Repeated BSOD

I've been trying to resolve this in the software forum with no real success. It was suggested by a tech to try posting in this forum.

http://forums.majorgeeks.com showthread.php?t=214038.

The machine is an HP Pavillion A1230W. It has one GB of Ram PC 3200 DDR 400 and is running Windows XP Home service pack 3. I did test the RAM using MemTest 86+ and found a bad stick. There were two sticks of RAM in the computer so I pulled the bad stick and tested again. The remaining stick passed the test. The BSOD appears to occur most often when the computer is not in active use, although it sometimes crashes when it is in use.

I have to admit to being at sea on this one so any suggestions would be most welcome.

 

Sorry about the link back to the software page, it works for me so I thought it would go through. I've attached the last dump file. Yes, the initial BSOD pointed to bad ram. I took out one stick of ram and ran Memtest86+. This test resulted in the test program reporting this stick of ram had errors. I removed this stick of ram and reinstalled the one I had originally removed before running the test. This stick of ram tested OK. Thinking I has solved the problem I returned the computer to its owner. She again experienced a BSOD this time the error message indicated a problem with Norton 360. Since she had Panda installed prior I did a remove of the Panda software and the Norton then reinstalled Norton. After a couple of days another BSOD this time caused by a what I was told by Plastidust was a hardware problem. He said he wasn't an expert on this issue and suggested I seek help here. I don't think the error message is the same one I originally saw when the stick of bad ram was installed, (I don't have the computer in front of me since it is used in a classroom.) This latest message is about timing, if I understand the error message correctly. I hope what I've just said makes sense.

 

Hi Tim, no, Online Armor is not installed on the HP.

 

That is amazing since I didn't know she had that installed on this machine. I suppose her son could have put it on and taken it back off at some point. I'll call her and ask if she knows.

 

Oh you know what? I wonder if I sent you a software link to this machine instead of the one I'm still having concerns with! I'll check and see if that is what I did. :-o

Okay here is the link I was supposed to be referring to.


http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=214038

 

I posted the correct link, I apologize I had two machines with BSOD problems at the same time. The latest link refers to the repeated BSOD with the HP pavillion.:-D

 

I get what you're telling me. I just didn't know that was the case. So, this is probably a software issue after all?

 

@TimW

Hope this doesn't confuse the issue even more.

This post:

http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showpost.php?p=1478520&postcount=17

contains the attached minidump that lead me to believe kirk48 would be better off trying to resolve the problem in the Hardware forum. Also didn't realize there was a second thread in the Malware Removal forum, I should have looked first.

I apologize if I've made matters worse.

 

Okay another BSOD today. I've attached the last four minidump reports. It seems to me they are all over the map, but of course I don't really know what to look for.

 

Thank you Tim,I'll try your suggestion. If it continues I'll see about doing a format and fresh install. The computer is so unstable right now as to be scary.

 

I was out of town for a week and my teacher friend decided she couldn't deal with the instability any longer. So I saved her personal data and photos then formatted and the reinstalled Win XP Home. She seems happier now, although the system (five years old) decided to snap off and back on a couple of times while I had it. I caught the power supply fan not running and replaced the PS with a new one. I'm going to say this job is done, although not the way I would have liked to see it. Nevertheless, a yeoman's job here guys and I deeply appreciate the time and effort you put in.