[boggo1952]

Hi, I'm back after some more good advise. I have an Acer Ferrari 3200 running XP home service pack 3, 1gb ram,AMD athlon 64. I have been getting a blue screen for a while now.

When you first switch on the laptop boots ok and starts to run fine, then after a few minutes it starts to freeze and I get the blue screen of death comes up with the message:
Machine-Check-Exception.
Tech info.
Stop: 0x00000009c (0x00000004, 080546DF0, 0xB2000000, 0x00070F0F)

I switch off and restart, most times it will run fine and it's as if it needs to warm up before it will run ok.

Any advise would be great to solve his problem.

Many thanks

Phil

 

[TriggerFinger]

hi Phil,

have you tried running CHKDSK /R? if not yet, try running this using Recovery Console. You will need your XP install CD here.

also run Memtest86+ to test your RAM. best if run per individual RAM (if you have 2 modules, remove one).

 

[boggo1952]

Hi TriggerFinger, thanks for the post. I have not tried CHKDSK/R or Memtest86+. I don't know how to do that, also the Acer Ferrari comes with 3recovery disc's only. This has windows XP on one of the disc's but it's not on a separate disc.

Regards Phil

 

[TriggerFinger]

ok first run Memtest86+. d/load it using the link on my sig. you need to have a cd burner program like NERO so you can burn the image into a blank CD. do not copy directly to the blank CD as this will not work. if you do not have Nero, install ImgBurn (d/load link on my sig).

burn the image into the blank CD using ImgBurn. once completed you now have Memtest86+ in the CD. the CD is also bootable. that means you can boot from your CD drive using that CD. do the necessary changes in boot order (see BIOS settings) to make this happen. the RAM test will automatically run once you boot from the CD.

for CHKDSK /R procedure, pop your XP install CD in the drive and reboot. then refer to METHOD 2 in this page http://support.microsoft.com/kb/811150

 

[boggo1952]

Hi TriggerFinger. Thanks for the advise, I was able to download ImgBurn ok but could not do MemTest86+. I tried all ways but could not get a copy on disc using Nero and ImgBurn, so don't know what I've done wrong?
Also I still think that the problem is due to temperature, it seems when the laptop is running cool it freezes but when it gets upto temperature it's ok. I have looked at SpeedFan and see that when the temps are Hd about 55c, temp1 is 48c and core is 35c it runs ok.

 

[TriggerFinger]

when you click the link on my sig for Memtest, it will d/load memtest86+-2.01.iso.zip

extract the ISO into a folder or desktop. open ImgBurn and choose burn image into CD.

 

[icorer]

Hi Phil,

Just came across your question by chance whilst I was looking for something else. I actually own a 3200 also and have been having the same problem for about a year or so.

You are right the problem is definately temperature related. When you boot from cold the blue screen i'm guessing appears shortly after loading into windows.

It's not ideal but i do have a work around for it. When i boot from cold generally my cpu temp is usually between 25oc to 30oc. If i do not get this above 34 or 35ish quickly after loading into windows that's when i experience the blue screen. Therefore i tend to start my virus check right after loading to get the cpu warmed up before stopping it.

Took me a while to get round this problem as i couldn't identify the cause, but eventually i was able to link the cold boot with blue screen crashes. Do you find the chance of blue screen less likely after turning on comp when you have used maybe only a few hours earlier? I find that if the computer has been used maybe only a few hours earlier then it boots fine with no crashes. In contrast the first time i boot it each day without getting the temp up quickly it will crash every time.

Possibly there is a permanent fix but i've never found one. Our laptops are getting on a bit now, and i don't know about yours but mine has definately been worked to death. I also have the opposite problem of having to stop it from overheating lol. When using memory intensive programs i have to restrict cpu speed or cpu temp steadily climbs to 90 before it shuts down :laugh:

Hope this helps

Dunc

 

[TriggerFinger]

Hi Dunc,

if your computer gets pretty hot after hours of use, try using a cooling pad. if you do not use a cooling pad, make sure the vents are clear of any obstruction. best if you can clean the vents/heatsink of dust and other particles.

as for the freeze at low temps (no pun intended), check the user's manual for the operating and storage temperatures. the computer should work if within the range.

 

[icorer]

Hi Dunc,

if your computer gets pretty hot after hours of use, try using a cooling pad. if you do not use a cooling pad, make sure the vents are clear of any obstruction. best if you can clean the vents/heatsink of dust and other particles.

as for the freeze at low temps (no pun intended), check the user's manual for the operating and storage temperatures. the computer should work if within the range.

Hi TriggerFinger,

Thanks for the response, Yes I have use a laptop cooling pad it makes a small difference and I do periodically clean out the vents/heatsink from dust which definately does help the situation. But I still find I need to regulate the cpu speed because it is old and worn down i guess. If I boot from cold and immediately start using a memory intensive program the temp will continue to rise until it shuts down, unless I restrict the cpu speed. In contrast the computer will happily tick along for hours and hours at a reasonable temp (60ish) when using less intensive programs and no cpu speed regulation in place.

I will need to dig out my manual to see about the cold temperature and the blue screen, I don't think it will shed much light as it should and used to work just fine. I think my laptop has become so used to working at such a high temperature it doesn't like the cold lol :laugh:

 

[boggo1952]

Hi TriggerFinger. I have downloaded the MemTest and have the .zip but I'm unable to unzip it, it wants a password?

Hi icorer, thanks for the input about the temp problem. I still think it is the big problem with it. I did read somewhere that Acer had brought out a BIOS update which addresses this but don't know how to change the BIOS without stuffing it up. I will have to check my BIOS version next time I boot up.

 

[TriggerFinger]

Dunc,

have you tried opening the laptop up? if you have not and would like to do so someday, you would be surprised on what you'd see inside. when i first opened my laptop up, i saw hair, fur, dust, etc. may be because i use it almost everywhere (on the floor, on the bed, carpet, beach, etc.). if it is old, i guess the thermal compound has dried out. reapplying the thermal compound helps a lot too.

as per my own experience with my laptop, the speed of the hard drive also contributes to temperature rise. i have a Fujitsu 5400 rpm which is just too hot for me. i replaced it with a lower RPM (Hitachi) and HDD temp has cooled down by 10 C.

Phil: there's no password. where did you d/load the Memtest? try the link on my signature.

 

[boggo1952]

Hi TriggerFinger, just to say at last I have managed to download the MemTest onto cd and have run the test with good results no faults found in the ram.
Many thanks for your help, I'm sure I can find another Ferrari that I have problems with.

Regards Phil

 

[TriggerFinger]

hi Phil,

blue screens are commonly caused by RAM errors, hard drive errors or corrupt files. your RAM as you said passed the test. try running diagnostic on your hard drive. if it passes the test, then you can try fixing Windows.

usually in my case i run a different operating system like Knoppix or PCLinuxOS. i just use the Live CD version so i do not need to install in my hard drive. if symptoms appear under a different operating system, then i know there is something wrong with my hardware. however if the symptoms do not appear using Linux LiveCD, i know then that my hardware is OK and i need to repair or reinstall Windows.

 

[icorer]

Hi TriggerFinger. I have downloaded the MemTest and have the .zip but I'm unable to unzip it, it wants a password?

Hi icorer, thanks for the input about the temp problem. I still think it is the big problem with it. I did read somewhere that Acer had brought out a BIOS update which addresses this but don't know how to change the BIOS without stuffing it up. I will have to check my BIOS version next time I boot up.

Hi Phil,

I have read about such a bios fix regarding a blue screen problem a long while back. I searched everywhere to find out more but information was pretty limited. I have the bios update and the winphlash utility but have never been brave enough to use it. You are more than welcome to the files and utility though.

The readme file with it simply reads
"To fix the system will get blue screen when system is cold booting

1.Winflash Version:
Download the attach file and unzipped it.
Please put .WPH file into Winflash utility to flash BIOS"

Pretty extensive instructions... lol. Flashing the bios is pretty risky and done wrong can completely screw the system. My laptop is pretty unstable with the heat problem, knowing my luck it would overheat midway through flashing the new bios :upset: I'm unsure whether you have to install everything again perhaps triggerfinger could give you more detailed advice.

Anyway let me know if you would like these.

Dunc

 

[boggo1952]

Hi Phil,

I have read about such a bios fix regarding a blue screen problem a long while back. I searched everywhere to find out more but information was pretty limited. I have the bios update and the winphlash utility but have never been brave enough to use it. You are more than welcome to the files and utility though.

The readme file with it simply reads
"To fix the system will get blue screen when system is cold booting

1.Winflash Version:
Download the attach file and unzipped it.
Please put .WPH file into Winflash utility to flash BIOS"

Pretty extensive instructions... lol. Flashing the bios is pretty risky and done wrong can completely screw the system. My laptop is pretty unstable with the heat problem, knowing my luck it would overheat midway through flashing the new bios :upset: I'm unsure whether you have to install everything again perhaps triggerfinger could give you more detailed advice.

Anyway let me know if you would like these.

Dunc

Hi Dunc

Like you I'm not brave enough to have a go at the BIOS, on the Acer web site they say use the highest number BIOS for your laptop. I assume that means any fix would be included in the new BIOS settings? It would be nice to get step by step instuction on how to update the BIOS. I'm sure one of our new friends on this site will have the information.

Many thanks too all.

Phil