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Rico
01-03-08, 19:00
My comp keeps freezing when I play anything graphic intensive e.g PR, CoH, Total War... It's fine for 5 minutes or so then will just freeze, cant alt tab out or ctrl alt delete. Any sound stops too. From there I have to reset from the front of the machine!

Today I opened up the box and cleaned all the dust out using some air in can, but that hasn't helped.

The PC is about 2 years old and this has been going on for a few weeks now but have gotten to a point where it happens every time now! grrr

Now, I did some searching online and found similiar problems, with the problem possibly being one of a thousand things. However one common mention was the PSU possibly failing or having a loose connection? What you guys think? Might just take it to a PC shop and get a new power supply as i dont know enough to solve it myself.

Gunwitch
01-03-08, 20:30
Don't take it to a pc shop you'll be charged stupid amounts of cash.

It could be any number of things, from psu, to graphics. However i'd try the pc in another pc before rushing out and buying one. In fact, if you can, test the ram, psu and graphics card in another machine first.

=NL=Dogpatch=
01-03-08, 20:49
Might be your graphics card overheating, but now im just thinking loud..

Sadist_Cain
01-03-08, 23:08
Overheating sounds most likely though the easy solution

Rico
01-03-08, 23:23
I don't think its overheating. I have a monitor for the GPU's and they seem to be okay I 'think'

Gonna check the connections to and from the PSU tomorrow.

Just downloaded avast and did a full virus scan and found a couple of trojans so got rid of those, need to test it now really.

Rico
02-03-08, 00:41
Still fubar'd

Have done a registry clean, just checked inside again and couldnt find any loose connections.
Tried playing with SLI on and off (I have two 7800GTX's) no change.

CPU, PSU, or overheating... meh who knows :(

Sadist_Cain
02-03-08, 08:33
Clean driver install using Drivercleaner in safe mode?

Rico
02-03-08, 12:13
Well i installed the latest graphics drivers (not in safe mode tho) to no avail.

However, now i've fucked things up elsewhere.

Just after the comp boots i went into the F9 option which is this thing called CMOS Setup Utility which basically controls the BIOS as far as i know.

Looks like this: http://appro.mit.jyu.fi/tools/biossimu/simu.html#

So, i "loaded Optimized Defaults" and saved and exited. now when it restarts it keeps asking to boot from a cd/dvd! :|

How the feck can i revert back to before? i cant even get back into windows helllllllllllp

Rico
02-03-08, 12:14
Posting on my bro's laptop btw

thedoombringer0
02-03-08, 12:17
my knowlege aint great but maybe your just running too much processes etc

the simple thing that is overlooked is usualy the problem i find =P

MadTommy
02-03-08, 12:20
It should revenert to the HD for boot if there is no bootable CD/DVD in the PC.

On re-boot use either F9 of F11 to get back to your bios setup. If you are having any problems you dont want to be using Optimised Settings..

Look at boot options.. here you can set 1st 2nd 3rd etc boot devices..

SargeBanner
02-03-08, 12:21
Try shoving in an OLD game disk ? Blank disk ? Windows Installation Disk ?

Just throwing out ideas here, every little helps.

Sarge

Rico
02-03-08, 12:22
Woops.. not F9.. was the DEL key to get into setup.

Rico
02-03-08, 12:25
It should revenert to the HD for boot if there is no bootable CD/DVD in the PC.

On re-boot use either F9 of F11 to get back to your bios setup. If you are having any problems you dont want to be using Optimised Settings..

Look at boot options.. here you can set 1st 2nd 3rd etc boot devices..


F9 or F11 isnt taking me anywhere, only the DEL key takes me to CMOS and no boot options there :|

feck

MadTommy
02-03-08, 12:27
Thats normal.. depends on the bios.. Del, F9 F10 & F11 can all get to the bios depending on the rig.

MadTommy
02-03-08, 12:28
Look in ADVANCED BIOS SETUP.. thats where it is..

Rico
02-03-08, 12:34
Set hard disk to the first (replacing floppy) and its still asking to boot from CD. something to do with nvidia boot agent?

MadTommy
02-03-08, 12:41
Have you tried setting the bios to "Load Fail-Safe Defaults"??

Also what i have used in the past to get control of a PC is Knoppix. http://www.knoppix.net/

Knoppix is a GNU/Linux OS that boots and runs completely from cd. From it you can test the PC... there is a possibility your HD is fooked. :(

I'd disconnect every IDE / SATA connection except the HD that you boot from... as a test.. see if that helps. (and or swap IDE/SATA connections)

Rico
02-03-08, 12:48
Where's Load Fail Safe Defaults found?

Cant see why the HD would be fecked, as it was fine before till i played around where i shouldnt do :S

I don't know enough about PC's to remove connections, so for fear of making more of a mess ill have to leave that.

MadTommy
02-03-08, 12:50
Rico;10880']Where's Load Fail Safe Defaults found?

Cant see why the HD would be fecked, as it was fine before till i played around where i shouldnt do :S

I don't know enough about PC's to remove connections, so for fear of making more of a mess ill have to leave that.

Its on the 1st screen of the BIOS ...

are you using a SATA hard drive?

Have a look at this.. it looks very simular..http://www.hardwareanalysis.com/content/topic/50419/

Rico
02-03-08, 12:59
Cant see that on my BIOS page :/

And yeah using a SATA HDD. Will have a look at that page now.

Rico
02-03-08, 13:30
Chers for your help Tommy. Think im just gonna take it somewhere tomo to get looked at before i cause any more problems :D

MadTommy
02-03-08, 13:44
good idea... very hard getting to the source of the problem over a forum.

What i would do is go through each option in the Bios with the manual out.. but it does require some good knowledge of your rig and how it should be set. Good luck

LordSquiffy
03-03-08, 11:40
Rico;10868']


Just after the comp boots i went into the F9 option which is this thing called CMOS Setup Utility which basically controls the BIOS as far as i know.

Looks like this: http://appro.mit.jyu.fi/tools/biossimu/simu.html#

So, i "loaded Optimized Defaults" and saved and exited. now when it restarts it keeps asking to boot from a cd/dvd! :|

How the feck can i revert back to before? i cant even get back into windows helllllllllllp

One of the options in your CMOS is the order in which your machne boots up. You might find it in "Advanced Setup". Make sure the boot order is "C" (or your hard drive letter) first, then "E" (or your CD drive). Exit n save and your machine will then boot direct from your hard drive as normal.

With regard to freezing ingame, I've managed to stop most of my freezing problems by not overclocking my GPU. I had a terrible time in PR initially with freezing and it was simply down to overclocking. Try that.

Rico
03-03-08, 13:17
Hey Squiffy cheers, tho i tried that yesterday and had no joy. Was still trying to boot from CD. I think after i tried loading optimized settings its not recognising the hard drive (perhaps)

I've never overclocked it so that shouldnt be an issue. Tried taking it to a Pc shop just now and my cars broken down as well now! grrrrrrrrr

Ontop of that my ex is being a twat so all in all not having a good day!!!!!!!

LordSquiffy
03-03-08, 13:21
Oh well, could be worse......could be snowing!:)

Gunwitch
03-03-08, 13:25
Rico,

Carry the pc to the shop or get a cab.

Shoot the ex and put her in the boot of the knackered car then have it towed to a scap merchant :cool:

Job done :D

LordSquiffy
03-03-08, 13:33
Or...........Marry someone who's an IT specialist.

Preferably a woman

But no goatee beard and little square glasses

wardlemjw
03-03-08, 17:02
try taking a strip of RAM out and trying again - I spent ages troubleshooting my machine and it ended up being the RAM

epoch
03-03-08, 19:00
I think I speak for everyone here when I say I'm glad the internet seperates us all ..... :p


Rico,

Carry the pc to the shop or get a cab.

Shoot the ex and put her in the boot of the knackered car then have it towed to a scap merchant :cool:

Job done :D

Alex6714
03-03-08, 19:48
Open up the case, look for a small round battery, maybe it says CMOS near it. Take it out and wait a few mins, then put it back in. Restart. That shout reset and undo any BIOS changes.