[Dani723]

Thanks for taking the time. Setup: Windows XP proffessional edition, automatically updated. A radeon 4980 card. 2X2GB dual channel DDR2. An ASRock 4CoreDual-SATA 2 motherboard. A 600w Thermaltake PurePower powersupply.

Firstly, I installed new graphics drivers for my card yesterday, which might be related, but I had 2-3 successfull startups before this problem happened. I just got home after being out for a few hours with the PC on, and it had crashed. I restarted it and since then it's been crashing on the windows icon and then just keeps restarting cyclically.

So I did some research and have tried the following options, all of which failed:

1. The usuals: safe mode, last known good configuration, disabling automatic restart on system failure. This gave me a blue screen with the usual message and this technical confirmation code: ***STOP:0X0000007E(0XC0000005, 0X8050D532, 0XF78A23B8, 0XF18A20B4.
2. Swapping out my 2x2GB dual channel DDR2 RAM for my older 2x500mb dual channel DDR1 RAM as my motherboard has both slot types. I also tried running the PC first with one stick of DDR2, then one of DDR1, making sure they were respectively in the slots marked as '1'.
3. Checking the hard disks in the recovery console with command: chkdsk /r. Then afterwards typing 'fixboot'.
4. Checking CPU and Motherboard temps in the BIOS. CPU: 55c Motherboard: 50c. I have quite decent cooling.
5. Turning on the default optimal settings option in the BIOS.

This is where it gets a bit more complicated. After turning on the deafult optimal settings option, I can no longer run 2x2GB of RAM. By that I mean the PC will power up, but nothing will happen, and the monitor remains in standby mode. I've checked to make sure voltage settings are on low and dual channel is enabled, still, nothing. At least it still works with just one stick, well, until the windows icon screen crash!

So. I've only had the power supply about a year, and haven't had any past problems with it. Could the new problem with running both stick of RAM be related to the boot crashes?

Perhaps I need to switch back some setting that were changed by allowing the default optimal settings option to sort the RAM issue?

Can anyone suggest any BIOS or recovery console options to try?

I have lost the Windows CD, but noted down the identification number for my system, so I think I can get another CD ordered with that number, worth a try?

Thanks very much guys!

Edited by Dani723, 11 February 2010 - 08:32 AM.

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First, reset the BIOS by disconnecting the power cord and taking the CMOS battery out for 10 minutes. Before you reinstall the battery place just one of the DDR2 modules. Boot the computer to the BIOS and set Time and Date. Usually you can set the BIOS either to fail safe (or whatever it is called. These are the default values which the BIOS load after BIOS reset) or to optimal settings. Set to optimal settings and set boot priority to make the CD drive first boot device. Boot and see how things are.

I think that the problem is of software origin and would try to restore to an earlier date. If your computer does not boot in any of the registerd options then try to restore with the recovery console. Please follow theses instructions:

Boot with XP CD and when given the option choose to repair the computer by pressing "R", opening the Recovery Console. Type 1 when asked for OS installation (assuming there is only one OS installed). Type the administrator password when asked to do so and press Enter. Press Enter if there is no password.

* At the prompt Type: CD \
* Press Enter
* Type: cd system~1\_resto~1
* Press Enter
* Type: dir
* Press Enter

After you press enter you will see a list of folders (like rp1, rp2) If the list of restore points has more than one page then press the Enter key untill you reach the end of the list

* Type: cd rp {number of the second to last folder in the list). Example: cd rp9, if rp9 is the second to the last restore point where the last restore point no. is 10
* Press Enter
* Type: cd snapshot
* Press Enter
* Type: copy _registry_machine_system c:\windows\system32\config\system
* Press Enter
* Type: copy _registry_machine_software c:\windows\system32\config\software
* Press Enter
* Type: Exit
* Press Enter

Your PC will reboot.

If you get an access denied error when doing the above, then do the following at the recovery console:

* Type: CD \
* Press Enter
* Type: cd windows\system32\config
* Press Enter
* Type: ren system system.bak
* Press Enter
* Type: Exit
* Press Enter

Your PC should reboot

If you still cannot get access in anyway to your installation in the recovery console then your SAM database files are corrupt. There is no way you can restore these with the recovery console. You may need to do a fresh install.

[The Skeptic]

First, reset the BIOS by disconnecting the power cord and taking the CMOS battery out for 10 minutes. Before you reinstall the battery place just one of the DDR2 modules. Boot the computer to the BIOS and set Time and Date. Usually you can set the BIOS either to fail safe (or whatever it is called. These are the default values which the BIOS load after BIOS reset) or to optimal settings. Set to optimal settings and set boot priority to make the CD drive first boot device. Boot and see how things are.

I think that the problem is of software origin and would try to restore to an earlier date. If your computer does not boot in any of the registerd options then try to restore with the recovery console. Please follow theses instructions:

Boot with XP CD and when given the option choose to repair the computer by pressing "R", opening the Recovery Console. Type 1 when asked for OS installation (assuming there is only one OS installed). Type the administrator password when asked to do so and press Enter. Press Enter if there is no password.

* At the prompt Type: CD \
* Press Enter
* Type: cd system~1\_resto~1
* Press Enter
* Type: dir
* Press Enter

After you press enter you will see a list of folders (like rp1, rp2) If the list of restore points has more than one page then press the Enter key untill you reach the end of the list

* Type: cd rp {number of the second to last folder in the list). Example: cd rp9, if rp9 is the second to the last restore point where the last restore point no. is 10
* Press Enter
* Type: cd snapshot
* Press Enter
* Type: copy _registry_machine_system c:\windows\system32\config\system
* Press Enter
* Type: copy _registry_machine_software c:\windows\system32\config\software
* Press Enter
* Type: Exit
* Press Enter

Your PC will reboot.

If you get an access denied error when doing the above, then do the following at the recovery console:

* Type: CD \
* Press Enter
* Type: cd windows\system32\config
* Press Enter
* Type: ren system system.bak
* Press Enter
* Type: Exit
* Press Enter

Your PC should reboot

If you still cannot get access in anyway to your installation in the recovery console then your SAM database files are corrupt. There is no way you can restore these with the recovery console. You may need to do a fresh install.

[Dani723]

Thanks very much, I'll remember those options in the future. I've discovered I had a corrupt version of windows and some damaged RAM, but I've installed windows 7 now and all is well.