Crashing Problem.

First off ill start with my system specs:

Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 2.4Ghz ( Not OCing. )
P5N32-SLI SE Deluxe Mobo ( latest bios )
Corsair XMS2 DDR2 800 duel channel ram
XFX 8800 GTX Graphics card.
320GB WD PATA HDD
Im running Windows XP --- SP2 ( 5.1, build 2600 )

Now to my problem:

The last couple days have brought some odd problems, if they are that. Lately AIM has been crashing, which I think it did on my old comp anyway. WIndows live messenger crashed, WMP crashed trying to play WMV files.

Anyone know what might be up with this? I have run virus scans / Spy ware scans, etc. I am rather good at fixing problems, but i just want to get other peoples opinion on what might be wrong first since this is the first system I have really built ( Im more of a programmer / networking person ).

 

Shouldn't have thought it would be hardware problem (unless the computer is quite new?)

The first thing I'd do is some registry/general system checks with Systemworks (with a program more thorough than the defualt windows registry checker).

 

Aye, the comp is brand new ( Just built it last week ). Ill try the registry checking in a bit, I also have some other tests im going to run on it.

 

OK then: you need to test all your hardware before the auto-return policy runs out on your parts.

Run memtest86 and prime95 and if either of those fail then you need to contact your supplier.

If you've just built it then unless you've been deliberately messing about with it, I'd say it was a hardware issue.

 

Yea, i was going to run those today aswell. Thanks for the info.

Will post how it turns out.

 

could be a possible mem leak

 

Well, to tell you the truth i dont think its a hardware problem. If it was, Oblivion would be crashing, Firefox would be crashing ( It does, but thats from a bug in the new version, it did it on my old comp aswell ). AIM has not crashed since i updated it to that triton crap ( Actually, it updated itself i didnt know it was installing triton... ). WMP and MSN have not crashed since. EVE only crashed that one day.

@Oasis: Mem leak in what? Windows? The apps that are crashing?

 

it would fall under a hardware problem... run memtest if theres a problem there it will find it.

 

Memory leaks are not always hardware, they can be cause by programming errors in software.

But yea, im going run a mem test in a bit.

 

Ran a few memory tests ( not all of the ones it has, because i have to finish some homework which i need this comp for ). Anyway, all of the ones iv run so far passed. Also ran video memory tests, it passed, ran a system board test and it passed on all marks.

Im starting to think it was just something with windows i fixed, havnt had a crash for a day or 2 now.

 

possible overheating? especially around the memory maybe?


what kind of cooling do you have?

 

You need to make sure memtest ran through tests 5 and 7 as if remember correctly they were the important ones.

 

What tests are those? Im not using memtest program im using a diagnostic tool that has all the tests in it. So far i ran an Xor'ed, and some other one. Im going to run them all once im done with some things i have to do.

edit: Its stock cooling, the ram has heatsinks, the temps are normal though.