My comp Locking up\ crashing plz help

[djtedo]

My Computer has crashed every time i try to run a game such as Counter Strike Source. I have to hold down my power button and restart every time this happens. I have tried to fix the problem by updating my video card driver, reformatting my operating system and cleaning my computer of dust.

MY Specs:Manufacturer:
Gateway
Processor:
Intel(R) Core(TM) i7 CPU 920 @ 2.67GHz (8 CPUs), ~2.7GHz
Memory:
3062MB RAM
Hard Drive:
739 GB
Video Card:
ATI Radeon HD 4800 Series
Monitor:
Generic PnP Monitor
Sound Card:
Speakers (Realtek High Definition Audio)
Speakers/Headphones:
Logitech USB Headset
Keyboard:
USB Root Hub
Mouse:
USB Root Hub
Mouse Surface:
Custom SpongeBob Square Pants Mouse Pad
Operating System:
Windows Vista™ Home Premium (6.0, Build 6002) Service Pack 2 (6002.vistasp2_gdr.090803-2339)
Motherboard:
Computer Case:
FX [Gateway Gaming Rig] Case

 

[JDV28]

I'm not sure if this belongs in this topic/category. I would say to reinstall windows, its the fixall for things like that hehe

 

[djtedo]

im doomed

 

[obsidian86]

its that spongebob mouse pad

but seriously what are temps like

http://www.cpuid.com/hwmonitor.php

download this and run a game see what temps are like

 

[djtedo]

I alt tabbed auto tf2 really fast

 

[djtedo]

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[JDV28]

Thats OK for that cpu. (but im not completely familiar with ur processor) but that isnt likely to be your problem. so have you reinstalled your OS, and reinstalled the game?

 

[phat-phreddy]

I had a similar problem years ago and it turned out my ram was flaking out on me.

Might be an idea to run a memory stress test.

 

[obsidian86]

or run memtest86+

 

[djtedo]

ya i tried reinstalling and i dont see the download for memtest

 

[JDV28]

and i think phat-phreddy might be right. bad ram causes the weirdest problems with computers, it took me so long to figure out that it was the root of most of my problems, then try figuring out which of the 4 sticks of ram was bad, it sucked. and memtest it here http://www.memtest.org/#downiso

 

[phat-phreddy]

When my ram was packing it in I tried everything before I figured it out. Replaced the psu and reinstalled windows on a couple of different HD's. I even bought a new HD just in case.

It would have saved me a lot of time and money if I had just done the memtest right off the bat. I'll never make that mistake again.