stevid
asked on
How do i tell why my Computer is Blue Screening
Hi All,
I have a PC here that keeps blue screening and crashing. The machine has been operating perfectly with no issues for the last six months or so but it was returned to me because it was randomly crashing. So far:
I have rebuilt the whole system from scratch.
I have swapped all the SATA cables
I have swapped the RAM out to known good Ram
I have swapped the power supply to a known good one
Updated the BIOS
I know i can just keep swapping parts until it works but obviously this is not the solution,
I really want to know why it is crashing and resolve it, Once the machine restarts it tells me Windows has recovered from a serious error but i dont know how to tell any more from this,
The machine Spec is as follows:
650 W Power Supply
1 x 250GB Enterprise Rated HDD
ASUS Motherboard
4 GB Ram
2.66Ghz Quad Core CPU
1GB Graphics Card
Anyone any ideas what the issue could be or how i can analyse the error from Windows???
Thanks,
Stephen
I have a PC here that keeps blue screening and crashing. The machine has been operating perfectly with no issues for the last six months or so but it was returned to me because it was randomly crashing. So far:
I have rebuilt the whole system from scratch.
I have swapped all the SATA cables
I have swapped the RAM out to known good Ram
I have swapped the power supply to a known good one
Updated the BIOS
I know i can just keep swapping parts until it works but obviously this is not the solution,
I really want to know why it is crashing and resolve it, Once the machine restarts it tells me Windows has recovered from a serious error but i dont know how to tell any more from this,
The machine Spec is as follows:
650 W Power Supply
1 x 250GB Enterprise Rated HDD
ASUS Motherboard
4 GB Ram
2.66Ghz Quad Core CPU
1GB Graphics Card
Anyone any ideas what the issue could be or how i can analyse the error from Windows???
Thanks,
Stephen
Last Comment
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
THIS SOLUTION IS ONLY AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS.
View this solution by signing up for a free trial.
Members can start a 7-Day free trial and enjoy unlimited access to the platform.
SOLUTION
THIS SOLUTION IS ONLY AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS.
View this solution by signing up for a free trial.
Members can start a 7-Day free trial and enjoy unlimited access to the platform.
In my experience blue screen errors are caused by software / apps at least as much as hardware. You mention you have re-built your PC, do you mean hardware?
A solution that has nearly always worked for me is a complete re-install of the OS (do a full, not quick format of the hard drive during setup).
A solution that has nearly always worked for me is a complete re-install of the OS (do a full, not quick format of the hard drive during setup).
SOLUTION
THIS SOLUTION IS ONLY AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS.
View this solution by signing up for a free trial.
Members can start a 7-Day free trial and enjoy unlimited access to the platform.
ASKER
When i say rebuilt i mean a total reinstall of the OS and a full format of the HDD
CPU fan is fine
No Capacitors look Bulged
The BSOD just happens randomly, Ill have a look for the error codes now and post them here
CPU fan is fine
No Capacitors look Bulged
The BSOD just happens randomly, Ill have a look for the error codes now and post them here
Does it ever blue screen in safe mode?
Goto System Properties, Advanced, Startup and Recovery, and untick "Automatically Restart".
Next time it blue screens, it will remain on the screen as apposed to quickly restarting. What does the error say? Have you looked through the event log for any information there?
Goto System Properties, Advanced, Startup and Recovery, and untick "Automatically Restart".
Next time it blue screens, it will remain on the screen as apposed to quickly restarting. What does the error say? Have you looked through the event log for any information there?
ASKER
I set it to not restart there and i started running a Burn in test on the system which should hopefully bring up the error fairly fast,
Never tried to see if it blue screens in safe mode but i would imagine it will,
Never tried to see if it blue screens in safe mode but i would imagine it will,
Does it create a dump file?
C:\WINDOWS\Minidump
Should have the date? If so can you post?
C:\WINDOWS\Minidump
Should have the date? If so can you post?
Does it happens with just the o/s installed? It certainly sounds like a software fault.
SOLUTION
THIS SOLUTION IS ONLY AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS.
View this solution by signing up for a free trial.
Members can start a 7-Day free trial and enjoy unlimited access to the platform.
ASKER
I have collected the Mini Dump files for anyone who wants them or knows how to read them,
Please find attached
Mini070810-01.dmp
Mini071210-01.dmp
Mini071710-01.dmp
Please find attached
Mini070810-01.dmp
Mini071210-01.dmp
Mini071710-01.dmp
xp can have sata drive issues, depending on which ones you are using.
ASKER
what do you maean by SATA drive issues???
As i said it was working fine for six months or so but suddenly all these issues
As i said it was working fine for six months or so but suddenly all these issues
SOLUTION
THIS SOLUTION IS ONLY AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS.
View this solution by signing up for a free trial.
Members can start a 7-Day free trial and enjoy unlimited access to the platform.
ASKER
How do you actually read the dump files???
As mentioned i swapped the Ram, All Hardware is definitely seated correctly,
One funny thing i noticed the frequency of how quick it BSOD'd went way way down sonce i changed the PSU, It will still crash but not nearly as often,
It would always crash within 10 mins or so on the old PSU while now it might run ok for 6 or 7 hours before crashing,
Would this be a sign of anything???
As mentioned i swapped the Ram, All Hardware is definitely seated correctly,
One funny thing i noticed the frequency of how quick it BSOD'd went way way down sonce i changed the PSU, It will still crash but not nearly as often,
It would always crash within 10 mins or so on the old PSU while now it might run ok for 6 or 7 hours before crashing,
Would this be a sign of anything???
Here is an explanation for the dump files.. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315263
Either the 1st PSU got hot quicker and was causing overheating, or the power from the plug is "dirty" and the machine not getting a clean power source. Dont suppose you have a UPS laying around?
Either the 1st PSU got hot quicker and was causing overheating, or the power from the plug is "dirty" and the machine not getting a clean power source. Dont suppose you have a UPS laying around?
ASKER
I do probably have a UPS somewhere???
The original PSU was a cheap enough whereas the new one is top end,
So will i just swap the Mother Board and see if that solves the issue???
The original PSU was a cheap enough whereas the new one is top end,
So will i just swap the Mother Board and see if that solves the issue???
I don't think its overheating, as the machine would just normally restart without a blue screen.
I have a suspicion that the old power supply being faulty has maybe physically damaged the motherboard in someway, so even after swapping the faulty supply, the physical damage has still remained. The fact that the dumps refer to different elements each time, seems to support this as being the most likely cause. These things however can be tricky to diagnose, and could still turn out to be something else.
Try swapping the motherboard, if at the very least to isolate the problem as definately being on the motherboard. Do you have another board of exactly the same make/model?
I used to have a problem exactly the same as this, i changed the psu, which improved stability... but every now and then it would crash, randomly. The board was never really 100% stable after the initial power supply problems.
I have a suspicion that the old power supply being faulty has maybe physically damaged the motherboard in someway, so even after swapping the faulty supply, the physical damage has still remained. The fact that the dumps refer to different elements each time, seems to support this as being the most likely cause. These things however can be tricky to diagnose, and could still turn out to be something else.
Try swapping the motherboard, if at the very least to isolate the problem as definately being on the motherboard. Do you have another board of exactly the same make/model?
I used to have a problem exactly the same as this, i changed the psu, which improved stability... but every now and then it would crash, randomly. The board was never really 100% stable after the initial power supply problems.
ASKER
I assume if this is the case you would suggest not trying the old power supply with a new motherboard so???
Correct, you wouldn't want to risk being straight back at square one...
ASKER
Right Ill try that,
Ill let you know shortly,
Thanks,
Ill let you know shortly,
Thanks,
the dump file can be viewed by using dumpchk.exe, a command from support tools.
Your dump files show that the error is happening due to more than one reasons, but all are pointing to one - The driver, especially HDD controller. Try to read the event viewer to see any errors related to this.
Also, Disable the unwanted and unnecessary drivers and see it is working, and re-enable them one by one to catch the culprit.
Also All the STOP codes are pointing in to one reason, Driver, mostly Disk related Driver(SATA, IDE controller drivers). Try to find an update for them or roll out any updates for the devices if you have done any.
here is a link to the description of the STOP Codes
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff542347(VS.85).aspx
Here is the link for downloading the support tools.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=49ae8576-9bb9-4126-9761-ba8011fabf38&displaylang=en
Your dump files show that the error is happening due to more than one reasons, but all are pointing to one - The driver, especially HDD controller. Try to read the event viewer to see any errors related to this.
Also, Disable the unwanted and unnecessary drivers and see it is working, and re-enable them one by one to catch the culprit.
Also All the STOP codes are pointing in to one reason, Driver, mostly Disk related Driver(SATA, IDE controller drivers). Try to find an update for them or roll out any updates for the devices if you have done any.
here is a link to the description of the STOP Codes
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff542347(VS.85).aspx
Here is the link for downloading the support tools.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=49ae8576-9bb9-4126-9761-ba8011fabf38&displaylang=en
Assuming you can get into Safe mode, have you looked at the event logs? Usually the blue screen error is posted under system logs, with the 0x0 code that should help identify the problem,
Dear ,
try to change the Hard Drive ( fresh and install the window)
otherwise change the mother ( fresh and install the window)
try to change the Hard Drive ( fresh and install the window)
otherwise change the mother ( fresh and install the window)
ASKER
Hi All,
I have changed the motherboard so we will see what happens now, Ill let you know,
Thanks again for all the help,
I have changed the motherboard so we will see what happens now, Ill let you know,
Thanks again for all the help,
Well the small dump did not say enought information and some people did not install the symbol tool as may failed the diagnostic tool.
1 - Change the mini dump for a full dump( http://support.microsoft.com/kb/316450/en-us )
2- Install Windows debugguer + symbol file on another pc ( http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/devtools/debugging/default.mspx)
Cause the full dump will surely be bigger than 88ko :)
3- Crash your PC and wait ( Maybe you should see a counter starting from 1 to 100 )
4- take the dump file and open it with the windows debugger. (on the pc using at #2)
5- type in the command line console at the bottom: !analyse -v
6- Tell here what is the output
1 - Change the mini dump for a full dump( http://support.microsoft.com/kb/316450/en-us )
2- Install Windows debugguer + symbol file on another pc ( http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/devtools/debugging/default.mspx)
Cause the full dump will surely be bigger than 88ko :)
3- Crash your PC and wait ( Maybe you should see a counter starting from 1 to 100 )
4- take the dump file and open it with the windows debugger. (on the pc using at #2)
5- type in the command line console at the bottom: !analyse -v
6- Tell here what is the output
Windows XP
Microsoft Windows XP is the sixth release of the NT series of operating systems, and was the first to be marketed in a variety of editions: XP Home and XP Professional, designed for business and power users. The advanced features in XP Professional are generally disabled in Home Edition, but are there and can be activated. There were two 64-bit editions, an embedded edition and a tablet edition.
119K
Questions
--
Followers
--
Top Experts
Get a personalized solution from industry experts
TRUSTED BY
ASKER
Also if i want to return the motherboard i need a fault and "Faulty" may not suffice.