BSODing - again =\

Well i reformatted my computer, and I'm still using Windows XP SP3 32-bit.
Yet im still bsoding
I fully updated my video card drivers but I havent updated my chipset drivers yet. Im scared to since I BSOD everytime i booted my computer when i updated them.

I have my dxdiag and .dmp file below.

 

Have you tested your RAM?

 

No I haven't. Is there anyway to test if the ram are working properly with the system? (programs or scanners?)

 

http://www.memtest.org/download/4.20/memtest86+-4.20.iso.zip

You must burn the .ISO file inside with a program such as ImgBurn or any other program that can burn "Images".

Then you restart your system and boot OFF the CD!

 

Alright. I'll get to it soon and then I'll report back.

 

Look out for red

http://billy-oneal.com/forums/memTest/memtestFail.png

 

So does it tell you which RAM slot is defected or not working properly? It wouldnt be a problem in my case since i have a 2gb ram and 1gb ram stick in each of my slots.

 

No, it does not tell which slot/stick is bad. Run a full test with all sticks installed first; if you get some "red", then start again with one stick, then another, etc. If you get no errors (or "red"), then we know all memory slots and modules are OK. It is VERY VERY rarely a bad slot on the motherboard (but I have seen it happen) and 99% of the time it is a bad memory module (or "stick") that is the cause. However, all BSOD errors are NOT necessarily caused by the RAM or video card. Since it's a clean install, and you were able to actually install Windows, I'm inclined to think it is NOT a memory problem since these usually cause issues during the install of WinXP. It may or may not be a hard drive problem, and it may or not be a video card problem. Use F8 and boot using "VGA mode" (the exact wording may be different, but looking at the F8 menu options you should be able to figure out what I mean). If Windows boots OK and runs OK in VGA mode, then it just might be the video card. If you have on-board video, remove the card and use the on-board video instead and see what happens (be sure to install the on-board video drivers and reboot ). Download the free diagnostic from your hard drive maker's web site (or from here at MajorGeeks) and run the extended/advanced tests. Since you have provided VERY few details, it's hard to offer accurate advice here....

.... what we need is the exact BSOD error code (they look like this: 0x00000024) and any file names listed in the error message (some common ones would be ntfs.sys or win32k.sys) and any message listed (another favorite would be IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL or UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME). This will help us help you. Also, please provide a PC make/model, or motherboard make/model, and perhaps the make and interface type of the hard drive (for example: Western Digital 160gb IDE/PATA or Seagate 320gb SATA, etc).

 

Sorry for being vague.

OS: Windows XP Professional SP3 32-Bit 2002
Computer:
AMD Athlon(tm) 64x2 Dual Core Processor 6000+ 3.11 GHz, 3.00 GB of Ram
Video Card:
Nvidia GeForce GT 220
Motherboard: MSI k9n6pgm2 V-Class - Nvidia GeForce MCP61P + nForce 430 Chipset Based
Disk Drive: WDC WD32 00AAJS-22L7A SCSI Disk Device
CD/DVD ROM: TSSTcorp CD/DVDW TS-H652L ATA Device

--------------------------------------

And what I got from my Event Viewer:
The bugcheck was: 0x1000000a (0xa8acc223, 0x0000001c, 0x00000000, 0x804e16cc)

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Oh I forgot to mention, I usually get these BSOD when I'm playing high end games. I rarely get BSOD while playing WC3, I do get it with CS:S, but thats uncommon. But with games such as Hellgate London or Team Fortress 2, then i get it frequently and randomly.

 

I don't think there's a hardware problem other than perhaps a thermal problem. Since all games and Windows in general is OK, and it's only higher-end games, I'd say the weak video card (sorry :-o ) is overheating, or the system in general is overheating. Use some canned air or an air compressor, take the side off the case, take the PC outside, and clean all the fans, heatsinks, and the power supply. DO NOT use a vacuum cleaner! They're not only ineffective, but it is VERY easy to bump into something and cause physical permanent damage to internal components. DO NOT let any of the fans spin all crazy-fast when cleaning; fans can act like mini generators and actually send enough current backward to cause damage, so use a finger or a piece of cardboard or whatever to prevent ANY fans from spinning crazy-fast while cleaning. You can safely update the chipset drivers, but I really doubt it will be a fix. I think the GT220 is too weak to run the high end games; weaker cards come with weaker cooling; if this weaker cooling on the video card is clogged with dust or the fan has failed, you're going to have problems.

(no offense intended with the "weak video card" comments - the GT220 was a very basic and inexpensive card when it was new and was not considered a gaming card in any respect; it is more for basic computing and video playback; it was never meant to be used for any higher end games or ANY games at high resolution and/or with high AA/AF requirements)

 

I had another thought, if the BSODs happen with games played online, or while surfing the web, it could be a driver problem with the ethernet/network adapter, or a bad ethernet/network adapter. If you have an extra PCI/USB ethernet adapter handy (or a PCI/USB wifi adapter if applicable), you can try that and see if it helps.

 

The 0x1000008e error in the dump is almost exactly the same as an 0x8e.

Here's the general troubleshooting page for that error in XP. You need to rule out hardware/BIOS compatibilities before moving on to drivers then software.

Look up your motherboard first and see if your CPU is fully compatible with your BIOS revision level.

 

The MemTest found no errors.

I'm not sure how to find out if my motherboard is compatible with my BIOS.

It could be a fanh/eating issue.

I went through my BIOS, and it said:
CPU Temperature : 85 (C) ---- 185(F)
System Temperature: 40(C) ---- 104(F)

CPU temp seems quite high..

 

YIKES! :eek

If the BIOS is reporting 85c for the CPU, once you get to Windows and start running programs, any programs, that will increase by 5-20c depending on what you're doing. 85c in BIOS is WAAAY too high. It should read about half of that or less.... power down, unplug the power cord from the PC, and open the case. Make sure the CPU cooler is clean of dust and built-up debris. Make sure the fan is spinning free-n-easy; a flick with your finger is all that's needed. If it spins right away and keeps spinning with a light flick, and when it stops spinning there should be a tiny bit of "bounce back" where it actually spins the opposite direction a teeny tiny bit. This is a healthy fan, If yours is hard to push, or stops spinning after 1-2 revolutions, it MUST be replaced. If the cooler is clean and the fan is spinning OK, then remove the cooler, clean the base of the cooler and remove all the old thermal snot. Do the same with the top of the CPU itself. Apply a new thin layer of thermal snot. Depending on the CPU, a dab the size of 1-3 rice grains should be sufficient. If in doubt, post the tpye of CPU and CPU cooler you have and we'll try to advise.

COOL THAT SUCKER DOWN!!! LOL

 

I cleaned it up and boy, there was alot of dust. I checked the temp again and it was around 45(C) for the CPU and 20(C) for the system. So in short, cleaning up the fans and CPU cut the temperature in half.

I don't have any thermal "Snot" in hand. I actually have no idea what it is. Is it sold in retail stores(best buy,target,walmart)?

 

Much better temps, those are very good

Bestbuy should carry it, I doubt target and walmart do.
Ask for Artic Silver. Although your temps look perfectly fine now.