[Annewsded]

Asher do you have any other fans in your PC case apart from the one on your PSU? How do you cool your CPU and VC?

[Storwaytozy]

I wander how quiet a PC with that many fans may be. Aren't all these fans (although super quiet) adding up in noise.

Have you personally tested/experienced if two or three of these big quiet fans make less noise that a stock CPU fan for example?

[blogforlovxr]

My new computer is pissing me off too. Every so often, it just freezes in the middle of booting up. It's happened about 5 times now. Each time, I have to turn off the power and start it up again (whereupon it works perfectly).

Something during startup is wonky. Dunno what. I'm dreading the phone call to tech support.

-Arrian

[StarsWorld]

Last time it made it to the Windows desktop. Windows was therefore up, right? The startup programs were coming up (the messenger icon came up, then it died). Other items that come up at start up include my primary suspect, Kodak Easyshare (I dislike that program. I don't think it plays nicely with others), Norton (Symantec) anti-virus/etc, and some I'm forgetting right now.

Other instances haven't made it quite that far before death, but I think they've all made it past BIOS.

-Arrian

[PheliarearY]

Originally posted by Arrian
Last time it made it to the Windows desktop. Windows was therefore up, right? The startup programs were coming up (the messenger icon came up, then it died). Other items that come up at start up include my primary suspect, Kodak Easyshare (I dislike that program. I don't think it plays nicely with others), Norton (Symantec) anti-virus/etc, and some I'm forgetting right now.

Other instances haven't made it quite that far before death, but I think they've all made it past BIOS.

-Arrian Seems like your processor fan died.

[seodiary]

Arrian,

Does this happen just on cold boots (computer has been off for a while)?

In most cases a failed CPU fan would result in more consistent crashes unless you have drastic changes in ambient temps. Easy enough to check if the fan is spinning up, so definitely check it out.

If it crashes before windows loads sometimes, it shouldn't be a 3rd party program. Depends on the timing though.

Could be a driver issue, hard drive error, or faulty memory module. Scan your hard drive for errors, and run Memory Diagnostic Tool (you have Vista right?)

It could also be a CPU failing. Eventually crosstalk will get to any CPU. It would probably result in more randomly timed crashes though, not confined to the boot up/windows loading. They'd be more likely after it's been running a while or during CPU intensive tasks.

[Avgustslim]

The only problem I've had is Vista doesn't seem to like my ATI graphics card or at least ATI's drivers blow when it comes to Vista compatibility.

[Xewksghy]

I'd die too if I had to play NWN for an hour.

[IvJlNwum]

Originally posted by Asher
I'd die too if I had to play NWN for an hour. Don't feel bad. Most noobs don't even last an hour so you should feel good about having escaped the predatorial pwnzers for that long.

[GillTeepbew]

Originally posted by Arrian
****ing thing froze on me again last night. It booted just fine. I played NWN for about an hour and a half and it died. Meh.

-Arrian Most likely the CPU then. I've had a couple start acting up on me like that, just random crashes, and eventually they won't boot up at all.

[b91ZmxzX]

Originally posted by SlowwHand
Don't get me started on pennies. "Take care of your pennies, and your dollars will take care of themselves." ...Ben Franklin.

[inchaaruutaa]

Originally posted by Arrian
Cold boots, yes. When it freezes, I shut it off and try again, and it always works the second time. I've never had it fail twice. However...

We've also had it freeze a few times in the midst of playing a game (Neverwinter Nights) - again, no ability to do anything but turn the power off. That would be after hours of playtime.

Sometimes it manages both startup and hours of play with no problems at all.

I can hear the fan (fans, actually, I should have 2) running.

I have XP SP2.

-Arrian Try cleaning out the fans, I had mine clogged up with dust and I was noticing the same symptom in various games.

[masteryxisman]

That was actually a funny post, so I'm going to go ahead and bump this entire thread.