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[Akura]

Right, now my computer has started crashing pretty severely recently, at random times. Either it just locks up, or the screen goes black, or it tries to restart. Worse, when it does restart(either on it's own, or when I hit the restart button), it seems to lockup there. Worst of all, last time it happened, I tried several times to restart it, and had to switch off the power supply for a few seconds to get it back on.

This all started a few weeks ago the same day I updated my ATI drivers, so I'm gonna assume that's the problem. Any ideas?

[ed boy]

This is similar to what happend to my laptop when it overheated, if that's any help.

[MetalSlimeHunt]

That sort of sounds like what happened when my old computer's hard drive went bad. But that computer was awful due to being bought from Tiger Direct and having the most low quality components possible.

[ed boy]

I had a laptop where the hard drive went bad, though the hard drive started making strange noises at times. If it makes strange noises while operating (they won't be loud, so turn off any music/sound you have going), that would be a big clue.

[Tylui]

I had a laptop where the hard drive went bad, though the hard drive started making strange noises at times. If it makes strange noises while operating (they won't be loud, so turn off any music/sound you have going), that would be a big clue.

A click or a hiss followed by the freeze is a good hint of harddrive...

It could be your video card though, that would explain the sometimes black screen.

Are you running Windows? When it's starting up and it won't start is there a BSOD at all? Or does it just not boot?

[Akura]

When it fails to start, it doesn't do anything, no BSOD, no POST. I don't hear anything, but I probably wouldn't be able to anyway. It does seem to happen even while it's in sleep mode, and that's distressing. I sure hope it's not a failing hard drive, though if it was a failing video card that's even worse. I don't know why it'd be the hard drive or video card(hardware, the drivers might be borked, though) would be dying, I've only had them for about a year and a half.

That sort of sounds like what happened when my old computer's hard drive went bad. But that computer was awful due to being bought from Tiger Direct and having the most low quality components possible.

I bought the parts to build mine from Tiger Direct, but they've been alright so far. Well, except for now, anyway .

[ed boy]

check the ventilation of the computer - poor ventilation can lead to overheating.

Does the intensivness of the computer activites seem to have an effect on how long it lasts?

[MetalSlimeHunt]

Don't buy anything from Tiger Direct or CompUSA. My one and only computer from them lasted five months. I have since been informed that the hard drive died from a problem that any decent one shouldn't suffer from unless they are several years old. There was much ragekill about that, even more so considering they tried to skip out on the warrenty I had, and still ended up losing about 200$ of the 600$ I paid for it. My computer now was bought new from Best Buy for about 500$, and it has served me much better. In additon, they sold me the completely useless CA security while Best Buy sold me the ever useful Kaspersky security for less.

[Tylui]

Buying stuff from Tiger Direct is okay. They don't make the products. However, I would only buy PARTS not completed computers. They tend to charge a lot.

Also, if it won't even POST, I'm thinking it's more a processor/mobo thing.

[G-Flex]

This all started a few weeks ago the same day I updated my ATI drivers, so I'm gonna assume that's the problem. Any ideas?

Try rolling back your drivers to an old version. The new drivers might be buggy or something.

That being said, check your ventilation, like others have said. Blow out the fans if necessary.

[bluephoenix]

Get speedfan, set it up and with it look if the hard drive is failing or if your computer is overheating.

"SpeedFan is an extremely powerful tool. It can help you a lot to find the reasons for an unpredictable reboot or for a failing hard disk. It can tell you whether you are likely to experience temperature related issues and can help you to greatly reduce the noise at work or while watching a movie. But this great power requires access to a lot of resources on your motherboard and it might be that your hardware does not like such kind of access."

[Medicine Man]

Scan your computer.It could have some nasty viruses and tell us if you have trouble switching it off.

[Akura]

What? Oh, it seems to have stabilized. It does that.

Still turns itself back on when I have it in sleep mode, but I think that's a problem with the mouse...

[Gorjo MacGrymm]

I think you may have an issues with your power supply.

[Medicine Man]

Holy shit...The same thing is happening to me now D: