loral
asked on
Windows System Error / Unknown Hard Error <-- Driving me nuts!
I have a user using Windows 2000 SP3 that has a small popup message; the title of the box is Windows System Error and in the box is a red X and it says "Unknown Hard Error.
I have ran tons of diagnostics, memory tests, read the MS KB, read posts here, computing.net, Googled, Yahoo'd, and nothing I've read applies or supplies a remedy. Many posts seem to indicate that the user is getting a file name of where the problem is originating, this is not happening on this machine.
The computer does not blue screen, and no errors are being recorded in the Event Log.
At times, the computer will just shut off. Mostly when using Microsoft Office products such as Word or Excel. Other times when the user tried to print.
I have disconnected the USB printer the user has and set her up to a network printer, but this does not resolve anything.
I have put new power supplies in, changed the DIMM, pretty much everything to eliminate hardware.
If you have real life experience with this problem and can offer assistance please do. Please don't copy & past links from other posts, I have read every single post in EE, none apply.
I am offering 500 points (I tried to offer 1000, but EE says I can't) as this is going to be something only a hands on tech will be able to assist me with. Please understand that I have 20 years experience in computer repair, and I have read everything you can find in Google. I'm looking for help with someone that can explain what this particular error message means.
TIA,
Loral
I have ran tons of diagnostics, memory tests, read the MS KB, read posts here, computing.net, Googled, Yahoo'd, and nothing I've read applies or supplies a remedy. Many posts seem to indicate that the user is getting a file name of where the problem is originating, this is not happening on this machine.
The computer does not blue screen, and no errors are being recorded in the Event Log.
At times, the computer will just shut off. Mostly when using Microsoft Office products such as Word or Excel. Other times when the user tried to print.
I have disconnected the USB printer the user has and set her up to a network printer, but this does not resolve anything.
I have put new power supplies in, changed the DIMM, pretty much everything to eliminate hardware.
If you have real life experience with this problem and can offer assistance please do. Please don't copy & past links from other posts, I have read every single post in EE, none apply.
I am offering 500 points (I tried to offer 1000, but EE says I can't) as this is going to be something only a hands on tech will be able to assist me with. Please understand that I have 20 years experience in computer repair, and I have read everything you can find in Google. I'm looking for help with someone that can explain what this particular error message means.
TIA,
Loral
ASKER
That was a good and original idea, but I can't find that Powerchute is or was ever installed.
I will add two more points, in case this helps...
The HD is also brand new and is a SATA drive
Since the original post, I installed Service Pack 4.
After I rebooted, I found that I immediately got the popup box about the Unknown Hard Error. As soon as I click it, the darn thing comes back. I did this about 10-12 times and the computer shut down on it's own.
I'm going to throw a copy of MS-Config on and try to disable a few things, and out of desperation, I think I'm going to try a new video card. I'm starting to wonder if I have a driver issue.
I will add two more points, in case this helps...
The HD is also brand new and is a SATA drive
Since the original post, I installed Service Pack 4.
After I rebooted, I found that I immediately got the popup box about the Unknown Hard Error. As soon as I click it, the darn thing comes back. I did this about 10-12 times and the computer shut down on it's own.
I'm going to throw a copy of MS-Config on and try to disable a few things, and out of desperation, I think I'm going to try a new video card. I'm starting to wonder if I have a driver issue.
>>>I have a user using Windows 2000 SP3 that has a small popup message; the title of the box is Windows System Error and in the box is a red X and it says "Unknown Hard Error.
A question to ask........did you run a sfc /scannow on this computer just to make sure there are not incosistencies between windows modules.
A question to ask........did you run a sfc /scannow on this computer just to make sure there are not incosistencies between windows modules.
When exactly you get this error? at startup or after user log in?
Does this happen in Safe Mode? -gsgi
ASKER
Here are some answers, and thanks in advance:
>>A question to ask........did you run a sfc /scannow on this computer
>>just to make sure there are not incosistencies between windows modules.
Yes
>>When exactly you get this error? at startup or after user log in?
By startup, do you mean just turning on the computer, if so, no.
At times, it is right after the user logs in, most of the time it is when the user is using Word or Excel, and if it hasn't happened while typing or editing, it will happen when she tries to print. She has a document that she changes names or other text in. She might try to copy & paste and the computer will appear to lock up, when she is able to move the mouse again, then this error pops up. At other times, it just pops up when she isn't even using the computer. She may be going through paperwork and look up and the Unknown Hard Error box is on the screen.
>>Does this happen in Safe Mode?
I ran a short test of this last Friday. The problem is, that when this problem happens, it either continuously happens until the computer shuts off, or it won't happen at all. So, to answer your question, it didn't happen in safe mode, but the user couldn't stand the resolution or colors (she is using a flat panel at 1024 and 16million, in safe she was getting 640X480 and 16 colors) which made her work a little difficult.
On another note.... I mentioned above I did apply SP4 to the computer and as soon as I logged on, the Windows System Error / Unknow Hard Error popped up continously about 12 times and eventually the computer shut off. Ironically, since then, the computer has been running fine, no errors, no problems, knock on wood....
To re-ask a question from my original post; when you get this error, and it is not associating with a file or going to a BSoD, does anyone know a cause for it?? I couldn't find an answer when I was searching. I did find a lot of posts an results if it blue screened, but nothing with this simple, small box.
IF it does it again, I will screen capture and provide a link so you can see this popup box.
>>A question to ask........did you run a sfc /scannow on this computer
>>just to make sure there are not incosistencies between windows modules.
Yes
>>When exactly you get this error? at startup or after user log in?
By startup, do you mean just turning on the computer, if so, no.
At times, it is right after the user logs in, most of the time it is when the user is using Word or Excel, and if it hasn't happened while typing or editing, it will happen when she tries to print. She has a document that she changes names or other text in. She might try to copy & paste and the computer will appear to lock up, when she is able to move the mouse again, then this error pops up. At other times, it just pops up when she isn't even using the computer. She may be going through paperwork and look up and the Unknown Hard Error box is on the screen.
>>Does this happen in Safe Mode?
I ran a short test of this last Friday. The problem is, that when this problem happens, it either continuously happens until the computer shuts off, or it won't happen at all. So, to answer your question, it didn't happen in safe mode, but the user couldn't stand the resolution or colors (she is using a flat panel at 1024 and 16million, in safe she was getting 640X480 and 16 colors) which made her work a little difficult.
On another note.... I mentioned above I did apply SP4 to the computer and as soon as I logged on, the Windows System Error / Unknow Hard Error popped up continously about 12 times and eventually the computer shut off. Ironically, since then, the computer has been running fine, no errors, no problems, knock on wood....
To re-ask a question from my original post; when you get this error, and it is not associating with a file or going to a BSoD, does anyone know a cause for it?? I couldn't find an answer when I was searching. I did find a lot of posts an results if it blue screened, but nothing with this simple, small box.
IF it does it again, I will screen capture and provide a link so you can see this popup box.
Ok then there could be a problem with Service Pack or it hasn't patched fully in your computer. You could try to remove it completey from Recovery Console and then re-apply it.
Here is an article that describes how to remove SP or Hotfixes from Recovery Console
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/spuninst.htm
Here is an article that describes how to remove SP or Hotfixes from Recovery Console
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/spuninst.htm
ASKER
Hi all,
Well the problem seemed to go away for awhile, and I thought somehow it was resolved, but it came back again today.
I was thinking that SP4 fixed the problem.
It only happened once, but the darn window stayed up until you clicked OK about 20 times or more.
Well the problem seemed to go away for awhile, and I thought somehow it was resolved, but it came back again today.
I was thinking that SP4 fixed the problem.
It only happened once, but the darn window stayed up until you clicked OK about 20 times or more.
Well, would you go for an error in one of the dlls that word or excel use?
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q152201
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q152201
ASKER
Hmmmm, interesting "gsgi"...
So, if it is a driver or something to that effect, and it wasn't written in the parameters defined by that script, Windows just pops up the message I'm getting. Is that how you read it?
My problem is that nothing is being written to an event log; well, nothing that applies to this problem at the time of the problem.
I hate to not FIX a problem, and hate using format c: to get rid of a problem, as you don't learn how to fix it next time, but I am getting closer to thinking I may have to try this. But, this is the second time this has happened, and to this user, so I'm convinced it is something isolated to a combination of programs or something she uses.
Thanks for that page, I have it bookmarked...
Loral
So, if it is a driver or something to that effect, and it wasn't written in the parameters defined by that script, Windows just pops up the message I'm getting. Is that how you read it?
My problem is that nothing is being written to an event log; well, nothing that applies to this problem at the time of the problem.
I hate to not FIX a problem, and hate using format c: to get rid of a problem, as you don't learn how to fix it next time, but I am getting closer to thinking I may have to try this. But, this is the second time this has happened, and to this user, so I'm convinced it is something isolated to a combination of programs or something she uses.
Thanks for that page, I have it bookmarked...
Loral
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ASKER
I just downloaded that utility and will put it on the machine in question ASAP.
Thanks for pointing me to that site; let's hope this reveals something..... :)
Loral
Thanks for pointing me to that site; let's hope this reveals something..... :)
Loral
I just recently had this issue also and started doing a little research this is a link that pretty much helps you fix everything:
http://www.wickedlush.com/
They guy had the same issues, and just deleted the corrupted system event view files, rebooted and all seemed to be fixed.
http://support.microsoft.c
Hope this helps,
Josh Schofield
Owner/Operator
Florida Technical Operations
www.FLTECHOPS.com
http://www.wickedlush.com/
They guy had the same issues, and just deleted the corrupted system event view files, rebooted and all seemed to be fixed.
http://support.microsoft.c
Hope this helps,
Josh Schofield
Owner/Operator
Florida Technical Operations
www.FLTECHOPS.com
If you are running powerchute, the PBE service must be disabled in safe mode. Or you can upgrade to the latest version of powerchute.
https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/21508937/All-Windows-2000-Services-Hang.html
-gsgi