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General => Computers / Internet => Topic started by: Garden Manager on September 25, 2006, 15:00:23
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Been experincing this problem on and off with my (nearly) new PC (running Windows XP SP2). Every so often when i start it up, and i load up my user desktop it will switch itself off and reboot for no apparent reason. it does not happen every time, and only when i start up the machine, but it is giving cause for concern.
After such an event, windows will ask me to send an error report to microsoft, which i do. It comes back with a 'Windows crash analysis' webpage telling me i have experienced a 'stop' error, likely caused by an invalid driver or software conflict. it also says information contained in the blue screen 'stop' message contains details of the problem.
I am confused. I cannot see which driver or software might be the cause of the problem. All are valid/compatible. Plus i do not get the 'blue screen containing information on the error, so i have no way to find out what the problem might be. All i can think of is to reload/renew some of the drivers on the machine or uninstall software and see what happens. This i am reluctant to do since it will be time consuming and has no guarantee of sucess, particularly as the error does not occur every time i boot up the machine.
Bit of a longshot , but can anyone give me some advice on what to do?
Many thanks
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I had a temperamental pc - we shipped it back to Watford Electronics and they installed a new motherboard. The graphics component was potentially overheating.
Is it still under guarantee? Take it back to the shop. Or, failing that, try PC World or other computer specialists.
Back-up valuable data and piccies! Might do that myself shortly.
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Sounds like a hardware problem, i.e. dodgy connection, PSU or somthing like that. The most basic thing you could do is take the lid off and make sure all the cable connecters are pluged in properly. Also brush / blow out dust, as this can make it over heat - which can also make it reset.
Failing this take is to PC World and let them charge £50 for doing the above - and then suggesting you buy a new PC from them ;D
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:-\
Am not an expert at all, but echo the above...
DO NOT TAKE IT TO PC WORLD (they can sue me if they want) THEY WILL ROB YOU BLIND AND NOT FIX THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM.
If none of the suggestions on here work try and find a local person to fix it, cheaper, better service and supporting local business!
;)
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When did first start ? Had you installed something new ? If you remember take it off.
You could always try a system restore point to an earlier time. Sometimes when adding new software or hardware one may be created.
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People often have this problem after a Windows update. As often as not you need an updated driver for one of your components for the update to work after Windows update has buggered your system up. Try the system restore first, and if that doesn't work, disconnect any peripherals other than your moniter and try checking your moniter manufacturers website for updated drivers. Don't use Windows driver update as it's pants.
Re PC World. A friend of mine ( with a Computing degree) took a job on their helpdesk call centre. Two weeks later he walked out in protest at the standing instruction to advise people to reformat if it would take him too long to talk people through a procedure that wouldn't lose all their data.
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Thanks for replying. The PC is virtualy brand new - only had it about a month. Bought from PC World - decided to upgrade rather than waste money trying to improve/renovate old PC.
Windows Updates? Dont trust them as far as i could throw them, but Nanny Microsoft (and grandpa Norton) says you have to have them. So I have them. I still dont think some are relevant to my PC and simply bung up the hard drive and slow Windows down.
It is possible that the problem is a conflict between an Update and a hardware driver. i will check it out and update the drivers direct from the manufacturers (if possible). Then I should be able to see if that realy was the problem.
Thanks for the help
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do you have a digital camera ?
if so can you please take a picture of the blue screen next time it appears
also do you have the windows xp cd or is it a set or restore disks?
more information about the computer would be very handy in diagnosing the problem
please download and install everest from here and submit the report from it
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4181.html
please go to start > control pannel >administrative tools > event viewer and look in both system and application for any yellow warning splats or red crosses if so can you post the most reacent and most reacuring ones please
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Iggy: Hold on! One thing at a time.
Firstly the 'blue screen' doesnt appear - I think it should but it doesnt, either that or it appaers and disapears very quickly and I miss it!
I have recovery disks - had to make them as they didnt come with the PC, which is a Compaq. Cant tell you any more at the moment as I am not on that machine and I dont know off hand.
Will find out info you need and get back to you. Thanks.
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ok to get to see the blue screen go to start > control pannel > system > advanced
select startup and recovery and untick automatically restart
ok if you havent got a proper winxp disk we will see what the blue screen says and go from there.
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Stop errors usually have an 8-digit hexadecimal tracability number, which will give a information as to the error.
if possible post the code, after disabling the auto restart as suggested by Iggy
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OK thanks. Will do this and next time it happens will make a note of the error code and let you know.
You wait it wont happen for ages now I've decided to do something about it! ::) ::) ::)
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When you have it this site will shed some light (possibly).
http://www.aumha.org/win5/kbestop.php (http://www.aumha.org/win5/kbestop.php)
I mostly encounter stop error 24's - which usually result in new hard drives :-\
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I have looked in the event veiwer and found three errors that are recurring. One is a 'system error', which seems to tie in with the times when the reboots have ocurred. Unfortunately I cannot 'copy and paste' the code into a message. It will not let me. Looks like i will have to copy it by hand!
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Hit prt scr or if its in a box hit ALT + prt scr. This copies the screen image to the clipboard. Then paste into an image editor (or paint) and post the pic (preferably as a jpeg)
G
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OK Thanks for the screen capture tip. Hre is the error message i think is the problem. As i said before there are a couple of others but I dont THINK they are relevant.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v159/richardfiler/General/SystemErrorscreen.jpg)
I hope this is what you need to advise me.
Thanks
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One more thing - I had a look at the 'Majorgeeks' site and went to down load the diagnostics freeware. However there are several versions and i dont know which one. there is no 'UK' version. Please advise.
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i think your are getting confused by the donload loactions.
the link takes u directly to where u need to download it from just select a server american servers are usually ok unles you are on dial up :O
the error you are reporting there looks like a memory error i would be inclined to try and get memtest to run
http://hcidesign.com/memtest/download.html
extract the file and place on dexktop and wher eit says test all unused ram type all ram then leave it to it
if it does bsod during the test we may have to run a diufferent memory testing program which will need to be burnt to a cd do you have the ability to do this?
post back your findings please
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The problem seems to have righted itself for now. It hasnt happened for well over a week.
I will make a note of the info you have given me, and if the problem reoccurs i shall make use if it and be back for more advice.
Thanks for your help
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Having been Ok since i last posted to thus thread, my problem has reared its ugly head again. This time it is happeneing 2 or 3 times before i can sucessfully boot up and start using the computer. It is still the same message and line of code that appears each time so the problem (whatever it is) is still the same. Last time it happened i went into 'safe mode' but could not find out any more or d anything in that mode.
I have now taken a photo of the 'stop' screen and post it below.
I shall be investgating some of the lines of enquiry suggested previously in an attempt to solve the problem, however if anyone has anything to add, then that would be appreciated. Thanks
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v159/richardfiler/General/DSCF4673.jpg)
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Definately your RAM IMO
Do you know how many ram modules are in your pc if there are more than one try booting with just one and alternate to find the corrupt module. If you only have one beg buy or borrow another module and test to see if the problem dissapears.
Changing ram is possibly the easiest (and cheapest) PC job let us know if you (or someone you can rope in) cant do this
glow
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Hi
I am just doing a course with the Open University about Vandalism in Cyberspace. I think your problem is a virus type thing, malware or similar. We were recomended the free programmes Ad Aware (watch the spelling) and Spybot.
My daughter had a similar problem and it was a virus. Your anti virus should detect it, or go to Norton for a free check.
Ivor
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Hi Ivor
Its not malware, viruses/worms such as MSBlaster that cause rebooting would make the PC reboot every time and would give hardware stop errors.
Adaware is also an anti spyware program not an antivirus program so wouldnt necesary find a problem
However having adAware on your PC is always a good tip (if regularily updated)
Glow
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I would go with the ram problem/solution myself. I have upto date antivirus and anti spyware software on the pc. A 'bug' causing the rebooting would have showed up and been dealt with by the software.
However on investigation i scans show the machine 'appears'to have less ram than it is suposed to (400 and something rather than 512MB). May be this shows something is wrong with the ram. Either some ram chips are not connected properly or the are faulty.
Any feedback on this please?
Thanks
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I would say your Rams ok...........it would not show the full 512 mbs as your
system uses some...........back to the drawing board I think GC ::)
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The system rarely sets aside more than about 8mb of RAM, but it may have allocated some to graphics - usually 64mb or 128mb - if you do not have a separate graphics card.
Can't remember where to look in XP to check this - sorry.
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But could I still have problem with my ram? Indications still suggest a memory problem.
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Windows has just sent error report about the last 'stop' errors. it cam eback the first time with a'crach analysis page, stating it was a device driver problem - not for the first time, however i have no idea what device it might be causing the problem.
The second time it came back with something about the video card and driver. The crash analysis page suggested 2 solutions. Firstly to check for an update from microsoft - i did this there is none available. The second was to turn off hardware acceleration. This may solve that problem but might cause reductionin performance. I have done this, but is it a good solution? I need advice here please.
Any feedback on any of the issues raisedin this post appeciated.
Thanks
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cant imagine hardware acceleration affecting an early bootup process, would still try changing RAM.
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Can't remember where to look in XP to check this - sorry.
It's in the bios usually under integrated peripherals
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Thanks.
I am getting a little confused and frustrated, by conflicting advice. The PC/Microsoft tells me its a device driver (which one? - it wont tell me!), then i get differing advice from you good people on a4all.
Glow777, i feel your advice had been the most helpfull., i do feel that the ram is the problem. Finding out exactly what the problem with it is is going to be the be the tricky bit. Then i have to sort it out/get it fixed. I sincerely hope i havent got a dud ram module. its a brand new PC, I shall be annnoyed if it has been supplied with a faulty part >:(
Anyway thanks for your help,
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If it is Ram then its not a case of fixing it its a replacement module.
What I would do if I was you (as stated before) would be to replace your ram and see if it works any better.
Even if you have to buy more Ram and it's not the memory that is at fault your machine will run faster with extra ram (both modules) installed.
BTW RAM is pretty cheap and easy to fit just make sure you get the right type
eg
http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/36557/rb/22617359454
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Hmm......
I think it might be back to where we bought it to complain. By rights they should fix it under either guarantee or service agreement. cant see the point paying out for ram and having to fit it myself if it turns out to be a parts error on a near new machine, thus not a result of usage.
ironic really. the machine was bought to replace one that had become outdated largely due to insuficent ram!. we were going to upgrade the ram and get it serviced then realised it would be more cost effective to replace the machine in the long term.
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Sorry didnt know it was still under guarantee - in that case print your stop error and return it to whence it came
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Aplogies for using an old thread but i felt the need to provide some sort of update to this saga.
The 'spontaneous rebooting' or 'Stop' errors has become an ongoing problem with the computer. As soon as i think i have got to the bottom of it and stopped it happening, something makes it start happening again.
Firstly i took it back to the PC World store where it was purchased, believing it to be a hardware problem covered by the warranty. Instead of taking it in to be looked at they advised me to run a system restore/reset, which is effectively a reinstallation of windows xp. If this failed they said them bring it back - could be a dodgy hard drive. I did the restore, which to be fair did seem to solve the problem and in the process unearthed a possible cause of the original problem. Whilst reinstalling my soft ware all was fine until i put back on an old but well used item of software, then the stop errors came back. Clearly the PC didnt like this software (Money 99).
After upgrading the old software all was fine. The machine not only didnt get stop errors it also worked better in general. Then after a while problems started coming back. Stop errors would occur following updates to Windows, or when new software was added. As this was only occasionaly, it seemed only a minor inconvenience.
Latterly though the problem has got worse. in addition when reports came back from microsoft following each stop error, the suggested cause changed from 'Device Driver' to 'Antivirus software' followed by a list of fix options. Two of therse didnt apply - i only have one antivirus software on the PC and it is up to date. The third option told me to contact the software manufacturer (in this case Symantec/Norton) for assistance. When i had the time i contacted Symantec via their online help chatroom, and to cut a long story short, was told i would have to remove my current version of the software and install the latest version (supplied by a free download). This would solve the apparent conflict with windows.
I have to say i am not that happy with this advice. My version of Norton Antivirus is not old (2006 version) and in updated regularly. Furthermore i have exactly the same set up on my laptop and all is fine with that (no stop errors caused aparently by 'antivirus software). I cannot understand how this problem could be happening. i also am wary of placing my PC's security in the hands of a download, however well authenticated and official. And yet the problem persists. I have checked recently instlled software and this has made no difference. Can anyone offer any advice? Anyone had a problem like it themselves?
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Try running scandisk or other diagnostic software and set it to do the full check and test for faulty disc sectors. If there is a bad section on the disc during normal operation, you will likely get error messages pointing the finger of blame to whatever program attempted to use the bad sectors.
Spontaneous rebooting can also be caused by faulty power supplies or loose connections.
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Aplogies for using an old thread but i felt the need to provide some sort of update to this saga.
The 'spontaneous rebooting' or 'Stop' errors has become an ongoing problem with the computer. As soon as i think i have got to the bottom of it and stopped it happening, something makes it start happening again.
Firstly i took it back to the PC World store where it was purchased, believing it to be a hardware problem covered by the warranty. Instead of taking it in to be looked at they advised me to run a system restore/reset, which is effectively a reinstallation of windows xp. If this failed they said them bring it back - could be a dodgy hard drive. I did the restore, which to be fair did seem to solve the problem and in the process unearthed a possible cause of the original problem. Whilst reinstalling my soft ware all was fine until i put back on an old but well used item of software, then the stop errors came back. Clearly the PC didnt like this software (Money 99).
After upgrading the old software all was fine. The machine not only didnt get stop errors it also worked better in general. Then after a while problems started coming back. Stop errors would occur following updates to Windows, or when new software was added. As this was only occasionaly, it seemed only a minor inconvenience.
Latterly though the problem has got worse. in addition when reports came back from microsoft following each stop error, the suggested cause changed from 'Device Driver' to 'Antivirus software' followed by a list of fix options. Two of therse didnt apply - i only have one antivirus software on the PC and it is up to date. The third option told me to contact the software manufacturer (in this case Symantec/Norton) for assistance. When i had the time i contacted Symantec via their online help chatroom, and to cut a long story short, was told i would have to remove my current version of the software and install the latest version (supplied by a free download). This would solve the apparent conflict with windows.
I have to say i am not that happy with this advice. My version of Norton Antivirus is not old (2006 version) and in updated regularly. Furthermore i have exactly the same set up on my laptop and all is fine with that (no stop errors caused aparently by 'antivirus software). I cannot understand how this problem could be happening. i also am wary of placing my PC's security in the hands of a download, however well authenticated and official. And yet the problem persists. I have checked recently instlled software and this has made no difference. Can anyone offer any advice? Anyone had a problem like it themselves?
Two very good websites are Computer Hope (http://www.computerhope.com/index.htm) &
Bleeping Computer (http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/). If you can't find a solution on the actual website,a question on the forum should get the help you need. :)
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Thanks for replies. Will certainly check ou those websites.
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GA,
GET RID OF NORTON!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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GA,
GET RID OF NORTON!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Do you mean the version I have or Norton full stop? I happen to like Norton and have recently renewed my virus subscription with them. Plus until recently had no problems with Norton and Windows and have never had any problems on my laptop.
I think it may be some problem with the PC itself. What i dont know.
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Norton is very resource-hungry. I'm going to dump it when my sub runs out at the end of this year, altho I've used it for years. I found I had probs with it in 2005, and had to download a fix they emailed to me, and am using 2006 internet security version at the moment. The spam filter is cr@p - it is inconsistent, and doesn't do what it's supposed to do.
About five years ago I had a spontaneous shut-down problem - that was due to a virus, I can't remember which one, I downloaded the fix and fixed it.
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So which antivirus program will you switch to? I have neverfound a decent alternative to Norton. This is why I persevere with it.
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I have to agree with telboy - I have never had any time for the Norton Suite of Apps, and that in combination with and AOL software is a marriage made in hell in my opinion.
It may be worth uninstalling norton (if you are only using the anti virus stuff, then try AVG, it is free for home use, and as good as any commercial software), and seeing if things improve.
Other than that, I would say the most likely cause is memory, you can replace memory for about £20 per 512Mb, so if removing Norton does not improve things, then I would test and replace if necessary the memory.
Cheers
Dan
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I'll either give McAffee a try, or go with the free AVG, I shall check with my sons, one uses McA the other AVG. Zonealarm firewall is supposed to be OK too.
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Norton full stop!
If you can?
Once you have it you can't get rid - try!
It's a pain!!
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One could use Zone Alarm.
It's very comprehensive, may slow the older systems on start up, but it sure stops the 'CRAP'
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Norton full stop!
If you can?
Once you have it you can't get rid - try!
It's a pain!!
Oh yes you can!!!! Format the hard drive!!! I do it annually.
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I've had the free AVG for ages...very happy with it. Touch wood! ::)