Question Computer Bluescreens

[RangerPL]

My computer has been blue-screening at random times recently for reasons which I do not know of.

It started on Friday last week after I defragmented my computer and rid it of files I don't need anymore (nothing that could have had an adverse effect on my computer). Now, my computer cannot play games stably, and I've managed to roughly pinpoint that it bluescreens when I use key combinations. (CTRL + 5 when using Descartes, E+LMB when playing WiC).
I can't play World in Conflict or Orbiter stably anymore, though things like Battlefield 2 still work.

I thought it was linked to the XP theme I was using (VistaVG by Vishal Gupta), but it would appear otherwise.

It crashed roughly 3 times last weekend and 6 times this weekend.

There were several error messages on the bluescreens, but here are the ones I remember

"DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL" (appears almost every time)
"MEMORY_MANAGEMENT" (appeared once).

Perhaps someone who is computer savvy might be able to provide some insight as to why this has been occurring.

EDIT: Wrong forum, I think. Sorry.

 

[Andy44]

Back up your stuff now!

 

[Bj]

"DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL" (appears almost every time)
"MEMORY_MANAGEMENT" (appeared once).

A quick Google search shows this page.

...but I agree with Andy, back up all your stuff and do a clean install of XP, or whatever OS your using. Backing up your data with a network is easiest, but the best would be to get an external Hard-drive. Works wonders for me.

 

[RangerPL]

I think this may be a driver thing as I haven't updated them.
Is installing SP3 a heavy job? Is it just a pack that download & install or does it require BIOS messing around, etc?

 

[Unstung]

My previous computer, a Windows XP, crashed a few times before it stopped working. I would back up anything important, as said above.

 

[bradfirj92]

Is your keyboard or mouse usb? That particular error seems to be usb related, I get it when I plug in a faulty flash drive. Your mention of specific key combos leads me to think input device behaving badly.

 

[RangerPL]

Yeah, I've had some problems like that.
But now, it crashes at random when playing World in Conflict. Haven't tested Orbiter yet after the attempted fixes I made.

I think it also may be my World in Conflict install as this is an experimental mod install which I use for creating add-ons for WiC. I messed around with its files and it's not very stable.

 

[Tommy]

I suggest carefully removing all the cards and memory sticks. the card edges can be cleaned with a special "contact cleaner" solution from radio shack, or you can GENTLY rub a red pencil eraser across the contacts (use a brand new never-been-used eraser to avoid graphite contamination). Then carefully re-install the memory and add-on cards, ensuring that you are using the latest drivers. Disable "fast Memory test" on the bios page for a few boots.

This can also be caused by a failing power supply. Most "store bought" PC's use very cheap PS's, and they can cause any number of problems when they begin failing. Test the voltages with a digital meter, ranges should be 4.85 to 5.1 for the 5 volt, 12 to 13.5 for the 12v. Then use an analog (swinging needle) meter set at the lowest AC voltage range to test for "ripple". Any significant voltage reading indicates failure.

 

[Bj]

Is installing SP3 a heavy job? Is it just a pack that download & install or does it require BIOS messing around, etc?

You dont have to mess with the BIOS. SP3 should be automatically installed if you have auto updates enabled. However, here is the ISO for SP3. Note you will need SP2 already installed for this to work.

Also, if you have Office XP then this update would be good to have as well.

 

[RangerPL]

Yeah, I think the reason that my drivers aren't updating is because I don't have SP3.

Could this also be linked to dust gathered on the GPU? Because here's another thing all these bluescreens have had in common: they all hapenned when I was doing something graphics-intensive. I was playing World in Conflict, with lots of explosions when it happened (I have graphics turned up), and I was playing with the Descartes (which is high-poly) as well as my space station (which also has a lot of graphics-intensive modules, especially 6 of Mustard's new solar arrays).
Could it be that dust gathered on it heats up and causes this problem?

My GPU temperature reads 63 celcius.

 

[Bj]

Yeah, I think the reason that my drivers aren't updating is because I don't have SP3.

Could this also be linked to dust gathered on the GPU? Because here's another thing all these bluescreens have had in common: they all hapenned when I was doing something graphics-intensive. I was playing World in Conflict, with lots of explosions when it happened (I have graphics turned up), and I was playing with the Descartes (which is high-poly) as well as my space station (which also has a lot of graphics-intensive modules, especially 6 of Mustard's new solar arrays).
Could it be that dust gathered on it heats up and causes this problem?

Dust could cause a problem. I have a PS2 that is fairly old, and only my sister plays. Well a few days ago, it turned on, but only displayed a black screen. I looked inside the fan and found a whole ton of dust. Blowing all the dust out fixed it. So yes dust could be a factor, I would blow out the dust with one of those anti dust cans, anyway just because its good to keep your computer clean . I would also try to see if the RAM is bad, if you have 2 cards then you can try taking one out and see if the error persists, and if it does, switch RAM sticks. If it still crashes, then RAM is probably not a factor.

My GPU temperature reads 63 celcius.

Depends on your model. What type of graphics card do you have? Also what brand & model of computer do you have?

My computer's GPU runs at 48C idling and CPU at 35C. If your 63C idling, then that could be a dust factor.

 

[RangerPL]

Dust could cause a problem. I have a PS2 that is fairly old, and only my sister plays. Well a few days ago, it turned on, but only displayed a black screen. I looked inside the fan and found a whole ton of dust. Blowing all the dust out fixed it. So yes dust could be a factor, I would blow out the dust with one of those anti dust cans, anyway just because its good to keep your computer clean . I would also try to see if the RAM is bad, if you have 2 cards then you can try taking one out and see if the error persists, and if it does, switch RAM sticks. If it still crashes, then RAM is probably not a factor.



Depends on your model. What type of graphics card do you have? Also what brand & model of computer do you have?

My computer's GPU runs at 48C idling and CPU at 35C. If your 63C idling, then that could be a dust factor.

I have an EVGA GeForce 7800 GS. Bought in December 2007.

 

[TSPenguin]

If your GPU is 63°C when idle, then it is most likely due to overheating. Get ATItools to verify this theory (it runs on all GPUs, not just ATI).

Cleaning the inside and removing dust from cooling systems is a mandatory task for every computer owner.

 

[Bj]

I have an EVGA GeForce 7800 GS. Bought in December 2007.

For that card that is fairly good.


From this site several people suggest that it is a Trojan. Try an anti-virus scan to see.

When the scan is finished, do this;

1. Put in your XP CD
2. Shutdown your computer
3. Remove the dust from the computer
4. Restart your computer
5. Boot from CD
6. Try to repair Windows.

Like this;

Then try one of your games
​

 

[RangerPL]

For that card that is fairly good.


From this site several people suggest that it is a Trojan. Try an anti-virus scan to see.

When the scan is finished, do this;

1. Put in your XP CD
2. Shutdown your computer
3. Remove the dust from the computer
4. Restart your computer
5. Boot from CD
6. Try to repair Windows.

Like this;

Then try one of your games
​

I removed the dust from my computer recently, I'll see if any changes happened.
EDIT: I had a drop to 58 degrees.

Everything in my computer except the CD drive is reasonably new as I had an upgrade in Fall 2007.

 

[Bj]

I removed the dust from my computer recently, I'll see if any changes happened.

EDIT: I had a drop to 58 degrees.

That is a significant difference, although I don't think it will solve your problem. Did it fix it? Any luck with the said solutions?

Everything in my computer except the CD drive is reasonably new as I had an upgrade in Fall 2007.

Being new doesn't mean that it isn't prone to failing. My mom's laptop's HD crashed after only 1 month. Actually failing early is good, because its still under warranty.

 

[RangerPL]

That is a significant difference, although I don't think it will solve your problem. Did it fix it? Any luck with the said solutions?



Being new doesn't mean that it isn't prone to failing. My mom's laptop's HD crashed after only 1 month. Actually failing early is good, because its still under warranty.

Yeah, but it also worked perfectly for 1.5 years.
Everything seems to be stable, I ran Orbiter for a bit with no bluescreen. I'm going to try World in Conflict now as that is the biggest hardware-demanding game I've run.

As for the Trojan part, I am not so sure. It bluescreens ONLY when doing something graphics-intensive and then only sometimes. I doubt it's a virus, I scanned my computer with AVG already today, showed nothing.

EDIT
I think I may have actually fixed it now! I just played a session of World in Conflict and did all the things that caused my computer to crash before. Not one problem! I got the GPU up to 66 degrees.

 

[Bj]

EDIT
I think I may have actually fixed it now! I just played a session of World in Conflict and did all the things that caused my computer to crash before. Not one problem! I got the GPU up to 66 degrees.

Strange error for GPU overheating, but anything is possible I guess.

Glad you got it fixed.

 

[TSPenguin]

The error is not so strange for overheating. It is often encountered when overclocking too much too.

 

[RangerPL]

I wouldn't call this problem completely solved just yet, but the bluescreens seem to have stopped.