Blue Screen due to driver problems

At anytime on anyday i get a blue screen saying that i have a problem with my BIOS and drivers and i have to modify my BIOS or something like that. i have no idea what to do but should i try reinstalling windows? i have been getting this blue screen since i bough the computer


this is my computer
Windows XP home SP2
Nvidia 128MB 5600 SE (upgraded from a 128mb 5200)
512 RAM
2.6 HT P4 processor

 

if it's a BIOS problem a reinstall most likely wouldn't fix that

I noticed that you had upgraded your video card .. you might make sure that you completely uninstalled the previous drivers and that you have the latest drivers installed

could also be your RAM ... try memtest or swapping it out for some known good RAM

 

Whats the Blue Screen Code

it will give a Stop 0X000000__ Code

Take that down that could help drill down the cause .

 

alright next time it pops up i will write down what the screen says.


it cannot be upgrading my video card though because i was getting the blue screen before that.

 

alright it said the problem this is - Stop: 0x0000008E and it also said something about win32k.sys under it. does that help?

 

Hi

0X0000008E

Seem's to be a BSOD caused becoz if Memmory

Try reseating your RAM

If no go Try with a Good known RAM

Also see if you can change the virtual memmory, try setting the Minumum size would be 4 times of your systems actual memmory and the maximum would be 4 times of the memmory

 

alright how do i reset my RAM and my virtual memory? lol thanks

 

I meant Re-Seat

Open the tower and pull out the memory card and put it back in

In case of resetting virtual memory

Follow this

NOTE: You must be logged on to the system as an administrator to change the paging file size.


Click the Start button.

Right-click My Computer.

Click Properties.
The System Properties window will appear.

Click the Advanced tab.

Click the Settings button located under the Performance section of the window.
The Performance Options window will appear.

Click the Advanced tab.

Click the Change button under the Virtual Memory section of the window.
The Virtual Memory window will appear.

Click to select the Custom Size option.

Type in your desired Initial Size (MB) setting.

NOTE: For best performance the Initial Size should be set to at least 1.5 times the amount of memory installed in your system. For example, a 128MB system should have 192MB set as the minimum. There is a recommended Maximum Limit of 3 times the amount of memory in the system.


Increase the Maximum Size (MB) setting.

Click the Set button.

Click the OK button on the Virtual Memory window.

Click the OK button on the Performance Options window.

Click the OK button on the System Properties window.

Restart your computer.
Your updated paging file size settings will be saved

enjoii


Took a lot to type this.....ooooh ..sorry for the miss info of (4 times )

 

my virtual memory was already exactly where it should be hmmmm.

 

Format & Reinstall OS

If u've done that

I suspect Your RAM

 

ok i re-seated my RAM so hopefully that will fix the problem if not then i will reinstall windows.

 

Hope So !!!!!

 

You said this has been happening since you got the computer. Is it posible to bring the computer back and have it checked? Maybe under warranty. Before reinstalling the OS try a memory testing program. http://majorgeeks.com/downloads26.html

If you are having a problem with hardware, then a reinstall will not help.

 

Ok so i reseated my RAM and i didnt get the blue screen for about a week. But i just got the blue screen again a few minutes ago. the blue screen said if this wasnt my 1st time getting this message that i should make sure i have enough memory or to disable the driver. Is it possible for me to disable the win32k.sys driver??? i also just downloaded a memory test program and the computer passed. So would reinstalling OS be the best fix?

 

Are you getting the BSOD on startup or when the computer has been running?

 

Ive been gettin it when my computer has been running for a while

 

This may be due to a heat problem. This may be grasping at straws but open the box up. Check that all the fans are working properly. Make sure no dust is in the system blocking air flow. You say that it has been happening since you got the machine. Check the location out, is it near a heating duct?

This stop code seems to be caused by hardware or drivers.
Is all the hardware compatible with XP?
Double check that you have the updated drivers for all hardware including MB.
The BIOS may need to be updated but flashing the wrong update could render the system useless. Someone else here may be able to help you more on this. You have not said if you replaced the RAM with known good RAM. If you can try removing a stick and seeing if you have the problem. RAM is cheap you may want to replace what you have and see if the problem persists. If RAM is not the issue you still can use it.

The problem may stil exist if it is a hardware issue.

 

Ddi you installed proper chipsets? Have you checked your hardware on conflicts?

If you have, then this is what i would do:

Remove all hardware except (duh) RAM, video card, and hdd. Turn system on and wait... (this may be boring but you have to make sure that the problem does not involve your primary hardware) If you think that your primary hardware is good then apply pci devices, drives and usb devices. All one by one, sort out the failing hardware.

 

basically everything that is in my computer came with it except the video card so everything should be compatible. Just about all of my hardware is primary except my sound card.




the fans were a little dusty but i cleaned them out. windows update said that were were no updates for my computer. But i dont know how to update BIOS. I do have some RAM in my old dell that i could put in this computer to see if the problem is in the RAM.

 

ok well i found an old stick of memory that is still in its package that i bought for my old computer but it wasnt compatible since it is SDRAM and my old computer was RDRAM. This computer (Dell Dimension 4600i) takes SDRAM but do i need to put in two sticks of the ram or can i just put one stick in?


i have 4 RAM slots.

 

only RDRAM needs to be in pairs ... SDRAM, DDR etc will work with or w/o a match

 

well i tried to put in the RAM but it wouldnt fit i guess its not the right type. too bad that ideas shot.

 

Have you ran any anti-virus programs? It doesn't seem to me that a Windows BSOD would have anything to do with the BIOS... It could be a virus that is just playing tricks with you.

 

yea i have norton corporate edition and i just scanned yesterday and no viruses i also use housecall.trendmicro.com

 

well this is really started to tick me off....i got two blue screens today within 5 minutes of each other but the second BSOD (if thats what it is) had a different error message and it was 0x0000007F and that also has something to do with memory so i am seriously considering replacing my RAM.

 

i ran dell diagnostics tests on my memory and it said that all tests passed.

 

do you have any remote control software by any chance? you might go through your services see if you have any third party services running and shut them off

also is your hard drive full?

and 7F has to do with the CPU not the RAM .. but those error messages are quite vague to say the least ..and I would use memtest to test the RAM

 

i dont have any remote software my hard drive isnt full and i already did a memetst and it passed

 

ok so lately ive also been gettin different BSOD's and i am PO'ed i got one once about the ntfs driver and i also got one a cuple times about like IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL and the stoperror is 0x0000000A

 

well i had enough and i just completely re-installed windows and i hope it works. but i am having a few problems getting everything set-up but i will post that in the software section...thanks for ur help and sorry for all the trouble