# Why does my computer keep crashing? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 26, 2009, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-computer-keep-crashing/483062 "2009-01-26T16:33:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-computer-keep-crashing/483062/1 "2009-01-26T16:33:07Z")
I have an Acer desktop running Vista. If it sits idle for a while it crashes. I’ve never had it crash on me while I’m doing stuff. Interestingly, I recently signed up with Mozy to backup my files there, and the initial backup took about a week. I believe it only crashed once during this time. After the backup finished, it started its usually daily crash. Coincidence? I have no idea. After logging back on I get a pop up saying Windows can check for a solution. It never finds one. The following is also in the pop up: Problem signature: Problem Event Name: BlueScreen OS Version: 6.0.6001.2.1.0.768.3 Locale ID: 1033 Additional information about the problem: BCCode: 9f BCP1: 00000003 BCP2: 840D1300 BCP3: 86622878 BCP4: 85DA43A8 OS Version: 6\_0\_6001 Service Pack: 1\_0 Product: 768\_1 Files that help describe the problem: C:\Windows\Minidump\Mini012609-01.dmp C:\Users\Scott\AppData\Local\Temp\WER-45224-0.sysdata.xml C:\Users\Scott\AppData\Local\Temp\WERF6A.tmp.version.txt Read our privacy statement: [http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=50163&clcid=0x0409](http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=50163&clcid=0x0409) Out of the files under C: listed above, I’m not allowed to access Mini012609-01.dmp, WERF6A.tmp.version.txt doesn’t exist, and WER-45224-0.sysdata.xml will not display in Explorer, although that’s what tries to load it after double-clicking. Fat lot of good that did for me, Vista! I don’t know where to start in fixing this problem. Can anyone please help??? ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Turble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Turble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turble)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-computer-keep-crashing/483062/2 "2009-01-26T16:48:56Z")
Does it always happen after some certain specific amount of time? I’m thinking it might have to do with the system trying to go into standby mode, like if you have it set to standby in say 20 minutes and it always crashes exactly 20 minutes after you last do something. Or maybe a screen saver or hard drive set to spin down or something set for that amount of time. ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-computer-keep-crashing/483062/3 "2009-01-26T17:29:43Z")
There is no specific amount of time after which it always shuts down. ---
**Author:** ![arseNal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@arseNal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/arseNal)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-computer-keep-crashing/483062/4 "2009-01-26T20:04:06Z")
Well, MS support has this to say about your 9F: [http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929762/](http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929762/) Seems consistent with your description; there is some error when trying to come out of sleep mode. When you were Mozying, the poor thing didn’t get a wink for a whole week 🙂 Do you have any firewire devices attached like an iPod etc? ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-computer-keep-crashing/483062/5 "2009-01-26T20:15:00Z")
What’s your processer and speed How much RAM and storage do you have? Does it do this when you go into safe mode? ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-computer-keep-crashing/483062/6 "2009-01-26T21:14:35Z")
> [@arseNal](#): > > Well, MS support has this to say about your 9F: > > [http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929762/](http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929762/) > > Seems consistent with your description; there is some error when trying to come out of sleep mode. When you were Mozying, the poor thing didn’t get a wink for a whole week 🙂 > > Do you have any firewire devices attached like an iPod etc? No firewire devices attached. As for an error when trying to come out of sleep mode, I’m not so sure. I simply stop working on the computer and come back at a later time and it has crashed. Btw, I never explicitly use sleep mode, but I just tried it. When I tried to wake up, I got a “no signal” error and had to turn off/turn on the computer. ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-computer-keep-crashing/483062/7 "2009-01-26T21:17:43Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > What’s your processer and speed > > How much RAM and storage do you have? > > Does it do this when you go into safe mode? AMD Athlon 64 X2 Processor Storage 200 GB How do I find out how much RAM I have? ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-computer-keep-crashing/483062/8 "2009-01-26T21:23:57Z")
What does it say in the Event Viewer? ---
**Author:** ![arseNal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@arseNal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/arseNal)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-computer-keep-crashing/483062/9 "2009-01-26T22:22:50Z")
> [@Fiddle\_Peghead](#): > > No firewire devices attached. As for an error when trying to come out of sleep mode, I’m not so sure. I simply stop working on the computer and come back at a later time and it has crashed. Btw, I never explicitly use sleep mode, but I just tried it. When I tried to wake up, I got a “no signal” error and had to turn off/turn on the computer. Well, that’s not good either. You might want to try to ruling out any problems related to sleep mode by changing your power settings so that it never goes to sleep, and see if that makes a difference. If it does, then you need to investigate that further. If it doesn’t, then it probably eliminates the MS KB article suggestions. **Quartz’s** question about the event viewer is good, too. ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-computer-keep-crashing/483062/10 "2009-01-27T00:02:47Z")
How do I change power settings? ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-computer-keep-crashing/483062/11 "2009-01-27T02:35:49Z")
> [@Fiddle\_Peghead](#): > > running Vista. Says it all. ---
**Author:** ![Apocalypso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Apocalypso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apocalypso)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-computer-keep-crashing/483062/12 "2009-01-27T04:06:55Z")
Why don’t you try changing your settings to disable hibernation and standby mode, then let it go for a couple days and see if it’s still crashing. I don’t have vista, but under XP, it’s in power management on the control panel. BTW do you shut your computer down periodically, or leave it on all the time? ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-computer-keep-crashing/483062/13 "2009-01-27T05:23:16Z")
Did you start it in safe mode? I have Vista and have no issues with it. To start in safe mode, shut computer down. Then power it up and as you hit the on bottom IMMEDIATELY start hitting F8, keep pressing F8, and keep doing it till it goes into safe mode. Then see if it shuts down in Safe Mode, if it can function in safe mode, it’s something you have installed. ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-computer-keep-crashing/483062/14 "2009-01-27T17:28:30Z")
> [@Apocalypso](#): > > Why don’t you try changing your settings to disable hibernation and standby mode, then let it go for a couple days and see if it’s still crashing. > > I don’t have vista, but under XP, it’s in power management on the control panel. > > BTW do you shut your computer down periodically, or leave it on all the time? I’ve changed the settings. Let’s see what happens. I rarely shut down the computer myself. ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-computer-keep-crashing/483062/15 "2009-01-28T17:00:04Z")
> [@arseNal](#): > > You might want to try to ruling out any problems related to sleep mode by changing your power settings so that it never goes to sleep, and see if that makes a difference. If it does, then you need to investigate that further. If it doesn’t, then it probably eliminates the MS KB article suggestions. I set the power settings so it won’t go to sleep, and it didn’t crash last night as usual. So, what are you suggesting that I investigate? Or should I just not worry about it? ---
**Author:** ![arseNal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@arseNal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/arseNal)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-computer-keep-crashing/483062/16 "2009-01-28T19:16:02Z")
> [@Fiddle\_Peghead](#): > > I set the power settings so it won’t go to sleep, and it didn’t crash last night as usual. So, what are you suggesting that I investigate? Or should I just not worry about it? Well, for starters, did you try the patches listed in the KB article I linked to? Other than that, you’re just going to have to identify which driver or device is troubling your computer’s sleep. Has the computer always exhibited this crashy behavior? If not, can you think of what you might have installed that coincides with when the behavior started happening? Or, you can just forget about it if a never-sleeping computer doesn’t bother you 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-computer-keep-crashing/483062/17 "2009-01-28T20:18:08Z")
I haven’t had time to try the patches, but thanks very much for all the info, and to others who made suggestions.