Pls can someone help with a laptop error?

Greenr

Hi all

I don't have much experience with computers so hope somebody can help!

When I logged onto my laptop (Dell Inspiron 1520) today the screen appeared to be really dark so I logged off and then on again then an error message appeared saying that it needed to restart itself. On re-start, the following error message appeared:

Can anyone tell me what the problem is?

Thanks

Problem signature
Problem Event Name: BlueScreen
OS Version: 6.0.6002.2.2.0.256.6
Locale ID: 2057
Files that help describe the problem
Mini070810-02.dmp
sysdata.xml
Version.txt
View a temporary copy of these files
Warning: If a virus or other security threat caused the problem, opening a copy of the files could harm your computer.
Extra information about the problem
BCCode: c2
BCP1: 00000007
BCP2: 0000110B
BCP3: 00000000
BCP4: FF655008
OS Version: 6_0_6002
Service Pack: 2_0
Product: 256_1

Can anyone tell me what the problem is?

Thanks

irace

have you googled it? might take a while but its likely you'll find something...
google part or the error / some of the codes individually, it might be easier to search for a result. otherwise phone dell.

Greenr

just googled it - seems very complicated... will try calling dell and see what they say. thanks

Greenr

as my warranty has run out, I have to pay for support from Dell. Can anyone else help with this error message before I have to part with money?!

CPJames19

There are several methods to resolve this issue. Follow the instructions in the first section. If the problem is not resolved, proceed to the next
section.

I. Resize the Swap File
When a serious error occurs, by default the system dumps the system state to the swap file for later retrieval. However, it is possible that the swap file is not properly cleaned up and the system thinks that it is rebooting from a crash. To resolve this, you will need to resize the swap file:

1. Click the Start button.
2. Right click the My Computer menu option, and then click Properties on the context menu that appears.
3. Click the Advanced tab, and then click the Settings button in the Performance section. The Performance Options window appears.
4. Click the Advanced tab, and then click the Change button in the Virtual Memory section. The Virtual memory window appears.
5. Click Custom Size, and then record the Initial Size and Maximum Size.
6. Set the Initial Size and Maximum Size to the same value as the amount of RAM that is installed in the system.
7. Click Set and then click OK. The system will advise you to restart the computer.
8. Click OK.
9. Click OK at the Performance Options window. The system prompts you to restart the computer.
10. Click Yes.

After the system has restarted, repeat the above steps to restore the original Initial Size and Maximum Size values for your swap file.

II. Delete the Minidump Files and the Sysdata.xml File

When a serious error occurs, by default the system writes out a miniature memory dump along with an XML description of the system status (which notes the program at fault and other pertinent system data) that can be uploaded to Microsoft. If this data is not correctly closed out, the system may present a Serious Error screen upon boot. To resolve this problem, perform
the following steps:

1. Click the Start button.
2. Right click the My Computer icon, and then click Explore on the context menu that appears.
3. Browse to the c:\Windows\Minidump directory.
4. Delete everything located in this directory.

NOTE : You will need to be able to view hidden and system files and the system should not be hiding protected operating system files.

5. Browse to the c:\Documents and Settings folder.
6. Search for the following file: sysdata.xml file.
7. Delete all instances (you may find more than one) of this file.
8. Click the Start button, click Turn off the computer, and then click Restart.

III. Disable the Automatically Restart setting

This attacks the same class of Serious Errors that resizing the swap file fixes, but it tries to ensure that the errors do not happen beforehand.
However, this does not help to rid the persistent Serious Error message after the fact.

1. Click the Start button.
2. Right click the My Computer icon, and then click Properties on the context menu that appears.
3. Click the Advanced tab and then click the Settings button in the Start-up and Recovery section.
4. Click to remove the check next to Automatically Restart checkbox and then click OK.
5. Click OK. The system will no longer automatically restart after a Serious Error message appears.

IV. Disable Memory Dumps\

This option totally disables memory dumps altogether, which may help fix some persistent Serious Error messages. To disable memory dumps, perform the following steps:

1. Click the Start button
2. Right click the My Computer icon, and then click Properties on the context menu that appears.
3. Click the Advanced tab, and then click the Settings button in the Start-up and Recovery section.
4. In the Write debugging information tab, click to select (none) and then click OK.
5. Click OK.

Greenr

CPJames - thanks for your reply. Just working my way through the first on your list. When I get to the virtual memory part, there is no initial or maximum size in the box for me to record. further down the pop up page, it does say the following though:

minimum allowed: 16mb
recommended size: 1519mb
current allocated: 1313mb

therefore how should I do this: Set the Initial Size and Maximum Size to the same value as the amount of RAM that is installed in the system. How do I find out how much RAM is installed?

Once the computer has restarted you say to: After the system has restarted, repeat the above steps to restore the original Initial Size and Maximum Size values for your swap file. - I'm not sure what the original inital and max size is.

sorry to sound thick!