Computer Crashing

My computer crashes when I play games for a little bit and freezes easily. The computer can't restart either (it shuts down but doesn't turn back on). I've had the computer for a couple of years and it only recently started crashing. I posted my problem in the Spyware thread and so I know my computer is free of viruses and trojans. Please help repair this.

 

Check fans and HDD temp! - Maybe cpu or graphics card fan are broken!

 

I'm running on a laptop, and they ARE broken, but I have a fan right next to the computer and that's been working well for quite a while now.

 

If your on-board fans are not working then the componenets inside the case are not being cooled properly. Replace the on-board fans before the CPU and MoBo sustain permanent damage, if they are not already damaged.

 

Well I'm pretty sure that this is the reason for the whole thing!!! When you use your laptop for surfing or playing chess, the external fan might be sufficient, but when playing games, the graphics Card and CPU run at a much higher utilisation - what makes them get really hot - and suddenly the screen freezes - Bluescreen/crash

After a while you can start the laptop again right?

Be aware that the longer you let the CPU get overheated, the more likely it will sometime burn.

Can't imagine that this could work with only an external fan anyway!!

 

Actually, I havent been playing games as much recently so i doubt that's the problem. I often put my hand on the laptop where it gets hot to see if it's overheating but it's always cool. And, as I've said, the computer's been fine without the internal fans for a few months now.

 

But if they are not being cooled properly, wouldn't I feel them getting hot? And why is it crashing now instead of when the fans broke? Does it mean they are already damaged?

 

Well how do you know that the fans are damaged? Actually the laptop "should" get "warm" anyway! no matter if the fans are broken or not!

But I'm quite sure that this is the problem! As I mentioned, I can't even imagin the laptop functioning anyway without the fans running!

 

The fan I have next to the computer is pretty strong and since it's on the outside, it cools the case and so it's hard to tell if the inside is heating up. But if it were heating up badly, I'd be able to feel it.

 

Nevertheless you should get that fan problem solved! As long as the fans don't work, there's always the possibility that they are the cause for all the crashes!

 

Ok, but is there any other reason why my computer could be crashing? I want to have everything checked before I spend money fixing it.

 

The CPU, memory, Motherboard and video card come to mind. If you system is overheating the computer will shutdown to protect itself. Excessive heat can also damage the aforementioned components.

 

You say you put your hand on the laptop and it feels cool. But, have you put your hand underneath the laptop? Normally alot more heat is on the underneath of the laptop. If you prop it up a bit, it might help.

Most laptop fans are fairly cheap nowadays. But, if you take it to a shop to replace those fans, that labor will be rather expensive. I've worked on a few, and replaced laptop fans. What I can say, is that they are a PITA to work on. Specially troubleshooting heat problems.

If this is a recent occurance, then I'd bet you have tons of dust and particles that may be clogging up air ways.

 

I forgot to mention that I have a fan underneath the laptop too so yes, it does feel cool there too.

 

Theres alot of good advice already posted. Maybe you should try cleaning it out. You WILL notice a difference in your cpu running temp. I never worked with laptops but i have cleaned my desktop pc before and before i took it apart to clean it was running about 5 degrees F hotter than it does now. Now after the clean my box used to get arm when i would run the system really hard with like gameing or something to that effect and now it doesnt even get warn nor is the air hot anymore. But i would get those fans fixed. It will be a pain. Especially working in a laptop but it will prevent more serious damage i the future if it was not already done. Think about it. Would you rather pay 5$ for new laptop fans or pay 80-100$for a new videocard or something even more expensive. A processor. When you factor that you should just put out the five bucks for a fan to go internally into the system.

 

I'm not refusing to believe them, but that's just it: everyone's telling me the same thing. I just want to have everything checked before I go and fix my fans and telling me to fix my fan ten times over doesn't really help.

Also, how much would repairing the fan cost? I'd like at least an estimate.

 

Well that depends. Do you want it done by someone else or do it yourself. It will be cheaper just to buy the parts and fix it yourself. For the fans themselves i am estimateig a vicinity of 5-10 dollars for each one. Nothing to install with em either just plug em in and thats it. We just think thats the problem because that is not a good thing to be running without cpu fans and you may have already damaged something more serious without em. If you dont wanna buy em get them from someone else and try it. That way we narrow down any heat- related problem. If its still doing it and its not the fan then we go to the software. Nevertheless that should be fixed first!!!!!!!!!! Let me know if this helps.

 

Strange... Yesterday my computer was very laggy and everything operated slowly, but I could run any program and it wouldn't crash... maybe a windows file is corrupted?

I'm going to try to replace the fan myself; anything I should know before I try it?

 

Not much to know really. Personally i dont have a laptop so i never been inside a laptop. But all you have to do once inside the sucker is to find where each wre for the fan runs to and plug the new one in the exact same place. Then unscrew the old one and screw the new one where the old one was. Then turn on the computer and your BIOS will automatically set the rest up. It may ask if the setup that it shows is alright and you just say yes then your computer will boot normally and you will be done. But i dunno how laptos work so you may have to sotter the wire rather than simply plug it in. But other than that its a peice of cake.

 

Oh yeah let me know if this helps and maybe when theefool sees this post again he can help you better scince he says he has worked with laptops.

 

Turns out my fan worked after all; just was clogged up with dust. So much stuff Cleaning out the fan did stop the computer from crashing, thanks, but it still freezes often.

 

Well thats good to hear. What are your computer specs and what games are you running on it?