I don't know what just happened, but the new computer has been acting up all day. Earlier today, I eventually got a BSOD when scrolling around the internet. No big deal, restarted and continued what I always do. Then, 10 hours later, it started to get worse. Windows started to act very slow, and would start crashing and going into the BSOD more often. Tried to run a Virus Scan, and it went into a BSOD while checking some of the Windows-related files. Did a system restore, and it ws just as slow as before. Eventually, I couldn't even load XP without getting a BSOD. Got out my Windows XP Install disc, use the repair console to fix a few things, and now I am able to get back into it without slowdown. So, what exactly caused it, and should I back up my save games and other files? The computer seems fine now, although I am not 100% sure if it is fairly stable right now. The tempature readings are all normal, so it isn't overheating. Is it my Hard Drive, or something else? (Virus, etc).
That's weird. I thought BSOD only occured in Windows 98 systems. Have you tried using Ad-aware SE 1.06?
~ If you actually see the BSOD (and the machine doesn't restart thanks to that new 'feature' in XP), then jot down all the applicable information like the 0x00 string and stuff. Then look it up at support.microsoft.com (the knowledgebase link). Probably a bad piece of hardware, but it would be hard to tell without other details of course. Also, since you didn't perform another install, it could simply be a shit DLL or something. Good luck.
If you're talking about a *STOP* Error message, then I'm also thinking it's a hardware prob. It happened to me when I was trying to install Windows XP on an old Pentium 2 PC, this exact PC I'm using .
Memory trouble Bad memory addresses are common causes for random BSODs. Try letting Memtest86 have a few passes over your memory or download good 'ol Ultimate Boot CD for a great assortment of hardware diagnostic tools. ~Krelian
Yeah, I'd recommend testing your RAM too. Most PC manufacturers (Dell, Compaq, etc.) just buy whatever RAM's the cheapest at the time, and it's often third-rate Korean junk.
Computer specs would help out greatly! Also did you find someone to build your PC, or did you build it, or did you buy it prebuilt?
Well, I think I found the problem. Everything yesterday was acting normally (Played WoW, so it wasn't the graphics card, RAM, CPU, or Motherboard), and turned off my computer. This morning, I got the BSOD again, and did the same thing I did before. Now, it won't even read my Hard Drive. Thing is, the Hard Drive is something I pulled out of my old Compaq (Bought it last year on sale, so it should be around 2 years old). Is this a sign that I need a new Hard Drive?
Your problem sounds really like a RAM issue, test your ram like the other members mentionned with memtest. I had the problem a few times, BSOD at start up, while playing,... Sometime it's the ram module that is dead but recently I had a problem of compatibility of ram modules between each other too. I had a Samsung 256 DDR module installed plus a really cheap one 512 module the pair worked for a few weeks, then suddendly I started BSOD on a regular basis, compter slowdown... I then I changed for another cheap ram module same problem again, then the sales guys sold me some Kingston memory module (he was fed up with me) which solved my problems. I suggest if you have 2 or more ram modules to test them individually to see which is the bad one. Hope this helps Sabre
How would I test the RAM? When the computer loads the BIOS, it says that the RAM is fine and that it could read it. Also, the Hard Drive makes noises like it is trying to load something, but can't. Like I said before, the Hard Drive is cheap and came from a $500 Compaq I bought.
Memtest86 and Drive Fitness Test Well like I said before go get Memtest86 - it's bootable so it'll just start right into the test before your OS loads, let it make at least THREE passes over your memory; if it keep making passes you're fine, if a bunch of memory addresses start scrolling across the screen one or more of your memory modules are bad, test them one by one. Also if you think it's a hard drive problem go get Drive Fitness Test - once again it'll boot before your OS loads, with this choose the Advanced Test for your HDD and let it run, if you get ANYTHING other than a 0x00 code at the end your drive is bad. And as I said before both of these programs and many more diagnostics are available on the self-booting Ultimate Boot CD. ~Krelian
Problem is, I can't even get into my OS without it crashing. No matter, I bought a new Hard Drive and I am uploading windows right now.
When I said test the ram, I meant, remove physically the ram modules from their slots, plug one of them only and try to boot the pc, if it doesn't give you a BSOD then you know it's fine. Test each of them individually. Cheers Sabre
