Computer crashes/freezes when playing games

RebeccaSaevam · 04-19-2009, 08:04 AM

I guess this is the place to post? I recently got myself a computer, mostly for watching films and playing games, watching films and the like is fine, but if I try playing any games I have installed the computer will freeze and only restarting it via the reset button/power switch will allow me to do anything. The amount of time it takes to freeze seems to be random, and the only time it does this is when I am playing games, nothing complicated, mostly seek and find games currently although the PS2 emulator also does this if I use one of my discs on it, but that could just be the emulator.

I've tried updating my graphics card and have avast, adaware and spybot on my computer, nothing in the way of viruses or trojans have been found from any of them lately, and the only real concern I have there is that ieplore.exe come on at start up which I'm fairly certain it shouldn't be?

Specs that I can find are as follows:

Windows XP Pro
AMD Athlon(tm) Processor 3500+
2.21 GHz, 2.00GB of RAM
ATI Radoen x300/x500/x1500 series
NVIDIA nForce4 Serial ATA Controller
Realtek AC'97 Audio
ACPI Fan
ACPI Thermal Zone

Not sure if I need to give any more than this? If I need any more information I am in touch with the guy that sold me the computer, but I am not very technology minded (am trying to learn though).

Any help given at all is gratefully recieved as I would love to be able to play my games on this machine properly.

Rebecca.

**floop12444** · 04-19-2009, 08:41 AM

What wattage is your power supply? You should be able to find in on the label.

**koala** · 04-19-2009, 10:41 AM

Hi Rebecca, welcome to TSF

The file that runs at startup, is it ieplore.exe, iexplore.exe or iexplorer.exe? Run a search on your C: drive to see if there is more than one instance of this file, and note their locations.

Are you up to date with SP3, MS updates, chipset drivers, device drivers and DirectX?

As floop12444 says, post back with the details from your PSU label. When games freeze or crash, it can often be caused by a weak +12V line on the power supply.

Boot into BIOS and make a note of the temperatures and PSU voltages.

If you play your games fullscreen, see if they freeze when played in a window.

RebeccaSaevam · 04-19-2009, 02:59 PM

Will get back to you on most of the questions, but the file that runs is definitely iexplore.exe and there is usually at least one and sometimes 2 that come on at start up. Also if I open up Explorer I sometimes get 3 or four of the same file, it turns on a radio randomly, at least I think that's whats causing that to happen since it's definately not something that I'm making happen, and it only stops when I find the correct iexplore.exe file and close it.

04-19-2009, 08:04 AM	#1 (permalink)
RebeccaSaevam Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2 OS: Win XP pro	Computer crashes/freezes when playing games I guess this is the place to post? I recently got myself a computer, mostly for watching films and playing games, watching films and the like is fine, but if I try playing any games I have installed the computer will freeze and only restarting it via the reset button/power switch will allow me to do anything. The amount of time it takes to freeze seems to be random, and the only time it does this is when I am playing games, nothing complicated, mostly seek and find games currently although the PS2 emulator also does this if I use one of my discs on it, but that could just be the emulator. I've tried updating my graphics card and have avast, adaware and spybot on my computer, nothing in the way of viruses or trojans have been found from any of them lately, and the only real concern I have there is that ieplore.exe come on at start up which I'm fairly certain it shouldn't be? Specs that I can find are as follows: Windows XP Pro AMD Athlon(tm) Processor 3500+ 2.21 GHz, 2.00GB of RAM ATI Radoen x300/x500/x1500 series NVIDIA nForce4 Serial ATA Controller Realtek AC'97 Audio ACPI Fan ACPI Thermal Zone Not sure if I need to give any more than this? If I need any more information I am in touch with the guy that sold me the computer, but I am not very technology minded (am trying to learn though). Any help given at all is gratefully recieved as I would love to be able to play my games on this machine properly. Rebecca.

04-19-2009, 08:41 AM	#2 (permalink)
floop12444 Senior Tech, Games Team Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: England Posts: 1,040 OS: Windows XP Pro SP3 My System	Re: Computer crashes/freezes when playing games What wattage is your power supply? You should be able to find in on the label. __________________ Everest Home Edtion ♦ System requirements test ♦ Nvidia Drivers ♦ ATI Drivers ♦ Revo Uninstaller ♦ GPUz Forum Rules Steps Before Posting

04-19-2009, 10:41 AM	#3 (permalink)
koala Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: UK Posts: 12,444 OS: XP/7/Ubuntu My System	Re: Computer crashes/freezes when playing games Hi Rebecca, welcome to TSF The file that runs at startup, is it ieplore.exe, iexplore.exe or iexplorer.exe? Run a search on your C: drive to see if there is more than one instance of this file, and note their locations. Are you up to date with SP3, MS updates, chipset drivers, device drivers and DirectX? As floop12444 says, post back with the details from your PSU label. When games freeze or crash, it can often be caused by a weak +12V line on the power supply. Boot into BIOS and make a note of the temperatures and PSU voltages. If you play your games fullscreen, see if they freeze when played in a window. __________________ New members: Subscribe to your thread (Thread Tools) to receive an instant email notification when you get a reply. TSF Folding@Home Team 85015 - details here Last edited by koala; 04-19-2009 at 10:42 AM. Reason: typo

04-19-2009, 02:59 PM	#4 (permalink)
RebeccaSaevam Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2 OS: Win XP pro	Re: Computer crashes/freezes when playing games Will get back to you on most of the questions, but the file that runs is definitely iexplore.exe and there is usually at least one and sometimes 2 that come on at start up. Also if I open up Explorer I sometimes get 3 or four of the same file, it turns on a radio randomly, at least I think that's whats causing that to happen since it's definately not something that I'm making happen, and it only stops when I find the correct iexplore.exe file and close it.