Windows crashes

[gateshead47402]

I have recently had problems with windows repeatedly freazing. I have also noticed the taskbar is light blue like it is running without graphics drivers even though they are installed and up to date.

Operating System
MS Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit SP1
CPU
Intel Core i5 650 @ 3.20GHz 43 °C
Clarkdale 32nm Technology
RAM
8.00 GB Dual-Channel DDR3 @ 664MHz (9-9-9-24)
Motherboard
Acer Predator G5900 (CPU 1) 30 °C
Graphics
V223HQV (1920x1080@60Hz)
AMD Radeon HD 7800 Series
Hard Drives
488GB Western Digital WDC WD5000AAKS-22V1A0 (RAID) 41 °C
Optical Drives
ATAPI DVD A DH16ABSH
Audio
Realtek High Definition Audio

Is there any way to stop this happening?

Thanks,
LH.

[CaptainBazza]

Probably a hint to upgrade to W8.

Cheers Bazza

[gateshead47402]

I can't get Windows 8 as I do not have a touch screen monitor which is a requirement, I have several programs that only run in 98, XP & 7 or some that are XP, Vista & 7. Raildriver is also not compatible. I don't have anything to back up direct download games and RW addons/WIP routes, I have also had no experience of the type of OS as it is completley different to the current basic layout which goes back to Windows 95 or maybe earlier.

Is there any other way to get it working?

Thanks,
LH.

[ashgray]

A touch screen monitor is NOT a requirement of Windows 8 - my partner happily uses W8 in the time-honoured fashion of simply using a mouse, with no problem whatsoever. You also say that you don't have anything on which to back up direct download games, but you don't really need anything - simply copy tho relevant game folders to a back-up drive or a DVD using Windows Explorer.

Having said that, I'd doubt that simply installing W8 would solve a problem that already exists on W7. It may be a case of a clogged fan causing overheating. If in doubt, I'd ask a reputable local computer repair man to give it a check-up and overhaul.

Ash

[lenfish]

In truth, it could be anything hardware and/or software. Have you installed any new hardware/ software recently that may be affecting Windows? Have you tried using system restore to roll back to earlier settings to see if this makes any difference? You could also have a look in administrative tools/computer management/event viewer to see if there are any critical events that may give a clue to what is happening. Good luck!

Regards,

Len

[theokus]

I can't get Windows 8 as I do not have a touch screen monitor which is a requirement, I have several programs that only run in 98, XP & 7 or some that are XP, Vista & 7. Raildriver is also not compatible. I don't have anything to back up direct download games and RW addons/WIP routes, I have also had no experience of the type of OS as it is completley different to the current basic layout which goes back to Windows 95 or maybe earlier.

Is there any other way to get it working?

Thanks,
LH.

We don't even know when the crash happens...

Please update the drivers.
Clean your system with Ccleaner: it's free and does a nice job.
And do a test with the installed memory.

[secludedsfx]

Probably a hint to upgrade to W8.

Cheers Bazza

I don't know why anyone would recommend that if I'm honest, it's no good for PC's, it's only good for touch screen/tablets

[theokus]

Probably a hint to upgrade to W8.

Cheers Bazza

I don't know why anyone would recommend that if I'm honest, it's no good for PC's, it's only good for touch screen/tablets

Here, on planet Earth it works just fine on PC's
(sorry I could not resist )

[davejc64]

I have recently had problems with windows repeatedly freazing. I have also noticed the taskbar is light blue like it is running without graphics drivers even though they are installed and up to date.

Operating System
MS Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit SP1
CPU
Intel Core i5 650 @ 3.20GHz 43 °C
Clarkdale 32nm Technology
RAM
8.00 GB Dual-Channel DDR3 @ 664MHz (9-9-9-24)
Motherboard
Acer Predator G5900 (CPU 1) 30 °C
Graphics
V223HQV (1920x1080@60Hz)
AMD Radeon HD 7800 Series
Hard Drives
488GB Western Digital WDC WD5000AAKS-22V1A0 (RAID) 41 °C
Optical Drives
ATAPI DVD A DH16ABSH
Audio
Realtek High Definition Audio

Is there any way to stop this happening?

Thanks,
LH.

Hi,

How long have you had your graphics card?

The reason I ask is because I had a similar problem all be it with a Nvidia card and not long after it started doing that, the card gave up the ghost altogether and I ended up buying a new one, it might be that the graphics card is on the way out.

regards

Dave

[gateshead47402]

I have had it about 2 months, how can I check the processor is ok?

Thanks,
LH.

[rogermatthews]

Hi LH, you have my sympathy. As Len says, it could be anything, though I lean towards Dave in that it could be the video card, as I too had a similar experience.

Apart from trying the processor in another machine, there is little you can do to test things without equipment. YOu'll have to take it to a specialist for that, though they often just try things until it works

But before you take it in, try some other things. First, tell us:

- does this tend to happen when the machine has been on for a while, ie getting hot?
- are all the fans working, especially the video card fan?
- when it freezes, if you're doing something intensive (eg driving a train or processing a video etc) are there signs the PC is still working away, eg sound of hard drive activity etc?

You could try the following:

1. Back up stuff! In case the worst comes to the worst
2. Do a system restore to the earliest point (unless you know the problem pre-dates it) - you can always restore back
3. Start in safe mode - this won't necessarily pinpoint the fault, but if you get problems there, it can eliminate some
4. Connect your monitor to the mobo's socket - do the problems still arise?
5. If you have two (or more) memory sticks, try unplugging each in turn

It's all a pain, hence my sympathy. DOn't panic and start reinstalling windows or anything just yet - that was my mistake when it turned out to be just the video card!

Good luck

Roger

[gateshead47402]

It normally happens when I am either on certain websites and once on Railworks. I can only tell if the processor fan is working as the GPU fan is facing downwards away from the vent, but I can start a few processes and see how far the GPU temperature rises.

Thanks,
LH.

Update: The GPU temperature is not showing.

[rogermatthews]

try shining a torch on the graphics card fan as best you can when you start up - do what you can to find out if that fan is working OK. Failing that, next time it happens when you're on Railworks, not whether there is other activity as normal, eg hard drive activity.

Course, I may be barking up the wrong tree from a distance but it does seem similar to my experience with a faulty graphics card. Best to eliminate this. Try safe mode and see if your taskbar is OK

Roger

[rogermatthews]

sorry, I meant try connecting the monitor to the mobo port and seeing if the taskbar is OK.

Roger

[DanCarter]

LH,

Try OpenHardwareMonitor (http://openhardwaremonitor.org/). It will give you a good idea what your temperatures and fan speeds are.

Dan.