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Thread ID: 46842	2004-07-07 07:33:00	Computer restarts and fouls up during games.	Growly (6)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
250474	2004-07-07 07:33:00	Hello, Once again, this is on behalf of one of my friends (who do not have access to the internet, and have tried everything I have told them) . The problem: During any game (except UT 2004), such as solitaire, far cry, battlefield 1942, etc, the computer always does one of a few things:- 1) Restarts 2) Black screens - random noises come out, but still a black screen 3) Goes to a blue screen of death where a physical memory dump occurs . Hearing this - and puzzled that it only happened during Games (other programs run fine) - i told him to reinstall windows . So he did, he formatted completely and completely reinstalled windows 4 times, and the saame thing kept happening . He has atleast three sources for each driver he uses - so I doubted that those could be corrupt (the likes of the direct x drivers etc) . I then thought it may be his graphics card - which remains untested . I THEN thought that it may be his memory - he recently changed motherboard and i recall that the memory he uses was not recommended by the manufacturer . Although this remains untested, does anyone else know what it may be?	Growly (6)
250475	2004-07-07 08:10:00	<polishes crystal ball> No. Just cannot see the Windows version. Crystal ball has failed again. If its running XP, have you disabled restarting on errors, as that should give a BSOD and (hopefully) a meaningful error message.	godfather (25)
250476	2004-07-07 08:24:00	Installing Windows is a good test for memory so if he has managed to reinstall Windows four times with no problems at all then it unlikely to be dodge memory . Not guaranteed, but unlikely . Why isn't the memory recommended by the manufacturer? Black screens and random noises???? What kind of "random noises"? :O What about overheating or the PSU? I would be surprised if Solitaire caused the computer to overheat though . . .	Susan B (19)
250477	2004-07-07 08:46:00	Does UT2004 use OpenGL? If it does and it's just the DirectX games having an issue, you might want to reinstall that. Install Motherboard Monitor 5 on and check the temperatures as Susan suggests. What wattage is the PSU? Run memtest86 on it for 12hours if you are unsure the memory is unstable. Have you checked in the BIOS to make sure its running at the correct timings/ratio and in sync with the FSB, not async?	kiki (762)
250478	2004-07-07 08:51:00	Yes... Overheating can have a major effect on the stability of a system. you can usually check the heat in the bios.	fus1_n (3818)
250479	2004-07-07 09:00:00	kiki you could be onto something re broken directx. Have the installs been done absolutely fresh with format, etc, or over the top. In that case directx is probably still there in the condition it was in. You friend could try a repair of the installation and replace the diectx with ones off the disc (update from MS onece install is complete) Just a question, and not directed at you Growly, why do people reinstall at the drop of a hat, diagnosis is preferable isn't it? Cheers Murray P	Murray P (44)
250480	2004-07-07 11:02:00	Hey there - Sorry, my bad (sorry gf): He is running windows XP Pro . . . uh . . volume corporate licensing . . . I'll turn the restart on errors thing off - although so far the BSODs have told us nothing more than physical memory dumps . . . Anywho - not sure about the noises, he's bringing the computer round for me to see in person and try and diagnose the problem - will post back . I do think that they are the game noises continuing . . . As far as overheating is concerned - it's a possibility but i'm not too "hot" on the idea (BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA no pun intended) - I'll do the burn in wizard on SiSoft sandra to check, and install MBM5 . It may, however be the PSU - leading the fact that games are the culprit to be pure coincidence . I told him to run memtest a while ago - all it achieved was me being blamed for his floppy drive breaking . (Interesting . . . ) But I think you guys may be right about direct x - with the exception of solitaire (i have no idea), i think UT 2004 uses OpenGL - leading the culprit to be Direct X - I'll use another install tomorrow when he brings it round . Now as for memory- apparently the chip his RAM uses has problems with the BIOS of the motherboard . (Recommended compatibility here: . asus . com/products/mb/socketa/a7v600/overview . htm" target="_blank">www . asus . com) He ordered another stick (arriving tomorrow; he needed one anyway), I'll try that . I told him to reinstall Windows with a complete format . Oh, and the reason why I, in particular, reinstall at the drop of a hat is because of my history with computers: 1) I had 95 . Fixed all that could be fixed and one day decided that these problems are far too deeply rooted for me to bother . 2) Also, sometimes corrupt installs leave you with no choice . This leads to driver incompatibilities and what not far down the line - that you don't notice at the start . 3) There are malicious programs that changed registry files before you can see them - and anti spyware does not pick them up . Some are programs that install themselves and dont leave an uninstaller, but arent classified as spyware :S 4) Although I'd love to know how to fix things - I often dont have the time, or the patience: As one of my tutors once told me, it's easier to promise an employer that there computer [i]will be fixed[/b] in a couple of hours (be reinstalling), than to give an unditermined length of time in which you will hope to diagnose the problem . Thanks very much btw .	Growly (6)
250481	2004-07-07 11:05:00	Your tutor should be beaten with a stick.	metla (154)
250482	2004-07-07 22:34:00	Uh - interesting... Anywhonani- He's here, and we just booted his computer, to be greeted (with what Im told is a recurring error) with a "windows has just recovered from a serious error.' The report: Error Signature: BCCode : 100000ea BCP1 : 81E51DA8 BCP2 : 81DA4C98 BCP3 : 81F1A938 BCP4 : 00000001 OSVer : 5_1_2600 SP : 0_0 Product : 256_1 Technical Data: ("The following files will be included in this error report:") C:\WINDOWS\Minidump\Mini070804-01.dmp C:\DOCUME~1\TIMONN~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\WER1.tmp.dir00\ sysdata.xml ---------------------------------------- Also When he reinstalled windows, and after reinstalling from the driver disk that came with the motherboard - upon reinstallation (after the prompt) a closing program dialogue program comes up, trying to close a "cantseeme" program. Spyware?	Growly (6)
250483	2004-07-07 22:41:00	OK, Clarification of all my details: 1) UT2004 Crashes. It uses Direct3D. 2) More on games: Battlefield 1942 Runs perfectly (?), mods don't. (He's tried reinstalling 'em). 3) The sound that comes out during the black screen is merely the beginning of a starting video repeated over and over. This black screen stops any input - no ctr - alt - del or any other commands can be issued... (is this a DMA problem?)	Growly (6)
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