As per title, this happens randomly, but more often than not when I try to open a program - internet - for example. I have noticed that it has only started happening since I started using Google Chrome?!?!? Could this be the cause? When it happens the only course of action is to turn off the computer at the mains, not good! :'(

Sounds like a memory issue.

Download Memtest86, burn it to a CD, stick it in and reboot. Let the tests run!

Sounds like a memory issue.

Download Memtest86, burn it to a CD, stick it in and reboot. Let the tests run!

Preferably leave it running memtest overnight.

If turning it off and on again without turning it off at the mains doesn't fix it then it's not chrome.

I'd check the RAM as said, but also check the PSU.

If turning it off and on again without turning it off at the mains doesn't fix it then it's not chrome.

I'd check the RAM as said, but also check the PSU.

Turing on and off does fix it??

Off and on, without taking the power out at the mains, or does it need that step.

If so, the first thing I'd do is ditch chrome and try Firefox or internet explorer and see if you have the same problems.

+1 on google chrome.

My brothers laptop has been doing this since he installed google chrome

Right, ditched Google chrome and running IE, and..............the fekin thing just froze again!

Well its not relating to Chrome then unfortunately As mentioned above the next best thing to do is a memory test. This will prove whether its an issue with the hardware rather than the software.

Well its not relating to Chrome then unfortunately As mentioned above the next best thing to do is a memory test. This will prove whether its an issue with the hardware rather than the software.

I downloaded the memtest86, but the install instructions aren't very user friendly.....

I downloaded the memtest86, but the install instructions aren't very user friendly.....

If you downloaded it as an ISO image burn it to a cd, bung it in the machine and let it boot from the cd, then it's bloody obvious.

I would use Windows Memory Diagnostics. http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp

That's what Novatech used diagnosing a memory problem I had where Memtest missed it.

I'd check the RAM as said, but also check the PSU.

^^ This

Screw all that m8

Save anything you wanna keep to a usb drive

Get your windows disc

Stick it in

Reinstall windows fresh

Buddy rather than doing all this major work. What operating system are you running? As it may be that sh** load of high consumption program's wish to run in the back ground from start up like iTunes . So a simple tick box could solve your issues.

Screw all that m8

Save anything you wanna keep to a usb drive

Get your windows disc

Stick it in

Reinstall windows fresh

Yeah and if it's a hardware fault it will do the same thing again, and you have wasted 5 hrs, if hardware ok then it's this for **** or bust

Yeah and if it's a hardware fault it will do the same thing again, and you have wasted 5 hrs, if hardware ok then it's this for **** or bust

+1

+1

I was just advising from experience of wasting hours trying to diagose and solve issues

I suppose you could open the pc and reseat the memory chips as they would be the most likely culprit but thought a windows reinstall would rule out any software issues as they are usually the hardest thing to diagnose and fix.

When you are getting seemingly random issues like what was described software is usually where the problem lies. Hardware failure will usually give consistent repeatable issues, not random.

When you are getting seemingly random issues like what was described software is usually where the problem lies. Hardware failure will usually give consistent repeatable issues, not random.

Memory issues can cause seemingly random issues as can a failing PSU.

I would use Windows Memory Diagnostics. http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp

That's what Novatech used diagnosing a memory problem I had where Memtest missed it.

6 of one, novatech missed a memory error where memtest picked it up, but them ran memtest and it got picked up.

At the end of a day, if the software doesn't detect it it's a transient error and they are always hard to pick up.

Lots of non-information in this thread.

You need to start at the beginning with a memory test.

What is your system spec?

Likely memory related. As in windows is loading so much rubbish, you're low on memory.

Start task manager when this happens, and watch the cpu and memory %'s. Also watch what apps are using more than 30,000k of memory when running. Firefox on mine is using a crazy amount of memory when running, as is plugin-container. over 600k between them!

Likely memory related. As in windows is loading so much rubbish, you're low on memory.

Start task manager when this happens, and watch the cpu and memory %'s. Also watch what apps are using more than 30,000k of memory when running. Firefox on mine is using a crazy amount of memory when running, as is plugin-container. over 600k between them!

If windows runs out of RAm it will page, so it's more likely to be a RAM fault than anything else.

30'000k is only 30MB, it's hardly a lot of ram on modern systems with a minimum of 1GB memory.

Lots of non-information in this thread.

You need to start at the beginning with a memory test.

What is your system spec?

Windows XP SP2, 3gb RAM, Pentium 4.

Windows XP SP2, 3gb RAM, Pentium 4.

Must two sticks of RAM in there. You could take out a stick and see how it works, if it still freezes swap the memory over. You would have to do this for for each memory slot as it might be the memory slot is faulty rather than the RAM simm. If it still freezes you will have probably eliminated the RAM as causing the problem (it's unlikely that both simms have developed a fault).

I've had similar problems with freezing caused by dodgy device drivers for the Video card and a failing PSU.

Of course you have to happy about furtling around in the inside of you PC as the RAM simms may not be very easy to get at and don't forget:-

1.to make sure the pc is off and disconnected from the mains

2. You are earthed (touch a radiator or wear a earthing bracelet) before touching anything inside.

Edited 27 October, 201114 yr by io1901