GIMP Version: 2.8.14
Operating System: Windows
OS Version: Microsoft Windows 8.1, 64 bit
GIMP Experience: New User

List any ERROR messages you received:
Gimp has stopped working - A problem has caused the program to stop working correctly. Windows will close the program and notify if a solution is available.

---

Hello! This has been happening the last couple of days, and I've tried various ways to open gimp (like from program files>bin). Sometimes it works fine, but more often than not, I get this message and then it closes down...help!

You may need to download Gimp again and do a reinstall of it, but this is only done as a last resort and only after everything associated with Gimp has been removed form your machine.
Someone my also come along with a different suggestion to your issue. So don't be hasty in removing your Gimp installation just yet.

Could also be from a recent program you have downloaded. You may have to do a system restore back to when it was working ok if you haven't already.

~

I find that preforming regular maintenance on my machine helps to keep things running smoothly.
Of course if it's a memory issue, no amount of maintenance is going to make any real difference.
The last time that I can remember my Gimp crashing, was when I had 2.6 installed and even then it wasn't that often.
I've also gotten into the habit of trying to keep my Gimp as "lite" as I can. Having a resources manager for Gimp helps my to do this.
Every so often, I go into my folders and check out whats there and remove things. Do I really need 1000 brushes or gradients loading every time i open Gimp? No I don't...
Scripts and plugins are nice, but I only install them when I want to use them. I keep as few of them in my Gimp folders as I can.

~