Help! My RMA’d laptop is crashing during games – what could be wrong?

It sounds like you're experiencing some frustrating issues! Have you tried checking for any dump files from the crashes? These files can help pinpoint what might be happening. If you can boot into Windows normally or use Safe Mode, look in C:WindowsMinidump to see if any files are there. Zipping them up and sharing would really help the analysis. If you have only one file, don't worry! Just get that one up; multiple files are better but one can still provide clues. Also, make sure to check the dump file settings so they capture the right data. Here’s a guide that can help with that.

Besides that, maybe check your event logs for any specific error codes. If you've never looked there, it could provide some insights on what’s failing.

Another thing to consider is whether your games are installed correctly. Sometimes files can get corrupted, especially if there was an issue during the initial installation. Try verifying the game files through Steam or the respective clients. If everything else fails, reinstalling might just be the way to go.

If there are no dump files or event log IDs, that makes it a bit tricky. You might not get much insight from those. In that case, I suggest checking your hardware temperatures while gaming. If your laptop overheats, it could cause crashes. You could use monitoring software like MSI Afterburner to keep an eye on temps. Also, ensure your laptop’s fans are clean and functioning properly, as overheating may not always trigger errors but can still lead to crashes.