PC problems..any online checks?

sare_2

Hi,
I'm having a big problem with my PC.
I'll give a bit of background.
Had the Ram increased a few months ago to 384mb.Around this time my Hubby also installed the latest Direct X 9 to play the latest games.
Since then,the PC crashes in two ways.It used to suddenly crash and go back to the main desktop,and recently it has started rebooting itself.Its almost like the power momentarily switches off and then it reboots.
I have a Geforce440 graphics card and I've read on some forums this can be a bit unstable,but we never had problem until now.
I know nothing about the workings of a PC,so please don't ask me about BIOS etc! I wouldn't have a clue!
Are there any reliable sites which are somehow able to scan your system and tell you if there is anything incompatable?
I'm a bit reluctant to go back to the shop because they'll probably tell me to upgrade this and that without it solving the problem.
Thanks,
Sare

Joe_Bloggs

You do not say what applications were running when the computer rebooted or when you were returned to the desktop. What time scale is involved between switching on from cold to an automatic reboot ?

There is a utility called memtest86 see http://www.memtest86.com/ which is a tiny program run from floppy disk or CD that will scan for memory errors. These memory errors are often very localised and it may take half an hour or so of checking the memory to reveal the faults. These checks do not rely on your existing operating system which may have its own problems unrelated to memory.
If you pass a quick memory test then it is worth looking at the temperature of key components. You can find out how to monitor them under your operating system at a later date (hardware dependent) and how to stress test them as if they were playing a 3Dgame but without actually doing so via Prime95. You can also monitor temperature build up this way.

There are many ways to trackdown problems, unfortunately many of them require swapping a new good part for a suspect part. But you still need a suite of tests to prove something was the cause of the problem. You can't rely on these tools to be online if your PC becomes unstable so download them while you can, before you need them.
J_B.

sare_2

Thanks J_B,
When the original type of crashing happened(back to desktop) it tended to be when my Hubby was playing 3D games,and it varied with the time.Sometimes it would be after 15mins,other times he could get an hours play.
The newer problem of the power seeming to switch off has been happening for a few days,and its happened when I am on the internet for a good few hours,but also when Hubby has been playing a game for only 5 minutes.
Like I said,I know nothing about the make up of a PC,so I would have to take it to a shop,but I don't have much confidence in them anyway.Everytime I have had an upgrade with them,I've had to take it back to them several times because little things then don't work,such as the modem being unplugged etc.

Joe_Bloggs

It sounds like heat build up is a factor. The trouble is that 3D games stress so many sub-systems simultaneously that it is difficult to solve a problem by employing their system wide stressing effects. You can only prove that you don't have any problems by playing a graphically intensive 3D game. Hence their popularity with enthusiasts who are realy only checking that their systems work. Any fun derived from this system check is not intentional..
Try making a win32 memtest86 floppy to eliminate memory as a factor. It takes about 20s to create and it automatically does a thorough test.
http://www.memtest86.com/memt32.zip
J_B.
Having test results could help you bargain with your shop as to what is wrong rather than have them tell you what is probably wrong and swap out all the parts and charge you.

bokkie7975

it could be the memory itself - some memory has to be placed in pairs; i expect you had 128mb & got 256mb ; or had 256mb & got 128mb, if this is the case the new memory may be causing the problem as it may not be compatible.
otherwise it could just be coincidence that this started after the memory upgrade - do you have up-to-date antivirus software & do you run it?
just a thought.

scheming_gypsy

also worth checking that when you fitted the new memory you didn't nudge a cable in the way of the cpu fan and stopping it spinning causing the CPU to overheat