Curse

Teh Diablo · May 07, 2006, 05:23 PM // 17:23

My GW has had that crash report thing, its done it alot so I send the report to AreaNet.

It did it last night when I was in FoW and then when I went to get back on GW my computer restarted out of random. And since then when I get on GW about 5 or 10 mins into the game my computer restarts.

My computer will restart out of random, when it starts getting hot.

Teh Diablo · May 07, 2006, 07:39 PM // 19:39

I've been reading up on some threads and I found it might be my page file size.

If it aint that, then I would think its overheating. Cause when I play a game the computer fans start kicking in, and I can hear the fans spinning like real loud and I can feel the heat coming out and my room gets real hot.

if you need to know my specs, here they are.

Intel Pentium 4, 2.80GHZ
ATI Radeon 9250 256MB PCI
2GB of RAM
Windows XP SP2

Teh Diablo · May 07, 2006, 10:18 PM // 22:18

Error caused by problem in random access memory: run Windows tool

Thank you for submitting an error report.

Problem description

The error was caused by a problem in your computer's random access memory (RAM). Microsoft is unable to determine if this problem was caused by a hardware or software issue, although this type of problem is usually caused by hardware.

Recommendation

Microsoft recommends that you download and run the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool on your computer to find out if this is a hardware or software problem. On most computers, you can download the diagnostic, read the documentation, run the test, and complete the test in less than 30 minutes.

Well im gonna do this.

Teh Diablo · May 08, 2006, 05:12 PM // 17:12

There is still something wrong. If anyone will even post and try to help me. :/

It still keeps randomly restarting, and last night it would turn on but my monitor will still be like its shut off, the computer is on but the monitor isnt kicking in. And I keep turning it on and off, on and off. And then it finally came back on.

Matsumi · May 08, 2006, 06:07 PM // 18:07

I just wrote out a very detailed and long response, but when I tried to post guru lost it, anyways, here goes again....

Not sure if you have an Intel motherboard or not, but try some hardware monitoring utilities that tell you the temperature and settings of your hardware. Usually there's one provided with the software you computer came with, but if you don't have one...

http://www.intel.com/design/motherbd/active.htm

They aren't always the most accurate, but it will give you an idea of what's overheating when your're running guild wars, along with letting you know what's overclocked. Find out what type of RAM you have. If it's DDR, is it 266, 333, 400, etc. and is it supported by your motherboard. Once you know that, you can check what frequency it's running at and if it's overclocked or not with the hardware monitoring utility.

I wouldn't worry about the pagefile too much for now. Although your recommended is pretty high at 3067, which could be an indicator that your RAM isn't functioning properly, if at all.

Anyways, try these things out and see what's going on first in more detail.

Teh Diablo · May 08, 2006, 07:56 PM // 19:56

I have a Dell Dimension 3000. Yes I know dells are crappy, but I found that out after I got it, so I did what I could with it. I bought the RAM from Dell so its the right kind. And my video card is ATI Radeon 9250 256MB PCI Slot. I'm pretty sure my motherboard is Intel, cause I seen Intel chips all over it. I'm gonna add a fan to it no matter what, just dont know where I can mount the fan, cant find a place.

I'm gonna get all the dust out. And when I get back on it hopefully it will stay on for long enough for me to get that lil test thing.

I know my computer didnt come with something to test thet temps and all. I guess thats dell for ya. I've had the computer for about a year and a half.

I bought 2 sticks of these right off the dell website.

1 GB DDR SDRAM, PC3200 / 400 MHz, Non-Parity, Unbuffered

Teh Diablo · May 09, 2006, 04:19 AM // 04:19

When I go to install it, it aint installing or something. It says InstallShield Wizard at the bottom, and I cant maximize it or anything, like its blank or something. And while its like that my computer starts running hard like fans kicking in and stuff. Is it suppose to do that, or is there something wrong?

Matsumi · May 09, 2006, 04:32 AM // 04:32

Sounds like it's performing an initial diagnostic of the hardware, nothing to really worry about, but if it doesn't install or the install is aborted, you might not have an intel motherboard.

Teh Diablo · May 09, 2006, 04:43 AM // 04:43

I'm worried about it restarting while its doing this. I got all the dust out of my computer today and I ordered a pci slot fan, an exhaust blower. So hopefully that will help it out. And I updated my BIOS.

Lurid · May 09, 2006, 04:47 AM // 04:47

In all honesty i'm not sure if the problem was resolved, as I didn't want to read all of that. I'm going to post and see how this turns out....

Sounds to me like thermal throttling. It will cause a PC to turn off and run diagnostics, and is notorious for Pentiums. Not to mention the horrible cooling that dell does...and well the horrible job they do with anything.

1. Open the side of the case, and touch the side of the heatsink, the one on the processor. In order for thermal throttling to kick in the HSF would be quite hot to the touch. Solution = better cooling, look into a not shitty HSF and some good thermal compound.

2. Dust causes heat to be trapped, causing heating issues. Solution = clean out case, replace fans.

3. Replace the GPU HSF, or repaste it with good thermal compound. You can also do the "touch test" with the side of it on the HSF.

4. Check the PSU with a digital multimeter, never ever ever ever ever trust any software relating to voltage fluxation, anyone who tells you to do so is a moron, plain and simple. If the voltage is fluxating too much, the PSU is a piece of shiz and needs to be replaced. Improper voltage regulation causes parts to recieve insuffient voltage and thus BSOD's and shut downs.

Teh Diablo · May 09, 2006, 04:55 AM // 04:55

My processor has only a huge heatsink on it and a fan on the back on my computer and a lil thing running from my fan to my heat sink. I cleaned all the dust out today. My video card has only a heatsink on it and its a PCI video card.

Matsumi · May 09, 2006, 05:28 AM // 05:28

Here's another one that I found that you can try, seems to be somewhat universal.

http://www.tucows.com/preview/226226

Installed on mine, temp 2 appears to be the CPU temp, still checking the others...

Lurid · May 09, 2006, 05:35 AM // 05:35

Yeah, speed fan works well for this sort of thing. Though that being an OEM and Intel chipset w/o opening the case and seeing which serial numbers, indication a model number if applicable, you may have head aches finding a temperature software thats accurate, or usable. I know for a fact Speed Fan has some issues with certain boards, on mine for example it causes crashes during intialization.

Matsumi · May 09, 2006, 05:46 AM // 05:46

True, I would think Dell would have some utility programs for this kind of thing, but trying to get anywhere on their website is kind of a pain. Unless you have your Dell product code and other things, they won't let you download anything, at least the site I tried anyway.

Teh Diablo · May 09, 2006, 09:34 PM // 21:34

When I get on my computer I will download that program. Maybe I should call dell about getting diagnostics, test, etc.

Lurid · May 09, 2006, 09:54 PM // 21:54

I wouldn't bother, save the time and money doing it yourself. That or if your really unsure of yourself, and / or don't have the time to do so, have it done locally. It'll almost certainly be faster and cheaper.

Teh Diablo · May 10, 2006, 10:29 PM // 22:29

I installed the PCI Slot Fan, got it in the mail today. And I download that SpeedFan and right now with NO game open just my web browser. It's reading between 30-35°C

I hope its accurate.

Lurid · May 11, 2006, 01:48 AM // 01:48

Idle temperatures aren't nearly as important as load temperatures. Download a program called Prime95, run its stress test CPU intensive version, and record the temperatures during it. That will show your absolute maximum temperatures for the CPU @ 100% load.

Teh Diablo · May 13, 2006, 05:05 PM // 17:05

Well I was checking my email last night and it restarted on me, I got my other computer hooked up right now.

Just when I thought it was doing good. >_<

Teh Diablo · May 16, 2006, 11:22 PM // 23:22

Well...come to find out it was my motherboard. I called dell and got support and they identified the problem as soon as I told them what was going on. Good service for dell.

The technician left about and hour ago, he put a new motherboard in it and it looks newer than the one that was in it.

So its all up and running smoothly now, thanks for all the information on stuff.