The blue screen of death!?

Question

Ok so i boot up my computer like normal, do the usual things like open a few programs. Then after some minuites BAM! blue screen of death...

Can anyone help, what can I try or do to prevent this?

Answer 1

Try taralone's recommendations; they should fix it.

If they don't, we'll need the stop code as taralone mentioned.

Also, have installed anything new recently? Any new software, hardware, devices?

What version of Windows are you using?



Is there any particular program you open that causes it to crash?

To test for that, reboot your computer, open ONE program and leave it for 10 minutes. If it doesn't crash, reboot, open the same program, and another program with it, and same again, until you find the program that's causing it to crash.

When you find the program, remove it, and reinstall it.



You could also test for hardware that's causing it to crash by doing a Hardware clean boot.

From my own personal experience with Microsoft Tech Support:

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

This is nothing but disabling all the devices and trying to boot into the desktop. Here is how we do this:



1.Click on Start and then Run .Type ‘devmgmt.msc’ and click Ok.

2.Once 'Device Manager' is opened,right-click on the devices below and click 'Disable'.

Display Adapters

Network Adapters

MODEM

CD/DVD drives

COM&LPT Ports

Sound cards

Universal Serial Bus Controllers(Do not disable USB mouse and keyboard)

3. Restart the computer

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

Once restarted, go about doing whatever you normally do. If it still crashes, then go back into devmgmt.msc and re-enable everything.

If it doesn't crash, you have found there's a problem with a hardware device. So, to isolate which device it is, re-enable one, reboot the computer, and carry on like normal. If it doesn't crash, re-enable another, and keep doing so until you find your problem device. When you find it, uninstall the drivers for it, and re-install them.



I'm reluctant to say that it's an overheating issue, but it is quite possible. If you know your way around the inside of a computer, check that the CPU fan is fully connected and functional. When you boot up, press the Delete key to get into the system BIOS. This should allow you to see what temperature the processor is currently running at, and the speed of the CPU fan. If either of them are worrying, then I would suggest returning it to whoever you bought it from, and if you have a service package (such as that with Dell machines) get it repaired.

You can also check the temperature of the processor whilst in Windows with a program such as CoreTemp. Fan speed can also be checked with another program called SpeedFan.



Hope that helps,

-Adzie

Answer 2

Go to Run, type in msconfig, go to start up, and see what is typed there and checked in the boxes, see if you have dump checked, if so uncheck it, then restart. This will cause all sorts of problems, when a virus has been attached to something you have watched or loaded. Always check this, when the pc starts acting strange. Also if this doesnt work go to system restore to the date when the pc was operating good. Like if it was acting up yesterday, go back a few days and restart pc, and see if this corrects the problem, and make sure you dont have a floppy or a CD or DVD in that the pc will want to boot ,

just a few things yu can do to correct your Blue screen.

Answer 3

The Kernel Memory Dump is a file with the technical info on what caused the error. It's not useful for the average computer user. Start your computer in Safe Mode by tapping the F8 key until the utility menu comes up. Then use the arrow keys to highlight Last Known Good Configuration, then press enter. You can also try restoring your computer to a previous Restore Point from the utility menu.

Answer 4

give us more info, like hte BSOD STOP: code. it's usually STOP 0x000000?? (where ?? are numbers/letters defining the error) or could also be 0xC0000???. again with the ??? being the defining characters for hte code.



Basics you can do to fix the error:

boot to safemode, see if it works there (press F8 as hte computer turns on *before* it loads windows) if you can get to safemode we know windows itself is functional, try a system restore (start>programs>accessories>system tools>system restore) and go back a few days before the problem started.



If you can get to safemode, you can run a system file checker to check the integrity of hte windows files. In safemode click start > run > type sfc /scannow and press enter. You'll need the windows cd in the drive incase it has to recopy any corrupt/damaged files.



If you can't get to safemode, boot to the windows cd, press R at the options to repair, press 1 and enter to choose windows version, enter the admin password when/if prompted (if you haven't set an admin password press enter if that fails you'll have to have the password to continue) at the c:\windows> prompt type chkdsk /r and press enter. Let the windows repair run and when it finishes (30-45 minutes) type exit and reboot.

Answer 5

Have you installed anything new? My camera crashes my computer all the time but it doesn't delete data. If you have, just contact the manufacturer. I also had problems with my Paging File Size (the virtual RAM) I had to increase it [Right Click my computer, properties, advanced settings, performance, paging file, and set it to a larger size, As Scott said, this could be an issue with your computer fan. Try everything before you reformat and lose all of your information.



-Patriccccc

Answer 6

Walk away slowly....

just kidding It could be a number of things, Maybe OS got corrupted, hard drive failure or cooling. try repairing the OS first by booting from OS CD, if that doesn't work format and reinstall, check the fans, and If that doesn't work get a new hard drive.

Answer 7

Sounds like a heat problem. Check the cooler on the cpu to see if it is operating correctly. Also make sure that it is clean and well connected to the chip.

Answer 8

Could be a problem with device drivers, hardware or software. This problem can be solved by uninstalling new softwares, updating device drivers and making minor configuration changes . From http://fixit.in/bluescreenofdeath.html . You can also run a free registry scan using utilities from http://re7.info

Answer 9

Well the only way I've heard of getting rid of this is to delete System 32.

Answer 10

do system restore or just use safe mode and what does it say?

Answer 11

boot up in safe mode, then reformat your operating system

Answer 12

checkyour cpu cooling, sounds like a fan has died or is dying

Answer 13

reformat