Windows 7: C++ Runtime error

Hi, recently I've been getting notification bars on startup stating that there is a Visual C++ Runtime error, and that the program has been terminated in an unusual manner. What I want to know is whether this can be attributed to a possible memory (RAM) problem. Also, since of late (not all the time). when I boot my PC, and when the Welcome screen appears, a ticking noise comes from in my CPU and the screen just freezes. Can there be a possible connection between the two (memory and the C++ Runtime error). Or are they entirely different?

Thanks!

The ticking noise would make me want to check my hard drive. Run the test from the manufacturer of the drive. If the drive is going bad it could cause all kinds of problems.

If it's not the drive it could be that you need a different version of the Visual C++ code. Some programs are fussy about which version they expect to find on your machine and it's not unusual to have several versions if you've installed a lot of programs. This gets harder to diagnose without knowing the exact error. The next time it happens, note what version it's asking for and see if it's installed. A screenshot of the error message would help.

I'd still check that hard drive, though. Computers ain't supposed to tick.

EDIT: Here are the different versions of C++ on my computer:

Thanks. Can it be due to the memory? Or can there be a corrupt file which is causing the ticking noise?

Yes, memory is a possibility, but so are a lot of other things. In your case it is a matter that the computer can't find a file or files it wants. It could be that they are not there to begin with. It could be that they are there, but your hard drive is in the process of croaking and the file(s) can't be read. It could be that they are being read but can't be loaded into memory due to faulty RAM. Don't even get me started about the government and aliens - that's a whole 'nother list of possibilities.

To put your mind at ease about the RAM, run this for four or five full passes:

(Look for the free download) Memtest86.com - Memory Diagnostic

RAM won't "tick" at you, though; Hard Drives will.