computer freezing

[sandstorm6]

Having a bit of bother with the computer lately.

It has started to freeze regularly and without warning when I click on a tab the screen goes blank and I have to pull the plug to shut it down.

Recently my son changed the graphics card and was using a remote link to work from home, he also downloaded some files from his office computer.

Can anyone shed any light on what is going on?

seems to be alright for about an hour then it starts to play up, possible overheating?

also when I reboot it it sometimes shows repairing ''F drives''

[big-all]

heeelllooo and welcome sandstorm6
havent got a clue
suspect f is flash drive so the graphics card

[sandstorm6]

heeelllooo and welcome sandstorm6
havent got a clue
suspect f is flash drive so the graphics card

Thanks big All, had to reset all my passwords and user names for site, have been on this site for ages and have asked millions no trillions of questions.

Best site there is for DIY

SS6

[Dave54]

I expect some of the more knowledgable members will be along in a while to help.

Could be graphics card not properly in place, some take quite a hard push. Or memory disturbed while changing card. Again a good hard push down on the chip cards to seat. Power off first!

Could be overheating.
Get "Speed fan" http://www.almico.com/sfdownload.php to see what the temperatures are.

Take side cover off case and look for "fluff" built up around processor and fan. Power off first again.

Probably worth doing a full virus scan, and a malware scan using something like "Malwarebytes"
https://www.malwarebytes.com/
AFAIK that's the proper site. (I used the link in the software) Be wary of downloading it from anywhere else.

[sandstorm6]

I expect some of the more knowledgable members will be along in a while to help.

Could be graphics card not properly in place, some take quite a hard push. Or memory disturbed while changing card. Again a good hard push down on the chip cards to seat. Power off first!

Could be overheating.
Get "Speed fan" http://www.almico.com/sfdownload.php to see what the temperatures are.

Take side cover off case and look for "fluff" built up around processor and fan. Power off first again.

Probably worth doing a full virus scan, and a malware scan using something like "Malwarebytes"
https://www.malwarebytes.com/
AFAIK that's the proper site. (I used the link in the software) Be wary of downloading it from anywhere else.

Thanks Dave, for reply, think you are right about graphics card, have done all the other things you suggested
including doing a full scan from the malware website. Funny thing is it has been working fine for a couple of hours now! like going to dentist with toothache and it goes away as you arrive at surgery.

SS6

[Dave54]

The graphics cards in particular can cause problems if they're not right home in the slot. Difficult to see they're not as well.
I had one MB that used to regularly let the memory creep out. Again, weird faults.
Just thinking, assuming the machine was running OK before the card upgrade, if it's an Nvidia card it may be worth getting the software removal tool for the drivers. I think it's on 'Overclockers.co.uk' but a search will find it. It completely removes the old drivers. Don't know about AMD cards. But I think the removal tool does those as well.
You don't want bits of the old drivers there in either case.

[Bob225]

Its just sulking from the new graphics card being put in, I have seen it before the board/cabling gets disturbed and the fine layer of dust gets moved about

If it carries on doing it use the speed fan program and look at the voltages, depending what graphics card your son put in it may be pushing the power supply, A common with off the shelf pc's from the likes of dell, Lenovo and HP

[sandstorm6]

Its just sulking from the new graphics card being put in, I have seen it before the board/cabling gets disturbed and the fine layer of dust gets moved about

If it carries on doing it use the speed fan program and look at the voltages, depending what graphics card your son put in it may be pushing the power supply, A common with off the shelf pc's from the likes of dell, Lenovo and HP

Thanks for the reply, son actually built the computer. think you may be right about it being disturbed has been working fine these last few hours. Son is working away from home at the moment, if it goes tits up again I will get him to have a look at it.

SS6

[sandstorm6]

The graphics cards in particular can cause problems if they're not right home in the slot. Difficult to see they're not as well.
I had one MB that used to regularly let the memory creep out. Again, weird faults.
Just thinking, assuming the machine was running OK before the card upgrade, if it's an Nvidia card it may be worth getting the software removal tool for the drivers. I think it's on 'Overclockers.co.uk' but a search will find it. It completely removes the old drivers. Don't know about AMD cards. But I think the removal tool does those as well.
You don't want bits of the old drivers there in either case.

Will take your advice and get my son to look at the things you have mentioned, I am a bit of a technophobe and not firing on all cylinders when it comes to computers.

SS6

[kellys_eye]

Is the power supply up to driving the graphics card? Some graphics cards can draw an awful lot of power and if it's an 'upgrade' to the normal graphics 'as supplied' then you often have to fit a more powerful PSU to cope.

What's the make/model of the original PC and the make/model of the graphics card?

[sandstorm6]

Is the power supply up to driving the graphics card? Some graphics cards can draw an awful lot of power and if it's an 'upgrade' to the normal graphics 'as supplied' then you often have to fit a more powerful PSU to cope.

What's the make/model of the original PC and the make/model of the graphics card?

Hi Kellys eye,
It is posible it is trying to draw to much power it is just shutting itself down as if it cant handle it.
yes it was an upgrade, the make of the graphics card was an MSI, son built the computer from new parts he bought himself, is away from home at the moment but all the problems seem to be pointing to the graphics card. It had been running fine for a number of years till it was changed.

It was not a new graphics card but one that was in another computer hiding in sons loft. Still have the original card so think I will just put it back, or should I say get son to put it back

SS6.

[kellys_eye]

A computer PSU has a 'total' power output rating as well as individual power limits (i.e. the 12V, 5V and 3.3V outputs are individually rated) and modern graphics cards tend to use the 3.3V line a LOT.

The PSU was probably rated for the existing motherboard (built-in graphics?) but nearly every upgrade recommendation where graphics cards are mentioned also talk about having to 'up' the PSU to cover it.

Loading (or over-loading) the 3.3V line could cause the total power consumption to exceed the limits and, when that happens, one of the other supply lines (12V or 5V) could drop momentarily thus causing a shutdown.

All speculation of course! If I knew the original PC details and the make/model of graphics card it would be easy to determine whether this was the cause.

[sandstorm6]

A computer PSU has a 'total' power output rating as well as individual power limits (i.e. the 12V, 5V and 3.3V outputs are individually rated) and modern graphics cards tend to use the 3.3V line a LOT.

The PSU was probably rated for the existing motherboard (built-in graphics?) but nearly every upgrade recommendation where graphics cards are mentioned also talk about having to 'up' the PSU to cover it.

Loading (or over-loading) the 3.3V line could cause the total power consumption to exceed the limits and, when that happens, one of the other supply lines (12V or 5V) could drop momentarily thus causing a shutdown.

All speculation of course! If I knew the original PC details and the make/model of graphics card it would be easy to determine whether this was the cause.

Thanks for all your advice and answers, this last piece sounds very much that what is happening, will defo look into it

The only make of graphics card I can come up with is MSI which was a sticker on the centre of the card.

SS6

[Dave54]

If the OP's son built the machine as said then he might have put a bigger PSU in than if it's a ready built machine.
MSI is the maker of the graphics card. The model is what's needed.
Is there any label you can see on on the PSU (That's the metal box inside the case that the mains lead goes into)
That little monitoring app. "Speed Fan" can monitor the voltages as well.

[Bob225]

If you get one of the rails of the power supply drop below its threshold it will shut the motherboard down, Hard drives don't like either what can cause issues with windows

you can also get the same symptoms with overheating/ lack of air flow