System shuts down unexpectedly during games, unsure if it's related to Windows.
System shuts down unexpectedly during games, unsure if it's related to Windows.
Last month my computer would suddenly go black before restarting or restarting each time I opened a game. A search suggested the issue was linked to Windows 11 22H2. I couldn't go back to the previous version, so I reinstalled Windows 10. It resolved the problem until it updated to 22H2 again and then occurred once more. I rolled back the installation and everything worked until last night when my PC became unusual. It froze, turned dark, almost as if a picture had been heavily overexposed—very pixelated and dark, an odd sight. I verified there was no auto-update to 22H2, so it wasn't the same issue. This is my first custom-built machine; before that, I sent laptops back to Dell for repairs.
A few details: In October a power surge damaged my PSU (a cheap surge protector; I learned from that). Now my PC uses a UPS. When I built it, Windows was installed on a 250GB M.2 drive with a 1TB SSD for storage. I upgraded to a 1TB M.2 and use the 250GB for storage. The problem often appears when booting up—asking if I want Windows 10 or 11. I formatted the 250GB but am still unsure if the 11 version is related, especially since it happens most during Overwatch 2 but also with Friday the 13th game.
Specs: AMD RYZEN 5 3600 G.SKILL 16GB 2X8 D4 3200 TRIZ RGB ZOTAC RTX2060 COMPACT 6G ASUS PRIME X570-P REDRAGON 600W BR FIXD ATX. 1TB M.2, 250GB M.2, 1TB Samsung QVO SSD, 4TB Seagate Barracuda (possibly failing due to clicking noises; no software installed). Windows 10 Version 2004 (OS build 19041.2364).
Appreciate any advice!
The issue occurred at 22H2, I undid the installation and it functioned temporarily before stopping.
The Windows Reliability Monitor indicates that your temperatures have been tracked. Have you checked them recently?
Temperatures have consistently stayed within a comfortable range of 60C to 75C. The situation escalated unexpectedly: the Reliability Monitor flagged a hardware error. Before investigating further, I restarted my PC and noticed unusual behavior—apps like Discord and Chrome Steam froze. After reviewing the monitor data, I performed a complete Windows reinstall. When I tried to launch a game, instead of a glitchy screen, a brief blue screen appeared before a restart. Based on limited experience, I suspected a failing hard drive since similar issues occurred when moving my PC. I opened the case, reinserted the M.2 graphics card and RAM. However, the problem persisted—PC would boot but display remained unresponsive. I tried relocating the GPU to another slot, but no improvement. Eventually, I removed the CMOS battery, waited five minutes, and reinstalled it. The display worked again. Now I’m unsure whether the fault lies in the GPU, motherboard, or the CMOS battery.
A dead CMOS battery leads to reset of BIOS settings, incorrect clock/time display, and similar problems. Such occurrences are uncommon, but the low cost means replacing it provides peace of mind.