<p>I have had this computer for a year and a half and have had no real issues.</p>
<p>About six months ago, i had an issue where i, for whatever reason, needed to do a system restore on. The computer was unable to do it for some reason.</p>
<p>I then decided to run a memory check (done by pressing F5 I believe), and it said there were issues but windows was unable to fix them.</p>
<p>More recently (within the past month or so), I was playing a free game and it would crash causing my entire comp to freeze. Oh dear. I uninstalled the game and went on to another and i have not had that issue since.</p>
<p>Until today…</p>
<p>I had used my comp earlier just to look something up and closed it (normally i leave it on and sleeping if i know i’ll be back). I came back and, oddly enough, was about to jump on here when it BoSD on me, forcing my computer to restart.</p>
<p>Windows detected the issue as an improper shut down and tried to find a fix for it (never poped up again).</p>
<p>So, what should i do? Should i try to fix this issue myself (which i believe is being caused by one of my drivers) or should i take it in (as it is still under warentee)? My mom thinks i should just use the comcast service that tries to fix the issue over the phone and via remote access. But it had been checked by said person when I was trying to figure out why our wifi was shutting down and such (Long story short, we have three laptops and one of them (not this one) had been infected by a trojan that kept opening a back door and messing with the router. The other computers were checked to see if they were clean and if they had any issues.). I still have the report from it.</p>
<p>I have a feeling that it is either the graphics driver that is going or a major issue with the memory. If i take it in tommorow, I should be able to have it back by the day i move in on campus (the 17th).</p>
<p>Thoughts?</p>
<p>Ah if it helps I’m running:</p>
<p>Windows 7 64bit
Intel core i5
4.00 GB</p>
<p>I wouldn’t have Comcast do anything with it. I don’t see what good they’d be.</p>
<p>You said it indicated memory issues. What issues? If memory is bad it’ll affect different things in different ways including getting BSODs.</p>
<p>Some of those ‘free’ games aren’t so free - they often put on adware or worse, viruses. </p>
<ul>
<li><p>If you can do a restore to a point in time where the system was stable then try doing that.</p></li>
<li><p>Run anti-virus scan software, like McAfee Stinger (free download) which will scan your system for any viruses at the moment, and run something like MalwareBytes or adaware to try to get rid of any viruses/malware.</p></li>
<li><p>If there are truly hardware memory errors then the memory module needs to be replaced which means have it fixed under warranty.</p></li>
<li><p>Now, while you can (hopefully), backup everything you have of importance on the system to an external hard drive, USB stick if it’ll fit (zipped), or cloud drive. Don’t worry about things you have the CDs/DVD for - like maybe Office, since you can reinstall that.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>** If you have it fixed by the manufacturer under warranty (or anyone else), just assume they’ll reformat or replace the hard drive and everything you have on it will be wiped out.</p>
<p>hmmm… well this is interesting.</p>
<p>I ran the memory diagnostics tool and it stated that it hadn’t found anything (!!!). Further more, I was also able to run a system restore (only to yesterday, but still better than nothing) after i had turned off my antivirus and ran it in safe mode.</p>
<p>Antivirus found nothing.</p>
<p>I ran the disk defragmentor (as i hadn’t done it in a while) and it was at 6% and needed done. Also ran a disk clean up whilst i was at it.</p>
<p>Is it possible that this was an isolated event?</p>
<p>I haven’t played that game since saterday, and i scan on a regular basis, so i’m pretty sure that is not it.</p>
<p>Or am i making a mountain out of a moll hill?</p>
<p>There can be transient BSODs although once you have one it seems that eventually you’ll have another. Is your computer clean - i.e. not loaded with dust or the power supply fan perhaps being loaded with dust that might cause it to over heat? If so, vacuum it (after removing the power cord).</p>
<p>Next time you get a BSOD, write down all the error codes it gives you. You can then Google them and see if anyone else has had similar problems and found solutions to them. That will help you determine the nature of the problem - hardware, memory, drivers, etc. It’s hard to really tell what you should do, otherwise. Be as fast as you can, because the screen can change quickly. It took me three tries to copy down enough details to figure out that I had a bad memory stick, for example. </p>
<p>It’s always good practice not to download anything that’s not trustworthy. A quick Google search can help you judge the credibility of certain websites or programs, and it will save you a heck of a lot of trouble. </p>
<p>It’s also good to back up your files regularly. Once in college one of my hard drives crashed. I lost not one but two papers that I’d been working on for four days. Losing even a day’s work would have been bad enough, but I had to start everything from scratch/memory. Now I have automatic hourly backups to the cloud set up, so I can be pretty sure that I won’t lose more than an hour’s worth of work.</p>
<p>All these things you are describing - games causing blue screens, problems when opening/closing/sleeping/awakening, stuff not working right with AV/working ok without AV - point to buggy drivers.</p>
<p>I would check for new graphics drivers (check the manufacturer’s site, not the computer maker’s), and browse the maker’s support forums to see if problems with opening/closing are a common issue with that computer.</p>
<p>What AV are you using? A different brand might resolve your AV issues.</p>
<p>
If you have a smart phone, record the boot process while this happens. It should be sufficient resolution on a big screen to read it.</p>
<p>I’m using Kasperky anti virus.</p>
<p>Just an update:</p>
<p>Ended up calling comcast only to find out that it was a hardwear issue causing the proccessor’s performance to drop. Could be a power supply issue or something else. Hopefully, it will be fixed soon.</p>
<p>Thanks for the help.</p>
<p>Did you do the vacuuming of the power supply and fan area I mentioned (after unplugging the power cord)? It’s amazing how clogged some computers can get after awhile - especially if it’s a desktop sitting on the floor, and this can cause it to overheat and sometimes for the power supply to have issues due to it and the entire computer as well since on a sektop this is often the only fan for the chassis.</p>