Blue Screen and Restarts - help!

Hello, my computer randomly restarts (or BSOD). This happens mainly when I'm
using graphics applications such as games. Microsoft Analysis seems to
indicate it is hardware related. My hunch is that I need to upgrade the
video card - it's 64mb SD RAM when my system memory is 512 MB DDR. I have
heard that this creates a bottleneck that can cause problems.

I have updated drivers (including BIOS) and scanned my system for trojans
and viruses.

Could someone please have a look at my system details below, and advise on
the best (and cheapest) hardware upgrade. Many thanks,

2.40 gigahertz Intel Pentium 4
NVIDIA GeForce2 MX/MX 400 64 MB SD RAM
512 MB DDR RAM
Creative SB Audigy
Board: Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd. SiS-645
Bus Clock: 133 megahertz
Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2

--
* w a r a t a h *

* * * * * * * *
time wounds all heels

waratah wrote:
Hello, my computer randomly restarts (or BSOD). This happens mainly
when I'm using graphics applications such as games. Microsoft
Analysis seems to indicate it is hardware related. My hunch is that I
need to upgrade the video card - it's 64mb SD RAM when my system
memory is 512 MB DDR. I have heard that this creates a bottleneck
that can cause problems.
I have updated drivers (including BIOS) and scanned my system for
trojans and viruses.

Could someone please have a look at my system details below, and
advise on the best (and cheapest) hardware upgrade. Many thanks,

2.40 gigahertz Intel Pentium 4
NVIDIA GeForce2 MX/MX 400 64 MB SD RAM
512 MB DDR RAM
Creative SB Audigy
Board: Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd. SiS-645
Bus Clock: 133 megahertz
Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2


You've included all the information except that which is necessary for a
diagnosis. This is akin to calling your GP and telling them everything about
you except what is actually wrong. No one can see your computer, therefore
we cannot see what's on that screen.

If the computer is restarting before you can view the contents of the
screen: - Right click my computer properties advanced Settings (under
start-up and recovery) untick 'automatically restart'.

Then post the *EXACT* stop code here.

For general BSOD troubleshooting see http://aumha.org/win5/kbestop.htm.

--
Facon - the artificial bacon bits you get in Pizza Hut for sprinkling
on salads.

Hello Waratah,

To determine what driver is causing the problem I need you to enable driver
verifier.
Steps:
1) Windows Key + R
2) Type in 'verifier' and hit enter
3) Make sure 'Create Standard Setting' is selected and hit next
4) Click on 'Select all drivers installed on this computer' and hit Finish
5) Reboot

There is a possibility that your computer will crash on reboot. If this
occurs hit F8 when rebooting just before the windows logo screen and select
the safe mode boot option. Follow the same steps above but on step 4 choose
'Select driver names from a list'; hit next; check the box next to any
driver where the provider is not Microsoft; hit Finish; reboot.

This will slow the performance of you computer a little while enabled but
will hopefully catch the driver causing corruption. Next time you crash
the blue screen will hopefully say something like
"DRIVER_VERIFIER_DETECTED_VIOLATION". If this occurs please send the
corresponding minidump (by default it is at c:\windows\Minidump ) my way.
If you have any questions or I didn't explain something well enough don't
hesitate to e-mail me back. Good Luck,


Joshua Smith
OpenGL Test Lab
Microsoft
-----

Get Secure! www.microsoft.com/security

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights

"waratah" wrote in message
...
Hello, my computer randomly restarts (or BSOD). This happens mainly when
I'm using graphics applications such as games. Microsoft Analysis seems to
indicate it is hardware related. My hunch is that I need to upgrade the
video card - it's 64mb SD RAM when my system memory is 512 MB DDR. I have
heard that this creates a bottleneck that can cause problems.

I have updated drivers (including BIOS) and scanned my system for trojans
and viruses.

Could someone please have a look at my system details below, and advise on
the best (and cheapest) hardware upgrade. Many thanks,

2.40 gigahertz Intel Pentium 4
NVIDIA GeForce2 MX/MX 400 64 MB SD RAM
512 MB DDR RAM
Creative SB Audigy
Board: Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd. SiS-645
Bus Clock: 133 megahertz
Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2

--
* w a r a t a h *

* * * * * * * *
time wounds all heels

Thanks Joshua, I will try what you suggest and get back to you.

Chris (Waratah)

"Joshua Smith [MSFT]" wrote:

Hello Waratah,

To determine what driver is causing the problem I need you to enable driver
verifier.
Steps:
1) Windows Key + R
2) Type in 'verifier' and hit enter
3) Make sure 'Create Standard Setting' is selected and hit next
4) Click on 'Select all drivers installed on this computer' and hit Finish
5) Reboot

There is a possibility that your computer will crash on reboot. If this
occurs hit F8 when rebooting just before the windows logo screen and select
the safe mode boot option. Follow the same steps above but on step 4 choose
'Select driver names from a list'; hit next; check the box next to any
driver where the provider is not Microsoft; hit Finish; reboot.

This will slow the performance of you computer a little while enabled but
will hopefully catch the driver causing corruption. Next time you crash
the blue screen will hopefully say something like
"DRIVER_VERIFIER_DETECTED_VIOLATION". If this occurs please send the
corresponding minidump (by default it is at c:\windows\Minidump ) my way.
If you have any questions or I didn't explain something well enough don't
hesitate to e-mail me back. Good Luck,


Joshua Smith
OpenGL Test Lab
Microsoft
-----

Get Secure! www.microsoft.com/security

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights

"waratah" wrote in message
...
Hello, my computer randomly restarts (or BSOD). This happens mainly when
I'm using graphics applications such as games. Microsoft Analysis seems to
indicate it is hardware related. My hunch is that I need to upgrade the
video card - it's 64mb SD RAM when my system memory is 512 MB DDR. I have
heard that this creates a bottleneck that can cause problems.

I have updated drivers (including BIOS) and scanned my system for trojans
and viruses.

Could someone please have a look at my system details below, and advise on
the best (and cheapest) hardware upgrade. Many thanks,

2.40 gigahertz Intel Pentium 4
NVIDIA GeForce2 MX/MX 400 64 MB SD RAM
512 MB DDR RAM
Creative SB Audigy
Board: Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd. SiS-645
Bus Clock: 133 megahertz
Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2

--
* w a r a t a h *

* * * * * * * *
time wounds all heels