Vista - Crashes when installing large games or programs.

I am running a norwegian version of Windows Vista home premium. When I
install large games, like Bioshock or Hospital Tycoon. I don't get an error
message, the computer just freezes while copying files, and the only solution
is to reboot. First I thought it was the dvd-rom, but it also happened when I
first copyed the files to the harddrive, and installed from there. It also
happened when I tried to extract a 4GB zip-file using 7-zip. It is slightly
random when the crash comes (sometimes I can install 25%, others 30%), and it
is really annoying, especially since I was really looking forward to
Bioshock. Any ideas what I can do to fix this?

Hal wrote:You haven't given us any hardware specs on this computer. Is it old?
New? Branded OEM (HP, Dell, etc.) or something someone built for you?
Still under warranty?

The random quality of your problem points to a hardware issue. I would
do a drive diagnostic with a utility downloaded from the hard drive
mftr.'s website (or use Seagate's SeaTools Desktop). You will create a
bootable CD/floppy with the file you download. If a bootable CD, you may
need third-party burning software to create it.

Set your computer to boot from the optical drive and boot with the CD
you made. Do a thorough test of the drive and if it fails any physical
tests, replace it.

If you need more help, then please supply the missing information about
your computer.


Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

"Malke" wrote:
I just bought a Dell 531s Desktop w Vista.. So its brand new hardware and
OP. It is constantly crashing when I start loading programs. Vista is
delicate... somtimes I just click the mouse and I get the blue sceen
crash..........very frustarting. I have aready reformatted the hard drive
twice to get back up and running.... :\

Hal, you want to look and see how much RAM and Graphics is required to run
those games.
Games take a lot of both, and freezing is the prime error of it.

"Hal" wrote:

bluebmr wrote:Are you the original poster? If not and you want help, you should make a
new post instead of tacking your question into the middle of someone
else's thread. Doing this "thread hijacking" makes it difficult to help
both people.

In the meantime, a new computer should not act the way yours does.
Brand-new hardware will often fail right outside of the box; the fact
that your computer is new is irrelevant to whether the hardware is good.
Since the machine is new, contact Dell for repair/replacement. Vista is
not that delicate and I've set up quite a few new Dells running Vista
for clients and have never experienced the problems you are having.
Something is wrong with the computer itself unless you've installed some
incompatible software/hardware and you've left that part out.


Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User