Dell forum: CRASH REPORT: Why does my DELL crash so much?

But given only this much info, I can't offer much other than to look in the event viewer and see if using the old driver helps.

I'm a bit confused why the video card driver is at play here on programs that pull info unless they render that info.

Be sure to check into the printer driver as well. Those new to this area sometimes don't know that onscreen rendering is not only a video driver call but a call to the printer for printer metrics to get WYSIWYG.
Bob

The only reason our Dells crash is that is all we have to crash. Odd how that works.

While there is yet to be a crashproof Windows computer we can work to reduce these. But the "data puller" apps are not revealed and maybe it's that old need to clean the PC issue. Many don't know about the 6 to 12 month tasks.

Hope more clues show up.
Bob

I have a Radeon 5450 1gb.

I have been going through the same thing and dumb me had purchased extended warranty to which there is no recourse. It seems like a pretty good scam to me. Computer freezes up, two days after extended warranty expires. They talked me in to purchasing a software for $40. which didn't help matters still crashes when I am in the middle of something. They want me to purchase a new motherboard for $200. + dollars. They give me a phone number to call if I have any problems to which you just get an answering machine. They convinced me that in order to fix my computer they had to take it back to the factory default so that is the state I am at now. The local technicians can start rubbing their hands together because as long as Dell continues this scam they will have a lot of dell computers to work on. I refuse to deal with anyone out of India when it comes to fixing computers anymore. They keep you on the phone forever and obviously don't know what they are doing. I also think they pass on our phone numbers because last night I got a call from someone in India claiming to be with Windows Global technical support who wanted me to follow his lead and type something in my address bar to which I told him where to go. I have had it......

I guess i have to say a rant because i am so frustrated but if you have any ideas i am open to any suggestions.

I had a feeling it was the video card. Everything that I have read tells me it is a video card problem. I don't think it is under warranty any more. But I'll have to check. Computer crashed again today... TWICE!

Image at http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w146/rproffitt2000/DriverFailCapture.jpg

There's plenty of bugs here.
Bob

My Dell XPS 64 crashes every day. Ironically that is exactly when I recieved solicitations from
1. Dell DataSafe Local Backup
2. Windows Global
3. WinZip(expired)
Any of you have the same solicitations after a crash restart??

I have always liked Dell computers and don't know if it's a Dell issue. Seems to me that it's a Windows issue (Windows 7). I have a Dell Precision T3500. It's been suggested that I need more memory so I recently installed an upgrade but it's still happening. I will try to go to the max to see if it fixes the problem. I often get "display driver stopped working" messages. Sometimes screen goes black, freezes, then gets going again but most times screen just freezes and I can't SHIFT+ALT+DELETE or anything. My only resort is power button. Hate doing that. I have learned to work with my computer disability and I SAVE as if it's a involuntary reflex, like breathing. It is frustrating and hopefully more memory will help but otherwise, I have searched "display driver stopped working in windows" several times and find issues going back about 10 years!! Seems someone could fix that by now. I also run Adobe Creative Suite programs but crashes don't only occur while those programs are open.

I have had a 530S for 4 - 5 years and I have had this problem continually. In my case (and maybe yours) the problem is usually the video card, but it's not the drivers. The fix when this starts to happen is to reseat the video card then the problem disappears for three or more months (sometimes it's the network card and the same trick works there). I've tried uing an eraser on the connectors but it doesn' seem to help. I can only imagine that the metal used for the connectors in the PCI slots oxidises over time...