A prbolem has been detected...

[Guest]

When I start-up my friends computer, he gets a message that says: A problem
has been detected and windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your
computer. A process or thread crucial to system operation has unexpectedly
exited or been terminated. If this is the first time you've seen this stop
error screen, restart your computer (which I have done). If this screen
appears again, follow these steps: Check to make sure any new hardware or
software is properly installed (there hasn't been any new software or
hardware installed in a long time). If this is a new installation, ask your
hardware or software manufacturerfor any windows updates you might need. (
He has recently done windows update). If problems continue, disableor remove
any newly installed hardware or software. Disable BIOS memory optionssuch as
caching or shadowing. ( I don't know how to do this). If you need to use
Safe Mode to remove or disable componets, restart your computer, press F8 to
select Advanced Startup Options, and then select Safe Mode. I have started
in safe mode but didn't know which components to disable or remove.
Technical Information: ***STOP: 0x000000F4 ***STOP: 0x000000F4
(0x00000003,0x81A4C4D8,0x81A4C64C,0x805FA7A8). Beginning dump of physical
memory. Physical memory dump complete. Contact your system administrator or
technical support group for further assistance. If it matters, he is running
windows xp home edition. I don't know what to do to get his comp. up and
running again, so any assistance would be greatly appreciated. Thank You.

 

[Jon Erlandson]

Stop Error's are typically tough to pinpoint the problem to and most often
require trial and patience to fix. This particular error has a wide range
of possibility, hardware and software related, and starting with simple
checks is where to begin. Loose cables can be a problem so, with the
computer off, remove and reconnect each one. SInce you don't seem to have a
lot of computer experience I won't suggest opening the case and checking all
expansion cards and memory for good fit but you should do this with power
off *to* the computer but with it grounded i.e., turn off the power strip
feeding it but leave it plugged in. Then and if you can enter windows in
safe mode do so and run all antivirual and spyware software installed. If
you find something it may be the fix but you might still have damaged files
so run "system file checker" (go to Start > Run and type in " sfc / scannow"
to repair any windows system files (you might be asked for Windows XP CD.)
Next, reboot the computer and see if will start normally and continue
maintance like "Disk Cleanup" and "Disk Defrag." Lastely, Event Viewer will
have more info on the error and you can read about it here
http://www.windowsnetworking.com/j_helmig/wxpevent.htm .

Trend Micro House Call
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/

Spybot Search and Destroy
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html

Ad-Aware
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/support/download/

Troubleshooting WIndows Stop Messages
http://www.aumha.org/win5/kbestop.php

 

[Pat]

If you can run Windows in safe mode then it's no disaster!
Do Start/Run and enter: msconfig
Select the Startup tab and see what is loading when you startup.
Possibly one of these is causing the problem. Unticking may solve the problem. (Note that
they can sometimes reappear on a restart!)
Identifying these "startups" is difficult.
You can note some names and type them into this website's identifier which may tell you
"nice or nasty"

http://www.sysinfo.org/startuplist.php

If you get nowhere (after a long time...) post back with system hardware and operating
system details and what you have been up to recently. If you can virus check and run
Adaware in Safe Mode also get that one out of the way.
Pat.