computer and programs halting...

[tylerjca]

Hi,
I've been getting extremely frustrated with this. I have a Pentium 4 3.0Ghz in an Asus P4V8X-MX Mainboard with 768MB DDR RAM (256MB and 512MB modules).

The problem:
1) It halts whenever I try to play GTA: San Andreas (Gives me the Blue screen of death and reboots).

2) Window Live Messenger will *out of nowhere* halt and ask me to send an error report to Microsoft. (I can only use MSN Messenger 7.5 or it just won't work).

3) Windows Media player 10 does the same thing as above.. but not as often.

4) It won't recognize my wireless keyboard/mouse combo in ANY of the onboard USB 2.0 ports. I have a USB2.0 + Firewire PCI card installed and that's the only way it'll work unless I use the USB-to-PS/2 connector, but that means I can only use the keyboard.

5) Randomly.. and I do mean randomly, the computer with just reboot. Simple as that. It's like the reset button on the front was pressed. But it never was.

At first I thought maybe if I switched the video cards it would help.. but nope. I tried the onboard video, an NVidia card, and now an ATI Radeon card. Same problem. I have also tried formatting and reinstalling Windows XP SP2.. but still.. same problem..

Is it possible that the CPU is bad? or maybe the memory?

I really hope someone can help me with this because I don't think my desk can take any more fists:confused:

Thanks in advance

[_Aerospace_Eng_]

Did you build the system yourself or was it prebuilt when you bought it?

[oracleguy]

CPUs generally don't just go bad (with the exception of them overheating due to overclocking or other weird events). The memory, maybe, you can download a free program called memtest86 and run that to see.

With so many problems, my first suspect would be the motherboard assuming the memory checks out. If you have a spare power supply, that would be a good thing to try as well if you can't easily test the components in a new motherboard.

[tylerjca]

Yeah actually It's probably the memory. A minute ago I just got a message saying "The system has just recovered from a serious error" and directed me to a page that stated there is a problem in my RAM... so I'm gonna try other memory modules..

[tylerjca]

okay i've tried a new memory module...512MB PC3200 (the old one was PC2700). This time everything EXCEPT GTA: SA worked prefect. However, this time the computer FINALLY gave me an error report saying the video card driver is bad.. so I guess I have 3 crapped out video cards and 2 bad memory modules.

geez... now i gotta order more parts.. :mad:

But thanks for the replies:thumbsup:

[Aradon]

Go through a lightning storm recently? Or is it just too hot where you are :P

[oracleguy]

I wouldn't put a lot of stock in those "windows has recovered from a serious error" messages. Did you actually run the memory tester program I suggest on the older memory? Just because windows *thinks* that the RAM was at fault, doesn't mean that it is necessarily the cause.

Regarding the video card, what type of card do you have? And how up to date are the drivers? If the drivers are really old, that might be the cause of the blue screen of death.

[tylerjca]

memory test found the memory cards were fine.. but after changing the membory card, a few things started working properly... all that's left is the video card... which is a Sapphire ATI Radeon 9550... Originally I assumed the CD that came with it had updated drivers, but they are from 2005. I'm installing the 2006 drivers right now and I'll see what happens.

[tylerjca]

well... that was a bust... I installed the updated drivers and it made the situation worse... it just reboots sooner than it originally did.. I can't even get to where i start walking towards the bike (in GTA: SA)