Constant crashing on Windows 7 laptop post-reformat

[Eschatos]

Hey tech support pros, help me out with a really strange issue happening with my PC. 

So my computer(Toshiba Qosmio X505 laptop) has been relatively shitty for a while, being all slow, unable to install windows updates, and crashing semiregularly for no discernable reason.  I figured this was all software issues so I reformatted after the latest semester ended and I had time.

For about an hour, my computer worked excellently.  Booting to desktop and being able to use programs within 30 seconds was a welcome change from having to wait 5 minutes every time.  I started Planetside 2 installing so I could finally experience the fun times myself.

Then the first crash happened as I was browsing the interwebs.  To be specific, one moment I was looking at Reddit, the next I had a black screen and no power. I hoped this would be a one time thing and restarted, only to be greeted by the exact same thing happening within 5 minutes. Presently my computer is guaranteed to crash within a minute of me opening up a web browser.

Since this was happening post-reformat it pretty much guarantees some kind of hardware problem.  I've ran Checkdisk and Windows' Memory Diagnostic, both say there's no problem whatsoever.  My next thought was that this might be an overheating issue(my laptop gets HOT) but the crashes kept happening after I let the computer sit overnight to cool down. Event viewer shows a critical error that the computer lost power suddenly, but nothing helpful about what could be causing it.

At this point I'm feeling stumped. The crashes happen almost exclusively when using a web browser. I've tried Chrome, Firefox, and even IE9. They all crash my computer within seconds of me trying to go to any web page.  I have no idea what could cause crashes like this from specific programs that would last past a reformat.

Any suggestions?

[FlyingMongoose]

Often times manufacturer drivers are crap, and are the cause of problems... often. I can tell you that the lenovo included drivers for system integration (like volume overlays etc.) will cause explorer to crash.

So sift through your add/remove programs and remove any included software with the laptop.

If this is NOT it, try actually INSTALLING this software. (Probably available on Toshiba web site).

Manufacturer drivers are... hit or miss at best.

[HeK]

Hot laptops are bad. Well, hot any electronics are bad unless they are a toaster. Laptops in general are bad, the constant head-cool cycles combined with movement cause micro-fracture on the mainboard. This leads to instability and eventual death. Average life for a traveled laptop is around three years.


Anyhoo, first step is to rule out the most obvious issue: memory.

I personally don't trust the Windows Mem tester, so go and download Memtest86+. http://www.memtest.org/
Burn to CD, boot from disc. Let it run overnight. The more ram you have, the longer you need to run it. Let it to all the tests, at least two passes.

If that comes back clean, it'll be time for the next step.

[FlyingMongoose]

If your lappy supports bootable USB you can use this:
http://www.pendrivelinux.com/

Useful little tool.

[Eschatos]

I'm becoming fairly certain that the problem is related to my video card or its drivers.  I ended up reformatting again, and both times I noticed that the computer behaves perfectly until I install display drivers.  I've tried both the most recent drivers from Nvidias website and the most recent on Toshiba's driver download page for this model, both have the same issue. 

[Eschatos]

Also it works great again after uninstalling display drivers, as long as I can deal with no games or higher resolutions.

[FlyingMongoose]

Try beta drivers.

[Eschatos]

Try beta drivers.

No good, still crashes.  I guess it's time to be in the market for a new PC.  Any recommendations for a decent sub-$1000 laptop?

[FlyingMongoose]

I like my Acer, total cost is about $600.... but I did manual upgrading of some things.

[Vlambo]

I like my Acer, total cost is about $600.... but I did manual upgrading of some things.

How many ways can I say this...

NEVER.
BUY.
AN.
ACER.
LAPTOP.

[FlyingMongoose]

How about this.

I spent $500 on it new.
It has a 1GB GPU
it has an i5 (4 core) 2nd gen
it has 8 GB of RAM (I upgraded from 4)
It has an 80GB SSD (I added and had to purchase an alternate back plate for me to use second drive slot)
it has a 500 GB HDD

It runs planetside 2

It cost me about $600 after my manual upgrading.

I now use it for work as I built a new desktop.

It works just fine, it's great for a budget buy. And I've had it for about 2 years now.

Also, acer's warranties are actually quite nice. If I really wanted to, as long as the manufacturer bios of the mobo supports it, i could upgrade it's CPU and still be covered by manufacturer warranty (Granted that was in the first year and my warranty has expired). This warranty may have changed since my purchase though.

I don't know why you don't like them save for bad experiences, but it runs just fine for me.

But hey I typically avoid Nvidia graphics cards because I have never encountered one that has not been the problem with the computer I'm fixing when it's graphical issues. Not one, of any generation, every single computer I have ever fixed or tried to fix when it was a graphics issue, it was an nvidia graphics card and I'm 26 now, started hardware fiddling when I was 12... so... yeah.... Something I have never ever encountered with ATI cards.

So again, I say, for a budget, my acer laptop works just fine, and it can play games, INCLUDING planetside, SMOOTHLY (not as smooth as my desktop), but definitely far more playable than my bro's desktop which is a Phenom (1st gen), with a 2GB HD6870 GPU. (The phenom is the bottleneck).

The ONLY thing you need to worry about ultimately on buying ANY manufacturer's laptop, that be acer, lenovo, dell, cyberpower, quite literally ANY of them is removing the excess bullcrap applications that come with them. I only left two apps from acer installed, launchmanager, because that provides my volume GUI, and their driver updater, as they do create exclusivity drivers for SOME of their equipment (but you can get around this if you want to, I never needed to).

[Eschatos]

Interesting, what model is it?  And you can be sure that the first thing I do after getting a new laptop will be to reformat it, especially if it comes with Windows 8.

So far I'm considering this also.

[StolenToast]

Interesting, what model is it?  And you can be sure that the first thing I do after getting a new laptop will be to reformat it, especially if it comes with Windows 8.

So far I'm considering this also.

Please just don't buy Acer...

Asus is definitely the right path, but I would beware of cheap models, even by Asus.  My friend recently picked up a fantastic Asus for close to but under $1000, came with a GTX 660M I believe.  I will try to find out which one it was and post back. 

[FlyingMongoose]

I would just like to know WHY the two of you (at least) are saying "no acer"? Also I need to check it's model. It's nowhere near me right now and i'm getting ready to sleep. Will post later.

[Vlambo]

I would just like to know WHY the two of you (at least) are saying "no acer"? Also I need to check it's model. It's nowhere near me right now and i'm getting ready to sleep. Will post later.

Because they're made cheap, there Lpatop CS and warranty is awful, and I can't count how many times I've had people come to me and say "CAN YOU FIX MAH ACER".

That's why I avoid them. If you have found a good one, great. However, I avoid Acer Laptops. Acer isn't bad at everything, hell, my 2 monitors are Acer,

Also, good choice on the Asus Estacos. For Laptops it goes Asus > Lenovo > Toshiba. I stick to those 3.

[StolenToast]

Because Acer is a cheap, budget brand.  Maybe you had a great experience but can you guarantee whatever Acer Eschatos would buy would be just as good?  Or even if he bought the same one he would have the same experience?  I say you cannot.

So the model my guy bought is not sub-$1000 anymore, but here it is anyway.  You'd have to search for another retailer, I'd bet.

Also don't knock Windows 8 till you've tried it.  I will bet you fat wads anyone who says it sucks has never used it.  It works EXACTLY as well as 7 does, just with a wonky start menu.  And if it really bothers you you can just use Classic Shell's Classic Start Menu.  Free and gives you the old 7 start menu in seconds.  It also sets the desktop as the default start screen, so you never even see the modern UI.  Beyond that Windows 8 starts faster, operates lighter, and can run all your software. 

No, you don't have to use the Microsoft App Store. I have never even opened it up.

[FlyingMongoose]

Because Acer is a cheap, budget brand.  Maybe you had a great experience but can you guarantee whatever Acer Eschatos would buy would be just as good?  Or even if he bought the same one he would have the same experience?  I say you cannot.

So the model my guy bought is not sub-$1000 anymore, but here it is anyway.  You'd have to search for another retailer, I'd bet.

Also don't knock Windows 8 till you've tried it.  I will bet you fat wads anyone who says it sucks has never used it.  It works EXACTLY as well as 7 does, just with a wonky start menu.  And if it really bothers you you can just use Classic Shell's Classic Start Menu.  Free and gives you the old 7 start menu in seconds.  It also sets the desktop as the default start screen, so you never even see the modern UI.  Beyond that Windows 8 starts faster, operates lighter, and can run all your software. 

No, you don't have to use the Microsoft App Store. I have never even opened it up.

I have used Windows 8, I hate it, and there's a ton of known wifi driver issues that still aren't fixed. Wait until SP1 before going to it, that is what I will do, as before SP1 I got four good boots and BSOD's every crash after that.

[Eschatos]

[quote author=StolenToast link=topic=6938.msg266594#msg266594 date=1368404517]
Because Acer is a cheap, budget brand.  Maybe you had a great experience but can you guarantee whatever Acer Eschatos would buy would be just as good?  Or even if he bought the same one he would have the same experience?  I say you cannot.

So the model my guy bought is not sub-$1000 anymore, but here it is anyway.  You'd have to search for another retailer, I'd bet.

Also don't knock Windows 8 till you've tried it.  I will bet you fat wads anyone who says it sucks has never used it.  It works EXACTLY as well as 7 does, just with a wonky start menu.  And if it really bothers you you can just use Classic Shell's Classic Start Menu.  Free and gives you the old 7 start menu in seconds.  It also sets the desktop as the default start screen, so you never even see the modern UI.  Beyond that Windows 8 starts faster, operates lighter, and can run all your software. 

No, you don't have to use the Microsoft App Store. I have never even opened it up.

I have used Windows 8, I hate it, and there's a ton of known wifi driver issues that still aren't fixed. Wait until SP1 before going to it, that is what I will do, as before SP1 I got four good boots and BSOD's every crash after that.
[/quote]

I dislike Windows 8 because I constantly have to deal with its issues at work.  There are far more complaints from both tech-savvy and non people than about 7.  To put it mildly, 8 has problems.