How to identify cause of random PC Frezes
Last response: in Components
Hello,
I am facing this really strange irksome problem for some time now....my PC (Win 7 32 bit, Intel dual core, gigabyte intel 945 chipset motherboard, ATI 4350 card, 300 gb seagate hdd, 2 gb ram) just freezes up at random time.
For days my pc will run ok but suddenly this freezing problems arise, usually i open up the pc casing, remove the ram, rub it with an eraser and put it back and the problem used to go away....but it has become a bit severe in the past two days....it just refuses to work properly
Also, i tried various memory diagnostic tools like : memtest, the one provided by MS in the installation disc, etc and they all show that there isnt any problem with the RAM. I have also tried HDD diagnostic tools (from seagate btw) which also lead me nowhere...
Now i'm not a total noob at PC but the hardware issues are not my forte exactly. i cant figure out where the problem lies exactly cos the diagnostics do not point to my RAM and HDD....although i'm not too sure of the hdd
anything that can be done to find the cause ??
I am facing this really strange irksome problem for some time now....my PC (Win 7 32 bit, Intel dual core, gigabyte intel 945 chipset motherboard, ATI 4350 card, 300 gb seagate hdd, 2 gb ram) just freezes up at random time.
For days my pc will run ok but suddenly this freezing problems arise, usually i open up the pc casing, remove the ram, rub it with an eraser and put it back and the problem used to go away....but it has become a bit severe in the past two days....it just refuses to work properly
Also, i tried various memory diagnostic tools like : memtest, the one provided by MS in the installation disc, etc and they all show that there isnt any problem with the RAM. I have also tried HDD diagnostic tools (from seagate btw) which also lead me nowhere...
Now i'm not a total noob at PC but the hardware issues are not my forte exactly. i cant figure out where the problem lies exactly cos the diagnostics do not point to my RAM and HDD....although i'm not too sure of the hdd
anything that can be done to find the cause ??
More about : identify random frezes
What kind of power supply do you have? How old is it? Brand/Model would help a lot. A failing PSU can cause random freezing problems. Or a high Watt consumption would cause errors.
Check drivers, ensure they're not conflicting in device manager. Update them or downgrade them and check for stability.
Especially check video card drivers.
Some graphics cards could fail.
Ram is often a culprit, but you'll have program errors more than windows failing. Reduce RAM speed in BIOS by downclocking a bit and check for stability.
Motherboard could be having problems sending proper voltages, again, it leads to PSU in most cases.
Check your CPU's temperature, make sure it's not HIGH.
Ram is cheap nowadays, you can buy it at low cost or on sale. For Windows (any) 32-bit, 4 GB is enough, but beyond is best with 64-bit system.
Check for malware (viruses), do a startup scan prior to windows loading.
Use your logic.
Check drivers, ensure they're not conflicting in device manager. Update them or downgrade them and check for stability.
Especially check video card drivers.
Some graphics cards could fail.
Ram is often a culprit, but you'll have program errors more than windows failing. Reduce RAM speed in BIOS by downclocking a bit and check for stability.
Motherboard could be having problems sending proper voltages, again, it leads to PSU in most cases.
Check your CPU's temperature, make sure it's not HIGH.
Ram is cheap nowadays, you can buy it at low cost or on sale. For Windows (any) 32-bit, 4 GB is enough, but beyond is best with 64-bit system.
Check for malware (viruses), do a startup scan prior to windows loading.
Use your logic.
nanzer said:
300gb hdds now belong in an era long past. I suggest upgrading to a nice, roomy 1TB, preferably Western Digital, Caviar Blue.nanzer, i already have one 1 TB external and one 2 TB external....they are used for portable data storage....i have kept 300 gb for my pc just cos i don't store much on it and keeping room in case i have to download something huge....but i don't think that should be an issue....
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mcaalrington said:
What kind of power supply do you have? How old is it? Brand/Model would help a lot. A failing PSU can cause random freezing problems. Or a high Watt consumption would cause errors.Check drivers, ensure they're not conflicting in device manager. Update them or downgrade them and check for stability.
Especially check video card drivers.
Some graphics cards could fail.
Ram is often a culprit, but you'll have program errors more than windows failing. Reduce RAM speed in BIOS by downclocking a bit and check for stability.
Motherboard could be having problems sending proper voltages, again, it leads to PSU in most cases.
Check your CPU's temperature, make sure it's not HIGH.
Ram is cheap nowadays, you can buy it at low cost or on sale. For Windows (any) 32-bit, 4 GB is enough, but beyond is best with 64-bit system.
Check for malware (viruses), do a startup scan prior to windows loading.
Use your logic.
mcaalrington, i have checked the drivers (i specifically tried to update the video drivers and got the "the drivers are updated" message. I ran all those stress testing tools as mentioned in my first post....and there are no malwares...i'm sure of it....
As for the motherboard, how do i check that ?? and about the temperatures....what should be the proper values ??
just an update....i opened up my PC and checked by removing each component and starting the pc....found that the problem was with the Graphic card....its fan is not spinning....which heats up and hence the constant freezes or so i think....i have removed the card and am just confirming it.....now i need to know how to replace the fan....but that's a different thread i guess.....thanks for your help guys.....
Moderators : can you please close this thread...
Moderators : can you please close this thread...
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