TechNewbie

For the past few weeks, when my computer goes into idle for a few minutes (whether it goes to screensaver, the power plan switches the display off, or turn all that off and just leave it for a while) my computer either totally freezes or gets a blue screen of death. The actual BSoD I only started getting today; before that, my computer would completely freeze and I would have to do a hard power-off. It doesn't happen when I'm gaming or doing any other activity as long as I don't let the computer go idle. I've tried de-fragging my hard drive, cleaning old drivers out, I have the latest graphics drivers (I update usually every month), I've changed my power plan, I've done full scans in safe mode with McAfee Total Protection 2008, Ad-Aware, Spybot, and Windows Defender (all updated, scans have no results), and it still happens. Any help is appreciated.

System Specs:
Windows Vista 32-bit Home Ultimate w/SP1, no available updates left to download
Gateway FX530XG desktop
Intel Core2 Extreme QX6700 on an Intel 975X Viiv Mobo
2 ATI Radeon X1950's in Crossfire (enabled)
250 GB 7200 RPM SATA II Hard Drive
Delta 700W PSU (came with the system)
4GB (1x4) DDR2 667MHz SDRAM, dunno the brand offhand
Logitech G5 Mouse and G15 keyboard
Current display is a common Gateway 17" LCD monitor



I also got this info when I rebooted, if it helps:

Problem signature:
Problem Event Name: BlueScreen
OS Version: 6.0.6001.2.1.0.256.1
Locale ID: 1033

Additional information about the problem:
BCCode: 117
BCP1: 89068510
BCP2: 8E82849E
BCP3: 00000000
BCP4: 00000000
OS Version: 6_0_6001
Service Pack: 1_0
Product: 256_1

Files that help describe the problem:
C:\Windows\Minidump\Mini062908-01.dmp
C:\Users\Administrator\AppData\Local\Temp\WER-40265-0.sysdata.xml
C:\Users\Administrator\AppData\Local\Temp\WERCBBC.tmp.version.txt

dai

to turn off the auto reboot
control panel /sysytem/advanced/startup and recovery settings
then untick the auto reboot box
post any bsod error messages the computer freezes on in full

TechNewbie

Oh, and now my computer is freezing when playing in fullscreen after running for a dozen or so seconds, doesn't matter what game. Windowed modes runs just fine though.

dai

reinstall your video drivers
in the device manager uninstall the card
when windows finishes rebooting
disable a/virus
install your drivers
reboot the computer

TechNewbie

Reinstall the drivers first thing....? Did you mean uninstall? If so, do you want me to uninstall Catalyst Control Center with it, or just the drivers?

TechNewbie

Also, when I uninstall both my video cards, do I also choose to "delete the driver software for this device"?

TechNewbie

Well, after my computer completely freezing for the first time while I was actively using it, I went ahead and did what you said to do, and am waiting for something to happen with it.

TechNewbie

Yep, it happened again. Walked away to grab some dinner, came back and there was the same blue screen as before staring back at me.

dai

run
memtest on the ram 1 stick at a time
http://www.memtest.org/
post the zipped mini dump file and someone will check them

TechNewbie

Yeah, I've never checked my memory before so I don't know how to use this program at all, and the menu isn't exactly user-friendly. How do I go about checking my ram one stick at a time, and how long should I check each one for?

dai

you d/load the app put it on disk and boot the computer from the disk and only have 1 stick of ram in the computer

TechNewbie

I did two scans on each stick and each one came up error-free. Here is the minidump file I listed in my first post, I assume that's the one you wanted. Mini062908-01.rar There have been other ones since; if you want those too, lemme know.

dai

i have asked someone to have alook at the dumps

Cherry Bomb

Check Device Manager. Check "show hidden devices". Pay particular attention to the "System Devices" sub-section. I am wondering if there is a problem with the ACPI. Uninstall any flagged items and restart.

jcgriff2

Hi. . .

The original STOP error message or bug check was
0x00000117 (0x89068510, 0x8E82849E, 0x00000000, 0x0000000), which refers to a VIDEO_TDR_TIMEOUT_DETECTED and indicates that the display driver failed to respond in a timely fashion.
The four parameters following the x117 bug check are (1) The pointer to the internal TDR recovery context; (2) A pointer into the responsible device driver module (for example, the owner tag).; (3) The secondary driver-specific bucketing key; (4) Reserved area.

It does in fact appear to involve the video drivers.

Regards. . .

jcgriff2

.

dai

if you are using the latest video driver and software,try an older version

TechNewbie

Device Manager is showing no problems. How far back would you suggest I went with the drivers? Also, should I switch out Catalyst Control Center as well, or the drivers only?

dai

do the drivers and control centre
if you are using the latest go back 1 or 2 versions

TechNewbie

I tried the 8.3 drivers before bringing my problem here and they locked up on me, so I'm gonna try the 8.1 from January. I'll let you know how it goes.

TechNewbie

No good, my system froze when I left it alone again, had to do a hard power-off as usual. No blue screen this time.