Windows 'stopping error' - blue screen... ****'s me!!

[MikesVT]

The problem I have is that when I'm on the internet, sometimes my computer decides to go a bit mental...

The screen goes blue and shows all these error codes or something or other, and I have to restart my comp every time (no other way to get around it)

I sent and 'error report' and the following poped up...


Problem caused by Device Driver
You received this message because a device driver installed on your computer caused the Windows operating system to stop unexpectedly. This type of error is referred to as a "stop error." A stop error requires you to restart your computer.
More information
________________________________________

Problem report summary
Problem type Windows stop error (a message appears on a blue screen with error code information)
Solution available? No
What does this problem mean? Windows has encountered a problem it cannot recover from and it needs to be restarted
Cause Unknown
Computer symptoms A message appears on a blue screen with error code information (for example: 0x0000001E, KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED)
Additional steps for you to take Please continue to send problem reports so analysts at Microsoft can study and try to correct the problem as quickly as possible





I really need my computer for uni... and I really cant have this keep happening...

It used to only happen when I had a music dowload program open, today It happend when I had this site alone open, and also again later on today when I was listening to music over the net (not downloading)

If anyone knows how to fix/what the problem might be... would be much help! thanks guys

[pow3rslave]

i used to get something similar but not 100% the same, and i'm fairly sure it was bad ram.
the whole driver thing means that downloading the most recent set of drivers for your hardware (motherboard, graphics and sound card) could help.

how old's the machine and the install?

[MikesVT]

I got the comp at the beginning of year 11... sooo that would be... 4 years now

I know nothing about computers

Hmmm So i can just download this new stuff off the net? I'm guessing it wouldnt be free?

Stupid computers!

[vr_owner]

we need to know whats in it? got any clue? if not go to www.cpuid.org and download cpu-z and post up the screen shots of the cpu and the motherboard so we can help find you some drivers.

[pow3rslave]

drivers are free, but some are pretty big files (for a ghetto net connection like mine at least) if it's having issues like this, i'd consider backing up work and files, and reinstalling XP with new drivers

windows is like a VL, sometimes it just breaks for no reason, then keeps breaking

[JD]

as you are listening to music when its happening it could be your need new drivers for you sound card.

[azkwazere]

STOP errors relate to your computer having issues while communicating with devices attached to your computer. Anthing that requires a driver to work (pretty much anything) can cause this error...

SETUP: BACKUP!!! stop, backup! now!

STEP 1: Brainstorming: Have you installed any new programs, drivers or anything recently? games, software...anything before this started.

STEP 2: Brainstorming Continued: When does it happen exactly...? what are you dooing, when, and why? time it from boot to error, find out what causes the error.

STEP 3: Press(WindowsKey + Break) + (Right Arrow X2) + (Alt + D) in the dialog box that appears, is there anything in any of the hives that has a yellow exclamation mark next to it? is there anything crossed out.

STEP 3.5: Run all anti virus programs and spyware programs, did this solve the problem(ie, did you find and remove anything?)

STEP 4: Reinstall all drivers, start with chipset and work you way to peripherals.

STEP 5: backup again!

STEP 6: Runwindows installer, when it asks to repair or new install, choose repair (second repair not the console thing, it is gay) IT will install windows over the top and replace system files, you will loose all programs installed(new install required, the physical files will still be there) unless you know how to export registrys etc, however that could be the issue in the first place!

..... is the issue still happeneing?

aZk.

[MikesVT]

thanks heaps guys for all the info...

It seems to have stoped for now... Its only happening when I have a music download program opened.. so I dont anymore... But I will do all the stuff you guys said coz I really cant risk the comp doing something crazy half way though an assignment, once again, thanks heaps!

[VZTHUNDER]

get norton ghost and make a complete image of a drive
mines f**k**g huge tho 27gb for my 250gb drive so you might wanna select the option to break it up into smaller files

[azkwazere]

get norton ghost and make a complete image of a drive
mines f**k**g huge tho 27gb for my 250gb drive so you might wanna select the option to break it up into smaller files

only use ghost to bakup system drives, remove all your games, music, vids to disc, then create an image.

Initally, Format your drive.. install windows, do NOTHING else, make an image.

Then, install latest Service packs, drivers, fixes... then save another image.

Then install all your programs and setup default users profile, make another image.

Then, when **** hits the fan, you have the above 3 saves to work from. all should be quite small.

Ensure you parttion your HDDS so that you have system partition and a personal partition, then you only need to wipe all broken things, ie windows. Makes for smaller image files as well. Partition magic sorts all partitioning issues like resizing out.

aZk.

[shaggerz]

OK the cause of this is usually one of the following, in order of likelihood:

1. Bit Rot - Windows suffers from 'bit rot' where it gradually gets less efficient and more and more broken over time. For this reason a lot of people (myself included) will erase everything and reinstall Windows and all needed software every 6 months or sometimes even less.

2. Hard Drive is going bad - Over time, hard drives can develop weak spots in the magnetic storage medium and may have difficulty reading or writing to the drive. This can cause all kinds of strange things to happen, but the most common symptom is the good old blue screen of death at what might seem to be random times. Once 'bad sectors' start appearing on your hard drive, they WILL get worse over time, at an exponential rate, destroying data in the process. Think of bad sectors as being like hard drive cancer... if you find one, its terminal. The drive WILL die, and you should back up all important data ASAP and replace the hard drive. Follow this link to download Drive Fitness Test. It is the most reliable and easiest to use program I have found for checking your drive for bad sectors. The download is an ISO image so you can burn it to CD using Nero or other burning program. Then boot from the CD (when you start your computer it should have an option to boot from a device other than the hard drive, or it may do it automatically) and run the advanced test. This will do a full read test of the disk surface and is non-destructive. If you get a green screen at the end, wipe the sweat off your brow and relax, because your data will be fine. If you get a red screen, backup important data immediately and replace the hard drive.

3. Overheating - often years of use will result in the CPU heat sink (and graphics card heat sink if it is fan forced) clogging up with dust and losing its cooling capacity. Sometimes fans will seize due to dust, heat and age. Make sure all fans are spinning freely with no rattles, and that heat sinks are relatively free of dust. If clogged, clean them out and test again.

4. Faulty RAM - As with everything, RAM can sometimes go faulty. Often the problem is merely a bad connection. Remove the RAM modules and clean the gold connectors with a normal pencil eraser. Do not touch the connectors with your fingers after cleaning as the oils and acids on your hands can cause a bad connection some time in the future. Re-install the RAM modules, taking care to seat them correctly and the right way around (they are keyed and should only fit one way... people have managed to get them in backwards though so take care). If the problem persists, there are a lot of memory test utilities out there so get one that seems to test very thoroughly as many different bit patterns as possible and try that. A bootable one like the drive fitness test would be best because it leaves as much of the RAM free as possible for testing. If any errors are detected, replace the RAM.

5. Faulty Motherboard - Not really likely, but something I see very often at work due to the poor conditions some of our PCs endure. Overheating can result in some capacitors on the motherboard spewing their guts out and ceasing "capacitating" lol... Have a look at all the capacitors (the little can type things) and make sure theres no goop coming out the the top, and that the tops aren't bulging. If any of them are, this is a sure sign that if the motherboard isn't already dead, its about to be, and the dead capacitors should be replaced, or more likely the whole motherboard.

You'll notice that most of these things can be proven fairly well without replacing anything to "see if it works". This little list is compiled based on the hundreds upon hundreds of PCs to come through our workshop.

Any trouble with any of those testing procedures, just ask! Also if you need any parts, let me know and I can probably send them to you for just the cost of postage.

Good luck!

EDIT: oh and its probably good measure to use the same cleaning process as you used on the RAM on all the other edge connectors... graphics card if its not on-board, any PCI cards, re-seat power and data connectors (unplug and plug in again) etc etc. 99% of the time this process and the list above will solve your problem.

[holdensupporter2005]

When the blue screen error message comes up again, write down the error code. usually the line that says
STOP 0x0000008E (0x00000000, 0x00000000, 0x00000000, 0x00000000)
or similar.
It may also give you a file name and a description of the error like PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA or something similar.
The STOP code along with the file and error message can help to determine what hardware or software may have caused the issue.
Also noteing down what programs you may have been running at the time can help to diagnose the problem.

As others have said, Memory can often go faulty and is the cause of many problems.

Microsoft have a Memory Diagnostics Program which you can download and run from a CD. This can help to diagnose wether you have a faulty memory module. You can download it from here http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp

[holdensupporter2005]

A message appears on a blue screen with error code information (for example: 0x0000001E, KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED)

also check this link out for the stop error message that you specified
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307128

Cheers
Holdensupporter2005

[S Pack]

The "Blue Screen of Death"
Sounds like you have a glitch in the matrix.

Id start by opening your web browser clear all history and cookies and watever else cache and stuff u can clear.
Then run AVG anti spyware = Delete all found
Followed by AVG Anti virus = Delete all found
Also i recommend you to use Vcleaner...its also a free thingy from AVG

once that is done your computer should be clean from most crap. Then clear all restore points by turning off "system restore" then turn system restore straight back on.

if your prob is still there pm me and ill tell you a good computer forum to help you...they are very good....got me outta the crap heaps

[Summer-Sickness]

thanks heaps guys for all the info...

It seems to have stoped for now... Its only happening when I have a music download program opened.. so I dont anymore... But I will do all the stuff you guys said coz I really cant risk the comp doing something crazy half way though an assignment, once again, thanks heaps!

thats what ya get for bein a music pirate!

hahaha nah why pay for something if u can get it for free?

anyone seen that south park episode about music piracy?... good times.