PC started randomly to crash about end of Jan. This was following removal of some photoediting software and replacement by Photoshop Elements 4. Did all the normal roll backs, etc, updated drivers, etc. but still a problem. Generally the crashes at boot or shortly after start up. Came to conclusion Windows was "tired", so decided full format, re-install and repartition of HDD. First time used my slip-streamed XP SP1, SP2 and updates disk and then re-loaded all applications - but still crashed - tried XP repair and still crashed. So assumed slipstreamed CD missing something - so full reinstall XP step by step!...etc, etc.
Was occasionally getting a BSOD I could not catch (flashed across and then reboot). So started to try and track problem using event viewer. This threw up all the standard 6005, 6006, 6009, etc. event logs in System. So updated Mb drivers, Radeon 9500 drivers - every hardware driver!
Researched codes and took me to MS site and onto others. Then picked up Geeks site and saw it might be some kind of hardware problem.
So started to log timings. So typically now find that I start from cold and -
Get to XP User logon screen - everything freezes - no mouse no Ctrl-Alt-Del - so hard reboot.
Get to logon - so logon - XP starts to load and I get to desktop - apps start to load to taskbar and then freezes again - hard reboot.
Then generally reboot ok and everything works, but occasionally random crash
So eventually today got right through and no crash and then tried to go into IE - did that then sudden BSOD as I switched to another page - which this time BSOD stayed and I hope have captured:
DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL
Standard BSOD message and code as follows;
Stop 0x0000001, 0x00000007, 0x00000001, 0xEB0783375
and then - after more BSOD general text - (I think - having difficulty reading own writing)
nvavm.sys Addns EB078375 base @ EB078000 Date Stamp 42d7401
So reboot, and then OK (at moment - 90 mins plus after)
So in short from cold start to running properly was around 15 mins - almost as if PC finall warming up!?!
Previous to today, I run MemTest86 for two standard test for 30 minutes, but not extended test. Also run Western Digital Data Guard tool to check HDD. Neither threw up any issues with RAM or HDD.
Only thing that now I can see is that there is some random flunction in power supply??? PC (and PSU) just over 3 years old. Not sure of PSU rating - never opened case to look at that, but suspect its only 300w. Only internal hardware additions in last 6 months was a Belkin USB 2.0 5-Port PCI card, but the crashes have only started since beginning. Only UNPOWERED external attachments are a external USB scanner - buts that been attached for ages; Logitech web-cam; 8-in1 media reader All the rest of the USB items are powered - deskjet 5850, photosmart 130, Samsung DVD writer. So can't think those are aproblem - and functioned okay previously.
Or is it something else? Have used SisSandra Lite 2005 a couple of times recently also to "stretch" processor, etc. see if its anything hardware wise.
Really stuck (and crashes driving me MAD! - ) and would appreciate any advice on what I can practically do next!
Thanks.