Computer Hell - Help Please!!

HelpfulConsumer

will do, i'll report back tomorrow! thanks again!

sievm

Do you have an AMD chipset? If you do then look at this:

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/forums/en-US/itproxpsp/thread/40a0eecb-bc00-4746-8f5b-610891d7a73b/

It looks like lots of people have had issues with SP3 - just did a quick google on it.

I would try the memory first too - if you can still burn CDs then try www.memtest.org to test the memory.

Then it would be worth try to repair XP with the XP cds.

Switching the hard drives will prove nothing - your primary drive will have the OS on it and the secondary won't so if you switch drives then your computer won't boot.

As for the advice about hard drives failing after a couple of years I think that is a little pessimistic. I worked with computers for 13 years and I have not had a hard drive failure in that time - though I have backups just in case.

Do you get any information with the BSOD - there is normally a stop code like 0x0000000A and a key phrase in capitals like IRQ_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL.

Might also be worth disconnecting all external hardware and see if it boots ok in case the error is being cause by a hardware issue from an attached device

HelpfulConsumer

sievm wrote: »

Do you have an AMD chipset? If you do then look at this:

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/forums/en-US/itproxpsp/thread/40a0eecb-bc00-4746-8f5b-610891d7a73b/

It looks like lots of people have had issues with SP3 - just did a quick google on it.

I would try the memory first too - if you can still burn CDs then try www.memtest.org to test the memory.

Then it would be worth try to repair XP with the XP cds.

Switching the hard drives will prove nothing - your primary drive will have the OS on it and the secondary won't so if you switch drives then your computer won't boot.

As for the advice about hard drives failing after a couple of years I think that is a little pessimistic. I worked with computers for 13 years and I have not had a hard drive failure in that time - though I have backups just in case.

Do you get any information with the BSOD - there is normally a stop code like 0x0000000A and a key phrase in capitals like IRQ_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL.

Might also be worth disconnecting all external hardware and see if it boots ok in case the error is being cause by a hardware issue from an attached device

Hi, yes it is an AMD, I'll look at that link, thanks! I shall try all the things you mention.

I did not note down the information with the BSOD but I will switch the machine on tomorrow and do so and report back.

I don't have any external hardware connected, the only things plugged in is a wireless adaptor, usb mouse and ps2 mouse and keyboard.

HelpfulConsumer

www.memtest.org - Not Found?

HelpfulConsumer

Hi all, I haven't been able to try that machine again yet, but I am having an issue with my other machine!

I had to have the dvd drive replaced by Dell as it was continuously spinning at high speed despite the process. The new drive is installed but I am now getting the BSOD!
It was fine at first but today I am trying to back-up photos to dvd and after they have written and i open the disk, on ejecting it the computer goes to that blue screen. I have had four so far!...

First BSOD:
Problem detected windows shut down
Check you have adequate disk space..
Check with hardware vendor any BIOS updates
Technical Information:
***STOP: 0X0000007E (0xC0000005, 0x806E694F, 0xF7929C3C0, 0xF792992C)
Beginning dump of physical memory.

Second BSOD:
Technical information:
***STOP: 0x0000007E (0x00000005, 0x806E694F, 0xF7921C30, 0xF792192C)

Third BSOD:
IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL
Technical Info:
***STOP: 0x0000000A (0x00000009, 0x0000001C, 0x00000001, 0x804FB03C)

Fourth BSOD:
PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA
check new hardware
Technical Info:
***STOP: 0x00000050 (0xE1AA7866, 0x00000000, 0x804ED967, 0x00000001)

Error report results say:

''You received this message because a device driver installed on your computer caused windows to stop unexpectedly = a stop error = restart computer"

and now...

I am now getting ''corrupted error report - can be caused by hardware - this can indicate a serious problem with your computer''

Should I call Dell support? Take out the new drive?! HELP!!

HelpfulConsumer

Windows error reporting say:

Blue screen error caused by a device or driver

Step 1: download install lastest updates and device drivers
Step 2 : remove new hardware
Step 3: scan for viruses
Step 4: check hard disk for errors
Step 5: restore to earlier state

Well I checked the dell driver website and there are no drivers for the new drive, I checked device manager and driver is up to date and device working properly.
I regularly virus scan, have checked disk for errors... so all that is left is to remove the drive, I'd rather avoid system restore.

Any clues?

Ice_2

try this
start
run
type in
Memory Diagnostics Tool
and see what comes up
if not also try this
start
run
type in
dxdiag
this bring's up the DirectX Diagnostic Tool
anything is worth a try I suppose.
hths
Ice.

also do a search for "event viewer" this will tell you about critical errors.

HelpfulConsumer

Thanks.. I ran chkdsk from windows cd - windows repair - windows prompt - c://windows> chkdsk r/

This was what Dell instructed me to do, once finished it said 'fix one or more errors'

I am still not convinced that was the only problem, can it still be hardware?

I've not had a blue screen yet but I haven't used the dvd-drive for fear!

mdbarber

out of curiosity where did you obtain the winxp pro from?, as far as the law goes home and pro are 2 diff products and using one without a "valid" licence for it is illegal, it's not a download copy is it? might explain all the random errors which weren't there before!

HelpfulConsumer

mdbarber wrote: »

out of curiosity where did you obtain the winxp pro from?, as far as the law goes home and pro are 2 diff products and using one without a "valid" licence for it is illegal, it's not a download copy is it? might explain all the random errors which weren't there before!

It is windows xp media center, and I purchased it from Dell with my machine. Its the operating system disc that Dell offer.
I have never used a copy.