PC randomly crashing, how can I test it?

Most likely because of the age of the machine something got jiggled during the move and is causing it. Check all cable connections, hardware connections, etc. It could just be something like aging hardware or dust.

jayv2251 said:

I'll try that too. Is there any tool out there free or paid that checks CPU, GPU, memory, HDD/SDD, drivers, and Windows? Everything I see on YouTube is for benchmarking not on system stability.

Your system is about 10 years old and moving it can caused to something not being well set.
Un plug the power cable from the wall outlet to make sure the power supply has no energy. Remove each memory stick and gently clean it. If you have contact cleaner, spry on the contacts and on the memory slot.
As you have moved the desktop from one place to the other the heat sink + fan can be out of the correct position. Please check.
CPU-Z can make a stress test.
For memory use Memory check (%windir%\system32\MdSched.exe)
For temperature monitor I use Open hardware monitor . Extract and run. Very good

Do you have a antivirus + firewall combo? What brand?

jayv2251 said:

A few weeks ago I moved just one floor down as my landlord has been remodeling units in our building. Once I had my PC back up and running, right away I noticed that one of my hard drives no longer would boot. Now as time has passed over the weeks since my system has become randomly unstable. Often while on Facebook, if I follow links to reputable websites that have embedded video such as news outlets, Chrome would lock up or completely shut down. I've also had a similar issue while playing a game on Steam, where it would shut down that game and go back to that game's home screen or completely shut down and I'll be back at the Desktop.

I've already done the usual. Checked the hard drive for errors. Checked for viruses and malware. Cleaned out a lot of old and dead files to free up space. Anything I can think of with 30 years of PC ownership has taught me! I have a VERY important at-home job interview and test that I need to schedule ASAP. How can I stress test my PC to make sure it's stable enough ti won't crash while doing this interview and system testing? I'm not working so I need FREE options!

PC is an older Dell Optiplex 9020 based on an i7-4770. I'm including a screenshot of the system specs. Time is critical!

I'm sorry to hear that you're having trouble with your PC after moving to a new unit. Based on your description, it sounds like your PC may be experiencing hardware or driver issues that are causing it to be unstable. To help you determine if this is the case, I would recommend running some diagnostic tests and stress tests on your system.

Here are some free options you can use to test your PC's stability:

Prime95: This is a popular tool for stress testing CPUs. It's designed to push your processor to its limits, which can help you identify any issues with your system's cooling, power supply, or other hardware components. You can download Prime95 for free from their website.

FurMark: This is a tool for stress testing GPUs. It's designed to push your graphics card to its limits, which can help you identify any issues with your graphics card's cooling, power supply, or other hardware components. You can download FurMark for free from their website.

MemTest86: This is a tool for testing your system's memory. It can help you identify any issues with your RAM or other memory-related components. You can download MemTest86 for free from their website.

CrystalDiskInfo: This is a tool for monitoring your hard drive's health. It can help you identify any issues with your hard drive or other storage-related components. You can download CrystalDiskInfo for free from their website.

Windows Memory Diagnostic: This is a built-in tool in Windows that can help you test your system's memory. To access it, type "Windows Memory Diagnostic" into the Start menu search bar and select "Windows Memory Diagnostic" from the results.

By running these tests, you should be able to identify any hardware or driver issues that may be causing your PC to be unstable. If you're not sure how to interpret the results of these tests, you can try searching online for more information or consulting a professional. Good luck with your at-home job interview and test!

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jayv2251 said:

I really appreciate all the great suggestions and support! I think I've nailed it down to an issue with Windows Firewall. Could be an issue with Chrome as well.

Firewall issue: Anytime I try to open Plex or Steam on this box, it has a fit, even though I've given them both permission to bypass the firewall. This has caused Steam to randomly stop working while playing a game. The same goes with Plex, although it only throws a tantrum when I load the program up as an administrator (of the Plex media server not to be confused with running a program as an administrator), not as a user.

Chrome: The only other time I'm having issues now is when I open particular websites through Facebook posts. The Blaze is one of them or Western Journal. Most recently I went to a cooking-related website I hate Googling for a recipe. That crashed twice on me before I gave up! IMHO it's all the clickbait and videos these sites have. And you never know which ones will have this until you go to it!

FYI, I'm not working. A company wants me to do an online assessment for customer service. I've done these before and you have to watch an embedded video and then give your response to a situation. Since this is for a work-from-home position, I need my antiquated system to work long enough for me to replace it.

It's good to hear that you've narrowed down the issue to Windows Firewall and possibly Chrome. Here are a few things you can try to resolve the issue:

Reset Windows Firewall settings: You can try resetting the Windows Firewall settings to their default values. To do this, open the Control Panel and select "System and Security" > "Windows Defender Firewall" > "Restore defaults".

Check Chrome settings: Make sure that your Chrome settings are set up correctly. Check the "Privacy and security" section in the Chrome settings to ensure that the appropriate permissions are granted to the sites that are causing issues.

Disable Windows Firewall temporarily: You can try temporarily disabling Windows Firewall to see if that resolves the issue. To do this, open the Control Panel and select "System and Security" > "Windows Defender Firewall" > "Turn Windows Firewall on or off". Select "Turn off Windows Defender Firewall" for both private and public networks, then try to run Steam or Plex to see if the issue is resolved.

Try a different browser: If you continue to experience issues with Chrome, you can try using a different browser such as Firefox or Edge to see if the issue persists.

Hopefully, one of these solutions will work for you and allow you to complete your online assessment without any further issues. If you continue to experience issues, it may be worth considering upgrading your PC to a newer system in order to avoid future problems.