My computer crashes :(

[RSW]

My computer consistently crashes while I am browsing the Internet. It happens regardless of whether I'm using Firefox or IE. It varies how long it takes to happen...as quickly as one minute or as long as 20.

It ALWAYS happens right at the moment when I am going from one site to another. I can hang out in Gchat or Desktop Tower Defense with no problems, but it seems as though each time I type in a new web address or click a hyperlink, there is a risk of a crash. There don't seem to be any particular sites that trigger it.

When the computer crashes, EVERYTHING freezes...the mouse pointer is stuck, CTRL-ALT-DEL does nothing, the only option is to pull the plug. I am starting to have files corrupted from doing so.

I turned off most of the programs I had running at startup...didn't help.

I have run EVERY anti-virus program I could find, even the Windows Care one, and nothing substantial has come up. I'm a little reluctant to call up Geek Squad and pay for them to do the same thing.

Does ANYONE know what might be the problem with my computer?

I just got Verizon FIOS--is there any reason to think this might be related? (I don't see how Internet connection would actually crash a PC)

Thanks in advance.

 

[Newman]

If it is possible to borrow another computer and try it at home, or try to connect your computer at a friend's, you'd know if it has to do with your connection. I don't think so, but you'd be sure.

 

[RSW]

If it is possible to borrow another computer and try it at home, or try to connect your computer at a friend's, you'd know if it has to do with your connection. I don't think so, but you'd be sure.

That's a good plan, I will try that.

Fifty2One: if my browser were looking for an old connection, how would I change that? I have the latest versions of FF and IE.

 

[boblarson]

Which Windows version ar you running?

Also, it almost sounds like a power supply problem and not an Internet browsing problem. You may want to check out a new power supply. There are testers you can purchase for about $10-$20 USD to test them to make sure you have enough power being generated. Also, be sure to add up how much power you're actually using - remember that each USB connection you add sucks more power from it as well, and too low of a Wattage power supply may actually be your problem.

I speak from experience on that one. I used to run on the normal 300W one that came with the computer. But I've gone to using AT LEAST a 400W now. But, before I would experience things just like you are describing.

 

[boblarson]

I never went to IE7 because a friend warned me that it is as problematic as IE4 was...

Funny, I've not had any problems that I'm aware of with IE7. In fact, I actually like it a lot and hate to come to work where I don't have it.

 

[RSW]

Which Windows version ar you running?

Also, it almost sounds like a power supply problem and not an Internet browsing problem. You may want to check out a new power supply. There are testers you can purchase for about $10-$20 USD to test them to make sure you have enough power being generated.

That's a really good idea.

Although I do have a UPS that should still work, and the problem ONLY occurs when transitioning from one site to another. But the PC is plugged into a weird outlet right now that's on a pretty heavily used circuit.

 

[RSW]

I connected everything to a different outlet/circuit...no change.

I rolled back System Restore to two months ago, when I was most definitely not having this problem...didn't change a thing.

I REALLY don't want to spend money to call up some kid from Geek Squad who likely knows less about computers than I do.

I know this is an Access-centric forum (and a great one), but...does anyone know of a good forum where someone might be able to fix my problem? I REALLY don't want to have to buy a new PC over this...but...This is my third time trying to post this, my PC froze on the way the last two times.

 

[The_Doc_Man]

As a back-door thought about what could be doing this, how much memory do you have and do you have the equivalent of at least 1/2 of that amount of memory (or at least 1/2 Gb) of swap space? In Control Panel >> System, you can piddle around to find your VIRTUAL MEMORY settings including how big your swap file can grow.

I would also suggest not just an Anti-Virus but also an Anti-Spyware scan. My wife's machine got really nasty because of a spyware product that used the "wingman" method. TWO copies of this nasty little bastard ran at the same time. If you got fancy and tried to kill one from the Task Manager, before you could click to the other one, it had spawned TWENTY COPIES OF ITSELF. Eventually, the excess copies died - until it got to TWO again. That can jangle up your memory in a heartbeat, but an anti-virus scan won't always pick that up. Different signatures, as I recall.

 

[boblarson]

I know you are telling me that it only happens when doing websites, but I challenge you to either get your power supply tested or pull one from another computer and put it in. The symptoms you describe are EXACTLY what I experienced when I had power supply problems and when I put in a new PS it worked great.

You said that you don't want to buy another PC, and I agree, as you really need to test the power supply before anything else.

 

[Minkey]

There is another possible explanation - heat. So just to rule it out can you check all your fans are running and try running your PC without the case on.

 

[RSW]

Just ordered a pretty good PS tester. I will also look into the heat issue. It's really bad now--I am using my Wii to post this

 

[RSW]

I just tested my power supply, with a pretty good tester. Everything was A-OK.

Does anyone have any other ideas what might be causing this? Or any other forums where I might find assistance?

 

[rainman89]

I just tested my power supply, with a pretty good tester. Everything was A-OK.

Does anyone have any other ideas what might be causing this? Or any other forums where I might find assistance?

There are numerous things that can cause crashes. since you rulled out powersupply( which since it is freezing and not shutting down it wouldnt be the problem) heat or memory problems are probably your next best bet

 

[Minkey]

Does anyone have any other ideas what might be causing this?

Have you tried running the machine without the cover and checking all the fans are running ?

Also if you have 2 sticks of memory try with only 1 in each slot then the other one and you will find out if you have a memory fault.

You could also try a windows repair though to be honest it looks more like a hardware related problem.

 

[rainman89]

Have you tried running the machine without the cover and checking all the fans are running ?

Also if you have 2 sticks of memory try with only 1 in each slot then the other one and you will find out if you have a memory fault.

You could also try a windows repair though to be honest it looks more like a hardware related problem.

you can download knoppix burn to a cd and run that . they have a memtest option that will stress your mem to see if it is going bad

 

[RSW]

you can download knoppix burn to a cd and run that . they have a memtest option that will stress your mem to see if it is going bad

Thanks all, I will try these ideas.

Also, I just noticed I can't seem to save anything to my hard drive! If I click on an image, select "Save Image As..." and then put it into a directory, it seems to work but then, lo and behold, it's not saved there. Is this related??

You could also try a windows repair though to be honest it looks more like a hardware related problem.

I'm not sure I agree it's hardware, since it only, only only happens when clicking from one online page to another. (Note: I've found that the more complex the page being loaded, the more likely the error is to occur.)

 

[RSW]

Now my computer has decided not to let me access any https:// page.

This is ridiculous.

 

[rainman89]

clean install of the OS!!! NOWWWW

 

[The_Doc_Man]

I second rainman's motion. But I'll be more specific.

Physically pull the internet plug. Make a list of what is installed on your machine. See your Add/Remove Programs list, take good notes. Or take a screenshot if you can. Save what data files you can. Slick the disk down to nothing. Re-install your O/S from protected media. An original release kit if possible, but whatever you can do is what you can do. Re-install any and all of your applications for which you have release kits. The latter is probably a tough step, very time-consuming. I wouldn't suggest it lightly, but you are in an extreme situation.

Now, before you connect to the internet, see if your vendor has placed any sort of local diagnostics on board. On my HP box, I've got a copy of something called PCDoctor, which does some nice tests on memory and disks. In particular, you need to run pattern tests for memory and disk.

If you have an anti-virus kit on a protected source, install it now. Go online and the first things you need to do are to visit the Windows and anti-virus web sites to download everything you can to patch your O/S and update your viral signature database.

If and ONLY if that all gets done, start working with your system online again.

 

[RSW]

Just to let you all know--

I found a refurbished PC, same model I already have, for $200 on EBay. At that price I figured it would be better to just spend the money as opposed to spending MORE time and effort on this very frustrating problem.

My plan is to re-install the software I care about from CDs, and put the new PC on the Internet right away, but not move any potentially infected files from one PC to another. (The old PC still works FINE if it's not online, but I'd need a new monitor, keyboard etc if I wanted to have them both hooked up.)

Let me know if you have any other advice.
Thanks to everyone for all your help.