OK...it crashed again and here is the full sequence of events on both the part of the computer and on my part.
The computer "crashed" and because I had disabled "automatic reboot", I was able to read the screen. Here's what it said:
"A problem has been detected and Windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer.
DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL
If this is the first time you've seen this stop error screen, restart your computer. If this screen appears again, follow these steps:
Check to make sure any new hardware or software is properly installed. If this is a new installation, ask your hardware or software manufacturer for any Windows updates you might need.
If problems continue, disable or remove any newly installed hardware or software. Disable BIOS memory options such as caching or shadowing. If you need to use safe mode to remove or disable components, restart your computer, press F8 to select "Advanced Startup Options" and then select "safe mode".
Technical Information:
STOP: 0x000000D1 (0x396B0AE7, 0x00000002, 0x00000001, 0xF722CFA2)
NDIS.sys - Address F722CFA2 base at F7214000, Datestamp 41107ec3
Beginning dump of physical memory
Physical memory dump complete
Contact your system administrator or technical support group for further assistance."
(End Quote)
I then rebooted my computer, a box popped up which said.:
"The system has recovered from a serious error. A log of this error has been created. For more information click here (which I did) and this came up:
"Error signature BCCode: 100000d1 BCP1: 396B0AE7 BCP2 00000002 BCP3: 00000001 BCP4: F722CFA2
OS Ver. 5_1_2600
SP: 2_0
Product: 256_1
To view technical information about the error reports, click here (I did and it read..)
ERROR REPORT CONTENTS
C:\DOCUME~1\JANJAC~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\WER956f.dir00\Mini011307-01.dmp
C:\DOCUME~1\JANJAC~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\WER956f.dir00\sysdata.xml
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I then went to my desktop, right-clicked on "My Computer", selected "Manage" or "My Computer Management (Local)" and left-clicked "System Tools", then "Event Viewer".
In "Event Viewer", I left-clicked "System" and found the red circle with the white "X" on it which occured last and double clicked the error and read this:
"EVENT: (Using underscores because I can't remember how to force spaces)
DATE: 1/13/2007_____________SOURCE: SYSTEM ERROR
TIME: 11:03:12______________CATEGORY: (102)
TYPE: ERROR________________EVENT ID: (1003)
USER: N/A
COMPUTER: JANSTOY
Description:
ERROR CODE: 100000d1, Parameter 1 396b0ae7, Parameter 2 00000002,
Parameter 3 00000001, Parameter 4 f722cfa2
For more information, see "Help and Support Center" at
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp
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The "Data" window option had "Bytes" selected and in the window was this:
0000: 53 79 73 74 65 6d 20 45_____System e
0008: 72 72 6f 72 20 20 45 72_____rror Er
0010: 72 6f 72 20 63 6f 64 65_____ror code
0018: 20 31 30 30 30 30 30 64_____100000d1
0020: 31 20 20 50 61 72 61 6d_____Paramete
0028: 65 74 65 72 73 20 33 39_____rs 39
0030: 36 62 30 61 65 37 2c 20_____6b0ae7,
0038: 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 32_____00000002
0040: 2c 20 30 30 30 30 30 30_____, 000000
0048: 30 31 2c 20 66 37 32 32_____01, f722
0050: 63 66 61 32_______________cfa2
Please ignore the underscores. I can't remember how to force spaces in html, nor can I remember how to make the columns nice and straight.
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Well, that's the whole "shootin' match" from the granny. Anybody got any ideas? I just got the computer (laptop) December first, and of course had to install lots of programs that I was using on my old one, and some that are new. I have downloaded a few "third party" programs from the net, but each one has been scanned thoroughly before executing. I update my virus definitions daily and scan regularly at LEAST once a week (full system scan). I may be OVERLY cautious if anything. My virus software right now is Norton and I do use the firewall.
Oh yes....this error message (as far as the parameters go) is slightly different than the numbers I got last time. The Compaq tech trying to help me changed a few things having to do with ActiveX controls, and removed two files from my startup menu that he said I didn't need, but he didn't know what was going on with my computer and was just guessing, as he did confess.
Thankin' ye in advance
Hootin.annie Granny