Solved Computer Crash Only When I am active

[Ferenth]

Hey all,

I recently purchased a new computer (check the specs, I believe everything is up to date).

Anyways, long story short. I dropped my hard-drive into a brand new box (everything internal = new except hard-drive).

Reinstalled windows (very unstable while installing updates...lots of crashes).

Updated as many drivers as I could think of ... video card, mouse, keyboard, realtek sound + lan (I was unable to install chipset drivers for unknown reason).

Anyways, my computer crashes randomly but is otherwise very stable. The error in event viewer is Kernal Error 41.

The oddest thing is...it only crashes when I'm active on the machine. I leave it on overnight and all day at work (16+ hours total) at the desktop and it remains perfectly fine but in the next few hours I'm sure it will crash. No real consistency (playing BFBC2, random internet browsing, downloading updates from Windows, etc...)

I have yet to actually see a BSOD so I don't believe this falls under that category.

I have three possible reasons: hard-drive might be failing (my hope), the power supply might not be enough (please check specs and comment), or I am missing an important driver.

Thanks, and please let me know if you want anything from me (dump files etc...I wasn't sure if maybe someone might have a lightbulb idea right off the bat).

Any replies are much appreciated, thank you for reading.

 

[Corazon]

Check your harddrive's SMART status first - a free app that can do this is Defraggler for example.

If that checks out OK, perform a full memory test next. You can boot from your Windows install disc if you have one, or you should be able to restart the PC and tap F8 until the boot loader menu comes up, it should let you select the memory test from there.

 

[Ferenth]

Hey there.

So I downloaded HDTune and then Defraggler and I attached screenshots of what they found.

I first ran HDTune then Defraggler. Interesting that warnings only showed up in HDT.

Can anyone analyze right off the bat that my HDD needs replacing? I would be happy with that. I guess I'll test the RAM today too.

Cheers,

 

[jcgriff2]

Did a HDD come w/ the new system?

You can always go to BestBuy or other retailer, buy a new HDD, install Windows 7... see what happens. You can return the HDD if its not needed.

You had -0- problems during initial format and Windows 7 installation?

Regards. . .

jcgriff2

`

 

[Ferenth]

Hey there! Thanks for replying.

I have been contemplating just grabbing a new hard drive and re installing to see if that solves the issues.

The initial install didn't go smooth however windows was in the updating process and by that I mean from desktop after installation was finished. I suppose the install was smooth just windows updates were not.

Currently staring at the memory test which is frozen but again I am starting to suspect windows got installed or is running on bad parts of the hard drive.

Since they are cheap should I just go buy a new one and go from there?

 

[Ferenth]

My apologies....I didn't answer your question.

The hard drive was the one I was using in my old system. During the install I said delete partitions and went from there.

I had a suspicion the hard drive was beginning to fail because it had rebooted and performed a check disk while installing updates.

 

[Corazon]

Yes...it has far too many bad sectors. It really is time for a new HD and this will probably solve your crashes too.

 

[Ferenth]

Brand new hard-drive installed everything...windows updates etc.

Running perfectly.

Thanks very much for the advice, I'm glad the failures were due to something simple and cheap.

Cheers,

 

[Corazon]

Glad to be of help. Enjoy your new system

 

[Ferenth]

I guess a minor update is due.

The hard drive was partially the issue however I sent it in because the random restarts continued. This leads me to believe that the issue is a fault piece of hardware.

Hoping I get it back in perfect condition soon and will post the issue so it can be noted by anyone else following this topic.

Cheers