Computer randomly restarts/crashes! Help please!

[novaboi24]

So after upgrading my GPU + PSU, I began to get errors and crashes more often. Sometimes as frequent as 4 times a day. This is particularly annoying when I'm gaming competitively and was hoping if someone can help me out.

 

Most recently, a Windows 8.1 error message prompted up and said something about "0xa000001". Other errors included random PC restarts and a buzzing noise coming out of my speakers before restarting. There have been no blue screens or error reports after my PC starts back up so I'm pretty clueless to what the problem is.

 

In terms of drivers, using: Control Panel --> System and Security --> Windows Update. It says "No updates are available". So do I need to update any drivers by manually downloading from a website (AMD etc.)?

 

My specs are in my signature and ask if you need more information.

 

Thanks for your help and I really appreciate it!

 

P.S. I'm fairly new to PCs so try to keep things simple

[Tmh85]

Have you tried your old PSU?

[mgsstar]

Check your event viewer to see the errors that occurred when it restarted.

[novaboi24]

Have you tried your old PSU?

 

No; my old PSU was only 500W so I upgraded it at the same time as my GPU.

[Tmh85]

No; my old PSU was only 500W so I upgraded it at the same time as my GPU.

Can you maybe try it just for like 5 minutes to narrow down what is really causing the issue?

[novaboi24]

Can you maybe try it just for like 5 minutes to narrow down what is really causing the issue?

 

I had trouble upgrading it myself so I bought it to a Computer Specialist shop. I wouldn't be able to swap the PSU again myself. Would prefer not to spend too much money after a fairly costly upgrade (I'm a student). Any other advice?

[Tmh85]

I had trouble upgrading it myself so I bought it to a Computer Specialist shop. I wouldn't be able to swap the PSU again myself. Would prefer not to spend too much money after a fairly costly upgrade (I'm a student). Any other advice?

Can you swap graphics cards and see if that fixes the issue?

[novaboi24]

Looking at the Event Viewer, one of the errors was:

 

A fatal hardware error has occurred.

 

Component: AMD Northbridge

Error Source: Machine Check Exception

Error Type: HyperTransport Watchdog Timeout Error

Processor APIC ID: 0

 

The details view of this entry contains further information.

 

I did a bit of Googling and came across http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_8-hardware/event-id-20-whea-logger-amd-northbridge/b69d3256-05a9-4aa7-b7ef-f0ed662c0f6f .  However, I'm unable to find my Graphics Drivers under Device Manager.

[novaboi24]

Can you swap graphics cards and see if that fixes the issue?

Let's just assume that I'm not able to replace any of the hardware myself... I'm just praying that this is something wrong with the Drivers and could be resolved easily.

[Tmh85]

Let's just assume that I'm not able to replace any of the hardware myself... I'm just praying that this is something wrong with the Drivers and could be resolved easily.

Do you know how to update your drivers?

[Akolyte]

Please list your components, like the brand and the model.  As that will help me and the rest of us understand your problem a bit more.  There is a range of things you can do to diagnose a BSOD, Crash or unstable activity.  

 

1. Update your Drivers manually and uninstall any old graphics card drivers.  Update your drivers from the manufacturer website, also download all of your other drivers from your motherboard website. 

 

2. Update your BIOS, your motherboard manual should have a dedicated section explaining exactly how to do this.

 

3. Revert any overclocks, or revert all overclocks to default.  If you overclocked anything put it back to how it was when you got it.

 

4. Revert any core unparking, Windows mods or disabling of the page file.

 

5. Run memtest86 or the built in Windows memory diagnostic tool which can be found in administrative tools, run it and change the options to extended mode, run it for about 5-6 passes and let it do its thing.

 

6. Run a disk error check with the tool provided by your Hard Drive manufacturer, each manufacturer provides a tool to scan your hard drive for errors.  Which can be found on the manufacturer website usually.

 

7. Check your temperatures, using a program such as HWmonitor watch your CPU and GPU temperatures.  Also get AIDA64 or another stress testing tool and a GPU stress testing tool such as FurMark.  This will max out the usage of your CPU and GPU, run the temp monitor during these tests and see how hot they get.

 

8. Restore corrupted Windows files, if any important windows files got corrupted you can open up CMD as administrator and run "sfc /scannow" this will scan your system for compromised or corrupted Windows files.

 

9. Do a fresh install of Windows, this will refresh Windows, allow you to reinstall all of your drivers.  This can usually stop a crashing problem if you haven't done a reinstall in a while

 

10. Check your power supply, most times this can be done easily.  If you hear a weird noise coming from it that can sometimes mean its failing, if you smell burning from it that can also mean failing.

 

I hope this helps out, if theres anything else you need help with or your problem is still happening to feel afraid to quote this and i'll reply ASAP.  

[novaboi24]

Do you know how to update your drivers?

Trying my best to... "AMD Driver Autodetect" isn't working for whatever reason so I'm pretty lost again...

[novaboi24]

Do you know how to update your drivers

 

Trying my best to... "AMD Driver Autodetect" isn't working for whatever reason so I'm pretty lost again...

Okay nevermind, I've re-installed my Drivers again... hopefully.

[novaboi24]

Please list your components, like the brand and the model.  As that will help me and the rest of us understand your problem a bit more.  There is a range of things you can do to diagnose a BSOD, Crash or unstable activity.  

 

1. Update your Drivers manually and uninstall any old graphics card drivers.  Update your drivers from the manufacturer website, also download all of your other drivers from your motherboard website. 

 

2. Update your BIOS, your motherboard manual should have a dedicated section explaining exactly how to do this.

 

3. Revert any overclocks, or revert all overclocks to default.  If you overclocked anything put it back to how it was when you got it.

 

4. Revert any core unparking, Windows mods or disabling of the page file.

 

5. Run memtest86 or the built in Windows memory diagnostic tool which can be found in administrative tools, run it and change the options to extended mode, run it for about 5-6 passes and let it do its thing.

 

6. Run a disk error check with the tool provided by your Hard Drive manufacturer, each manufacturer provides a tool to scan your hard drive for errors.  Which can be found on the manufacturer website usually.

 

7. Check your temperatures, using a program such as HWmonitor watch your CPU and GPU temperatures.  Also get AIDA64 or another stress testing tool and a GPU stress testing tool such as FurMark.  This will max out the usage of your CPU and GPU, run the temp monitor during these tests and see how hot they get.

 

8. Restore corrupted Windows files, if any important windows files got corrupted you can open up CMD as administrator and run "sfc /scannow" this will scan your system for compromised or corrupted Windows files.

 

9. Do a fresh install of Windows, this will refresh Windows, allow you to reinstall all of your drivers.  This can usually stop a crashing problem if you haven't done a reinstall in a while

 

10. Check your power supply, most times this can be done easily.  If you hear a weird noise coming from it that can sometimes mean its failing, if you smell burning from it that can also mean failing.

 

I hope this helps out, if theres anything else you need help with or your problem is still happening to feel afraid to quote this and i'll reply ASAP.

I believe I've updated my Drivers but I still don't see Graphics Card under Device Manager. Is this normal?

[mgsstar]

I believe I've updated my Drivers but I still don't see Graphics Card under Device Manager. Is this normal?

You should be able to see it under Display Drivers. If not, try downloading the AMD drivers and use custom installation to see if you installed the AMD display driver:http://support.amd.com/en-us/download

[Akolyte]

I believe I've updated my Drivers but I still don't see Graphics Card under Device Manager. Is this normal?

I would think its not normal, but I currently don't have my PC in front of me to check.  I would reinstall Windows if thats okay, it will erase all your data on your boot drive.  So backup stuff first.  But the reason for this is so you can reinstall all your drivers and all your programs and then we can see if it still happens.  Another thing you can do is go into safe mode, if the crash doesn't come in safe mode then its a software issue.  

[novaboi24]

You should be able to see it under Display Drivers. If not, try downloading the AMD drivers and use custom installation to see if you installed the AMD display driver:http://support.amd.com/en-us/download

 

 

I would think its not normal, but I currently don't have my PC in front of me to check.  I would reinstall Windows if thats okay, it will erase all your data on your boot drive.  So backup stuff first.  But the reason for this is so you can reinstall all your drivers and all your programs and then we can see if it still happens.  Another thing you can do is go into safe mode, if the crash doesn't come in safe mode then its a software issue.  

Ohhh I see my "AMD Radeon R9 200 Series" driver now! Didn't know it was under "Display Drivers".

[novaboi24]

So I've reinstalled my Drivers. Hopefully this fixes my problems but I'll ask for help again if I need it and you've given me great follow up solutions to try. Everyone's been really helpful!

 

Thanks so much

[Akolyte]

So I've reinstalled my Drivers. Hopefully this fixes my problems but I'll ask for help again if I need it and you've given me great follow up solutions to try. Everyone's been really helpful!

 

Thanks so much

your welcome!