crash every few seconds

[jamesbrown]

I've just built a new PC. Had many drama's along the way but that's another story. Anyway i eventually manage to install windows vista on this lovely new machine. And now whenever i try to do something it just crashes. Not just not responding it's the kind of crash that means i can't even move the mouse.

 

The only thing to do is re-boot, and sometimes windows refuses to boot so i have to go into safe mode then sit around a bit and then try again.

 

I can't install software without is crashing and i can't formate my new hardrives that i've installed.

 

Is this problem virus or software related? I have avg installed which i got on the system before the problems started occuring. I have a genuin version of windows vista which i bought, but it didn't come in a fancy windows vista case it just came in some rubbishy cardboard thingy.

 

The big question is, is the problem hardware, or software related?

 

Frequent crashes....--can't move the mouse or type!

 

What a great christmas present!

 

Please help, thankyou!

[BeeCeeBee]

Hi James

 

At 12:14 you reported success with one problem. At 12:19 you posted this. Are you running into a string of bad luck.

 

If you suspect malware, you should run our full anti malware program and hopefully that will solve the problem.

Your computer could be infected with Malware.

 

• Malware is software designed to infiltrate or damage a computer system without the owner's informed consent.
  It is a combination of the words malicious and software.
  The expression is a general term used by computer professionals to mean a variety of forms of hostile, intrusive, or annoying software or program code.
  

 

• Required Cleanup Steps
  
  1. Disable the Spybot Search & Destroy TEA TIMER if you use it and if it is enabled
     
  2. Run a Temporary file and cache cleaner (ATF)
     
  3. Run 2 Anti-Malware scanners (Listed Below)
     
  4. Run an Online Anti-Virus / Anti-Malware Scanner (Listed Below)
     
  5. Clear out old System Restore points
     
  6. If continued Malware type activity is present you may be asked to post a TrendMicro™ HijackThis™ Log file, do not do so unless requested.
     

   

The reason to run multiple scanners is to ensure that no single scanner is missing something.

The time it takes will vary depending on your system and your internet connection speed.

Typically the SUPERAntiSpyware and Malwarebytes scanners will take between 10 to 90 minutes.

The ESET online scan should take between 1 to 3 hours.

In most cases, these scans will suffice to clean and disinfect your computer.

Heavily infected systems or slower PCs can take much longer to scan and clean.

 

For best results print the following instructions and bookmark this Web page

To keep this guide printer-friendly, use your cursor to highlight the contents below.

From your browser select File - Print and in the printer dialog box under "Print range"

click the

Selection

choice to print out these instructions for removal of malware.

 

 

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn266/FPCH/Malware%20Guide/printer-selection.gif

 

____________________________________________

STEP 1

• Disable Spybot Search & Destroys' TEA TIMER: (if installed, if not go to Step 2)
  
  
  1. Run Spybot-S&D in Advanced Mode.
     
     
  2. If it is not already set to do this Go to the Mode menu select "Advanced Mode"
     
     
  3. On the left hand side, Click on Tools
     
     
  4. Then click on the Resident Icon in the List
     
     
  5. Uncheck "Resident TeaTimer" and OK any prompts.
     
     
  6. Restart your computer.
     
     
   

__________________________________________________

STEP 2

• Follow these instructions carefully.
  
  
• Download ATF-Cleaner from
  Snapfiles.com
  to remove un-needed temporary files from your computer that may contain malware.
  
  
• When you run ATF-Cleaner, check the items as shown below for Main.
  
  
• For FireFox, be sure to click on the FireFox tab on top and check the items as shown below for FireFox
  
  
• NOTE:
  If you don't have FireFox or Opera installed then they will be grayed out and can be ignored
  
  
• Then click on "Empty Selected".
  
  

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn266/FPCH/Malware%20Guide/atf-cleaner01.gif

.

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn266/FPCH/Malware%20Guide/atf-cleaner02.gif

__________________________________________________

STEP 3

• Install and run the free version (not the Professional version) of SUPERAntiSpyware from
  SUPERAntiSpyware.com
  
  
  • Accept any prompts to allow SUPERAntiSpyware to install the latest rules and infection definition files.
    
    
  • You do not have to send them your e-mail address, just click next.
    
    
  • You can leave the automated check for updates on.
    
    
  • You can uncheck "Send a diagnostic report to research center" if you don't want to send the information.
    
    
  • DO NOT
    allow SUPERAntiSpyware to protect your Home Page settings.
    
    
  • On the
    Top Left
    select the
    Scan your computer
    button.
    
    
  • Make sure there is a CHECK MARK on all
    Fixed Drives
    .
    
    
  • Click "Perform a Complete Scan". Click "Next" to Repair issues found and reboot the computer when prompted to do so.
    
    
   

__________________________________________________

STEP 4

• Install and run
  Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
  from
  Malwarebytes - (direct download)
  
  
  • Accept all defaults for the installer
    
    
  • Allow the program to update the definitions
    
    
  • Click on the
    Quick Scan
    and click Next.
    
    
  • If any items are found allow it to clean them and then Reboot your computer.
    
    
   

__________________________________________________

STEP 5

• Run an online scan with ESET from
  Free Virus Scan: Use ESET's Online Antivirus Scanner
  
  
  • You
    must
    use Internet Explorer for this online scan. FireFox, Opera, etc will not work for this scan.
    
    
  • If your computer is running Window's Vista, then you
    must first
    start Internet Explorer as an Administrator. To do so, right-click on the
    Internet Explorer
    icon in the Start Menu and select "
    Run as administrator
    " from the popup context menu.
    
    
   
  • Accept the terms and click "Start".
    
    
  • Once the scanner is ready, check "Remove found threats" AND "Scan unwanted applications".
    
    
  • Click "Start" to begin the scan.
    
    
  • When completed restart your computer
    
    
   

__________________________________________________

Make sure your internet firewall security is enabled, and then please return to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help and tell us how the computer seems to be operating.

At that time, you will receive instructions to assist you in removing malicious programs from your Add/Remove program list if warranted.

 

If required this is the download link for TrendMicro™ HijackThis™

Unless instructed to by the Technician helping you then do not download this tool.

 

Once you and the Technician agree that your system appears to be clean then you should delete all your System Restore points and recreate a new one.

Please follow the instructions here

How to turn off and turn on System Restore in Windows XP

How to turn off and turn on System Restore in Windows Vista

[Goku]

Hello James. I would hazard a guess that your problems are hardware related but I might be wrong. In either case, I am a complete dunce when it comes to hardware so please be patient till the experts come and review your problem. Thank you for your patience and co-operation. :)

 

-- Goku

[DirtyPolo]

Hey james, you'e not having much luck with this build :P

But don't worry, every build is different and each is a new learning curve for everyone!

 

I would say the same as Goku that it is a hardware problem as you have just built it and unless you can download enough malware to harm your system in the few minutes between your posts then yeah :P

 

Just to put your mind at rest about your windows CD, I'm guessing you bought OEM Vista, which means it doesn't need a big fancy case as it's not meant to go to a public consumer :P

So don't worry about that.

As for your problem,

 

How often does it happen? Could you post us your PC spec please aswell, CPU, Motherboard, GPU, PSU, the works please :P

 

And don't let it get to you, it will be a great christmas present when you've got it working :P

trust me :D

 

Every pc builder gets their problems but if you buy them in a store, all that happens behind the scenes before it gets to you :P

[Tony D]

It could be a problem with your RAM. If you have more than one stick, pull one of the sticks at a time and see if the results differ.

[jamesbrown]

sure

 

many thanks to all who have posted during their christmas.

I will try all the anti-malware methods above.

To those who wanted to know the spec of my new system, here it is:

 

Intel Core2 Quad prossesor,

Gigabyte ATX Intel Socket 775 8-Channel Audio ATX Motherboard,

Seagate HDD 1TB hardrive,

OEM SATA 500GB hardrive,

Dual DDR2 4GB RAM kit,

700w X-power powersupply,

ICUTE JET ATX case,

2X -SAMSUNG internal DVDRW burner,

Windows vista ultimate,

2X 19inch TFT monitors,

wirless desktop - keyboard mouse etc.

Nvidia 9800GT 1GB graphics card,

 

As you can see.....it's a very powerful and expensive system. All the parts were sort of a christmas present so i'm really intent on getting this thing working. I have my doupts about malware because it hasn't been in use long enough, but you never know what could have got on there in the short amount of time it had without AVG. I'm also worried about the CPU heatsink, i have had it pop off from time to time, luckily when the pc wasn't running. All help would be much apreciated!

 

Merry christmas to you all!

[BeeCeeBee]

Kelly may be on to something. While I have never built a PC I have factory built hundreds of servers. Improperly seating DIMMs or memory sticks is a major cause for initial failure.

 

I would suggest that you remove and reseat any DIMMS regardless of whether they look ok or not. Never insert them one end at a time. Always equal pressure. If there are clips make sure they are fully closed.

 

Hopefully it is something that simple.

[jamesbrown]

ram

 

I will try the RAM method. When i installed them i was very careful to provide equil pressure to the sticks as i installed them. I had no problems installing them. They are nicely seated at present but i will take them out and tinker.

 

I've just done a system restore point, which will take the system back to before i installed just over 40 updates from windows (new system so loads of updates)

 

I will re-instal all the important ones from windows, and not install anything i might not need.

 

Many thanks,

 

p.s.

System restore is still happening btw. I will have to wait for the results!

[DirtyPolo]

Hey james, about your heatsink,

 

I'm guessing you are using the standard heatsink for your processor, that is fine if you do not wish to overclock your system.

 

Just make sure that the pins are rotated the correct way before pushing them into the mobo, I also had this problem with my Arctic cooling heatsink lol, I rotated the pins the wrong way and it never fitted in until I turned them round and it went in like a dream! :)

 

Just check with the instructions and the pins, as the instructions may say rotate them clockwise but the arrows ion the pins themselves point anti clockwise, showing the way tot urn them to take the heatsink OUT, thats the mistake I made :P Followed the pins not the instructions.

[jamesbrown]

the story so far

 

thanks about the heatsink help. I did realise the other day that i was following the arrows and not the instructions!!

 

I now can no longer get windows to load (i get the windows loading screen but then no lovely shiny vista orb just horrible horrible blackness)

 

I have tryed loading from settings that previously worked, i've done system restore......all to no effect. I am now going back to scratch and reintstalling windows.

 

I do hope that whatever is happening now won't happen again, i just wish i new the cause!!! could be anything, but even on the rare occaisions when i could get vista to work it would freeze totally after a few seconds.

 

I've formatted my drives and i'm reinstalling now. Any tips would be greatly apreciated :)

 

thankyou to all who posted here, anymore would be greatly welcomed! :)

[DirtyPolo]

Have you done as Kelly suggested?

If it is a problem with your RAM then that will be worth checking.

 

You have 4GB, if that is 4x1GB sticks, take 3 out and try booting up on 1, and then shut down and swap to the next stick, and so on until one of them doesnt work, same if you have 2x2GB sticks.

 

but only try this once you have windows installed lol.

 

Let us now how you get on :)