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Vista Home Premium Crashing

2.2K views 9 replies 4 participants last post by  dai  
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Hello, I originally posted my problem in this thread a while back.

http://www.techsupportforum.com/f217/constant-vista-crashing-434141.html

I then reformatted my computer and crashes pretty much stopped.
Lately though my computer has been crashing just about as often as it did before I reinstalled windows, it happens most often while playing modern warfare 2, but it does crash outside of the game fairly often. Lots of times it simply crashes, screen freezes and it automatically restarts or I have to manually restart. IRQL_not_or_less_equal has shown up a few times.
All my computer info should be in that old thread pretty much, what info do I need to submit now? I'd really like to have a working computer again..

Alright, updated my realtek and vid drivers, no crashes yet...

Alright, back to crashing once every few minutes, with the same problem of being unable to boot up half the time after a crash.
Most crashes are actual crashes, screen goes all weird with lines and freezes like that rather than making it to BSOD.
Since I did format and installed/downloaded very little I'd doubt that its malware that is causing my problems.
It may be possibly driver related, but before all this started the first time around I hadn't installed and new drivers, so it would seem weird that they would be the cause..
After reformatting it didn't crash at all for a while, it started crashing after a windows update for defender definitions I believe, and then it happened like last time around, one or two crashes here, one or two boot problems after crashes there, then it just got worse.

What info do I need to attach to my next post? My last thread as mentioned above should have most of the basic info needed.
 
#3 · (Edited)
Alrighty.. my computer is an HP Pavilion Media Center m8200n bought as a tower from staples about 3 years ago.
Specs are
Base processor
Athlon 64 X2 (W) 6000+ 3.0 GHz (89W)
* 2000 MT/s (mega transfers/second)
* Socket AM2
Chipset
GeForce 6150SE nForce 430
Motherboard
* Manufacturer: ECS
* Motherboard Name: MCP61PM-HM
* HP/Compaq motherboard name: Nettle2-GL8E
Memory
Component Attributes
Memory Installed 3 GB
Maximum allowed
8 GB (4 x 2 GB) (64-bit OS)
4 GB* (4 x 1 GB) (32-bit OS)
*Actual available memory may be less
Speed supported PC2-5300 MB/sec
Type 240 pin, DDR2 SDRAM
Hard drive
* 500 GB SATA 3G (3.0 Gb/sec)
* 7200 rpm

16X DVD(+/-)R/RW 12X RAM (+/-)R DL LightScribe SATA drive
Modem
56K bps data/fax modem
Video Graphics
Integrated graphics
Television
TV tuner card with FM tuner
Sound/Audio
High Definition 8-channel audio
* ALC 888S chipset
Network (LAN)
Integrated 10/100 Base-T networking interface
Motherboard description
* Motherboard manufacturer's name: ECS MCP61PM-HM
* HP/Compaq name: Nettle2-GL8E
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/...com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c01151028&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&product=3548185#N964
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c01077676&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&product=3548185
for spec links on tower.

Problems started as mentioned in original thread.
I removed the tv tuner card maybe a few months? before the crashing originally started. Removed because I added the vid card myself and was a bit worried about heat levels. Original power supply's fan crapped out while still under warranty, got a replacement one within the first year.
Don't believe temp is the issue because multiple crashes can occur within first half hour of running, and other times it'll run perfectly fine for 7-10 hours.
Recent BSOD was 0x0000000024 (no idea how many zeros..) with NTFS.SYS cited underneath.

If I missed anything let me know.
 
#5 ·
Pretty sure I tried running chkdsk /r before I reformatted, remember because it kept crashing like half way or near the end, and it took hours to do each time. Will try it again soon though.
Also since reformatting windows started take longer to load at some random point in time, not sure why. Like.. 2 minutes to boot up usually, when it used to be 1 minute a while ago.
Same problem still exists from last time, after crashing computer doesn't boot up half the time, and takes multiple tries to get started again. And in addition to not getting past the boot window to load windows, sometimes it crashes during windows loading after finally getting there.
Problems were gone completely for a few months after reformatting... Havn't really done anything since that so what could be wrong with my PC..
 
#8 ·
Well, I will go through all of the possible issues here, one by one.

One thing that I always try, [almost] regardless of the actual computer's failure symptoms, is a known-good power supply.

You should also determine if your power supply is under-sized for the total load that your system puts on it. Generally, you should estimate the total power consumption of your whole system, and then multiply this number by at least 1.5, to get a 'safe' total power output that you need, in your power supply's specifications.

A power supply that is undersized, or is putting out incorrect voltages, or that has a lot of AC noise on the DC outputs, can appear as almost any problem under the sun. Even a brand-new power supply, from a reputable manufacturer, can be bad.

Power supplies today are so inexpensive, that I always have a selection of various sizes on-hand at all times (it helps that I am an OEM of custom-built computers).

Something else, that often fixes 'unstable' machines, is to [when the power is off and the computer's case is open] basically un-plug (disconnect) and re-plug (connect) all connectors, RAM (DIMM) modules, the CPU chip, etc. You should be sure to do this (un-plug and re-plug) on every connector that you can see, inside your computer.

It is surprising, how many 'weird' problems can be traced to a simple 'the connector was not fully plugged in' type of problem.

One more thing, is to make sure that your RAM size/configuration/part number, is supported by your Motherboard's 'Qualified Vendors List', or 'QVL' for short.

In ASUS Motherboard manuals, the QVL will be in the section describing how to install the RAM (DIMM) modules into the Motherboard.

For example, in the ASUS M4A79T Deluxe manual (I have 2 of these Motherboards), the QVL is in Section 2.4.2 'Memory configurations', starting on Page 2-12.

Also, if you have multiple RAM sticks (DIMMs), try installing just one at a time, in your Motherboard, to see if you have a bad one. Look in your Motherboard's manual, to see which socket (nearest or farthest from the CPU) is recommended when only one DIMM is installed.

You should also 'un-install' your graphics card driver, and then reboot your computer. Windows will then detect the 'new' hardware, and automatically find and install the 'best' driver for your graphics card.

I hope this helps,
Art
 
#9 ·
RAM and mobo came with the tower an HP package, I would sortof doubt that they aren't compatible and that problems would take 2+ years to show up..

Tried reconnecting everything, seeing if that is working right now.

Tried unistalling and rebooting and reinstalling new drivers for my Radeon HD 2600 graphics card before, no effect on crashing.

No idea what my power requirements are, so I'm not sure if my power supply is good enough.. Don't especially mind replacing it to one I can fit in this case, I don't really have any money right now but if theres a good chance it's that I can manage.

As for manually checking RAM... that'd be a pain in the ***, with the way the inside of my tower is laid out it's a real pain to take them out at all, much less manually try and find which one is acting up if any. While reconnecting everything I did switch the 2 1GBs slots, and the 512MBs slots, although that probably wouldn't help anything in any case..
 
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