse XxX]

Virus or mal-ware?

And if u have overclocked the motherboard, that can over time ruin it..

But if u have a spare/extra power supply, i would try changing that.. Similar happen to me once, and the power supply totally fucked up my computer beyond repair..

 

[Incompl te]

Check the temperature of your GPU with the tools available (I don't know whether Rivatuner works for ATI). Speedfan will work fine.

Coretemp for the CPU, or Speedfan (again!).

If your harddrive supports SMART monitoring, use Speedfan or HDDHealth to check the attributes and corresponding performance.

Memory tests like memtest86(+) will check the health of your memory. No errors should be detected. A completely solid test will take about 8 hours, just to be completely sure. Though if the memory test detects 10 errors within 2 seconds, well, you obviously don't need to run it that long

You can use various programs, including speedfan, to check the voltage of your PSU and make sure they're not completely off the scale.

Just a few basic pointers.

I'll try the speedfan idea don't really have 8 hours as computer will die out in that time but thanks anyway. I'll post results of speedfan.

Virus or mal-ware?

And if u have overclocked the motherboard, that can over time ruin it..

But if u have a spare/extra power supply, i would try changing that.. Similar happen to me once, and the power supply totally fucked up my computer beyond repair..

Did numerous virus scans and only thing that came up was 1 tracking cookie (nothing big enough to cause this issue). I thought of using another power supply but that didn't fix anything. Not a computer whiz so how exactly would I have overclocked said motherboard and is it repairable (replacement is an obvious option i know)?

EDIT: From the speedfan program I got the following (means not much to me and need someone to analyze):

GPU: 57C
Temp 1: 40C
Temp 2: 35C
Temp 3: -128C
Core 0: 38C
Core 1: 42C

 

[Corpse XxX]

If the damage is done with overclocking the motherboard it is usually to late to fix the problem, since it will never work 100% again...

But when installing a new motherboard, look in the manual, there are some pins and caps on the motherboard where u might physically have to move the settings in order to get the right processor speed on it.. BUT READ MANUAL!

EDIT: Did u run malware programs aswell? if not, download the AD-aware free home edition program, update and run it.. Finds many things that virus programs dont..

 

[Mariena]

Check the temperature of your GPU with the tools available (I don't know whether Rivatuner works for ATI). Speedfan will work fine.

Coretemp for the CPU, or Speedfan (again!).

If your harddrive supports SMART monitoring, use Speedfan or HDDHealth to check the attributes and corresponding performance.

Memory tests like memtest86(+) will check the health of your memory. No errors should be detected. A completely solid test will take about 8 hours, just to be completely sure. Though if the memory test detects 10 errors within 2 seconds, well, you obviously don't need to run it that long

You can use various programs, including speedfan, to check the voltage of your PSU and make sure they're not completely off the scale.

Just a few basic pointers.

I'll try the speedfan idea don't really have 8 hours as computer will die out in that time but thanks anyway. I'll post results of speedfan.

Virus or mal-ware?

And if u have overclocked the motherboard, that can over time ruin it..

But if u have a spare/extra power supply, i would try changing that.. Similar happen to me once, and the power supply totally fucked up my computer beyond repair..

Did numerous virus scans and only thing that came up was 1 tracking cookie (nothing big enough to cause this issue). I thought of using another power supply but that didn't fix anything. Not a computer whiz so how exactly would I have overclocked said motherboard and is it repairable (replacement is an obvious option i know)?

EDIT: From the speedfan program I got the following (means not much to me and need someone to analyze):

GPU: 57C
Temp 1: 40C
Temp 2: 35C
Temp 3: -128C
Core 0: 38C
Core 1: 42C

If those values are displayed when the computer is idle, I'd say you're alright. Though you should check them out when the computer is stressed. Orthos stresses your computer quite nicely. What's the GPU and CPU model, though? 57C and higher is normal for a high end GPU, but if its an oldie.. well, err..

Considering you seem to have no clue about overclocking, I *doubt* anything is overclocked at all.

But when installing a new motherboard, look in the manual, there are some pins and caps on the motherboard where u might physically have to move the settings in order to get the right processor speed on it.. BUT READ MANUAL!

He has a new motherboard, not one from the 90s. Pins to set the right processor speed? Pins to unlock multipliers, maybe.

What is the crashing like? Does it occur when the system is idle, or just when playing games?

What are the values for 12V, 5V and 3.3V?

 

[Corpse XxX]

And the extra power supply, was it a similar power supply with the same power output?
Might help get a bigger supply that delivers more power..

 

[McMo0^]

well whatever it is sensor 3 is dead. I'm pretty sure if theres no sensor it reads at 0 wheras yours reads -128.

Any chance you can post your specs? If its a custom build there could be hardware conficts...

The real poser is why it works better at night than day... Temperatures look normal and if your room temp doesn't get significantly colder at night, it won't make that much difference.

Its a long shot but did you shut it down properly before the crashing started? If not it means the HDDs fubar'd.

hope some of that helped.

 

[Corpse XxX]

Marena: its many years since i used to repair computers, and that was in the 90`s.. lol..
But just trying to help..

 

[karn3]

Your system specs would be helpful

 

[Incompl te]

-SNIP-
If those values are displayed when the computer is idle, I'd say you're alright. Though you should check them out when the computer is stressed. Orthos stresses your computer quite nicely. What's the GPU and CPU model, though? 57C and higher is normal for a high end GPU, but if its an oldie.. well, err..

Considering you seem to have no clue about overclocking, I *doubt* anything is overclocked at all.

What is the crashing like? Does it occur when the system is idle, or just when playing games?

What are the values for 12V, 5V and 3.3V?

1. Nvidia 8600 GT
2. CPU model is from what I can figure out from dxdiag MS-7360
3. The crashing no longer occured but when it did it was from games most of the time about 90% of the time.
4. "What are the values for 12V, 5V and 3.3V?". You lost me at 12V...

Sorry if i'm being hard to analyze with but my knowledge is a but limited.

 

[Incompl te]

Specs are as follows

------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 1/26/2009, 21:35:57
Machine name: USER-PC
Operating System: Windows Vista? Home Premium (6.0, Build 6001) Service Pack 1 (6001.vistasp1_gdr.080917-1612)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: MICRO-STAR INTERNATIONAL CO.,LTD
System Model: MS-7360
BIOS: Default System BIOS
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU E6750 @ 2.66GHz (2 CPUs), ~2.7GHz
Memory: 2046MB RAM
Page File: 1004MB used, 3325MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows
DirectX Version: DirectX 10
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 6.00.6001.18000 32bit Unicode

If anything else is needed tell me please.

 

[God's Clown]

I've had those problems on and off for a long time. My computer works just fine now though. I believe several times the reasons were:

My HDD with windows on it was dying.
My power supply was overheating.
My processor was overheating.

I believe those were the 3 major problems for me. How old is your HDD?

 

[Incompl te]

I believe those were the 3 major problems for me. How old is your HDD?

Probably about 6-8 months now so not too old. It's actually quite young.

 

[God's Clown]

I doubt that is it then. Usually HDD's last like 4-5 years, or something. It could also be your OS. If window's messes up in the install even in the slightest it can cause problems. Though I wouldn't reinstall windows until any other thing you try doesn't work.

 

[Incompl te]

Problem now is that the general response is overheating. But how to fix that is the next problem...

 

[perfectimo]

Could you please tell us your usual computer use for a day? Also could you say how often you use your computer during the week? eg How many hours for each day?

 

[Incompl te]

Could you please tell us your usual computer use for a day? Also could you say how often you use your computer during the week? eg How many hours for each day?

Well i've recently had school holidays so during that period the computer was used 1-3 hours a day. On normal school day types, less than an hour a day to a bit over an hour. If that helps...