Blue Screen of Death - Damaging ?!

[Steve Giannoni]

On a Dell P-IV 2.4 GH, only when using my preferred video drivers, I
get the "blue screen ...", at the exact point of final shut-off when
the screen should be going black, etc. An easy push of the power
button instantly clears it, and I have no problem with this EXCEPT the
possibility of the repeated Blue Screens causing hardware damage.
Anyone have definitive info or opinions on the this, & thanks !? ...

 

[LVTravel]

IMHO I would be more worried about software corruption than hardware damage
when a BSOD occurs anytime during the operation of the computer.

The reason is that while the power is supplied to the system, there may be
unwritten information in the system's cache, it may be physically writing to
the hard drive and if it fails at that time whatever is being written will
either be lost from the cache or corrupted with either crosslinked or "lost"
hard drive space.

You need to find a driver for your video that you can use and also doesn't
cause the BSOD.

 

[Steve Giannoni]

There is a very special reason why I must use the particular display
adapter driver which causes the BSOD. I have 3D glasses (shutter type)
that require a special 3D driver, BUT only of the same vintage
(version) as the base display adapter driver. There's apparently NO 3D
driver, compatible with the base driver selected by Windows for my
graphic card which doesn't case a BSOD. So far it appears not to cause
any software issues as it only occurs at the very last instant of
Windows shutting down. As an ancillary issue, even when I use the
driver that doesn't cause the BSOD (SANS 3D), then my system no longer
powers down after Windows closes, just hangs, leaving a black screen
until I hold the power button for 5 seconds ...

 

[LVTravel]

There is a fix for the failure to shut down problem you discussed as an
ancillary issue. That can be found by searching for Windows shutdown -
here is one article http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/shtdwnxp.php about 3/4 way
down under "Powerdown issues".

If you are using Windows XP and the manufacturer of the video device hasn't
assisted by creating a functional 3d driver for your device you probably are
going to be out of luck fixing the problem. Make sure you have a good
reinstall image of your computer in case there is that software corruption
that I have talked about earlier. It may only take one time and you won't
be able to boot the computer properly. Make that backup soon.

 

[Steve Giannoni]

I regularly backup everything to an USB external hard drive, and have
had occasions to do complete restores. I use an Acronis product for
the backups and restores. Absolutely amazing how well this works !

Actually, shut down is easier from the BSOD, requiring only a brief
push of the power button. The dark screen requires holding the power
button for about 5 seconds.

 

[LVTravel]

Yep. Acronis has a good program and I use it too for all my systems.

 

[paulmd]

On a Dell P-IV 2.4 GH, only when using my preferred video drivers, I
get the "blue screen ...", at the exact point of final shut-off when
the screen should be going black, etc. An easy push of the power
button instantly clears it, and I have no problem with this EXCEPT the
possibility of the repeated Blue Screens causing hardware damage.
Anyone have definitive info or opinions on the this, & thanks !? ...

BSODs are often caused by bad hardware... They are not often the CAUSE
of bad hardware.... though I would not consider it a wise risk. Best
to solve the BSOD if you can.

Since you've tried everything else, perhaps try a BIOS update. They
are available thru support.dell.com, look thru the bios revision
history if you see any mention of crashes or video issues.