computer crashes, bluescreens, etc

[fralexandr]

Edit: its ram
Memtest turned up a bajillion errors. how could windows diagnostic miss that 😵.

Starting a few weeks ago, My brother's computer has been having some stability issues.

pc originally assembled ~1.2 years ago

OS: windows 7 home premium 64-bit
CPU: i5 3570k stock
Mobo: asrock z77 extreme4
RAM: 2x4gb gskill snipers ddr3 1866 1.5v 9-10-9-28 (running 1600 9-9-9-24, 1.5v)
SSD: ocz vector 4 128gb
HDD: seagate st2000dm001 2tb hdd
GPU: powercolor hd7870 GHz edition
ODD: pioneer bdr-206
PSU: pc power & cooling 600w silencer mkiii
Case: Rosewill Thor V2
Sound: asus xonar dg

Things of note:
speedfan temp readings are all normal
scanned with avira/malwarebytes
windows diagnostic memory tool -> ok
SMART says both drives are healthy
chkdsk /f -> ok
PSU was rma'd in Jan 2013, tech said "input switch improperly installed on to input/output PCB Board!"

today we updated the firmware on the ocz vector 4 to v1.5 & formatted/reinstalled windows 7

since the reinstall there have been:
a few random crashes/restarts (no notice), and a few blue screens while running windows update
netflix.com in particular seems to cause some issues (crashing/etc)
firefox randomly crashes
windows updates hangs installing some files (mostly .net framework stuff)
avira sometimes pops up (when I scan recently downloaded stuff):
the instruction at [] referenced memory at []. the memory could not be read
usb devices sometimes don't load properly on windows start up (unplug -> plug in fixes it)

so, the windows format/reinstall didn't seem to fix anything 🙁.

Thus, it seems likely there's a hardware issue somewhere? but it's unlikely to be ssd/hdd/ram?
Any thoughts/suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

 

[denis280]

Try with whoCrached and be back with result

 

[fralexandr]

I took a nap. Computer no longer gets to windows. Can get to bios. All devices detect correctly. Black screen after. Numlock won't turn off.
Not sure, but computer seemed to crash more and more frequently over time?

Edit seems likely it's ssd?

Computer still loads up windows 7 from dvd

Ocz tools smart data still says drive is fine, something corrupting data really fast? Or drive really dead even though it detects correctly?

 

[stinger608]

Well the OCZ SSD's are notorious for taking a crap. If there is not a ton of stuff on the 2tb drive, partition it and load windows on it and see if the same thing occurs. I have a sneaking suspicion it is the SSD.

 

[fralexandr]

Yeah, I thought the vertex 4 would be fine since it's indilinx instead of sandforce

 

[stinger608]

Not saying that is the issue, I just suspect it to be. Before drawing a conclusion I would install windows on the mechanical drive.

 

[Steltek]

Try booting the system with a linux live CD of your choice and running for a while to see if you have any issues not related to the SSD.

 

[stinger608]

Try booting the system with a linux live CD of your choice and running for a while to see if you have any issues not related to the SSD.

Excellent idea! 🙂

 

[fralexandr]

tried a different ssd, blue screened while installing windows 7. Will try using different cables/ports. Any suggestions on other parts that could be the problem?

Windows installed running whocrashed.
Avira still popping memory errors. Windows update still buggy
Maybe its a memory controller/mobo issue 🙁

Edit: its ram
Memtest turned up a bajillion errors. how could windows diagnostic miss that 😵.

 

[stinger608]

Memtest is a much better program for diagnosing memory issues.

At least now you know. RMA the memory. G.Skill has a lifetime warranty on their ram. I don't believe you even have to be the original owner. I RMA'd some Sniper ram a year or so ago and it went smooth as silk.