HELP! Computer restarts after opening games/programs

[NYJimbo]

Gotta agree. If you sign up with a repair professionals forum and your first thread is about fixing a BSOD on your own system? Shenanigans.

I think a few more posts and we should be able to see what he really is. His domain is only 6 months old, so he's probably just a new tech. But yeah, we might have to call Shenanigans on this one.

 

[technicallygeniussj]

I think a few more posts and we should be able to see what he really is. His domain is only 6 months old, so he's probably just a new tech. But yeah, we might have to call Shenanigans on this one.

Ok so here's the situation. I started a computer repair business with a childhood friend of mine. He bailed out when a different opportunity regarding college aroused so I was left to figure all this out on my own. Now for the past 6 months I have basically learned everything I know, including the little HTML to build the website from scratch. I used to be somebody that knew NOTHING about computers, and am now trying to keep my business afloat learning things as I go.

As for this "shenanigans", its not shenanigans, I am a technician and yes I am inexperienced but I thought this forum was for Tech-to-Tech support

Anyways, I stopped posting at about 5am last night and am working on a solution again. I was running 3x4gb corsair vengeance ram sticks, one of which was purchased and installed 2 days ago. Assuming that was the most recent possible variable I removed 2 of the sticks, leaving only one still installed. The DRAM_LED light went off and my usb ports (mouse, keyboard, ect.) are now working again. Still no picture on the screen but a new LED on my motherboard is lighting up showing "Boot_Device_LED". So I think it's either my video card or maybe my SSD holding my windows OS is defective for some reason? Can't think of a good reason but also can't think of anything else...

Thanks again for the help guys, we were all in my position before we knew as much as you do now

 

[technicallygeniussj]

If It's ONLY when your running a game that may be the GPU or the drivers associated with it. How long after you start a game does it blue screen? 2 minutes? 5 minutes? an hour? All those factors are relevant. If its instant (the second you launch the program), that'd most likely be software and if it happens at random you can assume that it's a hardware based issue. Just a few basic troubleshooting tips and then from there you can determine what you need to test first.

Edit: Or It can be the PSU not feeding the GPU enough power. Also this would be dependent on when it happens. I need more information.

Basic BSOD Rule - Applies MOST of the time: Same time = software. Random = hardware.

In reference to this question, as of this morning, this is what happens. I turn on the computer, all fans start working, seem to reach max rpm then slow down and computer turns off. Computer then powers itself on (pretty much restarts) and continues running on its own for as long as I let it. Still, though, no picture on monitor. I've tried plugging monitor directly into motherboard and no changes. I'm going to try reseating my videocard in a different slot to see if that helps. Thanks again.

 

[technicallygeniussj]

Also, just reseated my videocard in a different slot. I have the computer actually up and running and showing on monitor now. Where should I go from here? I could boot from Linux to see if its windows-based so I guess I'll do that, I am just worried it'll turn off and not show a picture again *gasp*

 

[technicallygeniussj]

Prior to reseating my videocard I cleared my CMOS and now everything seems to be running as it should. I am about to run a pretty graphic intensive game so we'll see how my computer handles it. I would like to put at least 1 more stick of ram in since its only holding 4gbs right now but we'll see.

 

[NYJimbo]

Seems like you are fixing the problem on your own. Maybe we should just sit back a while and see where you end up.

 

[technicallygeniussj]

Seems like you are fixing the problem on your own. Maybe we should just sit back a while and see where you end up.

Much appreciated I am running a full detail virus scan and going to run ccleaner just to get rid of all the extra crap. If it comes down to it I'm assuming it was a hardware seating issue.

I appreciate the help from everybody in this forum, I randomly came acrossed it last night and thought I'd give it a try... best decision I made last night! (next to the vanilla bean cheesecake of course)

Hopefully I can keep posting here for further assistance and for those who are wondering, I only fix/charge for problems I KNOW i can fix, such as simple reformats, hardware upgrades/installations... things of that nature. I would never pretend to know enough about a BDOS to charge somebody for it

 

[codegreen]

Ok so here's the situation. I started a computer repair business with a childhood friend of mine. He bailed out when a different opportunity regarding college aroused so I was left to figure all this out on my own. Now for the past 6 months I have basically learned everything I know, including the little HTML to build the website from scratch. I used to be somebody that knew NOTHING about computers, and am now trying to keep my business afloat learning things as I go.

Fair enough. It's just that we get a lot of end users popping in looking for help troubleshooting their own computers, and we get a bit snippy about that. But it sounds like you're just a green technician, and that's a different story. You're certainly welcome here.

I recommend you get up to speed on basic hardware troubleshooting as soon as possible. If a customer came to you with these same problems, you want to be able to handle it. You really don't want to hand it back saying, "I don't know enough to fix this." You'll lose customer quickly. Of course, it's even worse to pretend you know how to fix it and screw things up!

At the very least, you'll want to have a couple of known-working video cards, a PSU or two, and some commonly used sticks of RAM. That way you can swap out parts and help isolate the problem. You also need a few good live CDs. If the computer can boot up with a live CD, that goes a long way toward eliminating possible problems.

Anyway, search the forums for this stuff. I'm a bit pressed at the moment, but I may be able to dig up a few recommended threads for you on the subject a little later. Good luck with your business!

 

[technicallygeniussj]

Fair enough. It's just that we get a lot of end users popping in looking for help troubleshooting their own computers, and we get a bit snippy about that. But it sounds like you're just a green technician, and that's a different story. You're certainly welcome here.

I recommend you get up to speed on basic hardware troubleshooting as soon as possible. If a customer came to you with these same problems, you want to be able to handle it. You really don't want to hand it back saying, "I don't know enough to fix this." You'll lose customer quickly. Of course, it's even worse to pretend you know how to fix it and screw things up!

At the very least, you'll want to have a couple of known-working video cards, a PSU or two, and some commonly used sticks of RAM. That way you can swap out parts and help isolate the problem. You also need a few good live CDs. If the computer can boot up with a live CD, that goes a long way toward eliminating possible problems.

Anyway, search the forums for this stuff. I'm a bit pressed at the moment, but I may be able to dig up a few recommended threads for you on the subject a little later. Good luck with your business!

Thanks a bunch for the help, you prove quite the point. I'm going to do some product ordering tonight. Our business was "closed" for the past 2 months to allow me some breathing space to learn more and we re-open on the 15th so I'll be sure to have the proper troubleshooting hardware/live cd's necessary. Once again, can't thank enough this community is awesome!

 

[carrcomp]

Thanks a bunch for the help, you prove quite the point. I'm going to do some product ordering tonight. Our business was "closed" for the past 2 months to allow me some breathing space to learn more and we re-open on the 15th so I'll be sure to have the proper troubleshooting hardware/live cd's necessary. Once again, can't thank enough this community is awesome!

As long as you're making an effort on it.

Like it was said before, too many end users come on here and try to pass at techs to get help.

If you want to get help on here make sure you've run full diagnostics, have done some troubleshooting, and be prepared to tell us what you've done.

SOon enough, you'll be helping people.

 

[technicallygeniussj]

As long as you're making an effort on it.

Like it was said before, too many end users come on here and try to pass at techs to get help.

If you want to get help on here make sure you've run full diagnostics, have done some troubleshooting, and be prepared to tell us what you've done.

SOon enough, you'll be helping people.

I agree, I panicked due to my inexperience with BSOD. Helping people would be awesome but much more studying/practicing is needed. Soon enough hopefully