My computer randomly cuts off when im in the middle of an game but it stays on if im just using the internet or applications such as microsoft word or any of the in built games. The power light in the tower stays on and the monitor and speakers power stays on but the whole inside of the computer shuts down. I've tried ad aware scans, spyware scans and virus scans and it still keeps doing it. Any ideas whats wrong and how to fix it would be great?

These are the specs of my computer incase anyone needs it:
Windows XP
128 mb RAM
1.3 Ghz AMD Athalon Processor
40 Gb UltraDMA Hard Drive
16X Max DVD Rom Drive
12X Max CD RW Drive

Are you sure the graphics card is able to handle these games?

go to Start/Run/ dxdiag | Display

What is the device?

Also 128 mb RAM is barely enough to run XP.

256 is a standard minimum. At least 512 is best.

128 will barely support the Operating System & probably not any high end games.

Its an S3 Graphics Inc. Savage 4

I've had the computer a few years now and it hasn't done it before. The games im playing are 64Mb and some are even 16Mb. I dont like playing bigger games on it because it takes to much memory

Maybe it's old age. Should really have more RAM. Anyway:

What exactly do you mean by: "the whole inside of the computer shuts down"?

Does the screen freeze? Or does it go black? No Signal?

Also: look in your Event viewer: rt. click My Computer then click Manage then Event Viewer.
Or: Administrative Tools/Event Viewer or Start/Run/ eventvwr
Open the system as well as the application tabs & look for X errors. Click error line for details.
Post back the source & event id especially of errors that seem to coincide with a crash.

Also view your Error Log via:
[1] Start Menu
[2] Help and Support
[3] Pick a Task
[4] Tools
[5] Advanced System Information
[6] View the Error Log

The last drivers issued for S3 Graphics Inc. Savage 4 are here:

http://www.s3graphics.com/drivers/Le...rv/395drv.html

These ones are in applications in the event viewer;
Source: AVG7
Event: 100
User: System

Theres alot of them and they all look like the time the computer crashed and same with these ones which are in system in the event viewer;

Source: Service Control Manager
Event: Some are 7000 and some are 7026
User: N/A

what i mean by the inside shuts off is the noise the computer makes when its running just stops, the screen goes blank but the power light is still on on the tower and the monitor. Its weird and only does it whilst using full screen applications.

Were there any errors in dxdiag? Did you try the Tests?

Do you have DirectX 9.0c?

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en

What is the driver date? The latest was 2000 Oct 4.

Also look in the Device Manager for any yellow "!"

Start/Run/ devmgmt.msc

Those errors are too vague to pinpoint anything. Perhaps a driver.

You say that you only have problems playing full-screen games?

Everything else works OK? I wonder why it just started to happen.

Any other changes? New Hardware or Software?

There arent any yellow '!' signs in device manager and the driver date i see in dxdiag is 17 august 2001. Everything happens when just playing a full screen game for about 10 minutes max. Everything else works no problem.

My only ideas at this point are:

1. Not enought RAM

2. Heat

To test the heat issue you might try running with the case open.

As to RAM it is a fairly inexpensive upgrade & would really help your system.

Just make sure that you get a compatible stick. This scan will give you some idea:

http://www.crucial.com/systemscanner/index.asp

Yeah the heat issue was my first idea do you think that running programs burns out the computer faster than just using it normally for the internet and stuff? Maybe a new pc is in order
Thanks for your help.

A full screen game is going to run the CPU probably at least 60+% whereas just surfing the web or running Word shouldn't be using more than say 10%

So, yes, more heat is generated. Try running with the case open to see if it makes a difference. Also blow a room fan onto the open machine.

From your specs it does seem like an old computer: what is the make & model?