Vista crashes CONSTANTLY

[Guest]

In fact I bet Vista crashes while I am typing this message. It will either
just freeze and purple and yellow stripes go down the screen, or I'll get the
blue screen of death and it'll reboot. When it freezes up I usually have to
turn the computer off, wait 30 seconds, then turn it back on. Vista crashes
at least 6 or 7 times a day. I originally upgraded, then when it crashed all
the time I did a clean install, but it is 8still* happenng. My copy is Vista
Home Premium. I spent good $$ on tihs but its been nothing more than a pain!
I'malmost ready to go back to XP. Someone please help!

 

[DP]

How about some specs for your system?

 

[Richard Urban]

If you system freezes/crashes with the screen getting distorted as you
explain, your video card is over heating and causing this problem. You may
also have a video driver problem but it would not usually cause a complete
freeze up.

--


Regards,

Richard Urban MVP
Microsoft Windows Shell/User

 

[Guest]

To add to DP's comment about your video card, what you might want to do is
get a can of compressed air (one of those cans used to clean out the inside
of the computer). Use that to remove any dust inside the computer. Don't
spray too long at any given moment as the cans become very cold.

After that, check and ensure the computer has plenty of ventilation to
ensure that it can't overheat, and ensure that the fans and the vents are
completely clear of obstructions.

 

[Guest]

I just purchased a Lap top w/Vista & it freezes when I fill out forums etc.
but to let U know what I just bought for my Lap Top for the heat, it's called
the Targus Chill Pad
(targus.com)(http://www.targus.com/us/product_details.asp?sku=PA248U).
Works great & keeps the LT cool.

Hope this helps,
Rollbar

Dimentions:
11.75" x 9" x 0.8"
Weight:
18oz
System Req:
USB with on & off switch
Technical
Air Flow: 28 CFM (cubic feet per minute)
Speed: 1500 RPM
PC Power: USB: 5 V, 500 mA
Power: 1.05 W

 

[Guest]

I will definitely try that, thank you. I should probably elaborate a little
bit and I apologize, my original post was written in haste due to the fact
that I was sure vista would crash at any moment. In the past 15 minutes it
has locked up 3 times. I have called Microsoft Tech support twice now, and
neither of the reps could solve the problem and just said to write down the
blue screen error codes and call them back. In the meantime I've gotten one
blue screen (which I did write down but haven't called yet), and all the
other times it just freezes, and usually has purple and yellow lines, or
plaid patterns, or weird stuff on the screen like that. Also I find quite
frequently things like the sidebar stop working. I have checked the device
manager, no ?'s or !'s to be found.. checked the memory, the memory is fine.
Checked the discs for errors, no errors found. The only thing windows says to
me is very vauge: "there may be a hardware conflict causing this issue" in
the diagnostics/repair center (or whatever its called). So I will try the
ideas on keeping the video card clean,(and everything else too) or, if need
be I may need a new one you think? If I do need to buy a new one, what is
compatible with Vista?
I am running a custom built computer, with an asus motherboard, 1 gig of
ram, (just upgraded from 512 to 1 gig right before installing vista,
actually) and a new wireless PCI for the internet (also newly installed).
I paid more than I feel I should have for this product, and its technical
support staff has been very underwhelming. I really need to fix this or I am
going to have to go buy a new copy of XP (because the copy I have is just the
'recovery' version and I dont think I could install that version on top of/in
replace of Vista). And of course I can't return Vista as its already been
activated.

 

[Michael]

Bek,
As you mentioned that this is custom built asus machine: Do you have all the
overclocking features turned off in the BIOS? (at least for testing).
I was working on an asus (not my own) that had several options for
overclocking, note that expensive video cards can also be overclocked.
Have you tried with only the origional 512 of memory (performace should be
really bad but might be a test of the new memory).

Also on the obvious vein (I.e. what I usually overlook) are the fans going
fast enough, esp the one for the CPU. Repaired one recently that the fan
bearing was going (also made noise which is why I was looking there) was
going so slow that the CPU was overheating generating random crashes after
about 10 min of operating.

Good luck,
Michael

 

[Night Keeper]

Check all your drivers. Make sure it shows what you have in the device
manager. Vista doesn't always recognize the hardware correctly. Vista
installed 6 IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers on my PC which caused Windows to crash
everytime I tried to pull anything off of a CD. The Fact is I have 3 IDE
ATA/ATAPI controllers: 2 for SATA and 1 for IDE. I recommend downloading the
drivers from your motherboard maker and unzip them into a folder. You have
to manually update the drivers from the Device manager if Vista recognized
the device incorrectly. (Note: Only update the drivers that are incorrectly
identified)

 

[Richard Urban]

What you describe video related certainly are the results of a video
problem, and I would suspect it to be a heat problem.

I have seen the same thing when a fan on a video card stops spinning - all
sorts of video corruption.

--


Regards,

Richard Urban MVP
Microsoft Windows Shell/User

 

[Guest]

To be honest, I am not sure what overclocking is, or how I can see if it is
turned off or on. Also, yes there is a little bit of dust that I can't seem
to shake loose from the heat-sink thingy under the fan that cools the cpu, I
think I really do need that compressed can of air.

I turned down the hardware acceleration on my video card which seems to have
helped a lot. It has only crashed once in about 16 hours. This is a vast
improvement. However, since it *did* crash I wanted to find out what might've
gone wrong, and I found somewhere that I should try and update the drivers.
Windows update has tried 3 times to install 'optional' updates for my video
card, i discovered, but keeps failing. But I ran into the device manager and
windows told me that my drivers are already up to date. So I really don't
know what the f to do now.

 

[Guest]

Mine was freezing up due to some files getting deleted. I restored my lap
top to reflect it as it was from the factory. No more problems. the LT came
with Vista Home Pro. I have used it for hours a day w/out it freezing up &
it does not freeze up anymore when I fill out forms.

 

[Guest]

I was hoping to find some real help. Unfortunately it appears that there
still isn't much help from MSN, Windows or their communities. I did NOT want
Vista! I got it on #2 replacement computers and nothing works. I just get
constant blue screens. Now Dell won't even respond! I've tried looking for
help everywhere. It appears that unless you have an expensive, full of the
latest and highest everything, Vista won't work. I didn't get a say in what
Dell sent us and we asked for XP all along. Finally some tech said go buy XP
but they won't help us nor honor our warranty. They didn't even give us a
higher end replacement. Computers must be the only product that you are
suppose to expect refurbished parts and not be able to sue them or complain
anywhere! Any other product and you get a full replacement, new, or new
parts. I don't want XP and not even sure how to go about putting it on a
computer that came with Vista. I have a Dell E520 with Vista Premium, 250GB
HD, 2GB memory, and I did do the mem test and it appears fine. I wonder
about other parts but I am stuck now with no response from Dell or Microsoft.
Apparently we were only given integreated audio/video and I know that can be
a problem, but not our choice. We had a lot more on our original computer
than what Dell sent us. XP worked fine for us and now we can't add anything
to our computer. I don't even think what is on it from Microsoft is Vista
compatible! We get constant blue screens and no help. I have run all sorts
of tests, even had a couple of people have me do Belarc and they said that
our motherboard looked skimpy, whatever that means! We can't use our
cameras, download photos, even using a wordpad, if I open one by accident, I
crash, well blue screen. Doesn't anyone anywhere have a good solution? I do
not know how to do all sorts of fixes etc on a computer. I used it fine and
could do a lot with XP but Vista is awful, I don't care what anyone says. I
do have people that are techie to ask for help, but they are all waiting a
year and try to help. I hate asking for help from them as it has been going
on for 7 months of computer problems, only 3 months with this Vista problem.
I don't have any close tech friends, even in state who could come and figure
anything out for me. If anyone has a real answer as to what I can do I would
appreciate it. I only got some help from Dell, replacements, all 3, because
we contacted the BBB but that takes about 5 weeks or longer between
responses. Thanks.

 

[Pete Russell]

Have you checked your event logs for further info into what is going on.

 

[Guest]

I am not sure where to find them all, but I recent had an error log of 193
errors, mostly from blue screen error messages which vary from driver issues
to IRQL or page in non page area or even just opening a wordpad. This log
was sent to Microsoft for a two week period of time. This is the first time
I have received this message box which did allow me to look at each item and
for any possible fixes. As I clicked each it did not lead me to a solution
or I had already tried the suggested solution. I had not added any software
to the computer for 3 weeks after receiving it, and then only added System
Mechanics 7, Vista compatible, but it did not find anything crucial. I can't
add any programs or use some preinstalled as I crash or they simply do not
work. Dell has not been helpful in even suggestions of possible program
fixes and this is the actual first reply that has made a suggestion of any
sorts. The software techs say it is hardware and the hardware techs say it
is software and all suggest that it must be a Vista issue. Thank you

 

[Pete Russell]

"I have received this message box which did allow me to look at each item
and
for any possible fixes."

That is "Problem Reports and Solutions" which can be found at Control Panel

Problem Reports and Solutions ( Click in left pane to use classic view)

When this opens click "check for solutions" You can check this once in a
while to see if there are solutions for reported problems.

After doing that select "View Problem History" This will bring up a list of
problems windows has identified. Right Click on each item there and select
"View Problem Details" This will show details about each error and any
faulting modules.

After getting to the details screen look at the bottom and select " Copy to
Clipboard" Pastet he results of each error back here and I will see if I can
help you a little further.

 

[Guest]

Sorry I didn't get back sooner. Thank you for your help, Dell has decided to
have us send the computer back and they will check it and they will install
XP on it. There are just too many crashes and most programs that came
installed aren't working. My hubby and I aren't that knowledgable about
computers, we would do better with XP until more fixes and updates for Vista.
Thank you again.

 

[teddy]

--
my four pekingnese

 

[Ron]

Unfortunately that's vista for you. A very unreliable OS. This is why most
businesses don't use it.

Cheers

Ron

 

[Nonny]

Unfortunately that's vista for you. A very unreliable OS. This is why most
businesses don't use it.

No it's not.