Device Driver Problem?!?!

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Guest

Hi, about a week and a half ago my computer started restarting sporadically while downloading large files usually, and every time i get the same error when it restarts about the computer having a serious error and i send the crash log to microsoft then go to the webpage it says its a device driver problem or somthing but i haven't installed any new drivers or devices in about 3 months and that was a new video card. somone please help its really driving me crazy. ;P
 
Try opening event viewer for that error,go to the url that is posted,that opens
help/support in xp,usually with answers.You can chk video card in device mgr,and/or
go to run type:DXDIAG to open direct X utility,and/or type:Msinfo32 in run,expand
hardware,problem devices, and chk conflicks/sharing.
 
I just spent close to a month resolving the same symptoms on a handbuilt computer. Although
Microsoft's support site identifies this as a driver problem, and it may very well be a driver problem,
your case sounds more like a hardware problem.

My online research indicates this is usually or at least frequently a hardware problem. Since this
happened suddenly for you, I think it is almost certainly a hardware problem. The usual first suspect
(based on my research) is RAM. There may be a bad spot in memory. Or, it could be overaggressive
timing being applied by the BIOS. OTOH, it could be a weak power supply. This one usually happens
on a system with a mediocre supply with a lot of hard drives. Or, your processor may be getting too
hot under load.

I first updated every device driver in my system to the latest level. Still failed several times a day. I
tested the memory for 12 hours straight with MemTest without a hitch, but as soon as I resumed
normal operations, I got numerous failures. So, I ruled out a bad memory module. My processor was
running a bit hot, so I replaced the processor fan and heat sink with a much beefier solution. The
processor ran much cooler, but I still got the same failures.

Finally, I flashed the BIOS with the latest version, which I downloaded from the motherboard
manufacturer, and then set all BIOS memory and processor settings to automatic. I have now run 24
/7 for close to a week under heavy load without a single failure. I think the earlier BIOS was not
correctly handling the specific memory modules I have installed.

Good luck!

Phil Carroll
 
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