Crashing computer... hardware or software problem?

[SiM]

My windows has been crashing recently. But only when I am watching video, it works for about 10 mins then video freezes, windows artefacts and crashes... I have installed new ram recently and I have been messing around with video filters to try and get hd dvd working in media player classic (without success). I don't think its the ram, as just done 5 hours of orthos blend and 2 hours of memtest (at stock). So I think I have screwed up some windows files for playing video...

I also recently installed the latest nvidia drivers, so it could be that... I haven't tested games much recently but cod4 worked for about 10 mins when I tested the new drivers...

re-install time for me after exams

[s3ds]

have you tired VLC ?

VLC media player - Overview

[SiM]

Crashes with VLC too... the hard drive could be on its way out so I will test some video from another hard drive to see if this is the case...

[SiM]

Looks like its my hard drive...
Its a fairly new 1TB drive as well...

[Thorsson]

I'd have to suspect video drivers, or your messing around with filters, here unless you get some other errors. Can't understand why you would think it was anything else other than GFX related.

[s3ds]

also check power from PSU
i have had a problem when a PSU decided only to push out 10.4 volts down the 12v line
also is the newly installed ram running at correct voltage ? bios defaults to 1.8 some need 2-2.2v
worth a quick check


EDIT

you posted b4 i finished this post
sorry to hear its the drive what make was it ?

[SiM]

Well the ram is going at 2.7V which is enough for stock (its DDR1)... I am pretty sure its the hard drive. I have disconnected it for now, until I get a new drive to back up some stuff from it.
I don't think it is the 12V line, as all the other hard drives seem to be functioning ok...

What's the best way to copy about 100GB from the drive safely and securely?
If video was making it crash then surely copying files will too...

[Flewis]

Feels good to know my diagnosis was right

What brand of hard drive is it btw? mine was a samsung, their quality does seem to be a little lower than the likes of seagate or western digital.

[SiM]

it is a seagate actually... Its disconnected at the moment... not sure how I am going to get the stuff off it... I am thinking it would be better to install linux and copy over using that because it is less likely to crash in the middle of copying...

[Blitzen]

Well the ram is going at 2.7V which is enough for stock (its DDR1)... I am pretty sure its the hard drive. I have disconnected it for now, until I get a new drive to back up some stuff from it.
I don't think it is the 12V line, as all the other hard drives seem to be functioning ok...

What's the best way to copy about 100GB from the drive safely and securely?
If video was making it crash then surely copying files will too...

Artifacting sounds odd and not like a hard drive.
You sure nothing is overheating (GPU mainly)

Feels good to know my diagnosis was right

What brand of hard drive is it btw? mine was a samsung, their quality does seem to be a little lower than the likes of seagate or western digital.

You didnt post a diagnosis???????

[grayg1]

Are you getting blue screens?
Give crash dumps if so

[Mithrandir]

I would have thought it was psu or gpu related on artifacts.
Do you get any problems running [intensive] games?

[SiM]

No blue screens. Just freezes, sometimes with artifacts. GPU doesn't overheat in ATI tool, however, it did artifact when play pro evo just now, but was ok when I restarted the PC. It might have artifacted in pro evo because I accidentally double clicked on a pdf while it was loading though... I haven't ever got artifacts in games up to now. CoD4/Crysis worked flawlessy last time I tried them (for around 10-15 mins)... I'll try them again.

I was able to watch 1 hour of video from a different hard drive without it crashing so I still reckon it is the hard drive...

Flewis posted the diagnosis in another thread.

I am going to roll back nvidia drivers and change back to old ram and see if anything happens... I have a spare 7600gs and an ati hd 2600 that I can also try, but I will probably have to wait until after my exams as that will be too much mucking around...

[s3ds]

Well the ram is going at 2.7V which is enough for stock (its DDR1)... I am pretty sure its the hard drive. I have disconnected it for now, until I get a new drive to back up some stuff from it.
I don't think it is the 12V line, as all the other hard drives seem to be functioning ok...

What's the best way to copy about 100GB from the drive safely and securely?
If video was making it crash then surely copying files will too...

i use viceversa pro but im sure there are others i do use the CRC checking (in settings )

ViceVersa Software: File Synchronization, File Replication, Windows Backup Software

[Agent]

copy 3 things to the hardrive at the same time.
dont ask why. i know it sounds silly.
dont delete them after it, reboot.

Why?

[TAKTAK]

copy 3 things to the hardrive at the same time.
dont ask why. i know it sounds silly.
dont delete them after it, reboot.

thats garbage all that does is force the copy operation to run 3 operations in parrallel causing the disk headers to have to zip around to find the data (even though it has to anyway but thats beside the point ).... there is no logical way this can solve anything!