Blue Screen Of Death

dave_0273 · 2005-05-11, 09:44

I am having issuses with my computer. I keep on getting the blue screen of death - up to 4 to 5 times a day.

I am not doing anything strenuous on my computer, I am usually just using the net or word. Please don't kill me, but since this has started happening, I haven't even been running prime95.

It isn't always the blue screen of death, sometimes the computer just freezes (doesn't respond to ctrl+alt+del) and a funny buzzing noise comes from the speakers. I have no choice but to hit the restart button. Other times the computer just restarts, yes, just restarts with no warning at all. The restart by itself is probably the most common of the 3, and it is really starting to become annoying.

With the blue screen of death, it says something about a memery reference error. I really should write it down one of these times.

Anyways, coming to my question, I was just wondering if anyone has any idea what may be causing this. I am planning on doing a fresh reinstall (i use windows 2000). Do you think that this will help?? I am assuming that it isn't going to hurt.

I am 99% sure that it isn't a virus. I have an antivirus and a firewall, and I have scanned a million times since this started - in addition to the one that is sceduled each night while I sleep.

Any other ideas on what it may be and what might help to fix it??

Any help would be appreciated....

It is a P4, 2.4Ghz with a gig of RAM, if that helps at all.....

thanks

dsouza123 · 2005-05-11, 12:45

The usual culprit is bad RAM.

Try running in safe mode, if it stops having the issues,
then it is software related OS/Driver/Virus.
If it continues then most likely hardware, bad RAM, overheating CPU.

2005-05-11, 12:55

May i susgest that you remove and reinsert your ide drive cables. I have had it where mine have managed lose and caused random restarts.
...from moo

dave_0273 · 2005-05-12, 07:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by dsouza123

The usual culprit is bad RAM.

Try running in safe mode, if it stops having the issues,
then it is software related OS/Driver/Virus.
If it continues then most likely hardware, bad RAM, overheating CPU.

Does RAM 'go bad'? I have had the computer for over 2 years (doing a fresh reinstall of windows every 6-12 months) and have never had any problems with it.

Would it be worth using memtest86 or whatever it is called??

EDIT:- I just downloaded memtest86 and it makes a bootable floppy... but i never bothered to put a floppy disk drive into my computer.

Any easy way to make it into a bootable cd??

garo · 2005-05-12, 08:52

Yes, RAM does go bad. I had an experience with two sticks of crucial RAM that went bad after 3.5 years of operation.

paulunderwood · 2005-05-12, 08:54

http://ubcd.sourceforge.net/ describes a useful set of tool that can come as an "iso" image -- you have to burn as an bootable iso. It includes virus-checker,mem86 and more

Download the small zip version 3.3 from: http://public.www.planetmirror.com/
(search for UBCD)

HTH

Paul

lycorn · 2005-05-12, 10:00

I think that one of the most effective and obvious ways to rule out RAM problems is to run Prime95´s torture test for at least 24 hours. It has been reported that it catches RAM errors that slip through Memtest86.
Give it a go and see what happens...
Keep us posted!

Mind you, if you get sort of "memory reference" message with the BSOD, good chances are it is a driver issue. Try to spot the stop code in the event viewer. I´m not that familiar with W2K but assume it has some sort of tool to trace errors similar to XP.

Good Luck.

ThomRuley · 2005-05-12, 16:53

If the other suggestions in this thread haven't worked, then you might try running the computer open case (take off one of the case panels while running the computer). If this fixes the problem, then replacing the fans will solve the problem for good.

Thom

dave_0273 · 2005-05-13, 12:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThomRuley

If the other suggestions in this thread haven't worked, then you might try running the computer open case (take off one of the case panels while running the computer). If this fixes the problem, then replacing the fans will solve the problem for good.

Thom

I have already tried this. This was one of the first things that I tried. Thanks anyways though.

2005-05-13, 12:53

did you try reseating drive cables. Also try reseating ram and pci connectors...

If this doesnt work take ur audio card out and try again and slowly keep removeing cards.

patrik · 2005-05-13, 17:41

I recently had a problem with a motherboard, see http://www.mersenneforum.org/showthread.php?t=4034. I think it was the capacitors (see image in that thread). Also, I heard that Dell was replacing a lot of computers at work a few weeks before I started that thread, due to bad capacitors. So if you bought the motherboard 1-2 years ago, there might have been bad capacitors on the market.

My problem came gradually over a few months, and finally it hung during bootup (at different places).

2005-05-11, 09:44	#1
dave_0273 Oct 2003 Australia, Brisbane 470₁₀ Posts	Blue Screen Of Death I am having issuses with my computer. I keep on getting the blue screen of death - up to 4 to 5 times a day. I am not doing anything strenuous on my computer, I am usually just using the net or word. Please don't kill me, but since this has started happening, I haven't even been running prime95. It isn't always the blue screen of death, sometimes the computer just freezes (doesn't respond to ctrl+alt+del) and a funny buzzing noise comes from the speakers. I have no choice but to hit the restart button. Other times the computer just restarts, yes, just restarts with no warning at all. The restart by itself is probably the most common of the 3, and it is really starting to become annoying. With the blue screen of death, it says something about a memery reference error. I really should write it down one of these times. Anyways, coming to my question, I was just wondering if anyone has any idea what may be causing this. I am planning on doing a fresh reinstall (i use windows 2000). Do you think that this will help?? I am assuming that it isn't going to hurt. I am 99% sure that it isn't a virus. I have an antivirus and a firewall, and I have scanned a million times since this started - in addition to the one that is sceduled each night while I sleep. Any other ideas on what it may be and what might help to fix it?? Any help would be appreciated.... It is a P4, 2.4Ghz with a gig of RAM, if that helps at all..... thanks

2005-05-12, 10:00	#7
lycorn "GIMFS" Sep 2002 Oeiras, Portugal 1570₁₀ Posts	I think that one of the most effective and obvious ways to rule out RAM problems is to run Prime95´s torture test for at least 24 hours. It has been reported that it catches RAM errors that slip through Memtest86. Give it a go and see what happens... Keep us posted! Mind you, if you get sort of "memory reference" message with the BSOD, good chances are it is a driver issue. Try to spot the stop code in the event viewer. I´m not that familiar with W2K but assume it has some sort of tool to trace errors similar to XP. Good Luck. Last fiddled with by lycorn on 2005-05-12 at 10:05

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2005-05-11, 12:45	#2
dsouza123 Sep 2002 2·331 Posts	The usual culprit is bad RAM. Try running in safe mode, if it stops having the issues, then it is software related OS/Driver/Virus. If it continues then most likely hardware, bad RAM, overheating CPU.

2005-05-11, 12:55	#3
Unregistered 11503₈ Posts	May i susgest that you remove and reinsert your ide drive cables. I have had it where mine have managed lose and caused random restarts. ...from moo

2005-05-12, 08:52	#5
garo Aug 2002 Termonfeckin, IE 2⁴·173 Posts	Yes, RAM does go bad. I had an experience with two sticks of crucial RAM that went bad after 3.5 years of operation.

2005-05-12, 08:54	#6
paulunderwood Sep 2002 Database er0rr 2³×3×11×17 Posts	http://ubcd.sourceforge.net/ describes a useful set of tool that can come as an "iso" image -- you have to burn as an bootable iso. It includes virus-checker,mem86 and more Download the small zip version 3.3 from: http://public.www.planetmirror.com/ (search for UBCD) HTH Paul

2005-05-12, 16:53	#8
ThomRuley May 2003 3×97 Posts	If the other suggestions in this thread haven't worked, then you might try running the computer open case (take off one of the case panels while running the computer). If this fixes the problem, then replacing the fans will solve the problem for good. Thom

2005-05-13, 12:53	#10
Unregistered 2,459 Posts	did you try reseating drive cables. Also try reseating ram and pci connectors... If this doesnt work take ur audio card out and try again and slowly keep removeing cards.

2005-05-13, 17:41	#11
patrik "Patrik Johansson" Aug 2002 Uppsala, Sweden 425₁₀ Posts	I recently had a problem with a motherboard, see http://www.mersenneforum.org/showthread.php?t=4034. I think it was the capacitors (see image in that thread). Also, I heard that Dell was replacing a lot of computers at work a few weeks before I started that thread, due to bad capacitors. So if you bought the motherboard 1-2 years ago, there might have been bad capacitors on the market. My problem came gradually over a few months, and finally it hung during bootup (at different places).