Ok done a complete reinstall and it still crashes!

[Extra 300 Driver]

My pc is still crashing afer a complete reinstall of windoes XP.

It started off with it crashing while using MS Flight Sim 2004, then media centre became unstable and wouldnt write CD's. So I thought I would try a complete and fresh install of XP. Formatted the drive, one is for music the other is for system stuff, and installed XP. All was going ok until i tried media player again, it still crashed! I loaded Flight Sim and that still crashes.

So far I have done the following;

Installed XP 3 times, always formatted
Loaded the lastes drivers for sound graphics cards and so on, including directX
removed all 'add on' hardware, scanner, joystick
replaced the memory PC133 DIMM? 1GB of.

So now I am on to the expensive stuff, Graphics card, CPU or Motherboard.

Its funny cos I can surf the web and use the PC as long as I dont use anyting too demanding, media player and flightsim for instance.

So what do you all think? Go for the graphics card?

Thanks and happy christmas

Nick

[mattley]

If it only crashes under load, I'd check your cooling, make sure nothings getting too hot.

Use www.memtest86.com tool, and give your RAM a good check. If that all checks out I'd go for the PSU first.

[ThatPhilBrettGuy]

I'd vote motherboard.

[annodomini2]

Extra 300 Driver said:

replaced the memory PC133 DIMM? 1GB of.Nick

If you're running this type of memory what spec is the machine, sounds like it may be overheating and underpowered for running flight simulator.

[ehasler]

Has anything been installed around the time it started crashing?

It may be worth re-installing XP once again, but don't install anything else except Media Player and Flight Sim, i.e., leave off sound card drivers etc...

Also, check on the net to see if the particular RAM you have installed requires a particular setting in the BIOS.

[Trooper2]

ThatPhilBrettGuy said:

I'd vote motherboard.

Seconded.

[Extra 300 Driver]

Thanks all. I now vote the MB. A mate of mine came over and we had a go a changing the Graphics Card. After we had done this we got all sorts of error screens so swapped it back to the old Geforce 4. Now it wont boot up at all! It just sits there doing noting, well crashing before it has fully loaded.

I think we have disturbed a hardware fault on the MB, maybe a broken solder join or somfink!

[Neezer]

Ok that solves it! Also watch out for dust build-up inside your pc, which can cause overheating which has the same symptoms as you described above. Just something that’s worth checking from time to time.

[Extra 300 Driver]

Is this any good? Just thinking of upgrading to one of these with 1GB of DDR

[JonRB]

I had a machine become very unstable after adding a multi-standard card reader to it (memory stick, SD, SmartMedia, etc.)

Turned out to be a dodgy driver supplied with the card reader. Uninstalled it and the system regained stability.

[Extra 300 Driver]

Extra 300 Driver said:

Is this any good? Just thinking of upgrading to one of these with 1GB of DDR

I meant to add this;

www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=97166