Test this system with a Linux Live disc while you are at it, as well, if it is hardware it will be a crashy beast there too, if it doesn't, then you know it is software problem.
Download - Linux Mint
Live disc runs it all from the disc, just don't go silly and click the INSTALL and follow through with it, when it's running the OS. :)
Keep disc again for later testing.
Qik update - its not win7. This has been going on for 6 months @ dif. levels of intensity. Windows has been re0installed too much. i'm expecting MS to block me. :)
I dont want to touch linux. I stuffed up last time & destroyed my Win7 OS. Is there a utility that'll interogate & advise about the CPU?? Any on line interogators?
I still want to know what PSU you have because I still think it could be the culprit. Usually, when someone doesn't know what PSU they have, it's a junker and the cause of most of their computer problems.
This.
If you can, open the case and have a look at the sticker about specs on the metallic box that spits a lot of multicolored cables to every other component. How much Amps per kind of Voltage erogated (3.3, 12, 5 are the most important). Total wattage is usually misleading if not a blatant lie on crappish units.
With Mint or Ubuntu it's very hard to do if you don't go custom and screw with the settings, they (finally) made very noob-friendly distros with smart utilities that do most of the technical stuff for the user.AaLF said:
You can reinstall Win7 as often as you want. You can ask us if you're not sure about these things.
The question is if you followed the steps in the Clean Reinstall tutorial as it pertains to drivers and the other Best Practices for Win7, as if not I would do it over if you didn't.
Otherwise run with Linux live disk for awhile to see if the problems repeat which confirms they are hardware.
Can't download that Linux mint right now as the PC can't stay on its feet that long.
Grabbed another HDD & tried to install windows. Crashed several times during the process. I gave up.
the power supply is called COOLPOWER 850w #P4N9-N
When it was at the shop the tech was guessing the problem lied behind the little fan attached to the motherboard. But the beast never missed a beat while with him. But he just switched it on & left it.
By far the
#1 fault is it crashes when one tries to open any folder.
#2 just crashes for the hell of it.
#3 freezes
The point is that if you can operate with a boot disk long enough then you'll know if the problem is hardware-related. So obviously you need to use another PC to burn the Linux or other disk if Win7 isn't stable enough to do this. Or boot the WIn7 installer and run a few Startup Repairs, Disk Check from the Command line in Repair My Computer link on second screen after you boot the installer, SFC /SCANNOW Run in Command Prompt at Boot. Then after running these you'll know by how the hardware behaves whether the problem is with it or the OS.
If the problem is with the OS then proceed with Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Start
Have now d/l & burned Linux to disc. Now what?? How do i function with this 'thing'?? how do I get internet??
That PSU sounds like the culprit. Apart that COOLPOWER is not a good brand, a good 850W PSU should cost around 100 bucks while that is sold at 50.
Also, you don't need 850W. your rig needs at most 450W, as this calculator says.
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