Windows Crashing while playing games

laxplayacs · 09-02-2006, 12:17 PM

Whenever I play any type of video game, the computer crashes. What is weird is that it crashes in every game play, and it doesnt crash in the same place. I am running a 128 mb Radeon 9800 with the driver downloaded of the ATI site. My computer has never crashed that often before, and now the only time it crashes is when I am playing games. PLEASE HELP I NEED GAMES lol!

**OldGrayGary** · 09-03-2006, 03:47 AM

Hi laxplayacs

Need a little more info to give you the best chance for a repair. Try a few of the games that are crashing, and if an error message appears, write it down & post the info here. Also, go to Start/Control Panel/Administrative Tools/Event Viewer ... and look for error messages that match the same times that the games crash. Post that info as well.

It could be your video driver, sound driver, your version of DirectX, or overheating. If you haven't visited Windows Update recently, try that as well. Try visiting the ATI site again, download and install a fresh download of a recent Catalyst driver. Disable any "Download Manager" programs when downloading a device driver, too, as that sort of program can cause data corruption (not a big deal for streaming music, but a big problem for a device driver).

Re: Overheating
Assuming your computer is a desktop (let us know if it's a laptop) ---
To check for overheating, shutdown Windows, power off & unplug your computer. Follow you system builder's instructions for opening the case (you need to ground yourself so that you don't shock the sensitive circuit boards inside with static electricity from your hands). For many systems, you can easily open a panel of the case without touching anything inside (quite safe). Don't remove or change any wires or devices, just open a panel of the case for air. Now plug the power cord back in, & turn on the computer. Look to see if all the fans are spinning like they should. If any are not, shutdown the computer as soon as possible. If the fans seem to be spinning OK, next check to see if there is anything blocking vents, or large amounts of dust inside the case. To remove dust, use a can of compressed air, and do not let the can or your fingers touch any metal surface inside the case. Let the air do the work. If all the fans are spinning, and dust isn't a problem, try playing a game with the case open, and see if anything changes.

That should get your troubleshooting started.
Best of luck
. . . Gary

09-02-2006, 12:17 PM	#1 (permalink)
laxplayacs Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 1 OS: Win XP	Windows Crashing while playing games Whenever I play any type of video game, the computer crashes. What is weird is that it crashes in every game play, and it doesnt crash in the same place. I am running a 128 mb Radeon 9800 with the driver downloaded of the ATI site. My computer has never crashed that often before, and now the only time it crashes is when I am playing games. PLEASE HELP I NEED GAMES lol!

09-03-2006, 03:47 AM	#2 (permalink)
OldGrayGary Mentor, Microsoft Support Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Woodland Hills, CA Posts: 2,240 OS: Windows 98se/2000/XP/Vista	Hi laxplayacs Need a little more info to give you the best chance for a repair. Try a few of the games that are crashing, and if an error message appears, write it down & post the info here. Also, go to Start/Control Panel/Administrative Tools/Event Viewer ... and look for error messages that match the same times that the games crash. Post that info as well. It could be your video driver, sound driver, your version of DirectX, or overheating. If you haven't visited Windows Update recently, try that as well. Try visiting the ATI site again, download and install a fresh download of a recent Catalyst driver. Disable any "Download Manager" programs when downloading a device driver, too, as that sort of program can cause data corruption (not a big deal for streaming music, but a big problem for a device driver). Re: Overheating Assuming your computer is a desktop (let us know if it's a laptop) --- To check for overheating, shutdown Windows, power off & unplug your computer. Follow you system builder's instructions for opening the case (you need to ground yourself so that you don't shock the sensitive circuit boards inside with static electricity from your hands). For many systems, you can easily open a panel of the case without touching anything inside (quite safe). Don't remove or change any wires or devices, just open a panel of the case for air. Now plug the power cord back in, & turn on the computer. Look to see if all the fans are spinning like they should. If any are not, shutdown the computer as soon as possible. If the fans seem to be spinning OK, next check to see if there is anything blocking vents, or large amounts of dust inside the case. To remove dust, use a can of compressed air, and do not let the can or your fingers touch any metal surface inside the case. Let the air do the work. If all the fans are spinning, and dust isn't a problem, try playing a game with the case open, and see if anything changes. That should get your troubleshooting started. Best of luck . . . Gary