Recently, like 2 months ago, my pc shuts off whenever i tried to save my videos on sony vegas. But now, it shuts off during the time i use it. And now it shuts off when i try to use photoshop aswell. Please if someone can help me, and not so computer smart so have to explain it lol.

What exactly happens? The Power cuts off? Or ???


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 & Description especially of errors that seem to coincide with this issue.
Also check the Information lines that might coincide with this issue.

How to view and manage event logs in Event Viewer in Windows XP

it cuts off whenever i use them for a short period of time.Also cuts off when i used spydoctor and sometimes when i try to install a program. And i looked on the other thread and i d/led the debugging tools for windows and this what the recent one says

pened log file 'c:\debuglog.txt'

Microsoft (R) Windows Debugger Version 6.6.0003.5
Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.


Loading Dump File [C:\WINDOWS\Minidump\Mini062506-01.dmp]
Mini Kernel Dump File: Only registers and stack trace are available

Symbol search path is: SRV*c:\symbols*http://msdl.microsoft.com/download/symbols
Executable search path is: C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS\system32;C:\WINDOWS\system32 \drivers
*** ERROR: Symbol file could not be found. Defaulted to export symbols for ntoskrnl.exe -
Windows XP Kernel Version 2600 (Service Pack 1) UP Free x86 compatible
Product: WinNt
Built by: 2600.xpsp1.020828-1920
Kernel base = 0x804d4000 PsLoadedModuleList = 0x8054be30
Debug session time: Sun Jun 25 04:55:41.328 2006 (GMT-5)
System Uptime: 0 days 0:49:19.905
*** ERROR: Symbol file could not be found. Defaulted to export symbols for ntoskrnl.exe -
Loading Kernel Symbols
.................................................. .................................................. ...
Loading User Symbols
Loading unloaded module list
.......
************************************************** *****************************
* *
* Bugcheck Analysis *
* *
************************************************** *****************************

Use !analyze -v to get detailed debugging information.

BugCheck 24, {1902fa, fa2d34e4, fa2d31e4, c571963c}

***** Kernel symbols are WRONG. Please fix symbols to do analysis.

Probably caused by : hardware

Followup: MachineOwner
---------
*** Possible invalid call from f9e6589d ( ACPI!ACPIDispatchIrp+0x15d )
*** Expected target f9e6963c ( ACPI!ACPIInternalDecrementIrpReferenceCount+0x0 )

kd> !analyze -v;r;kv;lmtn;.logclose;q
************************************************** *****************************
* *
* Bugcheck Analysis *
* *
************************************************** *****************************

NTFS_FILE_SYSTEM (24)
If you see NtfsExceptionFilter on the stack then the 2nd and 3rd
parameters are the exception record and context record. Do a .cxr
on the 3rd parameter and then kb to obtain a more informative stack
trace.
Arguments:
Arg1: 001902fa
Arg2: fa2d34e4
Arg3: fa2d31e4
Arg4: c571963c

Debugging Details:
------------------

***** Kernel symbols are WRONG. Please fix symbols to do analysis.


FAULTING_MODULE: 804d4000 nt

DEBUG_FLR_IMAGE_TIMESTAMP: 0

EXCEPTION_RECORD: fa2d34e4 -- (.exr fffffffffa2d34e4)
.exr fffffffffa2d34e4
ExceptionAddress: c571963c
ExceptionCode: c0000005 (Access violation)
ExceptionFlags: 00000000
NumberParameters: 2
Parameter[0]: 00000001
Parameter[1]: 00000103
Attempt to write to address 00000103

CONTEXT: fa2d31e4 -- (.cxr fffffffffa2d31e4)
.cxr fffffffffa2d31e4
eax=00000103 ebx=00000000 ecx=0000003d edx=00003f02 esi=00000103 edi=80e950c0
eip=c571963c esp=fa2d35ac ebp=fa2d35d4 iopl=0 nv up ei pl zr na po nc
cs=0008 ss=0010 ds=0023 es=0023 fs=0030 gs=0000 efl=00010246
c571963c ?? ???
.cxr
Resetting default scope

CUSTOMER_CRASH_COUNT: 1

DEFAULT_BUCKET_ID: DRIVER_FAULT

BUGCHECK_STR: 0x24

LAST_CONTROL_TRANSFER: from f9e658a2 to c571963c

POSSIBLE_INVALID_CONTROL_TRANSFER: from f9e6589d to f9e6963c

STACK_TEXT:
WARNING: Frame IP not in any known module. Following frames may be wrong.
fa2d35a8 f9e658a2 80f2d1f8 80e95178 80f06b30 0xc571963c
fa2d35d4 804eca36 80ed3f18 f9e7968c 80d756e8 ACPI!ACPIDispatchIrp+0x162
fa2d3620 f9efcb5a 00010000 00010000 ff5132b0 nt!IoFreeIrp+0x7b
fa2d3644 804eca36 80eebb48 00000000 80f23678 CLASSPNP!ClassReadWrite+0xfd
fa2d3664 804eca36 80eeb920 ff5132b0 ff51341c nt!IoFreeIrp+0x7b
fa2d3690 804eca36 80ecfe30 ff5132b0 80f234b8 nt!IoFreeIrp+0x7b
fa2d36b0 804eca36 80ecf8b8 ff5132b0 ff5132b0 nt!IoFreeIrp+0x7b
fa2d36d0 f9d7c77d fa2d399c 80ecf8b8 19ecb000 nt!IoFreeIrp+0x7b
fa2d38a8 f9d7e29d fa2d399c ff5132b0 e11643b0 Ntfs!NtfsNonCachedIo+0x363
fa2d3988 f9d7e16f fa2d399c ff5132b0 00000001 Ntfs!NtfsCommonRead+0xc41
fa2d3b38 804eca36 80eab248 ff5132b0 80ecf408 Ntfs!NtfsFsdRead+0x22d
fa2d3b70 804f0edd 80eabc10 ff45bf09 ff45bf50 nt!IoFreeIrp+0x7b
fa2d3b90 804f0d82 80dc12f0 ff45bf70 ff45bf50 nt!IoPageRead+0x19
fa2d3c00 804f530c ff45bf38 e0d00000 c0383400 nt!ExAcquireSharedStarveExclusive+0x44e
fa2d3c50 804eb0e7 00000000 e0d00000 00000000 nt!ExIsResourceAcquiredExclusiveLite+0x1e9
fa2d3c88 804e48b3 e0d00000 00000000 80548298 nt!IoGetRequestorProcess+0x32d
fa2d3d34 804e6077 80f185e0 8054eda0 80f1e960 nt!wcsncpy+0x20d
fa2d3d74 804ed629 80f185e0 00000000 80f1e960 nt!CcScheduleReadAhead+0x2fa
fa2d3dac 8057c73a 80f185e0 00000000 00000000 nt!KeInsertQueue+0xfc
fa2d3ddc 805124c1 804ed556 00000000 00000000 nt!CcUnpinDataForThread+0x66d
00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 nt!KeProfileInterruptWithSource+0x28e


FOLLOWUP_NAME: MachineOwner

MODULE_NAME: hardware

IMAGE_NAME: hardware

STACK_COMMAND: .cxr 0xfffffffffa2d31e4 ; kb

BUCKET_ID: CPU_CALL_ERROR

Followup: MachineOwner
---------
*** Possible invalid call from f9e6589d ( ACPI!ACPIDispatchIrp+0x15d )
*** Expected target f9e6963c ( ACPI!ACPIInternalDecrementIrpReferenceCount+0x0 )

eax=ffdff13c ebx=00000024 ecx=00000000 edx=80512bb7 esi=fa2d399c edi=c0000005
eip=805266db esp=fa2d2fcc ebp=fa2d2fe4 iopl=0 nv up ei ng nz na po nc
cs=0008 ss=0010 ds=0023 es=0023 fs=0030 gs=0000 efl=00000286
nt!KeBugCheckEx+0x19:
805266db 5d pop ebp
ChildEBP RetAddr Args to Child
WARNING: Stack unwind information not available. Following frames may be wrong.
fa2d2fe4 f9d88a61 00000024 001902fa fa2d34e4 nt!KeBugCheckEx+0x19
fa2d3014 f9d8767e fa2d399c fa2d3040 80510f25 Ntfs!NtfsExceptionFilter+0x1ca (FPO: [Non-Fpo])
fa2d3020 80510f25 fa2d3048 00000000 fa2d3048 Ntfs!NtfsFsdRead+0x249 (FPO: [Non-Fpo])
fa2d3b38 804eca36 80eab248 ff5132b0 80ecf408 nt!except_handler3+0x4b
fa2d3b70 804f0edd 80eabc10 ff45bf09 ff45bf50 nt!IoFreeIrp+0x7b
fa2d3b90 804f0d82 80dc12f0 ff45bf70 ff45bf50 nt!IoPageRead+0x19
fa2d3c00 804f530c ff45bf38 e0d00000 c0383400 nt!ExAcquireSharedStarveExclusive+0x44e
fa2d3c50 804eb0e7 00000000 e0d00000 00000000 nt!ExIsResourceAcquiredExclusiveLite+0x1e9
fa2d3c88 804e48b3 e0d00000 00000000 80548298 nt!IoGetRequestorProcess+0x32d
fa2d3d34 804e6077 80f185e0 8054eda0 80f1e960 nt!wcsncpy+0x20d
fa2d3d74 804ed629 80f185e0 00000000 80f1e960 nt!CcScheduleReadAhead+0x2fa
fa2d3dac 8057c73a 80f185e0 00000000 00000000 nt!KeInsertQueue+0xfc
fa2d3ddc 805124c1 804ed556 00000000 00000000 nt!CcUnpinDataForThread+0x66d
00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 nt!KeProfileInterruptWithSource+0x28e
start end module name
804d4000 806c6980 nt ntoskrnl.exe Thu Aug 29 04:03:24 2002 (3D6DE35C)
806c7000 806e6380 hal halaacpi.dll Thu Aug 29 03:05:02 2002 (3D6DD5AE)
bf800000 bf9bac80 win32k win32k.sys Thu Aug 29 04:14:13 2002 (3D6DE5E5)
bf9bb000 bfa15780 s3gnb s3gnb.dll Wed Nov 06 23:38:39 2002 (3DC9FC5F)
bff80000 bff90d80 dxg dxg.sys Thu Aug 29 05:40:42 2002 (3D6DFA2A)
f1fe9000 f1ffe380 dump_atapi dump_atapi.sys Thu Aug 29 03:27:48 2002 (3D6DDB04)
f2647000 f266de80 kmixer kmixer.sys Thu Aug 29 03:32:28 2002 (3D6DDC1C)
f2759000 f276be80 wdmaud wdmaud.sys Thu Aug 29 04:00:46 2002 (3D6DE2BE)
f2794000 f27e4a80 srv srv.sys Fri Aug 17 20:32:06 2001 (3B7DC596)
f2925000 f294f280 mrxdav mrxdav.sys Fri Aug 17 15:50:20 2001 (3B7D838C)
f2a90000 f2ab0380 afd afd.sys Thu Aug 29 04:01:13 2002 (3D6DE2D9)
f2b11000 f2b1ee00 sysaudio sysaudio.sys Thu Aug 29 04:01:17 2002 (3D6DE2DD)
f2bb1000 f2bb4000 ndisuio ndisuio.sys Thu Aug 29 03:35:40 2002 (3D6DDCDC)
f73ba000 f741d800 mrxsmb mrxsmb.sys Thu Aug 29 03:59:51 2002 (3D6DE287)
f741e000 f7445e00 rdbss rdbss.sys Thu Aug 29 03:58:48 2002 (3D6DE248)
f7446000 f746c580 netbt netbt.sys Thu Aug 29 04:01:56 2002 (3D6DE304)
f746d000 f74be480 tcpip tcpip.sys Thu Aug 29 03:58:10 2002 (3D6DE222)
f964d000 f964f900 Dxapi Dxapi.sys Fri Aug 17 15:53:19 2001 (3B7D843F)
f9651000 f9655000 watchdog watchdog.sys Thu Aug 29 03:32:20 2002 (3D6DDC14)
f9665000 f9686780 update update.sys Fri Aug 17 22:53:56 2001 (3B7DE6D4)
f9687000 f9697200 psched psched.sys Thu Aug 29 03:35:54 2002 (3D6DDCEA)
f9698000 f96ad600 ndiswan ndiswan.sys Thu Aug 29 03:58:38 2002 (3D6DE23E)
f96ae000 f96c0900 parport parport.sys Thu Aug 29 03:27:29 2002 (3D6DDAF1)
f96c1000 f96e1c80 portcls portcls.sys Thu Aug 29 04:00:58 2002 (3D6DE2CA)
f96e2000 f978f180 ALCXWDM ALCXWDM.SYS Wed Nov 27 00:46:26 2002 (3DE46A42)
f9790000 f97b0280 ks ks.sys Thu Aug 29 04:13:40 2002 (3D6DE5C4)
f97b1000 f97d2180 USBPORT USBPORT.SYS Thu Aug 29 03:32:49 2002 (3D6DDC31)
f97d3000 f97ecb60 Mtlmnt5 Mtlmnt5.sys Tue Sep 24 10:54:15 2002 (3D908AA7)
f97ed000 f982b720 slntamr slntamr.sys Tue Jul 02 06:29:41 2002 (3D218EA5)
f982c000 f983d500 VIDEOPRT VIDEOPRT.SYS Thu Aug 29 03:32:03 2002 (3D6DDC03)
f983e000 f9864d80 s3gnbm s3gnbm.sys Wed Nov 06 23:38:46 2002 (3DC9FC66)
f9865000 f9867280 rasacd rasacd.sys Fri Aug 17 15:55:39 2001 (3B7D84CB)
f9885000 f9888f00 MODEMCSA MODEMCSA.sys Fri Aug 17 15:57:37 2001 (3B7D8541)
f9d38000 f9d51680 Mup Mup.sys Thu Aug 29 04:12:53 2002 (3D6DE595)
f9d52000 f9d7ae80 NDIS NDIS.sys Thu Aug 29 04:09:23 2002 (3D6DE4C3)
f9d7b000 f9e04300 Ntfs Ntfs.sys Thu Aug 29 04:13:37 2002 (3D6DE5C1)
f9e05000 f9e18780 KSecDD KSecDD.sys Fri Aug 17 15:50:01 2001 (3B7D8379)
f9e19000 f9e29e80 sr sr.sys Thu Aug 29 03:17:56 2002 (3D6DD8B4)
f9e2a000 f9e3f380 atapi atapi.sys Thu Aug 29 03:27:48 2002 (3D6DDB04)
f9e40000 f9e5e880 ftdisk ftdisk.sys Fri Aug 17 15:52:41 2001 (3B7D8419)
f9e5f000 f9e8ac80 ACPI ACPI.sys Thu Aug 29 03:09:03 2002 (3D6DD69F)
f9eac000 f9ebb600 pci pci.sys Thu Aug 29 03:09:10 2002 (3D6DD6A6)
f9ebc000 f9ec4c00 isapnp isapnp.sys Fri Aug 17 15:58:01 2001 (3B7D8559)
f9ecc000 f9ed5280 MountMgr MountMgr.sys Fri Aug 17 15:47:36 2001 (3B7D82E8)
f9edc000 f9ee8000 VolSnap VolSnap.sys Fri Aug 17 15:53:19 2001 (3B7D843F)
f9eec000 f9ef4400 disk disk.sys Thu Aug 29 03:27:56 2002 (3D6DDB0C)
f9efc000 f9f07500 CLASSPNP CLASSPNP.SYS Thu Aug 29 04:08:42 2002 (3D6DE49A)
f9f2c000 f9f34200 wanarp wanarp.sys Fri Aug 17 15:55:23 2001 (3B7D84BB)
f9f3c000 f9f4a900 Cdfs Cdfs.SYS Thu Aug 29 03:58:50 2002 (3D6DE24A)
f9ffc000 fa007780 R8139n51 R8139n51.SYS Thu Oct 03 21:04:08 2002 (3D9CF718)
fa00c000 fa017980 cdrom cdrom.sys Thu Aug 29 03:27:55 2002 (3D6DDB0B)
fa01c000 fa029d00 redbook redbook.sys Thu Aug 29 03:27:45 2002 (3D6DDB01)
fa02c000 fa035b80 imapi imapi.sys Thu Aug 29 03:28:05 2002 (3D6DDB15)
fa03c000 fa04a200 drmk drmk.sys Thu Aug 29 03:32:30 2002 (3D6DDC1E)
fa04c000 fa05b400 serial serial.sys Thu Aug 29 04:08:27 2002 (3D6DE48B)
fa05c000 fa068780 i8042prt i8042prt.sys Thu Aug 29 04:06:37 2002 (3D6DE41D)
fa06c000 fa077d00 rasl2tp rasl2tp.sys Thu Aug 29 04:06:36 2002 (3D6DE41C)
fa07c000 fa085800 raspppoe raspppoe.sys Fri Aug 17 15:55:33 2001 (3B7D84C5)
fa08c000 fa097500 raspptp raspptp.sys Thu Aug 29 04:12:46 2002 (3D6DE58E)
fa09c000 fa0a4400 msgpc msgpc.sys Fri Aug 17 15:54:19 2001 (3B7D847B)
fa0ac000 fa0b5400 termdd termdd.sys Thu Aug 29 03:40:32 2002 (3D6DDE00)
fa0bc000 fa0c5480 NDProxy NDProxy.SYS Fri Aug 17 15:55:30 2001 (3B7D84C2)
fa0dc000 fa0e8b00 usbhub usbhub.sys Thu Aug 29 03:32:49 2002 (3D6DDC31)
fa0fc000 fa10a280 ipsec ipsec.sys Thu Aug 29 04:07:19 2002 (3D6DE447)
fa10c000 fa114180 netbios netbios.sys Thu Aug 29 03:35:45 2002 (3D6DDCE1)
fa11c000 fa124880 Fips Fips.SYS Fri Aug 17 20:31:49 2001 (3B7DC585)
fa12c000 fa131c80 PCIIDEX PCIIDEX.SYS Thu Aug 29 03:27:47 2002 (3D6DDB03)
fa134000 fa138900 PartMgr PartMgr.sys Fri Aug 17 20:32:23 2001 (3B7DC5A7)
fa13c000 fa142b00 viaagp viaagp.sys Fri Aug 17 15:58:00 2001 (3B7D8558)
fa144000 fa14bd80 viaagp1 viaagp1.sys Wed Jul 24 04:44:31 2002 (3D3E76FF)
fa19c000 fa1a3f00 amdk7 amdk7.sys Thu Aug 29 03:05:05 2002 (3D6DD5B1)
fa1a4000 fa1a8240 SlWdmSup SlWdmSup.sys Tue Jul 02 06:11:42 2002 (3D218A6E)
fa1ac000 fa1b3080 Modem Modem.SYS Fri Aug 17 15:57:35 2001 (3B7D853F)
fa1b4000 fa1b8b80 usbuhci usbuhci.sys Thu Aug 29 03:32:48 2002 (3D6DDC30)
fa1bc000 fa1c0b80 usbehci usbehci.sys Thu Aug 29 03:32:47 2002 (3D6DDC2F)
fa1c4000 fa1cb000 fdc fdc.sys unavailable (00000000)
fa1cc000 fa1d1600 mouclass mouclass.sys Thu Aug 29 03:27:00 2002 (3D6DDAD4)
fa1d4000 fa1d9b80 kbdclass kbdclass.sys Thu Aug 29 03:26:59 2002 (3D6DDAD3)
fa1dc000 fa1e0580 ptilink ptilink.sys Fri Aug 17 15:49:53 2001 (3B7D8371)
fa1e4000 fa1e8080 raspti raspti.sys Fri Aug 17 15:55:32 2001 (3B7D84C4)
fa1f4000 fa1f8d00 flpydisk flpydisk.sys Thu Aug 29 03:27:43 2002 (3D6DDAFF)
fa204000 fa208d00 vga vga.sys Thu Aug 29 03:32:03 2002 (3D6DDC03)
fa20c000 fa210680 Msfs Msfs.SYS Fri Aug 17 15:50:02 2001 (3B7D837A)
fa214000 fa21b380 Npfs Npfs.SYS Fri Aug 17 15:50:03 2001 (3B7D837B)
fa224000 fa22ac00 RNDISMP RNDISMP.SYS Fri Aug 17 15:54:44 2001 (3B7D8494)
fa2bc000 fa2bf000 BOOTVID BOOTVID.dll Fri Aug 17 15:49:09 2001 (3B7D8345)
fa374000 fa376b80 usb8023 usb8023.sys Fri Aug 17 15:54:45 2001 (3B7D8495)
fa3a0000 fa3a3a80 serenum serenum.sys Fri Aug 17 15:50:13 2001 (3B7D8385)
fa3a4000 fa3a6580 ndistapi ndistapi.sys Fri Aug 17 15:55:29 2001 (3B7D84C1)
fa3a8000 fa3abf80 TDI TDI.SYS Fri Aug 17 15:57:25 2001 (3B7D8535)
fa3ac000 fa3adb80 kdcom kdcom.dll Fri Aug 17 15:49:10 2001 (3B7D8346)
fa3ae000 fa3af100 WMILIB WMILIB.SYS Fri Aug 17 16:07:23 2001 (3B7D878B)
fa3b0000 fa3b1300 viaide viaide.sys Thu Aug 29 03:27:48 2002 (3D6DDB04)
fa3dc000 fa3dd280 USBD USBD.SYS Fri Aug 17 16:02:58 2001 (3B7D8682)
fa3de000 fa3e0000 Fs_Rec Fs_Rec.SYS unavailable (00000000)
fa3e0000 fa3e1080 Beep Beep.SYS Fri Aug 17 15:47:33 2001 (3B7D82E5)
fa3e2000 fa3e3080 mnmdd mnmdd.SYS Fri Aug 17 15:57:28 2001 (3B7D8538)
fa3e4000 fa3e5080 RDPCDD RDPCDD.sys Fri Aug 17 15:46:56 2001 (3B7D82C0)
fa404000 fa406000 ParVdm ParVdm.SYS unavailable (00000000)
fa40e000 fa40f100 dump_WMILIB dump_WMILIB.SYS Fri Aug 17 16:07:23 2001 (3B7D878B)
fa476000 fa476d00 dxgthk dxgthk.sys Fri Aug 17 15:53:12 2001 (3B7D8438)
fa4ec000 fa4ecc00 audstub audstub.sys Fri Aug 17 15:59:40 2001 (3B7D85BC)
fa4f1000 fa4f1f00 swenum swenum.sys Fri Aug 17 15:48:47 2001 (3B7D832F)
fa5d6000 fa5d7000 Null Null.SYS unavailable (00000000)

Unloaded modules:
fa597000 fa598000 drmkaud.sys
Timestamp: unavailable (00000000)
Checksum: 00000000
f289d000 f28aa000 DMusic.sys
Timestamp: unavailable (00000000)
Checksum: 00000000
f28ad000 f28bb000 swmidi.sys
Timestamp: unavailable (00000000)
Checksum: 00000000
f270e000 f2731000 aec.sys
Timestamp: unavailable (00000000)
Checksum: 00000000
fa450000 fa452000 splitter.sys
Timestamp: unavailable (00000000)
Checksum: 00000000
fa1fc000 fa201000 Cdaudio.SYS
Timestamp: unavailable (00000000)
Checksum: 00000000
f9869000 f986c000 Sfloppy.SYS
Timestamp: unavailable (00000000)
Checksum: 00000000
Closing open log file c:\debuglog.txt

1. What exactly happens when "it cuts off"? Do you get a Blue Screen with the above errors? etc. Does the computer lose all power and turn off? Does the screen freeze?

2. How old is this computer?

3. Are you familiar with working inside it?

If you get further dumps please post them That last one is most likely failing hardware (although a driver might be involved). The first hardware suspects would be: 1) RAM; 2) Graphics Card; 3) CPU. 4) Hard Drive.

You could start by testing the RAM with software: http://www.memtest86.com/

We can also find a hard drive diagnostic if you know the make of your hard drive. You can find this under Device Manager: Start/Run/ devmgmt.msc | Disk Drives

my pc is about 4 years old, and doesn't show a blue error screen whenever it shuts off cause i didn't set it right but i just did it this morning. Never work inside the computer before either. But my pc hasn't cut off all day cause i haven't really been using the programs i usaully use.

Originally Posted by jephree

We can also find a hard drive diagnostic if you know the make of your hard drive. You can find this under Device Manager: Start/Run/ devmgmt.msc | Disk Drives

don't know if this is right but-WDC WD600BB-00CAA1

I would run the RAM test listed above and also ID your hard drive and test it. Tell us the manufacturer and we can find the diagnostics online.

If this only happens with graphics intense operations you might need a new graphics card but I would test the other components first as you can do that with software.

1. Look at MEMTEST and ask if it is not clear how to use it.

2. ID your hard drive thru the device manager.

3. Run Check Disk:

start > run > cmd
in the new window type chkdsk /f
when prompted to run on boot choose Y & reboot
this will check for & fix any disk errors.

WDC = Western Digital

Diagnostic:

http://support.wdc.com/download/inde...pid=999&swid=2

This is similar to the MemTest method of creating as bootable floppy.

Please ask if the instructions are not clear.

it says i need a floppy disk to check my hard drive and i don't have any

Does your computer have a floppy drive?

If so you will need to get some floppy disks.

Both the MemTest and the WDC diagnostic run from floppies.

They could be run from CD's but it is much more complicated to create although it can be done if you have a CD RW drive and CD RW disks.