My girlfriend just moved into a new house with her family, and her PC has started blue screening at seemingly random intervals. Initially, we suspected it was a RAM issue based on a system scan, but that turned out to be a false alarm. We've tried plugging the PC into outlets in a different house and on various floors of her new place, and it only crashes upstairs, leading us to think the problem lies with the power supply from the outlets. Unfortunately, all the upstairs outlets are on the same breaker, which complicates things—especially since we aren't looking to move the PC downstairs. The landlord is supposed to come check things out on Saturday, but we're worried he won't fully grasp the situation. We really need some advice on two points: 1) What are the chances that inconsistent power is causing the blue screens? 2) Could getting a UPS solve this problem, especially if the landlord doesn't get an electrician involved? We're really thankful for any help you guys can give us!
2 Answers
If the problem really is with the power in the house, then yes, getting a UPS could definitely help stabilize things for your PC. A good UPS will regulate the power supply and protect against fluctuations, which should reduce or eliminate those blue screens you're seeing.
To get a clearer picture of what's causing those blue screens, it would help to collect some dump files from the crashes if you can access Windows. These files are crash logs that can provide more insight into the problem. You can usually find them in the C:WindowsMinidump folder. If they're there, zip the folder and upload it to a file-sharing site so someone can analyze it. If you can't find any dump files, you might want to change your settings to create small memory dumps. This info can really help pinpoint the issue.
Just to confirm, would inconsistent power actually lead to blue screens?