***Hardware Malfunction***

Please help my computer is pretty fast. But every hour or so my computer would go to a blue screen saying "Hardware malfunction system has halted" and i would have to restart the computer. It may also freezes the computer so it wont move, or restarts the computer by itself. Im sure this is not a virus. I also switched the power adapter to 450w the case, the memory stick, the hardrive, and also a cd driver and the problem continues...PLEASE somebody help me.

 

I forgot to add: I have Windows XP Pro. Intel Pentium 4 3.2 Cpu. 512mb Ram. 170Gb HD (I think) 512mb Nvidia 5500 Video Card. and a Linksys Wireless-G adapter. Ask me for more information. Please help.

 

I'd start by looking at your System Event Log in Event Viewer. Right Click on "My Computer" and click "Manage". You can double click on the "Errors" and get some info from the Descriptions and Event ID's (those you can search Microsoft.com, Google em or visit the "Sponsored Links").

 

errors? event id's? im sorry but i cannot find any in computer management. im also not too sure what those are either.

 

First note the time the crash occurs, then goto control panel>computer management>system tools>event viewer; you will see application, security, system in the left panel, take note of the right panel you should see a few errors. Look under the time column and find the error that corresponds with when your computer crashed. Right click the error>properities there you will see the Event ID and a bunch of other stuff. You might try googling the Event ID to see how to fix the problem.

It sounds to me like a driver gone bad. Might also check the device manager(also located in computer management) for exclamation marks or red x's.

 

wow this sounds very promising i will try it out

 

I am sorry to say, even thought there were some errors, it did not show the error that was the time that my computer crashed. Does anybody else have some advice? I would also like to note that these restarts and freezes and system hardware malfunction blue screen happens usualy during downloading.

 

Is there anybody else who can help?

 

Probably can't help you without more info. What errors were you getting? What are you downloading, are they install files? DSL or Dial up?

 

It can happen at any giving time...just more often downloading stuff. I have sbc yahoo dsl. Im also on a router with linksys. =[

 

Come on you guys...ive heard something about updating bios. but im pretty sure my bios can only be updated if i pay. argh...please people dont give up.

 

View the your MOBO manufacture's web site for BIOS updates or from the maker of your PC (they should be free). You can use Everest Home edition to see what you currently have. Its avail here... http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4181.html

 

Does this only happen after you've had the computer on for a while?
Have you checked the capacitors on your motherboard, they should have flat tops, and there shouldn't be any leakage from them.

 

Excuse me flatops on motherboard? im not too good in computers so im not sure what they are. Can you please explain a little more clearly please?

 

http://cquirke.mvps.org/images/badcapsmobo.jpg

these things, if yours look like the picture your mobo is bad.

 

Ive checked it a few times. There isnt signs of those on any of those barrel looking things sadly....waaa T_T

 

hmmm, maybe that is the rpoblem, your mobo doesn't have caps??? can you post a picture, i am curious.

 

Now tell me, compare this to your computer, do you see those things on the mobo? what about the otehr stuff? is all that junk in there?

http://www.leedberg.com/fozzie/web-Computer%20renovation%2018.JPG

this is what your computer should loook like.if it doesn't, umm, I dunno.see the round things around the big black fan? does it look like that in your pc?

 

What makes you so sure it's not virus or spyware? There is a guide on how to get rid of the stuff in the malware section here.

But yea, check the caps and also try uninstalling/reinstalling your NICs drivers via the device manager.

 

Anyone thought to check to see if the cpu heat sinc is clogged with dirt? =overheat=system halt. just a basic thought.