Blue Screens, but only at the customer's house

[emleman]

I have a problem that I have never seen before. My customer calls me
and tells me his computer BSOD's almost every night. I bring the
computer in to the shop and run it for an entire week straight and no
blue screens. All the hardware tests good with a couple different
test programs. The internet (wireless) works fine at the shop, seems
to work fine at the customer's home.

I finally decided to reinstall windows and told him not to install any
peripherals. After I ran it for a week with no BSOD, I get a call
from him saying it did it the night he took it home.

The only thing I can think of that is different from my shop to his
home is the wireless access points. Could this be what is causing his
BSOD's?

Any Help Would Be Greatly Appreciated.

Thanks,
Eric

 

[C.Wilder]

I have a problem that I have never seen before. My customer calls me
and tells me his computer BSOD's almost every night. I bring the
computer in to the shop and run it for an entire week straight and no
blue screens. All the hardware tests good with a couple different
test programs. The internet (wireless) works fine at the shop, seems
to work fine at the customer's home.

I finally decided to reinstall windows and told him not to install any
peripherals. After I ran it for a week with no BSOD, I get a call
from him saying it did it the night he took it home.

The only thing I can think of that is different from my shop to his
home is the wireless access points. Could this be what is causing his
BSOD's?

Any Help Would Be Greatly Appreciated.

Thanks,
Eric

Something is loose and gets worse when it is transported. Re-seat
*everything* that plugs in including CPU and cables.

 

[Bill James]

Perhaps a power issue. Is he using a power strip with a lot of other devices plugged in, or are there a lot of outlets on the same circuit with devices running? Might want to have an electrician check the current at the plug. If you have a UPS that might be a good test also.

 

[Curt Christianson]

C.Wilder wrote:
| (e-mail address removed) wrote:
|| I have a problem that I have never seen before. My customer calls me
|| and tells me his computer BSOD's almost every night. I bring the
|| computer in to the shop and run it for an entire week straight and no
|| blue screens. All the hardware tests good with a couple different
|| test programs. The internet (wireless) works fine at the shop, seems
|| to work fine at the customer's home.
||
|| I finally decided to reinstall windows and told him not to install
|| any peripherals. After I ran it for a week with no BSOD, I get a
|| call from him saying it did it the night he took it home.
||
|| The only thing I can think of that is different from my shop to his
|| home is the wireless access points. Could this be what is causing
|| his BSOD's?
||
|| Any Help Would Be Greatly Appreciated.
||
|| Thanks,
|| Eric
|
| Something is loose and gets worse when it is transported. Re-seat
| *everything* that plugs in including CPU and cables.

Eric,

How is the customers line voltage? I realize computer PS's are quite
tolerant of line voltage, but how *clean* is the line supply at that point?
Are there other appliances on that line that could be contributing to a
dirty line. Copiers for instance, can do a number on computers sharing the
same line, causing BSOD's and re-boots in some instances.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I have a problem that I have never seen before. My customer calls me
and tells me his computer BSOD's almost every night. I bring the
computer in to the shop and run it for an entire week straight and no
blue screens. All the hardware tests good with a couple different
test programs. The internet (wireless) works fine at the shop, seems
to work fine at the customer's home.

I finally decided to reinstall windows and told him not to install any
peripherals. After I ran it for a week with no BSOD, I get a call
from him saying it did it the night he took it home.

The only thing I can think of that is different from my shop to his
home is the wireless access points. Could this be what is causing his
BSOD's?

Any Help Would Be Greatly Appreciated.

Thanks,
Eric

What specific errors do the BSODs report? That should narrow down the
problem source considerably. Also, have you checked the AC current
coming out of the outlet and surge protector/UPS the customer is using
to ensure proper current?


--

Bruce Chambers

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[Ron Martell]

I have a problem that I have never seen before. My customer calls me
and tells me his computer BSOD's almost every night. I bring the
computer in to the shop and run it for an entire week straight and no
blue screens. All the hardware tests good with a couple different
test programs. The internet (wireless) works fine at the shop, seems
to work fine at the customer's home.

I finally decided to reinstall windows and told him not to install any
peripherals. After I ran it for a week with no BSOD, I get a call
from him saying it did it the night he took it home.

The only thing I can think of that is different from my shop to his
home is the wireless access points. Could this be what is causing his
BSOD's?

Any Help Would Be Greatly Appreciated.

Thanks,
Eric

Try using a small UPS for the computer and monitor at the customer's
house. Overloaded house or office wiring can cause these exact
problems. And it doesn't have to be an old building to have
overloaded wiring. A few years ago I ran into that situation in an
office in a building that was no more than 5 years old. Turns out
they had the coffeepot, 2 computers, photocopier, and staff washroom
all sharing the same 15 amp circuit. Everytime someone used the
copier or made some coffee or even turned on the washroom fan one of
the computers would reboot.

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca
Syberfix Remote Computer Repair

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