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Since getting a new hard drive a few weeks back, I've been getting crashes every 10-20 minutes in games. I'm using XP, have 256 MB RAM and a Radeon 9600 card--just got the drivers updated; still having the problem. I've got minimal TSRs running, just what's required by the system. These aren't crashes to the desktop, but full reboots. Any idea what might be causing 'em?

Are these instant reboots or BSOD's?

Which games?

You might also have the Sasser worm.

Originally posted by fable
-snip-
I'm using XP, have 256 MB RAM and a Radeon 9600 card--just got the drivers updated; still having the problem. -snip-

Did you have the problem before updating drivers? And what DirectX version are you running?.

You sure that the Harddrive isn't faulty - if you have any means of testing it in another machine try it.

Minimal TSR? - does that include any firewall/anti-virus system? if yes - which one?

Do you ever suffer from dizzyness?

Originally posted by Mr Flibble
Are these instant reboots or BSOD's?

Instant reboots.

Did you have the problem before updating drivers? And what DirectX version are you running?.

You sure that the Harddrive isn't faulty - if you have any means of testing it in another machine try it.

Minimal TSR? - does that include any firewall/anti-virus system? if yes - which one?

I had the problem since acquiring the new drive. DirectX 9.1. The harddrive is good; it only happens during games. No, anti-virus systems are hardly minimal TSR, are they?

You might also have the Sasser worm.

Ran a virus sweep with a good, uptodate checker. Nadda.

Do you ever suffer from dizzyness?

Who let you in?

Originally posted by fable


Do you ever suffer from dizzyness?

Who let you in?

What?
Everybody was asking all those questions so I thought I'd do the same.

Next question: what make and rating is your power supply?

The Radeon card will definitely be drawing a lot of power, and if you've gone from a 5400rpm drive to 7200rpm your power supply may not be up to the task, especially if the problem only occurs in games. I'd recommend at least 350W these days. If you've got a 300W or less expect crashes.

What Harddrive is it?

The reboots could also indicate a heating problem (especially) for the CPU, although I find it wierd if it happened at the same time you installed new HD.
(Have had similar events over the years myself)

Originally posted by fable
<snip> No, anti-virus systems are hardly minimal TSR, are they?
<snip>

Well - they are to me . I always run firewall/antivirus on this computer - so it is part of my "minimal" TSR
only "auto-protect" in the antivirus is disabled (cause it messed with my games, causing them to crash).

A new cooler should help if it is overheating.

Try reconfiguring your hd, it may be some jumper stuff...

Originally posted by Mr Flibble
Next question: what make and rating is your power supply?

The Radeon card will definitely be drawing a lot of power, and if you've gone from a 5400rpm drive to 7200rpm your power supply may not be up to the task, especially if the problem only occurs in games. I'd recommend at least 350W these days. If you've got a 300W or less expect crashes.

Only in games, though, @Flibble? I mean, what you say makes sense, but don't have those problems from the desktop, or using any apps.

Try reconfiguring your hd, it may be some jumper stuff...

I'll have to speak with my tech guy about that, too.

The reason you might experience such problems only in games (or mostly, eventually if it is heating/powersupply) is because games usually runs using more capacity of a computer then normal applications.
It causes more "strain" on the computer, so to speak, running games. You will generally see a higher level of heat and powerusage during games.



I doubt it is a jumper issue on your harddrive, usually the jumpers are requiered to set the harddrive between the modes of "Master" and "Slave" and sometimes "Single". If these aren't set correct, it would resolve in the computer have difficulties in even finding the harddrive in bios and at boot.

Could it have something to do with you Radeon card? I had some similiars problems with Riva TNT 2, but those disappeared when I changed it.

Originally posted by fable
Since getting a new hard drive a few weeks back, I've been getting crashes every 10-20 minutes in games. I'm using XP, have 256 MB RAM and a Radeon 9600 card--just got the drivers updated; still having the problem. I've got minimal TSRs running, just what's required by the system. These aren't crashes to the desktop, but full reboots. Any idea what might be causing 'em?

I started experiencing problems (generally sound freaks out with or without hard lock-up of the computer) after updating DirectX - Arghhhh.... blasted Microsoft and its %W$%$@ updates - I swear every patch/update they release breaks as much as it fixes. *sigh*

Re: Re: Crashes in games

Originally posted by Sojourner
I started experiencing problems (generally sound freaks out with or without hard lock-up of the computer) after updating DirectX - Arghhhh.... blasted Microsoft and its %W$%$@ updates - I swear every patch/update they release breaks as much as it fixes. *sigh*

I usually have problems when upgrading my Direct X also - but thoese are often just connected with the graphics drivers, so I mess around trying to find the "optimal" driver. (which isn't always the newest driver out there).

So when messing with Direct X, get some graphics drivers to play around with also. It might help most problems.

Does ATI have a firmware update or video BIOS flash?

You might also have a heat issue with the video card. A buddy of mine has a Radeon 9600XT and says it gives off a lot of heat. He also had crashes when playing things like Painkiller and Farcry. He put an aftermarked cooler on the GPU and his instability problems went away.

Make sure you have good airflow in and around your case. I don't think ATI ships cards with substandard coolers on them, but there's not a lot of space in a single AGP slot, so they may have some cooling issues. Put an extra case fan in (or two) and make sure the case is venting all of the hot air.

If you want more geek points, you can shell out $200 for a liquid cooling system.