Got new computer, and suddenly! A problem

defanatic · Post by **defanatic** » 2008-09-15 09:33am

I just got a new computer, and it's also the first one I built. I was fairly happy with the result, and (after replacing the motherboard after destroying the first one's BIOS) managed to get everything working.

Well, I primarily wanted it for games, and those seem to be the only things that don't. Whenever I try to play a game, I get error reports like these:

Faulting application wic.exe, version 1.0.0.0, faulting module wic.exe, version 1.0.0.0, fault address 0x00603d75.

Faulting application actofwar.exe, version 0.0.0.0, faulting module actofwar.exe, version 0.0.0.0, fault address 0x000eccf2.

Faulting application vlc.exe, version 0.8.6.0, faulting module libvlc.dll, version 0.0.0.0, fault address 0x0006cad0.

And so on.

I've asked about a bit, and still haven't really figured out what the problem is.

Additional notes:
Removing either RAM stick doesn't seem to help.
Team Fortress 2 crashes at the menu if I wait long enough
Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox have both crashed, although Chrome crashes alot more
The computer's graphics card passes all tests

Tolya · Post by **Tolya** » 2008-09-15 09:55am

From my experience, I would bet on some kind of hardware problem/conflict. Maybe faulty RAM? I would suggest running a good diagnostics program to see if there are any problems. Or perhaps there is some kind of memory conflict?

Of course, even if your RAM passes the diagnostics test it may not mean that it's ok.

I would also recommend reinstalling things like DirectX. Also posting full reports would be helpful for some experts here.

Still, literally EVERY problem I had with games hanging up that didn't have to do with games poor design, had to do with faulty hardware, usually non-matching RAM sticks.

But I would recommend posting some more details on your rig. With all the details, like how many sticks of RAM do you have and how are they inserted into the motherboard.

defanatic · Post by **defanatic** » 2008-09-15 10:04am

So how do I post a 'full report'?

Erm...

I have a P5N-MX motherboard, 1GB stick of RAM and a 2GB stick of RAM, Radeon 4850, Core Duo 8400.

I can post a more detailed report tomorrow (computer is separate from home) when I have the receipt on me.

General Zod · Post by **General Zod** » 2008-09-15 12:38pm

I'd almost wager it's some kind of video-card and motherboard conflict.

Kitsune · Post by **Kitsune** » 2008-09-15 12:46pm

XP or Vista?

defanatic · Post by **defanatic** » 2008-09-15 11:26pm

XP SP2

Erm... SOmetimes when it crashes, multi-coloured lines (well, each line is a single colour, but there are different coloured lines) run down the screen.

EDIT I'm going to switch out the graphics cards.

Stark · Post by **Stark** » 2008-09-15 11:46pm

Are you using the best drivers, and can you still DOA the card? Try the card in another system to see if the fault moves with it - I agree with Zod and it sounds like video problems.

defanatic · Post by **defanatic** » 2008-09-16 12:13am

Well, switching out graphics cards went badly. :S Using a (confirmed to be working) geforce 7600, I could start up the computer and install the drivers. However, after that, the computer would only start up in safe mode (it would freeze somewhere on the Windows XP loading bar).

So now I'm back to square one again.

I am using the latest drivers for the graphics card. Whether they are the best or not, I don't really know.

I can still take it back until Sunday.

Stark · Post by **Stark** » 2008-09-16 12:18am

Test your card in another computer too to check that it works fine there, and then DOA your motherboard.

defanatic · Post by **defanatic** » 2008-09-22 03:01am

Well, it seems that it was a problem with the motherboard.

Note all: Don't get an Asus P5N-MX! It is very bad.

Kitsune · Post by **Kitsune** » 2008-09-22 07:44am

The best company will sometimes slip up and send you a bad motherboard

defanatic · Post by **defanatic** » 2008-09-22 12:05pm

Kitsune wrote:The best company will sometimes slip up and send you a bad motherboard

Or everyone. We tried three copies of the same motherboard. *sigh*

Kitsune · Post by **Kitsune** » 2008-09-22 01:53pm

Never seen that with a motherboard but have seen that with a movie...we would return the movie and it would stop play at teh same time and in multiple DVD players.

I tend to buy older type components and as such seem to avoid that problem. Had an old slot "A" Athelon though and it kept crashing. Brought it to a computer store who told me that I had not seated the fan right. They charged me and said they fixed it.

When I got it back, it continued crashing. It was the motherboard.

My worst luck seems to be with power supplies though