Programs keep crashing: IE, MSN, AIM, Explorer

[stogez]

So last night I was playing Neverwinter Nights 2. Havent played anything in a while and just started the game because I was bored. It ran for 15 mins or so and then my comp just shut down. No reboot, just cold, dead shutdown.
I thought maybe something overheated but everything was normal in BIOS. Booted up into Windows XP. Ran fine for a little while but then stuff just started giving errors and crashing. AIM, MSN would run for a while but would just give error and die without me even doing anything.
When I try to open IE, it just crashes. I've ran AVG Scan and TrendMicro online scan. Both found couple of things that were cleaned. Firefox seems to run just fine though.
The problems still exist. I can post a HijackThis log if that helps. Could this be from hardware failure?
I can post any more info that you guys need.
Thanks in advance.

 

[Zepper]

Reseat your memory modules and make sure the power cord from the wall is seated tightly at both ends. Double check all power connections within your PC as well.

Did you do the virus checks from Safe Mode? Also do spyware/adware checks from Safe Mode. Use at least two Spyware/Adware checkers - I use at least three. Spybot and Adaware are my two main choices for that.

You could also use the Ultimate Boot CD for Win to check for nasties - booting from that makes it 100% sure that no nasties could load before the scan tools.

.bh.

 

[stogez]

Yeah I thought maybe its memory problems. I'm going to reboot and run memtest of the RAM. Why would it only cause problems in certain programs though?

 

[Zepper]

Have to hit certain memory addresses.

.bh.

 

[stogez]

RAM tested fine. AV in safe mode doesn't find anything. Going to run spybot next.
Any other ideas?

 

[stogez]

Cleaned up everything that AV and Spybot found. Reinstalled AIM and MSN messenger and even upgraded to IE7. Still have the same problems.
No idea what else it could be. Not used to getting viruses and getting rid of them. But can't help what brothers do on here
Anyone have any more suggestions short of formatting?

 

[Chapbass]

maybe try running some diags on your hard drive?


in a weird sense, maybe its the sector on yer hdd that those programs are installed to....but then again you did reinstall it, and i wouldnt think that itd be on the same sector...but maybe its worth a try...


just going out on a limb...

 

[btcomm1]

How many passes did you let memtest go through?

I had a computer that would test fine for the first 2-3 passes then it started getting errors. It repeated this more then once.

I replaced the ram and let it go for over 20 passes with no problems so I would say even though it passed the first 2-3 run throughs it was still bad ram.

 

[stogez]

Yeah I was thinking about the HDD. Any suggestions on what to use? Or would any scan do fine?
I ran it for 2 passes but I guess I'll let it run overnight.

 

[btcomm1]

Definitely let it run overnight. Also you might want to look on your motherboard for leaking or bulging capacitors, or any damage to your motherboard. Bad capacitors will causing problems like this.

http://www.badcaps.net/Ident/

 

[stogez]

OK this is just weird. I can't find anything wrong but the problems are still there
The RAM tested fine overnight. Spybot and AVG don't find anything besides a couple of cookies.
The board looks fine. No bulging or leaking caps. There is no dust in the system since I just cleaned it a week or so ago.
I tried checking the boot HDD with scandisk but it says it can't finish scanning the disc after Pass 2. Tested the drive with WD Diagonostic tool and it Passes. I'm not sure if even the HDD would cause the errors since I reinstalled the programs.
Anyone else got any more suggestions? Don't have the time right now to format and reinstall everything...

 

[python023]

Perhaps some system files on the HDD have been corrupted?
If all your hardware checks out and you have reinstalled your software that is the only thing I can think of.
A reformat would probably be necessary...

 

[core2kid]

Try to use Prevx antivirus, They have a free 30 Day trial. I used it when I had a virus that would do such things to my computer and it removed them all without needing to reformat
http://www.prevx.com/. Post if it helps any