Repeated BSOD's

Kainen · 01-19-2009, 06:14 PM

I bought a custom computer (desktop) from a store just over a year ago. No sooner did I get it home when I began getting Windows Stop Error messages between 5 minutes to 2 hours of turning the pc on. I returned the system twice for them to "fix" whatever they alleged that I did to it, but the problems persisted. *ADDED* I didn't take the system back a third time because I was very angry about wasting my money not only to buy the system but to also have them *fix* twice what they said was definitely a software issue resulting from user error. The primary Stop error I was receiving was F4 (critical error), so I formatted the hard drive and reinstalled windows (xp). Kinda thought that would fix it, but I was mistaken. Within 2 to 5 minutes of boot-up I get a BSOD involving error 7a (kernel). Every time.

The following is the system build (as best as I can remember):
AMD Athlon 64 X2 3014mhz w/ AMD K8 chipset
3 Gig DDR2 Ram @430mhz
nVidia Geforce 8600GT
2 DVD Rom/RW
16 in 1 card/usb reader on front
1 Wireless and 1 Wired LAN card
Integrated sound
500 watt PSU (I think)

If you need other information I can *try* to get it, but the BSOD hits so quickly now after boot-up that it may not be possible.

I am currently running memtest on it, but I have a couple of questions about it. If it comes back with errors, my understanding is that I should swap each mem stick into the first socket and run memtest on them individually first right? Then rinse and repeat with the sockets (depending on what shows up with the sticks in socket 1)? What if there aren't any errors found? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Kainen · 01-19-2009, 08:18 PM

Just An Update: 3 Full Memtest passes with zero errors

I'm going to stop Memtest, set the BIOS to default settings, and see what happens........if I get another BSOD on boot-up I'll run memtest for the rest of the night and check it tomorrow morning. Maybe the random test will turn something up......any ideas/help/suggestions would be appreciated.

dai · 01-20-2009, 04:47 AM

what brand and model is the power supply
you need to post bsod information i full

**speedster123** · 01-20-2009, 07:57 AM

run memtest with only 1 stick at a time installed.
As Dai requested, please give us psu specs.

01-19-2009, 06:14 PM	#1 (permalink)
Kainen Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 2 OS: xp	Repeated BSOD's I bought a custom computer (desktop) from a store just over a year ago. No sooner did I get it home when I began getting Windows Stop Error messages between 5 minutes to 2 hours of turning the pc on. I returned the system twice for them to "fix" whatever they alleged that I did to it, but the problems persisted. ADDED I didn't take the system back a third time because I was very angry about wasting my money not only to buy the system but to also have them fix twice what they said was definitely a software issue resulting from user error. The primary Stop error I was receiving was F4 (critical error), so I formatted the hard drive and reinstalled windows (xp). Kinda thought that would fix it, but I was mistaken. Within 2 to 5 minutes of boot-up I get a BSOD involving error 7a (kernel). Every time. The following is the system build (as best as I can remember): AMD Athlon 64 X2 3014mhz w/ AMD K8 chipset 3 Gig DDR2 Ram @430mhz nVidia Geforce 8600GT 2 DVD Rom/RW 16 in 1 card/usb reader on front 1 Wireless and 1 Wired LAN card Integrated sound 500 watt PSU (I think) If you need other information I can try to get it, but the BSOD hits so quickly now after boot-up that it may not be possible. I am currently running memtest on it, but I have a couple of questions about it. If it comes back with errors, my understanding is that I should swap each mem stick into the first socket and run memtest on them individually first right? Then rinse and repeat with the sockets (depending on what shows up with the sticks in socket 1)? What if there aren't any errors found? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Last edited by Kainen; 01-19-2009 at 06:17 PM. Reason: Add

01-19-2009, 08:18 PM	#2 (permalink)
Kainen Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 2 OS: xp	Re: Repeated BSOD's Just An Update: 3 Full Memtest passes with zero errors I'm going to stop Memtest, set the BIOS to default settings, and see what happens........if I get another BSOD on boot-up I'll run memtest for the rest of the night and check it tomorrow morning. Maybe the random test will turn something up......any ideas/help/suggestions would be appreciated.

01-20-2009, 04:47 AM	#3 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,646 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	Re: Repeated BSOD's what brand and model is the power supply you need to post bsod information i full __________________

01-20-2009, 07:57 AM	#4 (permalink)
speedster123 Mentor Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: United States-New York-Long Island Posts: 5,223 OS: xp pro SP3	Re: Repeated BSOD's run memtest with only 1 stick at a time installed. As Dai requested, please give us psu specs. __________________