OMG.. I need some serious help here

[lady-MGS]

At first it started in COD4. The computer was really really jerky and then it would just freeze up and we had no other choice but to reset the computer. Then, ooo about Tues, it started to freeze up when windows was trying to load so I'd have to reset. It would start but once I started surfing, it would completely shut off. And now.. OMG, it won't stay on but for maybe 2-3 min at tops.

We've updated video drivers and any other drivers we could think of but no, we haven't touched the Bios yet, really not sure how and rather scared to do so.

Nevus gave me a memory test to run (not sure of the name cuz the comp won't stay on long enough) but all of that came up fine.

When the problems started, we ran all the AVG, SpyBot, AdWare and all that stuff and it came up normal.

My system specs:
Nvidia gforce 7600 GS 512
Asus MB P5P800
Pent 4 3.0 ghz
integrated sound
1 gig htt 5200 ram

[{CLR}geneSW]

Can you get it to boot up in safe mode?

[lady-MGS]

Ok so far my son has been playing on it for about a half an hour and nothing has happened. He's been playing little pop cap games is all. So I'm going to uninstall the game and reinstall and see if it's something in the game.

My nephew was playing on my computer when everything started to happen and of course, he was playing COD4. Coincidence or not sure but I'll try and see what happens.

[{CLR}geneSW]

If he was playing on a server that had a mod, it could be something inside of that mod that could be conflicting... I've been keeping up witht he mods and know a few names to avoid code from.

[Savage_Hobo]

Does the computer just turn off? or does it give you an error message first? Also, you should try booting up from a live cd/usb like Parted Magic ( http://partedmagic.com/ ) if it turns off then you know there is some sort of hardware problem. If not... then it's something windows related. I'd recommend parted magic because you don't need any linux/unix experience to run it... I don't know if that is an issue for you.

[BLAZE86]

If all else fails try reformatting ^^

[Trooper110]

Sounds like a Windows being retarded issue. Try uninstalling recent updates, games, programs and see what happens. Could also be a hard drive starting to go, video card overheating, or power supply starting to go. If removing recent installs doesn't work, I'd open her up while she runs and make sure that the fan on the video card is spinning, no stalls. Download a hard drive diagnostic tool and run that. Power supply, unless you have a multimeter lying around and know which pins to jump, the only really good way to test is to swap it out for a known good working power supply. You can also always reinstall Windows.

[juneau]

Freezing normally indicates Hardware to me. Software can give some strange problems, but freezing..... i dunno.

[lady-MGS]

Ok, COD 4 a side, now the comp has a mind of it's own. If it's not freezing, it's shutting off.

There has only been one message and that was a blue screen and something about a memory dump.

For a min we thought maybe it was just the monitor because sometimes when it would turn off, only the monitor would go but there would be sound for a good 10-15 sec.

As for the hard drive, it is a new one.. I lost my hard drive a few months ago.

We don't play in any modded servers either.


I will try the safe mode when I get back from taking my son to football practice and see if I can get that last windows update. That is the only thing that has been put on my computer in the last week or so. I'm scared to reformat since it freezes up like it does, what if it does that during install? Will I be out of a computer?

[Trooper110]

You shouldn't even be in a Windows environment during a reformat. You boot off your Windows disk and run through the reformat. And it doesn't matter how new a hard drive is, it could still be that causing it. Have you looked at the video card yet? Overheating will often cause a reboot like you're describing.

[WalkinTarget]

Overheating ... take the side panel off, blow the dust out and see if all fans are spinning after plugging it back in.

[Duke{CLR}]

Overheating ... take the side panel off, blow the dust out and see if all fans are spinning after plugging it back in.

+1 I would also check all the wires to make sure they are secure.

[lady-MGS]

Sorry Trooper, the vid card is fine, the fan runs and everything.

WT, my comp does run on the hotter side, it always has and so I don't have the side on it. I do keep it really clean and it's in an open area.

[mapes]

Sorry Trooper, the vid card is fine, the fan runs and everything.

WT, my comp does run on the hotter side, it always has and so I don't have the side on it. I do keep it really clean and it's in an open area.

Do you have a cpu fan? Check that also check and make sure the fan in the power supply is spinning (if it has one)... Some PSU's will auto shutoff....

[{CLR}geneSW]

Prehaps a BIOS setting? Prehaps the temp sensor is in the fritz and the MoBo is shuting itself off thinking that the CPU is overheating? Could be the problem...