So my desktop PC has never really had problems over the few years i have had it. It's a great computer, but recently i have been having issues with it.
I figured the problem was that i had a virus. I scanned and researched, trying to figure out the problem. I caught a Trojan and quarantined it, but i was still having problems.
Every once in awhile, my computer shuts itself down. The screen just goes black and a "Entering power save mode" message pops up. Nothing happens after that. I can't do anything.
But, once i turn off the computer, then turn it back on, it works fine. Just like before. After a few days, the cycle repeats, and the computer shuts itself down.
When it happens, im just doing daily stuff. Surfing the web, playing games, etc.
I have Norton 360 and the free version of MBAM, and i scan often. Norton catches tracking cookies occasionally, mbam catches nothing, but i still get these problems.
Does anyone know what could be happening? I have an OTL scan running, as i was looking into the malware subforum on here and saw that before posting in there i had to scan with it.
But i'm not actually sure if it's a virus anymore.
My computer runs windows 7.
Thanks for any help,
-Colin
Control panel / Power options / Edit power setting / next to "put the computer to sleep", choose NEVER.
That still doesn't help. I still crash.
Edit: Something i didn't mention, this always and ONLY happens when im gaming. I don't play anything intensive, and i play on low level graphics. There is no reason the computer i have couldn't handle anything i do (i5, 8 gb).
Regardless of your CPU and the amount of RAM you have, depending on the game, your graphics might not be up to it (especially on a laptop).
Do you have a card or on-board graphics?
Ok, you have a card and it's good enough to play any game, so graphics card is not the problem.
Your PC would not be going into power saving mode if it didn't have the graphics ability to play a game. The game would at worst, just crash (the game or maybe the computer) or at least be very messy to try and play with lots of freeze and jerky frame rates and player movements.
I take it you have the latest card driver and the problem never started happening after your last driver upgrade (?)
I had BIG issues with Skyrim recently when I upgraded my card driver, which I fixed by just rolling back to the previous driver.
I've noticed over the years that some drivers and games just don't play together well
1. Overheating would cause your problem. Unless you already have a heat-monitor installed, download CPUID HWMonitor
2. A recent hardware or software change
3. Issues with Nortons which can cause a load of problems. Unless your a really big fan of their software, consider removing it (a special nortons specific uninstaller is required from nortons site) and replacing it with Microsoft Security Essentials which is an excellent (non-bloatware) antivirus.
Im installing the HWMonitor thing. When i was installing it, it kept pestering me into installing other things (which i didn't) like toolbars and stuff.
Are you sure it's trustworthy?
Anyways, here is what i got when i ran it, with only chrome running in the background:
[external image: Posted Image]
This is what i would get when i was running a couple games and skype (this is what i usually do when i use the computer):
[external image: Posted Image]
EDIT: This is starting to happen VERY frequently, as in every 10-20 minutes. I'm very desperate, as you understand how incredibly annoying it is to have to restart your computer every 10 minutes!
Thanks for the help you have been giving me, Lee, and im open for suggestions from anyone else as well!
Attached i added my OTL logs. They are a couple weeks old, and i am about to run a new scan with OTL just in case.
Im installing the HWMonitor thing. When i was installing it, it kept pestering me into installing other things (which i didn't) like toolbars and stuff.
Just about all free software nowadays is trying to get you to add "extras". CPUID software is rock solid and trustworthy. Just remember with all software installs, chose "custom install" and untick every extra offered.
Your CPU temps are way to high (71 degrees) when gaming and certainly enough to shut you down and even far too high when not gaming.
Here are my temps and they only go up about 5 to 10 degrees when gaming. 📎ScreenClip000005.jpg
Reasons for this could be a faulty CPU heatsink fan, poor case design or not enough fans.
At least open your case and make sure your CPU fan is working and if needed blow out the dust with a can of compressed air (do it outside), as dust will block up heatsink cooling fins.
