Windows XP: Reinstalled Windows XP, but I'm still getting BSODs and other troubles?!
- 8/14/09 11:40 AM
Reinstalled Windows XP, but I'm still getting BSODs and other troubles?!
by Lee Koo (ADMIN) - 8/14/09 11:40 AM
Question:
Reinstalled Windows XP, but I'm still getting BSODs and other troubles?!
I recently had to format my hard drive and reinstall windows XP Pro, because I was frequently getting the Windows blue screen of death (BSOD). However, since re-installing the OS, I cannot place my computer in standby, and by implication, hibernate, because the standby button is grayed out. Furthermore, to make matters worse, I cannot restart my computer from the entry/exit screen because the command is simply ignored; the same applies (occasionally) to the turn-off command. To compound the situation even further, I'm STILL getting the BSOD, more and more frequently. Having read many replies to other users with various problems, I have a great admiration for your contributors for the knowledge they have and are willing to share and I'm praying someone will have a solution to this problem. Grateful thanks in anticipation.
Submitted by: Bob T.
Here are some featured member answers to get you started, but
please read all the advice and suggestions that our
members have contributed to this question.
People are too quick to reinstall Windows --Submitted by Watzman
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-6142_102-0.html?messageID=3097493#3097493
Black SOD vs. Blue SOD --Submitted Thomas Kater
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-6142_102-0.html?messageID=3098955#3098955
Numerous possibilities, and a lot of questions for Bob T. --Submitted ben_myers
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-6142_102-0.html?messageID=3097537#3097537
Wipe/reformatting is reshuffling chairs on the Titanic --Submitted HomelessClarence
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-6142_102-0.html?messageID=3097971#3097971
Quite possibly could be defective RAM modules. --Submitted Brawly44
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-6142_102-0.html?messageID=3098046#3098046
Drivers or hardware failure --Submitted by fivecentfamily
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-6142_102-0.html?messageID=3098134#3098134
Many more suggestions offered in this discussion thread so don't stop here, keep reading...
If you have any additional advice for Bob, please click on the reply link below and submit away. Please be as detailed as possible when offering any source of feedback or solution. Thank you!
BSODs and Other Trouble
by TreTipi - 8/7/09 6:04 PM In reply to: Reinstalled Windows XP, but I'm still getting BSODs and other troubles?! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Whenever I've had this sort of thing happened, it turned out to be one of two things: A memory issue or a CPU issue.
In either case, the solution wasn't too drastic.
If your computer is a desktop machine, open the side of the case and see if the CPU fan is running. If not, if the fan has started to flake out on you, your CPU may be overheating.
Also, I would try unseating the memory in your PC, giving it a good cleaning with a can of compressed air, then re-seating the memory. Of course the power should be off and disconnected before doing this.
If that still doesn't work, you may have a bad memory module. There are a number of utilities you can try that will diagnose hardware issues including memory (check CNET's own Download.com).
sw/hw
by puma - 8/14/09 7:59 PM In reply to: BSODs and Other Trouble by TreTipi...or a matter of re-installing/updating device drivers. never assume hardware issues without troubleshooting software first
Memory tester app
by jainbhawna12 - 8/15/09 3:01 PM In reply to: BSODs and Other Trouble by TreTipiAlso try running MemTest86+ to make sure it's a memory problem (download at memtest.org)
Please read my post on page 10, thorough explaination
by Forgotten One - 8/17/09 11:28 AM In reply to: BSODs and Other Trouble by TreTipi......of the issue at hand, or just click my profile and find the post header named "ACPI Drivers likely not installed~Mobo MOSFETS compromised"
Comments on that post are greately appreciated as well.
Re: ACPI Drivers likely not installed
by royc - 8/23/09 10:45 PM In reply to: Please read my post on page 10, thorough explaination by Forgotten OneA very good post.
I have never had that problem but...
I have had several Blue SODs but not for over 6 months, when I did the low level format,partition, high level format, reinstall XP and everything else.
When formating H/drive
by jonjonthemighty1 - 8/21/09 8:52 PM In reply to: BSODs and Other Trouble by TreTipiWhen formating Hard drive, most forget to format 'mbr'or Master Boot Record, so a lot of the old rubbish is still there.
NOT for novices, ONLY if you Know what you doing.
Can be tricky at times!
Try This
by Bollingg - 8/7/09 6:19 PM In reply to: Reinstalled Windows XP, but I'm still getting BSODs and other troubles?! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
BSOD that happen as frequently as you state are usually caused by a hardware devices that is failing. Try this go into Safe Mode (F8 key when the screen says Starting Windows and pick Safe Mode at the top of the screen. It will take a bit longer to boot up but if you get to the point where you get the message about you are running in safe mode then this is definitely a device failure. The next step is harder since to figure out which device it is you have to remove each one (one at a time) and boot up. If it crashes you put the device back and go to next one until you find the one that the machine doesn't blue screen when it is gone. Don't forget about the integrated devices on the motherboard.
service packs?
by jzou - 8/7/09 6:23 PM In reply to: Reinstalled Windows XP, but I'm still getting BSODs and other troubles?! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I had a similar problem a couple month ago when I built my new computer. After construction, I loaded my windows XP disk, but many functionalities were disabled and some of the menu items were outright from what I knew. The ability to go into standby mode was one of them.
I realized that I hadn't included the new service pack yet, so I installed SP3 and all the problems were fixed.
7
by puma - 8/14/09 7:55 PM In reply to: service packs? by jzouyou think XP and Vista is junk wait until Windows 7, or better yet just skip it and wait for Windows 8
People are too quick to reinstall Windows
by Watzman - 8/7/09 6:34 PM In reply to: Reinstalled Windows XP, but I'm still getting BSODs and other troubles?! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
People are too quick to reinstall Windows, and too slow (FAR too slow) to consider that when a computer isn't working, the problem might be the computer (and not the software).
You didn't say what type of computer. You didn't even say if it was a laptop or a desktop.
More computer problems than most people think are caused by computer hardware problems, not software. Memory problems are the most common DIAGNOSABLE cause of such problems. In laptops, CPU overheating is VERY common; In MANY environments (the environment is critical), laptops need their CPU cooling systems (the fan and heat exchanger (radiator) cleaned every 6 to 18 months. This often requires major disassembly of the entire laptop (down to the motherboard) to do the job right and complete, but a partial job (I want to say a "half-***" job) can sometimes be done without disassembly (you have no idea how bad these can get; imagine opening up a laptop and finding a "dust ball" about two cubic inches in size that is obstructing the heat exchanger completely and is obstructing the fan so much that the blades can't even turn. Yes, it really gets that bad). Desktops can also become so dirty that they can't cool themselves (sometimes, on both desktops and laptops, a heat problem is with the chipset or video chip and not the CPU).
If it is a laptop, and if it's never been cleaned, you might want to talk to someone about that (it's not a "do it yourself" job for most users, although blowing air INTO the exhaust may provide some relief (see the comment above about the "half-***" job).
As to memory, download Memtest or Memtest-86, make up a boot media (floppy or CD) and run it for at least a few hours, at least a few complete cycles.
With respect to Windows, Hibernate needs to be enabled, this is done in different places depending on the type of computer (in a generic installation, it's in Control Panel / Power Options, there is a specific "Hibernate" tab).
Very likely (ESPECIALLY if it's a laptop) you didn't install all of the necessary drivers. For laptops, the number of drivers needed to really get everything working right can be substantial ... sometimes 1 to 2 dozen. You have to get these from the laptop mfgrs. web site, where they may or may not be available. If you have a restore media, they may be there (and, if you have such media, it should do the whole installation job for you (crapware and all)). Also, on many laptops the restore functionality is provided by a hidden partition which, if there was one, you hopefully didn't destroy. Instructions for using that are hopefully in the user's manual (if you have lost that .... refer again to the manufacturer's web site).
The previous paragraph not withstanding, I think you have a hardware problem, and until that's fixed, there is little point in worrying too much about Windows software issues.
[BTW, in both laptops and desktops ... motherboard problems can occur, and the truth is that they are beyond any practical ability to be repaired. If the motherboard dies, or becomes "flakey", replacement is the only real solution, and in a laptop, that usually means replacing the entire laptop unless you can find a replacement motherboard cheaply [get on E-Bay and find another laptop of the same model that had a busted LCD screen.]
yes, update the drivers definitely!
by luminova - 8/8/09 10:58 PM In reply to: People are too quick to reinstall Windows by Watzmani agree. i've had this situation happen before, (as well as when i closed my laptop, the screen turned off and wouldn't turn back on). you need to update and install all of the drivers. as for how to do this, it depends on your computer/manufacturer. there are software solutions out there advertised to do this task for some $$$ (i haven't tested these out, so i can't recommend them/say if they work or not).
also, i'd recommend going through with an antivirus/anti-malware tool and a disk check, defragmentation utility, and a registry cleaner. these may or may not identify problems (to be honest, most likely not, but they COULD). those are good things to do anyway.
Black SOD vs. Blue SOD
by Thomas Kater - 8/9/09 8:49 PM In reply to: People are too quick to reinstall Windows by WatzmanI can’t agree more with Watzman’s opinions on the hardware maintenance. I’ve encountered computers hobbled by a small tuft of dust or a dog hair in an open memory or PCI slot. But it really takes a pro to do a thorough cleaning. It involves removing every card and cleaning the contacts. A very basic cleaning includes taking the case apart to clean the air in takes and exhaust ports. I often have to remove the CPU cooling fan/heat sink unit because they are completely with dust, hair, and crud. But all of these issues relate to heat or a short circuit which lead to the “black screen of death”.
The “blue screen of death” is typically a software issue. Re-installing Windows will not always work. Remnants of previous installations (or viruses) may still reside on the hard drive. When I need to perform a full rebuild for a client, I pull the hard drive and extract all the valuable data to a third computer and then run full virus and mal-ware scans. Once the data is safe and confirmed to be free of infection, I wipe the hard drive overwriting all information. I then clear the CMOS information to remove all traces of previous installations.
Then, and only then, can you determine that it is a hardware or software problem. You really have to start back at square one if no other solution can be found. You then begin with loading the O/S and reloading everything. It is a big job and my cost a lot more than your computer is worth.
But the worth of your computer is actually the value of the information you have on it. So don’t be scared to invest a little money to have your data retrieved and restored by someone you trust. I’ve found it better for most of my client to invest very little into the computer and spend the extra money on backup systems and good customized installation of Windows with separate partitions for the O/S and the user data. In most cases I’ve found that 9 out of 10 old computers can be completely restored for less than the price of replacing them.
On BSOB...
by Rob10 - 8/15/09 6:39 AM In reply to: Black SOD vs. Blue SOD by Thomas KaterWith all that tedious work, sounds like it would be easier (and cheaper) to just buy a new HD, install Windows, and reinstall data from his old one (after a thorough scan).
Blue Screen of Death prob
by natalia - 8/16/09 6:36 AM In reply to: Black SOD vs. Blue SOD by Thomas KaterI agree.
In the case of my Packard Bell desktop, I take the base unit apart on average once every 12 to 15 months, paying particular attention to the fans. I've had the BSOD appear on it in the past, but luckily not to the extent of preventing the Win XP Home OS from functioning properly on reboot.
I haven't tried cleaning my Vista OS, 360gb HDD, 3gb ram Hewlett Packard laptop yet, but would certainly not hesitate to attempt it after careful analysis of the internal layout, if a similar problem arose with mine.
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