Multiple crashes

Hi everyone.

I am so pleased I have discovered this forum.

For about 2 months now I have been putting up with multiple daily crashes.

The system is about 2 years old and has been faultless up to the point where it started crashing.

I spoke to the manufacturer who suggested memtestX86 and a core temp test.

These have both come back without issue. Since then I cannot get him to help anymore.

I am at the point of throwing it away and buying a new machine. It would be great if I did not have to do that!

So, I have completed my PC specifications.

I tried to zip the minidump files but when I do it just states 'file not found or no read permission' - can someone help me with this please?

The last file in the minidump is 5/9/2011, but I am getting crashes about 20 times a day. The last one about an hour ago.

The screen basically just freezes and I cannot do anthing other than re boot.

It would be a dream to get this PC working properly again.

Please help.

Many thanks.

Hi Russ and Welcome to The Forum.

To ensure minidumps are enabled:
Go to Start, in the Search Box type: sysdm.cpl, press Enter.
Under the Advanced tab, click on the Startup and Recovery Settings... button.
Ensure that Automatically restart is unchecked.
Under the Write Debugging Information header select Small memory dump (256 kB) in the dropdown box (the 256kb varies).
Ensure that the Small Dump Directory is listed as %systemroot%\Minidump.
OK your way out.
Reboot if changes have been made.

The .dmp files are located at C:\Windows\Minidump. Until a .dmp file is generated, the Minidump folder may not exist.

Go to your C:\Windows\Minidump folder. Copy the .dmp files to a new folder on your desktop. Zip up that folder and attach to a post.

Download and run CPU-Z. Take screenshots**/snips of the Mainboard tab, Memory tab and all the slot #'s under the SPD tab.
Go to Post Reply, click on the Go Advanced button and attach the screenshots**/snips to your post for all the RAM experts to see by using the paper clip you will find on the top toolbar. Do not zip them up.
**If screenshots, please crop.

Please be sure to get all the slot numbers under the SPD tab.

The first thing I would start to look at is Virus's and malware, spyware and adware that might be lurking on your system. These are the biggest culprits for system crashes.

Many thanks for that. I have enabled the minidump and will post when I get them. In the meantime here are the screenshots for CPU-Z. Thanks for your help.

OK, I have enabled the minidumps and had 2 crashes since.

However the last minidump showing is still some 4 months ago.

What am I doing wrong?

Thanks

Your RAM timings are off and so is your North Bridge timing.

Go into your BIOS and adjust them so your DRAM frequency is at 666.6 MHz frequency as shown by CPU-Z. The RAM modules are DDR 1333, so setting the DRAM frequency at 666.6 MHz x 2 = 1333

Unbalanced timing may cause the issues you're experiencing. If you're overclocking your CPU then the bus needs adjustments to get the correct DRAM timings.

Thanks for the reply. I have changed the Dram frequency to 1333. It was set to auto which is what it would have been set on for the last 2 years as I have never changed anything. I have never tried to overclock the PC and dont really know what it means anyway!

Lets see whether changing this frequency helps.

You mention a 'North Bridge' timing. Is this another setting I need to adjust?

Many thanks

Crashes still occuring in spite of changing the Dram frequency. Still no new information in the Minidump though.

What do I try next?

Thanks

Does anybody have anymore suggestions?

My PC has frozen 5 times already today and its only 11.56.

I am desperate now and on the verge of buying a new PC.

Help please.

Any help at all?