apparent windows crash

G

Guest

Hi,

I am running Win XP with all windows updates installed.
Over the last week on four or more seperate occassions I have experienced
what best could be called a operating system crash.

I am not a expert (by any stretch) and the resulting white writing on blue
background concerns me (in it, it suggests re BIOS & adapter updates),
however it says in the main the system has stopped to prevent further damage
and that the system needs to be restarted if this is the first time this has
occurred, it then discusses investigating adapter updates and discusses BIOS
updates (and suggests safe mode). There is a 'technical error message' at the
bottom...which is similar to ''***stop
0x000008E(0xc000005,0x806EE753,0xa75ED668.0x00000000).
As I mention this has now happened a few times, usually after the pc has
been on for at least a couple of hours and also usually near the end of a
process (burning a cd using nero) or like tonite nearing the completion of a
'c' drive back up....(got 75% done and now a waste of time).
Again I am not a pc guru (or familar with BIOS or even what adapters I may
be using).

As it may help diagnose, that it also creates a windows 'memory.dmp' file
which can get quite big (1-2 gb average),...however I have never let the
process continue long enough to find out the maximum size would be.

My machine is a P4/1.7 with 767 MB Sdram, and 40% HDD free on both physcial
hard drives (40GB on 'c', and 120 GB on 'f').

I have been given advice regarding ‘badcaps’ (capacitor problems from p4/1.7
era), this however is an option I would consider in the short term. I have
also been advised to clean out dust etc from the machine (which I have done
again, and do so each 6 months) to no avail.

I would appreciate it if someone could advise or assist as to why this would
suddenly start happening and a fix?

regards
 
P

philo

Lethal said:
Hi,

I am running Win XP with all windows updates installed.
Over the last week on four or more seperate occassions I have experienced
what best could be called a operating system crash.

I am not a expert (by any stretch) and the resulting white writing on blue
background concerns me (in it, it suggests re BIOS & adapter updates),
however it says in the main the system has stopped to prevent further damage
and that the system needs to be restarted if this is the first time this has
occurred, it then discusses investigating adapter updates and discusses BIOS
updates (and suggests safe mode). There is a 'technical error message' at the
bottom...which is similar to ''***stop
0x000008E(0xc000005,0x806EE753,0xa75ED668.0x00000000).
As I mention this has now happened a few times, usually after the pc has
been on for at least a couple of hours and also usually near the end of a
process (burning a cd using nero) or like tonite nearing the completion of a
'c' drive back up....(got 75% done and now a waste of time).
Again I am not a pc guru (or familar with BIOS or even what adapters I may
be using).

As it may help diagnose, that it also creates a windows 'memory.dmp' file
which can get quite big (1-2 gb average),...however I have never let the
process continue long enough to find out the maximum size would be.

<snip>

first off...unless you know how to make sense of a memory dump...
you might was well turn off that feature... or set it for "mini"-dump

also...if your system had been working ok until recently...
it's not likely to be a bios issue.

one thing you could do is a RAM test and harddrive diagnostic

also...if it seems to happen only while burning cd's (or dvd's)

try a different burner and/or software
 
G

Gerry Cornell

What BIOS is installed?

This freeware programme is excellent for getting information
about your computer:
Everest Home Edition (freeware)
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4181.html

Tip: To copy select Report, Quick Report, Plain Text, highlight
required text, right click and select copy. However, whilst this
is fine for posting small amounts of information into newsgroup
messages longer reports will irritate other newsgroup
subscribers.


--

Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England

Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
G

Guest

HI philo,

thanks for your response...

Could you please clarify (as I said I am a novice):

- how to turn the memory dump feature off, or set it to mini dump
- regarding the RAM test and diagnosic...again how, and what would I expect
to see from the results (incl what is good etc).
Someone else has mentioned it may be a RAM module thing....

ciao for now
 
G

Guest

Hi Gerry,
Thanks also for your response....

I will download the tool from the site link you provided (thanks)...what
results/issues should, I expect or be wary of?
As I menitoned in the original post and in my reply post to philo I am very
much a novice at this.

thanks
 
G

Gerry Cornell

When you run Everest you will need to select Motherboard in the left
hand list and then BIOS in the right hand list. The information you
need to copy will be in the right window.

--

Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England

Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
G

Guest

Hi Gerry,

Thanks again for your input.

I have noticed that a burn to a CD in my DVDRW drive using Win Media Player
triggered the fault yesterday...that could be an indication of a number of
things I s'pose...

Philo (the other person to respond) seemed quite sure this wasnt a BIOS
issue, and when I navigated and flagged the issue around CNet.com people
there thought it was a BADCAPS issue....easy for a inexperienced person like
I to be befuddled with all this genuine input.

The report (as you suggested) below is detailed below, also the screen text
from motherboard & BIOS categories. I do hope this helps calrify whether it
is a BIOS issue or not (if not we are back to BADCAPS or RAM Modules or
something).

Any issue would be how safe and how does one update their BIOS?....anyways
here goes...looking forward to your advice."
Firstly the report:

--------[ EVEREST Home Edition (c) 2003-2005 Lavalys, Inc.
]------------------------------------------------------------

Version EVEREST v2.20.405
Homepage http://www.lavalys.com/
Report Type Quick Report
Computer XXW7N97XSEC52QV
Generator test download
Operating System Microsoft Windows XP
Home Edition 5.1.2600 (WinXP Retail)
Date 2006-10-29
Time 17:24


--------[ BIOS
]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BIOS Properties:
BIOS Type AMI
System BIOS Date 01/17/02
Video BIOS Date 05/03/08

BIOS Manufacturer:
Company Name American Megatrends
Inc.
Product Information
http://www.ami.com/amibios
BIOS Upgrades
http://www.esupport.com/biosagent/index.cfm?refererid=40

Problems & Suggestions:
Suggestion Are you looking for
a BIOS Upgrade? Contact eSupport Today!
Suggestion System BIOS is more
than 2 years old. Update it if necessary."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Secondly the screen:

Field Value
Motherboard Properties
Motherboard ID 62-1029-001199-00101111-040201-SiS650$GA8SIML0_8SIML F3
Motherboard Name Gigabyte GA-8SIML

Front Side Bus Properties
Bus Type Intel NetBurst
Bus Width 64-bit
Real Clock 101 MHz (QDR)
Effective Clock 404 MHz
Bandwidth 3228 MB/s

Chipset Bus Properties
Bus Type SiS MuTIOL
Bus Width 16-bit

Motherboard Physical Info
CPU Sockets/Slots 1
Expansion Slots 3 PCI, 1 AGP, 1 CNR
RAM Slots 2 DIMM
Integrated Devices Audio, Video, LAN
Form Factor Micro ATX
Motherboard Size 230 mm x 240 mm
Motherboard Chipset SiS650
Extra Features EasyTune III

Motherboard Manufacturer
Company Name Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.
Product
Information http://tw.giga-byte.com/MotherBoard/Products/Products_NewProduct_List.htm
BIOS Download http://tw.giga-byte.com/Motherboard/Support/BIOS/BIOS_List.htm
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Field Value
BIOS Properties
BIOS Type AMI
System BIOS Date 01/17/02
Video BIOS Date 05/03/08

BIOS Manufacturer
Company Name American Megatrends Inc.
Product Information http://www.ami.com/amibios
BIOS Upgrades http://www.esupport.com/biosagent/index.cfm?refererid=40

Problems & Suggestions
Suggestion Are you looking for a BIOS Upgrade? Contact eSupport Today!
Suggestion System BIOS is more than 2 years old. Update it if necessary.



regards
 
G

Gerry Cornell

Your BIOS is old in today's terms. It is impossible to say whether it is the
cause
of your problems. Invariably there is risk in updating or upgrading a BIOS
and
before it is undertaken you should back up important data files.

Some updates are free but some you pay for. I have not ascertained which
applies to you. The link to the site to get an update is in your Everest
report
which led me here:
http://www.esupport.com/biosupgrades/index.cfm

--

Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England

Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Lethal said:
Hi Gerry,

Thanks again for your input.

I have noticed that a burn to a CD in my DVDRW drive using Win Media
Player
triggered the fault yesterday...that could be an indication of a number of
things I s'pose...

Philo (the other person to respond) seemed quite sure this wasnt a BIOS
issue, and when I navigated and flagged the issue around CNet.com people
there thought it was a BADCAPS issue....easy for a inexperienced person
like
I to be befuddled with all this genuine input.

The report (as you suggested) below is detailed below, also the screen
text
from motherboard & BIOS categories. I do hope this helps calrify whether
it
is a BIOS issue or not (if not we are back to BADCAPS or RAM Modules or
something).

Any issue would be how safe and how does one update their BIOS?....anyways
here goes...looking forward to your advice."
Firstly the report:

--------[ EVEREST Home Edition (c) 2003-2005 Lavalys, Inc.
]------------------------------------------------------------

Version EVEREST v2.20.405
Homepage
http://www.lavalys.com/
Report Type Quick Report
Computer XXW7N97XSEC52QV
Generator test download
Operating System Microsoft Windows XP
Home Edition 5.1.2600 (WinXP Retail)
Date 2006-10-29
Time 17:24


--------[ BIOS
]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BIOS Properties:
BIOS Type AMI
System BIOS Date 01/17/02
Video BIOS Date 05/03/08

BIOS Manufacturer:
Company Name American Megatrends
Inc.
Product Information
http://www.ami.com/amibios
BIOS Upgrades
http://www.esupport.com/biosagent/index.cfm?refererid=40

Problems & Suggestions:
Suggestion Are you looking for
a BIOS Upgrade? Contact eSupport Today!
Suggestion System BIOS is more
than 2 years old. Update it if necessary."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Secondly the screen:

Field Value
Motherboard Properties
Motherboard ID 62-1029-001199-00101111-040201-SiS650$GA8SIML0_8SIML F3
Motherboard Name Gigabyte GA-8SIML

Front Side Bus Properties
Bus Type Intel NetBurst
Bus Width 64-bit
Real Clock 101 MHz (QDR)
Effective Clock 404 MHz
Bandwidth 3228 MB/s

Chipset Bus Properties
Bus Type SiS MuTIOL
Bus Width 16-bit

Motherboard Physical Info
CPU Sockets/Slots 1
Expansion Slots 3 PCI, 1 AGP, 1 CNR
RAM Slots 2 DIMM
Integrated Devices Audio, Video, LAN
Form Factor Micro ATX
Motherboard Size 230 mm x 240 mm
Motherboard Chipset SiS650
Extra Features EasyTune III

Motherboard Manufacturer
Company Name Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.
Product
Information
http://tw.giga-byte.com/MotherBoard/Products/Products_NewProduct_List.htm
BIOS Download
http://tw.giga-byte.com/Motherboard/Support/BIOS/BIOS_List.htm
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Field Value
BIOS Properties
BIOS Type AMI
System BIOS Date 01/17/02
Video BIOS Date 05/03/08

BIOS Manufacturer
Company Name American Megatrends Inc.
Product Information http://www.ami.com/amibios
BIOS Upgrades http://www.esupport.com/biosagent/index.cfm?refererid=40

Problems & Suggestions
Suggestion Are you looking for a BIOS Upgrade? Contact eSupport Today!
Suggestion System BIOS is more than 2 years old. Update it if necessary.



regards


Gerry Cornell said:
When you run Everest you will need to select Motherboard in the left
hand list and then BIOS in the right hand list. The information you
need to copy will be in the right window.

--

Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England

Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
G

Guest

Hi philo,

Could you please let me knwo how to turn the memory dump feature off, or set
it to mini dump.
Thanks for your advice re the BIOS.
I have rechecked my card and board and they show no sign of the badcaps issue.

One interesting point is that i CAN recreate the 'crash' at will by
alternating the CD/DVD drive to use in windows media player, or indeed leave
a balnk dvd in the DVD-RW drive when rebooting/booting.
Hope this helps clarify.
 

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