Computer Problems - Bad luck. HELP Please!

[Killasta43]

I have had so many computer problems it is unbelievable. It is all from bad luck I guess. My first custom build had a restarting problem and I never was able to fix it, so I just took it apart and sold all of the parts.

Well I built a new PC in February(the one in my sig) and it had blue screen problems and would restart constantly. I finally got it working stable, and guess what! A water pipe burst above my computer and ruined most of the hardware inside. I sent all of the parts back and received new ones. I put the parts back together about a month ago. I bought a new OCZ Powerstream for the PC, and then that went out. So I had to send it back to OCZ for a new one and then put it together AGAIN.

Well now that everything is together, my bad luck can't let me down, can it? About a week ago my computer started getting blue screens and games would crash constantly, and not due to low system specs. I switched the RAM settings to default to see if that was it and I have not had any crashes since then (My RAM is supposed to be able to run at 2-2-2-5, but at default I have to run it at 2.5-3-3-5).

Now, low and behold, my system has random lockups. This is very frustrating because I can't even ctrl+alt+del, I have to completely restart it.

I do still have the motherboard that was in the flood, but I sent it back to the company I got it from and they ran tests, and they said it ran great. Everything else I returned and received new stuff, so I am lost.

I don't know what it could be and I am sick and tired of having computer problems - I just want to be able to enjoy my games! I have not been able to do that for the past year and a half.

I would appreciate some help or suggestions.

Thanx,
Justin

 

[Killasta43]

I would appreciate some help from anyone. My computer keeps freezing/locking up, and I was wondering what piece of hardware in a computer is the most likely to be the cause. My computer doesn't freeze when I play Counter-Strike: Source, but when I do anything else it freezes after a bit....very, very odd.

 

[Killasta43]

*BUMP*

 

[Hough NutZ]

Originally posted by: Killasta43I do still have the motherboard that was in the flood, but I sent it back to the company I got it from and they ran tests, and they said it ran great. Everything else I returned and received new stuff, so I am lost.

I'd blame the motherboard then.

 

[Killasta43]

Yea. But is it possible for a motherboard to cause lockups? I checked for bad sectors on my hdd, and found 0.

 

[Killasta43]

Could anyone else please help me out here? I am getting VERY frustrated with this piece of crap computer. I have had nothing but trouble with my past two computers and am about ready to just give up the hobby all together.

The only thing I can think of that would make the computer freeze would be the RAM....if anyone could please leave some input I would appreciate it.....

The computer I am having problems with is the one in my sig.

 

[Killasta43]

PLEASE!

 

[w00t]

run memtest on floppy.

is that the latest bios?

 

[sniperruff]

put everything at stock speeds... and did you flash your bios? things are supposed to run perfectly right out of boxes.

 

[Deinonych]

Try downgrading to an older BIOS. I'm running 1008 without any problems. YMMV.

 

[Killasta43]

1013 is the latest BIOS, yes. I have everything at stock speeds as well. And I don't believe downgrading would do anything because I had 1013 for about 2 weeks and my PC was running fine.

I will try the memtest thing once I find a floppy though.

 

[aatf510]

Originally posted by: Killasta43
1013 is the latest BIOS, yes. I have everything at stock speeds as well. And I don't believe downgrading would do anything because I had 1013 for about 2 weeks and my PC was running fine.

I will try the memtest thing once I find a floppy though.

You don't have to use a floppy for Memtest86+, a CD-R would do the same.
Also, you should run Prime95 for 8+ hours also.

 

[Killasta43]

Could you give me any links to either one of those please?

Thanx.

 

[aatf510]

Memtest86+
http://www.memtest.org/
Roll down and down to download "Download - Pre-Compiled Bootable ISO (.zip)"

Prime95
http://www.mersenne.org/freesoft.htm

 

[Chiller2]

I would replace the MOBO.

 

[Killasta43]

I ran both Memtest 86+ and Prime95. Both had 0 errors. Memtest was 42 passes/0 errors.
I have also been experiencing some slight freeze ups during POST, so I am pretty sure it is my motherboard.

 

[Overkiller]

With a memtest pass/failure rate of that I would go with your PSU (which you said you received a new one recently) or your mobo which they said " ran great "

I would say the motherboard or perhaps even the PROCESSOR.

Have you overclocked it at all? Is it receiving enough voltate/too much? Do you have a spare cpu to swap?

 

[Killasta43]

It very well could be the processor, but the funny thing is, I can run Counter-Strike Source forever without my computer freezing up. If I am out of that game my computer freezes randomly. I checked the PSU rails, ran the memtest, ran Western Digital Lifeguard (0 bad sectors), reflashed BIOS, everything is stock/default (not OC'd). I have my mic plugged in and when my computer freezes up I can still talk into it and hear myself from the speakers :s. I don't know what the deal with that is.

 

[thescreensavers]

I dont know just give it a try. maby you keep geting viruses and stuff disconect your comp from the intenet and reinstall windows. and see what happens its worth a try maby someone is flooding you with spyware or you just have bad luck like me I thought I had the worst bad luck with hardware software i am fine I thout I had it the worst but acctualy you do. out of no were my laptop dies and my friends comp when I was testing my part for some reson it had prblmes I had to fix we could not fix it so i steped out he took the parts out put it in and it worked flawlasly. I am frekin cursed.

 

[imported_yeahyeah]

If you've replaced everything but the motherboard and you're still having problems, it's probably the motherboard. But if you've had two different computers and have had problems with both, the only constants are your environment and you. So if it's not the motherboard, it could be something with where you live (power surges/brownouts, static electricity) or how you handle the components.

Or you could have some bad mojo.

 

[Killasta43]

lol. I think I just have bad luck :/ I keep my room a good temperature, I handle the parts with obsessive care, I keep my air clean from dust, hair, etc, and I don't OC.....

idk....I am in the process of sending my motherboard back to Monarch, we will see what they have to say *sigh*

 

[Killasta43]

I have reformatted twice...no luck...