Messages

1

General Computer Support / Re: All browsers and random games crash

« on: February 14, 2014, 05:08:14 pm »

No solution.  I now have an entirely new rig and loving it.  I may go back to my old computer and try to find out what was causing the crashes, but I honestly don't want to spend hours of my life doing that. 

There appear to be many others with a similar problem, so it is probably something pretty subtle.

Thank you very much for your time and help.  Really amazing the service your provide here. 

All the best,

Tim

2

General Computer Support / Re: All browsers and random games crash

« on: February 07, 2014, 07:59:18 am »

Not sure I will solve the problem, but I'll post if I do. I will try your RAM idea when I get home tonight.

Also, if you Google this problem you'll see that a fair number of others have identical symptoms.  Most find a solution, then the problem returns.  And that is my experience, as well.

3

General Computer Support / Re: All browsers and random games crash

« on: February 07, 2014, 06:24:17 am »

Thanks for the advice.  I have 4x2 GB.  I did a memtest for each individual stick and got no errors. But, yeah, it seems to me it almost has to be a memory issue.

I'll take your advice and just remove them one by one and reboot and see what happens.  Much appreciated.

4

General Computer Support / Re: All browsers and random games crash

« on: February 06, 2014, 04:21:30 pm »

Really?  I took it out my old card because of the crashing. I've also tried numerous drivers.  In fact, I also tested a third vid card I have.  Got crashes with all of them. 

Well, I have to take out my new card anyway to put in my new rig. 

5

General Computer Support / Re: All browsers and random games crash

« on: February 05, 2014, 03:44:02 pm »

Just got home (I'm in Virginia).  I'll let you know about the MB

...

Nope.  Rebooted and ran MB three more times. It stopped working in different places.

.....

Having trouble posting here. Constant crashes.

Ran Intel Processor Diagnostic Tool and passed the CPU load and Temperature tests.

Now all my games are crashing.  Has to be hardware.

--------

Games, browsers, everything is now crashing.  Must be hardware.

6

General Computer Support / Re: All browsers and random games crash

« on: February 05, 2014, 03:07:11 pm »

TDSSKiller found nothing

Malwarebytes Rootkit stopped working halfway through, twice.

ComboFix deleted a folder and a dozen files called AutoCompletePro, as well as a few orphans

7

General Computer Support / Re: All browsers and random games crash

« on: February 05, 2014, 12:50:39 pm »

Ok, will do.

Yeah, I don't normally even run an antivirus, just MB.  I just downloaded AVG for quick scan. It's gone now.

8

General Computer Support / Re: All browsers and random games crash

« on: February 05, 2014, 12:21:48 pm »

Interesting stuff. 

I already forgot I did a clean install, lol. Yes, partitions went first.  I have no idea whether I'm infected.  AVG, MalwarebytesPro, and Glary Utilities all scan clean. 

The fact that I crashed in Safe Mode is kind of freaky.  I was hoping it was RAM, but two memtests say no.

The game was crashing because I had conflicting mods.  I don't think it has anything to do with this issue.

Thanks,
Tim

9

General Computer Support / Re: All browsers and random games crash

« on: February 05, 2014, 10:25:54 am »

Makes perfect sense.  Just last week, I installed a new video card, and I've had this crashing thing for a lot longer than that. So I think we can rule out the video card.

I use a nice utility called Core Temp to monitor my, um, core temp.  http://www.alcpu.com/CoreTemp/  Always low readings.

My motherboard is a Gigabyte. Maybe they have an update and diagnostic tool of some kind. 

Turns out, I'm not alone:  http://community.spiceworks.com/topic/361282-all-browsers-crashing-randomly

Somebody found a fix:
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/t/439021/both-firefox-and-ie-crash-upon-launch-even-in-safe-mode/

10

General Computer Support / Re: All browsers and random games crash

« on: February 05, 2014, 03:54:19 am »

I monitor temps all the time. They rarely go above 40 degrees C. 

11

General Computer Support / Re: All browsers and random games crash

« on: February 04, 2014, 04:48:42 pm »

Browsers, Flash ads crashing all over the place tonight, including here.  Hardware accel off.

Now Steam crashing, too.  Something is affecting everything. 

BTW, I've also reseated my RAM and cards. I'm going to fool around with the sound settings and driver

Just in....
I went into Safe Mode with Networking.  All was well.  Then, I re-enabled the Flash plugin in Chrome.  Flash crashed. 

So I reverted to a Restore save from yesterday, and everything is working fine.  What loaded in the last 24 hours?

12

General Computer Support / Re: All browsers and random games crash

« on: February 03, 2014, 06:10:19 pm »

My Steam problems were a mod conflict in Skyrim. Not related to the core problem, I don't think.  I solved it and Skyrim runs great now.

I deactivated hardware acceleration....and I'm waiting for a crash. Nothing yet. I'm about to hit YouTube hard.

Still this is the pattern:  I make a fix, it is fine for a time, then it comes back, as if something is reinstalled.

We'll see. Tonight, so far, I am sailing fine.

Thank you.

13

General Computer Support / Re: All browsers and random games crash

« on: February 03, 2014, 03:10:57 pm »

I have browser plugins and extensions off. But since this happens to all browsers, it must be something in common with them.  It also happens to Steam games and YouTube videos.

DEP is on by default for essential Windows programs and services.

Maybe tonight, I'll again see if I can replicate it in Safe Mode with Networking. 

14

General Computer Support / Re: All browsers and random games crash

« on: February 03, 2014, 01:49:37 pm »

I have a brand-new Radeon HD 7970 I installed last weekend.  Didn't solve the problem.  I've tried various drivers.  I have had this problem for about 6 weeks now.

It's funny that after the clean install, it ran great.  Then one morning, bam.  I'm wondering whether something corrupt self-installed again.  I've also run numerous virus and malware checks with Pro versions of each.

As I said, I was due for a new rig anyway.  I built it in 2008. Still, I'd love to solve the mystery.

Thanks, Shane.

15

General Computer Support / Re: All browsers and random games crash

« on: February 01, 2014, 04:28:25 pm »

Update.

I did a fresh install.  It was fine for a couple of days, but still I loaded very few applications and files. 

Today, my browser crashed twice. Then BSOD.  The Events Log mentions a WMI error message. Microsoft has a good WMI Diagnostic Tool, but it is just too complicated for me to handle.  Their directions don't even mention how or where to install it (that I can find).

I ran a 8-test Memtest 86+ for each of my four chips of RAM.  Clean. I downloaded a hard drive analyzer that took and hour and a half and told me my hard drive has no errors. I have a multimeter and my PSU is apparently in fine shape. 

What's left?  Motherboard?  A driver that self-installed?  I routinely turn off all automatic updates of anything. My msconfig start menu has one item in it, Malwarebytes. Nothing at at all on my PC is scheduled to run, although I can't prevent everything. Chrome and Google products update whenever they want.

So I ordered a new computer. I'll still tinker with it my current one, but I can't afford the time anymore.

Just thought you'd like an update of this mystery.

Tim

16

General Computer Support / Re: All browsers and random games crash

« on: January 25, 2014, 11:52:37 am »

Update.  Browsers and games were still crashing. I was looking at the drivers in Device Manager when a screen pops up, telling me that .NET Framework 4.5 is damaged and I am not to restart my computer until setup is complete.

So I waited. It felt like too long, but sure enough, the screen vanished and I was asked to restart.  That was 10 hours ago.  No crashes, and I have tried.

...........5 hours later, the crashes continued.

17

General Computer Support / Re: All browsers and random games crash

« on: January 23, 2014, 06:23:33 pm »

No crashes all day--browsers, games, Steam, nothing. 

Still, I'm up for a reinstall.  I've been preparing for it for a week.

Thanks for your kind assistance. I'll mark this solved after a few more days of pushing it.

Best,
Tim

18

General Computer Support / Re: All browsers and random games crash

« on: January 22, 2014, 05:29:13 pm »

I did the repair/upgrade.  Near the end, it rebooted and opened a browser...which crashed.  Then it told me my version of Windows was not genuine.  I had to close that out and go to Microsoft site to validate my install, which it did.

I did find out that Framework 4.5 needed to be reinstalled, but nothing else enlightening.

We'll see if this works, but I'm not too confident.

I have a good tutorial on clean boot testing, if this doesn't work.  I have a feeling I'm heading toward a reformat.

Thanks again. 

19

General Computer Support / Re: All browsers and random games crash

« on: January 22, 2014, 01:30:09 pm »

That is an excellent idea. Will do.

20

General Computer Support / Re: All browsers and random games crash

« on: January 22, 2014, 01:12:36 pm »

A number of years back, another computer was getting chronically worse and worse, doing crazy things--game graphics were tearing, desktop would vanish.  Turns out it was the power supply--the last thing I tested.

This is applying the process of elimination to leave the guilty standing alone--the Sherlock Holmes method.

Out loud:  I think I'm in the mood for a reinstall.
Inside:    I think I deserve a new computer. 

But I'll reinstall first.  Thank you.

21

General Computer Support / Re: All browsers and random games crash

« on: January 22, 2014, 12:41:56 pm »

Thanks, Shane. I used the Driver Verifier built into Windows and it told me I have no uncertified drivers on my system.

I have only one thing in my Start menu, the video card's Catalyst program.  It is now off.

Are you familiar with the BlueScreenView utility I mentioned? 

I'm thinking I should reinstall Windows.  I haven't done it in a couple of years. 

22

General Computer Support / Re: All browsers and random games crash

« on: January 22, 2014, 09:58:28 am »

I ran a portable utility called BlueSceenView that displays crashes and the drivers involved. 
Attached is the report on my last three crashes.  Not sure what to do about it.  Do you have some advice?

23

General Computer Support / Re: All browsers and random games crash

« on: January 21, 2014, 04:30:21 pm »

I am replying to my own reply (and my browser just crashed twice). Went into my computer in safe mode with networking and could not replicate the problem.

24

General Computer Support / Re: All browsers and random games crash

« on: January 20, 2014, 01:59:19 pm »

First, thank you so much for the help. 

Next, the memory test showed no errors.  I ran Windows Scandisk on a reboot with no errors on my hard drive.

Now, it's Sherlock time, eh?

Tim

25

General Computer Support / Re: All browsers and random games crash

« on: January 20, 2014, 12:30:40 pm »

Wow, OK.  I'm not sure I even have any CD-Rs in the house anymore. The windows Memory Diagnostic Tool in Win 7  is not good?

At any rate, this could take a while.  Off to the store, I guess!

Tim