Please help! Can't figure out why computer keeps crashing!

This is probably a bit of a weird question, but do you have any idea if a good computer repair shop may have better means of troubleshooting the issues my computer is experiencing? It would be much simpler to hand it over to an expert if they can diagnose it better than I can. Also, what would you suggest I do in the way of troubleshooting/repair, if I'm to do it myself? It really annoys me that the problem isn't that I can't fix the computer but rather that I don't know what's wrong with it, specifically. If I only knew exactly what was wrong I could just replace/fix it... (insert infuriated emoticon here _ )

Thank you for your reply, I greatly appreciate you taking the time to explain.

The problem, so it seems, is either power related or motherboard related? If my PCI-E slot is faulty, could that account for the graphical problems and explain the other crashes? The only thing I can think of to test the MOBO would be to switch the video card to another slot (from the 3.0 to the 2.0 slot, my MOBO has both and the 660 ti is compatible with both slot types). Then, after ruling the video card slot out, I could alternate between individual RAM modules, to rule out a memory slot issue (I ran MemTest86+ thoroughly a few weeks ago so I'm pretty sure the ram itself is OK). Are those procedures worth trying, or are those slots not likely causing the problems as far as you can tell? The only way to troubleshoot the PSU is, as you said, replace the PSU with an identical unit and see if it still crashes, I suppose.

Last night I installed SpeedFan and used it to check my HDD health and performance, and it showed no errors so I think the hard drive seems OK too. I also checked my device temperatures with SpeedFan and GPU-Z and everything seems to be within normal operating heat levels.

I should also mention, I use a fluorescent light that's built into my desk. It looks pretty old, and when I turn it on I can hear the t.v. in the adjacent room (when it's turned on, that is) make a crackle sound, which seems to be from electrical interference from the light. Also, on a few occasions recently, I turned on the light and heard my computer play the sound effect that indicates a device has been connected (I believe the sound played was the same as "Device Connect", in the sounds tab under "Windows Default"), even though nothing had been connected. Maybe that was just a coincidence, but it seems peculiar as it seemed to play the sound as soon I switched the light on. I've discontinued my use of the light, needless to say.

I'm not certain, but I think a while back ( I can't remember when) we had a fairly nasty storm and the power may have gone out briefly, but I really can't remember. I have the computer plugged into a surge-protected unit which is in turn plugged into the wall, so I think it should have been safe in case of a power surge. Unrelated to that incident, I recall one time the PC randomly shut itself off and rebooted itself, but it displayed the "start Windows normally" etc. upon reboot as if it had crashed. That crash seems to indicate a power failure as well if I'm not mistaken.

Anyway, I though I'd share all the information I could and see if it's useful for a diagnosis. I will post again at the next crash, and in the meantime possibly perform those procedures I mentioned if you think it would help pinpoint the problem. Thanks again for your advice, and any more would be appreciated if you can think of anything else to add.

Date:          28/02/13 21:31:47

Event ID:      41

Level:         Critical

User:          SYSTEM

Description:

The system has rebooted without cleanly shutting down first. This error could be caused if the system stopped responding, crashed, or lost power unexpectedly.

  <EventData>

    <Data Name="BugcheckCode">0</Data>

    <Data Name="BugcheckParameter1">0x0</Data>

    <Data Name="BugcheckParameter2">0x0</Data>

    <Data Name="BugcheckParameter3">0x0</Data>

    <Data Name="BugcheckParameter4">0x0</Data>

    <Data Name="SleepInProgress">false</Data>

    <Data Name="PowerButtonTimestamp">0</Data>

I investigated the circumstances in which this error occurred. There are no recorded events in the preceding 30 minutes. The error is an unexpected restart where no dump file is created. This suggests a power failure but I cannot be certain that this is the reason for the restart. You do have some problems in the graphics area but I cannot make a link between graphics and the unexpected restart.

Most system failures result in a BSOD (Blue Screen of Death) and a dumpfile report is created providing that the computer has been configured to create reports.  In a limited number of system failures no dumpfile is created. A report is generated when the computer is next booted and placed in the System Log in Event Viewer. The report is given an Event ID number 41 as illustrated above. Additionally Event ID 6008 is recorded which gives very little helpful information, save that the cause is unknown and that it occurred at the date and time specified. . A further report is placed in the Reliability Monitor with a red orb on the Miscellaneous Failures line and it is recorded as a Critical Failure. Unfortunately the Technical Details for this type of failure reveal no additional information.

The more common causes of this type of failure all relate to power failure. These can be because:

1. The user has pressed the Power On / Off button.
2. A power failure or a loss of supply to home or office where the computer is located. If this has happened it will often be obvious because electric lights are other electrical appliances switch off.

 3. A faulty electrical appliance on the same electrical circuit as the computer or the computer trips the contact breaker or blows a fuse and switches off the supply for safety reasons.

 4. The power cable between the mains power socket and the computer becomes disconnected at either end.

 5. A power surge or lightning strike occurs. Your computer should connect to an uninterruptible power supply unit, which then connects to the mains supply. If an incident occurs you will have to reset the uninterruptible power supply unit. Without one of these units in place a lightning strike or power surge can damage the computer beyond repair.

 6. A faulty power supply unit. The best test here is to remove the existing power supply unit and replace with a known good power supply unit having the same capacity. Most home users do not keep a spare power supply unit to hand.

 7. A damaged or disconnected power cable or motherboard connector within the computer. You can check the cable is properly connected but a damaged motherboard is not easily checked.

 8. If the computer is a laptop check whether the battery can be fully charged, holds the charge and was or was not connected to a mains supply when the failure occurred.

A related Microsoft Knowledge Base Article:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2028504

Problems on a computer can build up from small contributory errors, which if not addressed, lead to an unstable computer. In this situation system failure can result because an important request fails because a minor error causes a service to time out.

I spent some time rechecking your drivers to see that all installed on your computer are the latest available. Whilst the latest two suggestions appear obscure, it is not practical to investigate the function each driver performs. It is simpler and less time consuming to update as drivers are updated for a reason, namely to make the computer function better. In the past Asus motherboards have been sold with driver DVDs, which contain outdated drivers relating to their own utilities. It is not for me to decide whether an Asus customer should or should not use those utilities.

May I ask why I need those updates? Do you by now have any general idea of what could be the cause of these crashes/errors, or are these just generic troubleshooting tips? The APRP Utility appears to be for registering my product; what use could that possibly serve? I'm not sure I need all the bundled updates for various things in the AI Suite. I'm sorry but I'm a bit confused and would very much appreciate an explanation and any theories on what the core of the problem is. I don't want to install all that stuff unless I'm sure I need it. Thanks.

In Hotfix section

Update the APRP Utility to V1.0.018 for Windows XP 64bit & Win7 64bit & Win8 64bit

http://www.asus.com/Motherboard/P8Z77V\_LX/#support\_Download\_30

In Utilities section

Update ASUS AI Suite II V2.01.01 for Windows XP 32bit & XP 64bit & Win7 32bit & Win7 64bit & Win8 32bit & Win8 64bit. Etc

http://www.asus.com/Motherboard/P8Z77V\_LX/#support\_Download\_30