Is this an easy fix or complicated one?

[Guest]

Several times the past couple weeks my computer popped up a blue screen and
shut down then restarted. (doing a physical memory dump)
Error message said IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL

Stop 0C0000000A
0X00000004
0X00000002
0X0000001
0X804DFEB9

Can someone walk me through this to fix it? or will I need to take it in
for repair? I can't afford the latter. Dell was NO help. Thanks!

 

[Guest]

Several times the past couple weeks my computer popped up a blue screen and
shut down then restarted. (doing a physical memory dump)
Error message said IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL

Stop 0C0000000A
0X00000004
0X00000002
0X0000001
0X804DFEB9

Can someone walk me through this to fix it? or will I need to take it in
for repair? I can't afford the latter. Dell was NO help. Thanks!

I also wanted to mention that I've not added/changed or downloaded anything
prior to this starting. There's also no rhyme or reason to when it happens.
Not doing any 'particular' task. It even happens when I'm not on it.

 

[lvee]

are you sure that's the right stop error number/ Is it maybe 0x0000000A...?

Troubleshooting a Stop 0x0000000A error in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q314063

Scroll down to the section that involves 'after you have already installed
windows'

 

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP\)]

This looks like a hardware issue, possibly a problem with the installed
memory on your system. There are some free tools that can check memory:
http://www.memtest86.com/
http://www.simmtester.com/PAGE/products/doc/docinfo.asp


--
In memory of our dear friend, MVP Alex Nichol.

Michael Solomon MS-MVP
Windows Shell/User
https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/communities/mvp.aspx
Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/

 

[Vic Baron]

Have you tried the Dell Recovery disk? What happened?

Not that familiar with Dell - can you do a repair install of XP?

What did Dell say in being no help?

 

[NoNoBadDog!]

You definitely have a RAM problem. RAM modules can and do go bad...do a
Google search for memtest86, download it and let it diagnose your memory.
If it is the RAM, be prepared for a battle with DELL, they are not very
friendly with RAM issues...

Bobby

 

[Guest]

Thank you for the reply and advice. I have tried to do this memtest86 and
for some reason it won't work. I'm so frustrated I could cry. But
I won't. LOL I downloaded it. When I open it it says 'Enter Target
Diskette Drive' When I put the letter in and click Enter the whole black
box disappears. Obviously I'm doing something wrong. But what?

 

[Guest]

never mind........ so out of it I'm putting the wrong letter in. It's
working now. I'll post back.

 

[Guest]

Okay.... I was able to download and install DocMemory. When it came to the
part to pick the BurnInTest or Quick test I moved the mouse to click on the
Quick one and it froze. I rebooted and tried it again and the same thing
happen. So the third time I left the mouse alone and it ran the Burn one on
its own. It made it through 8 loops and I passed them all. During the 9th
loop I accidently bumped the mouse and it froze again. I couldn't even use
Esc to abort. So I had to shut the comp off and turn it back on. That part
took almost 3 hours.
Since I'm heading to bed I'll run it again like before. Hopefully it will
make it through the whole thing. I'll post again tomorrow morning.
Colette

 

[lvee]

Are you running windows xp? or 2000?
It is likely ban ram, as suggested. But there are a couple of things you
can do first.. I have received false positives regarding bad ram.
First, post back with your os, xp? or 2000?

 

[lvee]

the RAM is an acronym for Random Access Memory, and is a piece that can be
removed and replaced from your computer. You must have received a book that
came with your Dell, explaining where it is located and how to remove and
replace it.
One thing you can try is before you worry about the ram is,
go to Start> My Computer>local disk C:, and right click properties. From
there go to the tools tab and on that first page click check now where it
says error-checking, and then when you click that another page will be
displayed..place a check next to both of those boxes. You will have to
reboot in order for the check disk to run.
Now, if you are having trouble keeping the computer from shutting down,
start in safe mode. To do that, click the restart option, then, as soon as
the screen turns black, hit your F8 key repeatedly until you are brought to
the Safe Mode, etc. options. Select Safe Mode. Once there, first go to My
Computer>right click Properties>select Advance tab, then look for Startup
and recovery options. Click on settings, then clear the check next to
automatically restart, located under system failure.
Then, follow the error checking procedure that I described at the start of
this post.

As far as the results of the memory test you ran, I have never used anything
but memtest, and that took such a long time that after 6 hours and no errors
I gave up. The error checking procedure worked for me..that is not to say
that it will work for you.

The 2nd error code that you posted does indicate bad ram, memory, or
possible a bad disk on your hard drive. which would suck. However, the only
thing I could find related to windows 2000...

it is also corrupt drivers that are causing this... you can check the device
manager, go to Start>Right click My computer>properties>device manage. If
you see any yellow or red warning indicators, click on each to read the
error description.
From there, you can try to update your drivers.
You can do this from safe mode also, but the option you would pick is safe
mode with networking ( I thin that's what it's called)

 

[Guest]

Ivee... thanks for all the information on what to do. I REALLY appreciate
your taking the time to do it. Now... KNOCK ON WOOD for me. After getting
Michaels post earlier today when he suggested changing my mouse, I did do
that. And would you believe not a single shut down since then!!! I'm
ecstatic... knocking on wood again lol and praying it was something as
simple as this. It's been about 8 hours now. I'm squealing with delight. I
was actually able to do a few hours work on the comp. A blessing after
falling so far behind. Michael.... if you're single and live in Ohio I owe
you dinner! Thank you SOOOOOOOOOOO Much!!! woohoo!!!

 

[Guest]

Ugh....... well I guess it was too good to be true. It appears to have shut
down and restarted during the night. So I'm going to go through the
process Ivee suggested before doing the RAM bit. Will post again.

 

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP\)]

Do you have any special software installed for either or both mice. Many
Logitech mice have a lot of specialized functions that require their
proprietary software. That software can often cause conflicts. If it's
fully up to date and still causing the issue, then, it's best to remove the
software, if the mouse performs its basic functions and causes no crashes,
that is how you should run but I'm only speculating that you even have such
software installed and only applies if that is the case.

--
In memory of our dear friend, MVP Alex Nichol.

Michael Solomon MS-MVP
Windows Shell/User
https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/communities/mvp.aspx
Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/

 

[Guest]

Well... I'm stumped. LOL It hasn't done it once today. (prior to changing
the mouse it was every hour or so) I'm guessing it's possible the electric
kicked off for a second during the nite which would have made the comp
restart. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that changing the mouse fixed the
problem.

 

[Guest]

Woo hoo! No more shut downs and restarts. That one night before last must
have been the electric and not the trouble I'd been having. There's not been
a single one since then. Yes!!!! *doing the happy dance*
Michael I read your post about the mouse thing... I don't have any special
mouse or software for it. Just a plain ol' mouse. But you were obviously
right on the money with the mouse being the cause. I can't thank you
enough!! Now... I know you'll think it's a stupid question. I've never
really gotten a straight answer about it. Is it better to leave the comp on
or should I be shutting it off at night? I'm on cable and for the past
couple years have just left it on. Which is best to do? TIA! And have a
great day!!

 

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP\)]

You're welcome, glad it worked for you.

In terms of the computer itself and no outside factors, it generally makes
no difference. You'll find people pretty evenly split about the shutdown
issue. Personally, I feel heat is the enemy of all electronics and shutting
down at night gives components a chance to cool.

However, there are outside factors that, I think, are good reasons to
shutdown the system when unattended. First, if there is a power outage,
even if you have a UPS, uninterruptible power supply, it can still damage
the system. Most UPSs are designed to take over and give you enough time to
properly shut everything down before a loss of power to the system. If you
are asleep or away on vacation or just out running errands, if there's a
power outage, it might damage your system beyond repair.

There's also a security issue. Even if you have a good firewall, antivirus
and connect through a router, if the system is booted someone else can
access it. If you have an always on connection as is the case with
broadband, most activity will be apparent to you. If you see your
connection active, perhaps sending out information beyond what is normal,
perhaps you see the connection activity lights in the notification area by
the clock constantly lit, if you are there, you can take action, disconnect
the modem or shut the system down. If you are away, you can take no action.

Then, there's the issue of your children or any family members perhaps doing
things or going into things you don't wish them to see.

Third, a burglary. Someone gets in your house, see the computer booted and
has enough computer savvy to begin accessing things. If the computer isn't
booted, such an outsider isn't likely to take the time to boot the system
and with XP, try to bypass the welcome screen. He might steal the computer
but having it shutdown is a bit of added protection against unauthorized
access and an additional layer of security for your personal information.

--
In memory of our dear friend, MVP Alex Nichol.

Michael Solomon MS-MVP
Windows Shell/User
https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/communities/mvp.aspx
Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/

 

[Guest]

Happy Friday! ) But bad news. After 42 hours of no shut downs it did
two in less than 10 minutes. So I guess I'm not home scot free after all.
Tomorrow morning I'll run through the other suggestions to try. I
wonder if the mouse wasn't part of the trouble though. Since it's been so
infrequent since changing them? Michael... you really brought up some great
points on why shutting it down is a good idea. Some I'd never even thought
about. Thanks so much for taking the time to share all that with me. I'll
post more tomorrow.
Colette

 

[lvee]

Okay, now, be patient...more things to try.
I'm going to address the first shutdown error. read this link,

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=311564&sd=RMVP

 

[Guest]

Patient.... yes I will be. How can I not when you wonderful people have such
never ending patience and willingness to help me. I'll do as suggested
in the link as well as the Error checking you said above.
One thing that did dawn on me last nite was around the time this started
happening my 'scanner' on my 3 in 1 (printer, scanner, copier) stopped
working. Keeps giving me error messages about not being there but it is.
The printer works from the comp etc... but not the scanning. Not sure if
this has any correlation but thought I should mention it.