If you don't want to reinstall the OS, then you can download some Linux distribution and install that on a spare drive (or a free partition). Run disk test (failing disk drives can cause all sorts of problems), run memory test (failing RAM ditto), verify that all fans are spinning and are dust free, verify that the CPU heatsink is seated correctly (overheating CPU = crash). Does undoing the change fix the problem? If it is not a recent issue, has it always been like that? Did you check for viruses, malware, etc.? If even a clean install of the OS with up to date drivers for everything doesn't fix the problem, then you can start suspecting hardware. Did this problem start recently? If yes, what happened at that time? Did anything change? (= new software installed, hardware replaced, etc.). Take a systematic approach and start eliminating the possible problem sources one by one and start with the software. You guys are always excellent helping beginners like myself with questions here. I will definitely run stress tests on that computer. I haven't gotten past learning somewhat about assembly for the NES and the last computer I was totally familiar with was TI Basic.

The problem is I know very little about computers. I would also agree that I could be having a firmware or driver issue. I'm getting the proper voltages on every rail including the +5v rail when connected to the motherboard and powered on. The reason I mention this resistance is that every other power rail has a much higher resistance. I checked for visibly faulty capacitors and burnt components before I checked anything else. I just would like to have this one working steady. I don't have another power supply to drop in this one and I'm really looking to build a computer with much better specs and with schematics for every part so I'm a bit hesitant to pour money into an old computer. It is in fact an HP Pavilion but running Windows Vista. Yes they're 3 times the price of the no names, but factor in how much it would be to replace your motherboard or other parts, if a cheap PSU takes them out. EVGA G2 series of supplies give a good 'bang for buck' in the PC PSU world. You'd do well to read reviews of PSUs on jonnyguru before investing in it. You'll save your PC components from a hard life, and have decent protection in case of a fault. Do yourself a favour, and invest in a good one. Also many cheaper PSUs can be the cause of random crashes due to unstable, high ripple, power rails. Many people skimp on computer PSUs, forgetting its the heart of the system, till one fails catastrophically, and takes out their expensive CPU's, GPUs, SSDs and HDDs with it. I second the motion to just replace it, with a good quality PSU.

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