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Computer keeps crashing - help please

Joined
Nov 18, 2003
Messages
47
Lately, my computer has been just completely restarting when im in the middle of anything...a game, homework, talking on aim. Then when the computer restarts, and I login, it gives me an error report that says I have recovered from a serious error. When I go to get more info, it says something about it thinking it is a driver error. But im not sure exactly what it says, if anyone needs the exact error...I can get it for you. Well, I haven't really done anything drastic lately to my computer (as in driver updates, etc.) , so i don't know what it could be. I just bought an ipod (20 g)...and Ii think it might be my ipod/itunes. If anyone can help with this in any way...thanks.

(also..whenever I plug in my ipod, it says fast usb hooked up to non-fast port or something..but, it works fine....don't know if that could cause a computer crashing, but yeah)
 
The error report that comes up when the computer finishes restarting says:
{
The system has recovered from a serious error.

A log of this error has been created

Please tell Microsoft about this problem
We have created an error report...etc.
}

and when I get more info it says:
{
Thank you for submitting an error report. Unfortunately, we cannot provide you with specific information about how to resolve this problem at this time. The information that you and other users submit will be used to investigate this problem.

Analysis

This error is currently being researched.

Getting Help

If this problem occurred after you installed a new hardware device or software on your system, try one of the following:

* If you know the hardware or software manufacturer, contact the manufacturer's product support service for assistance.
* If you don't know the manufacturer and need help diagnosing and resolving this problem, contact your computer manufacturer's product support service.
* For information about Microsoft support options, visit Microsoft Product Support Services.
}

--and about what im running...i have an athlon XP 1700+ 1.48ghz,
512 ddr ram, 30 gig hard drive, geforce 2 GTS
 
there should be an option to see the actual report..and there should be an error code in there somewhere...if not disable auto restart (control panel -> system -> advanced -> startup and recovery "settings" -> uncheck "automatic restart") and then you'll get an bsod (or you *should*)
 
Gforce 2 prob means youre getting the "loop"
a.) crash to desktop from game or Internet (anything 3D)
b.) spontaneous reboot ("spoots")
c.) crash to blackscreen, blinking cursor

Buy a cheap GF4 T14200/4400
 
-to cisco guy: Ive had this geforce2 for like 3 years (same amount of time ive had the computer)...so do you have an idea why it would all of a sudden be doing this. But that does make sense, because ..i also get periodic game crashes...ill be playing warcraft3 and itll drop to windows and give me an error.

-to Ranma_Sao: alright, theres like 26 blue screen dump files in that folder, so ill put the most recent ones as an attachment, and im also putting in the crash dump...hope it helps....wait you cant add attachments in this forum...how can i get it to you?
 
Same thing happenned to me a year ago and it turns out it was getting too hot. I knew it was a heat issue cus when I took off the case it wouldnt randomly restart so I added a fan and it works perfectly now. I had the case off for a couple of months before I got the fan and it worked so u can try that. good luck.
 
i think i have plenty of fans...i have like 6..:-/...but thanks for the help..and about the posting the stuff, i cant post it on photobucket or whatever, because they arent pictures...and i cant just take a screen shot of them, because i have no idea how to open a dump file
 
well, today it seemed to be crashing more often than usual...so i checked the info for the error again after one of the crashes and this is what microsoft said:

Analysis Information

Thank you for submitting an error report.

Your system crashed because the random access memory containing Windows program code was corrupted. Microsoft is unable to determine if this corruption was caused by a hardware or software issue. The nature of the corruption suggests that a hardware issue is more likely. To determine if this is the case, Microsoft developed a Windows memory diagnostic that tests your PC memory.

We recommend you download and run this tool on your computer system. On most configurations, you can download the diagnostic, read the documentation, run the test and complete the test pass in less than 30 minutes. Click here to get started.

You can track this error report by clicking the Track this error report link. If you choose to track your error report, you will be notified of resolutions to this problem as they are identified.

hope this helps someone help me
 
sounds to me like you have bad ram. if u have 2 sticks try taking out one, and then if crashes try the other one., if it doesnt crash try the other one. u may find something out.
 
oh and i ran the test it said to do...and no errors, even when i did the extended tests.
-to defex: eh, i was kinda hoping it didnt come to that, but my friend had suggested that might be it too.
 
delete the vidcard from dev man reboot to plain vga, ignore found new hardware
reboot to bios., set AGP to lowest avail - 1X or 2X
reboot to desktop reinstall vid card drivers - use only older whql that are certified for ALL nvidia cards - like 21.83
you have an old computer with a 3 year old 3.3V vidcard (DirX 8.1) trying to run todays stuff
er, I hope you didn't install DirX9

If you can install an old PCI vidcard - you will see everything works (but slowly)
 
hmm..so youre saying that my video card and computer is too out-dated to run newer stuff?.....but ive been playing games like cs, warcraft3, cod, battlefield for like the past 2 years without problems...and it doesnt always crash when im in a game....like just right now i only had mozilla open to type this up, and it crashed.
welp, im going to reformat today. see if that fixes it....if not, i have no idea what else to do
 
Before you format let me check those dump files. I messaged you where you can send them for me to look at.
 
haha too late...i did format...(i needed it anyways)...but problem remains...nearly 10 minutes after i finished formatting..i was installing mozilla i think, and it crashed...so its still here...um, and i tried that memory diagnostic thing that microsoft suggested, and it found nothing...
to Ranma_Sao: i got the message...i sent you the dump files, hopefully you got them
to DeFex: alright, ill try that, thanks
 
in the meantime try running this

Corruption 101 < review

Integrity Testing

USING ATACT (AT Attachment Command Test)
well this is how I did it, and it was only employed on my PATA onboard channels
so for IDE Cards or RAID Channels, SATA ports, youll have to blunder around yourself :p

download ATACT demo
extract and change the .ug files to .txt files and read them
Download Dr DOS
run it and it will extract to a new floopy
access the floppy and remove the CONFIG.SYS file
(if you employ an MS-DOS boot disk you also need to remove the AUTOEXEC.BAT)
then add the ATACT.EXE file to it

reboot and change your boot order to floopy first if it isnt already
I was prompted to enter the Date and Time (???)
and then given an A:/ prompt
I always check the directory at that point (just to be sure)
A:/DIR which looked OK so
A:/ATACT P0 = runs on Primary Channel Device Zero (Master)
A:/ATACT P1 = runs on Primary Channel Device One (Slave)
A:/ATACT P01 = runs on Primary Channel Both Devices
A:/ATACT S0 = runs on Secondary Channel Device Zero (Master)
A:/ATACT S1 = runs on Secondary Channel Device One (Slave)
A:/ATACT S01 = runs on Secondary Channel Both Devices

there are lots of other switches, troubleshooting and modes
but I havent tried them, so Good Luck
 
When the kernel validates your data, you are continually off by one. Aka, a bit flipped. Bad memory.
 
The memory is getting "flipped" wether it is on the hard disk, or in the ram, I don't know, but it's getting flipped.
 
it just did it again...except this time it stayed on the blue screen that i can normally only see for a split second...and i copied down everything it said (probably not extremely exact):

A problem has been detected and windows has sdhut down to prevent damage to your computer

Driver_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL

Check to make sure new hardware or software was properly installed. Also contact your hardware manufacturer and ask for any updates you might need.

If problems continue, diable any new hardware, and disable BIOS memory options such as caching or shadowing

Technical information:

*** STOP: 0X000000b1 (0X00000020, 0X00000002, 0x00000000, 0XF83ECA2A)

*** NFS.Sys-address F83ECA2A base at F83E7000, date stamp 3b7dcsd0
 
start by running memtest86+ again, for several passes, like 12 of em
then run through some of the other potential culprits listed in the Corruption 101
its not the OS, its getting fubard during the install
and it could be anything from your power to a loose IDE cable and beyond
you need to start definatively ruling out potential suspects
 
alright...well this is gonna be tought, considering i dont know very much computer hardware, but thanks a lot guys
 
its not all that bad considering the resources you have available on the board, and lots of freeware utilities, I know that thread is a little overwhelming
but start out with memtest86+, and then get the HDD manufacturers diagnostic utility
(failure doesnt necessarilly mean its the HDD but it does narrow it down a bit)
do you know anyone that you can crosspart components to, for testing?

example
you fail the manufacturers HDD diagnostic
you switch your cable into the friends box ...and it passes
you switch the HDD in your friends box...and its passes
indicative of a busmaster driver issue or mobo problem (possibly power)
 
yeah i do have someone that i could swap with...but ive had one memory stick out for the past 2 days (i have two 256 ddr sticks)...and so far it hasnt crashed...so i think its the stick i took out...but i can never be too sure
 
well memory that is bad doesnt necessarily crash right away
it sort of depends on exactly what bit of data it mangles
if the first bank of memory is seeing more use than the second bank
and not dealing with critical files at boot...

you definatively rule a stick good or bad one at a time with memtest
so Id really recommend you do that now
first the stick you suspect is good, then the one that youve removed
(removing the other)

and employ proper ESD precautions
(Electrostatic Discharge)
ESD & Electromigration Rant
 
ugh!...i thought i was home free.....up til today i had no crashes using the one stick of ram...but i was playing warcraft3 and it crashed and gave me this error:
This application has encountered a critical error:

FATAL ERROR!

program: C:\Games\warcraft III\war3.exe
exeption: 0XC0000005 (ACCES_VIOLATION) at 001B:606F0271

The instruction at '0x606F0271' referenced memory at '0x606F0271'.
The memory could not be 'read'.

Press OK to terminate the application


and then also later today, it restarted while i was finishing installing a program.
 
funny that doesnt look like the test results of memtest86+ :

if at some point you actually want to start troubleshooting the problem
let me know
 
bleh..i did run memtest a while ago, before i took out the stick....and i posted that it said there werent any errors...im not trying to put it off...its just that all the suggestions you guys are making seems too complicated for me...i dont know computers that well
 
then we will do it step by step

1. run memtest86+ for 12 passes on the first stick
 
then post your config
cpu
mobo
RAM
vidcard
any other cards
optical drives
HDDs
fans
and anything else that would use power

and the make and model of your power supply
Im going to analyze the amp to rails distribution requirements of your config
and what safety margin if any your power supply has to meet that load

do you have a UPS or just a surge protector?
what make of either and how old approximately they are
 
k...i ran the memtest...didnt get any errors....and this is what i have:
im not sure what my motherboard is...i think its a VIA?
AMD Athlon XP 1700+ 1.48GHz
2 sticks of 256 ddr ram
geforce2 GTS/Geforce2 Pro
creative SB Live sound card
i have 3 fans, two have lights in them, ones an Antec, the other is a POWMAX
the other one doesnt have a label or a light, its just all orange plastic
i also have a videocard fan that fits into the slot under my videocard
my motherboard also has a fan
i have a green tube light thats about 12 inches
i have a 48x24x48x burner, and a 52x cd rom
a 30 gig hard drive
my power supply is an Eagle ATX 300 W switching power supply model #: DR-A300ATX
im not sure what a UPS is, but it says SpikeMaster Surge protection OK, and its about a year old
 
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