BSOD booting problems

[Guest]

I have a good spec Dell 8400 Dimension, purchased last August.

The PC always fails to boot first time - there have been numerous BSOD's,
and sometimes there have been drive not found error messages.

I once had to clear the hard drive and reinstall everything after a
particular BSOD prevented Windows XP loading.

I have run the Dell Diagnostics, which shows no errors. Any ideas as to
what may be causing the problem? Is it possible that a particular piece of
hardware needs to be warmed up, could there be conflict problems in the
software loaded - help or suggestions to cure the problem would be much
appreciated.

I have kept notes of some of the BSOD messages, but not all if these would
be useful

 

[Will Denny]

Hi

Please have a look at the following link to Jim Eshelman's web site - left
hand column - for the BSODs:

http://aumha.org/win5/kbestop.htm

 

[Malke]

I have a good spec Dell 8400 Dimension, purchased last August.

The PC always fails to boot first time - there have been numerous
BSOD's, and sometimes there have been drive not found error messages.

I once had to clear the hard drive and reinstall everything after a
particular BSOD prevented Windows XP loading.

I have run the Dell Diagnostics, which shows no errors. Any ideas as
to
what may be causing the problem? Is it possible that a particular
piece of hardware needs to be warmed up, could there be conflict
problems in the software loaded - help or suggestions to cure the
problem would be much appreciated.

I have kept notes of some of the BSOD messages, but not all if these
would
be useful

My guess is bad hardware. I'd look at the power supply and the RAM. I've
had plenty of clients' Dells where the Dell diagnostics came out OK but
the RAM was really bad. Here are general hardware troubleshooting steps
using non-Dell diagnostics:

1) Open the computer and run it open, cleaning out all dust bunnies and
observing all fans (overheating will cause system freezing). Obviously
you can't do this with a laptop, but you can hear if the fan is running
and feel if the laptop is getting too hot.

2) Test the RAM - I like Memtest86+ from www.memtest.org. Obviously, you
have to get the program from a working machine. You will either
download the precompiled Windows binary to make a bootable floppy or
the .iso to make a bootable cd. If you want to use the latter, you'll
need to have third-party burning software on the machine where you
download the file - XP's built-in burning capability won't do the job.
In either case, boot with the media you made. The test will run
immediately. Let the test run for an extended period of time - unless
errors are seen immediately. If you get any errors, replace the RAM.

3) Test the hard drive with a diagnostic utility from the mftr. Usually
you will download the file and make a bootable floppy with it. Boot
with the media and do a thorough test. If the drive has physical
errors, replace it.

4) The power supply may be going bad or be inadequate for the devices
you have in the system. The adequacy issue doesn't really apply to a
laptop, although of course the power
supply can be faulty.

5) Test the motherboard with something like TuffTest from
www.tufftest.com. Sometimes this is useful, and sometimes it isn't.

Testing hardware failures often involves swapping out suspected parts
with known-good parts. If you can't do the testing yourself and/or are
uncomfortable opening your computer, take the machine to a good local
computer repair shop (not a CompUSA or Best Buy type of store).

Mlake

 

[Plato]

I have a good spec Dell 8400 Dimension, purchased last August.

Dell likes to ship new systems with hardware and drivers that haven't
been properly tested in advance. They simply dont take the time to do
it.

 

[John]

I have a good spec Dell 8400 Dimension, purchased last August.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Faded glory.

The PC always fails to boot first time

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

I am always amazed what people will tolerate from a store bought
computer that doesn't work properly right from the start. If it were a
toaster that sucker would could go right back to the outfit that sold it!

John