[Ty_Ty]

Hello!

EDIT: A friend of mine did some remote diagnostics, and it seems some files meant to update my graphics driver were just floating around and Windows hadn't alerted me to the botched installation. We found the proper update through the NVIDIA site, installed it, and it seems to have worked. No Windows error message this morning at all when I turned on my computer. So it was a lot more simple of a fix that I had intentionally feared. I feel rather embarrassed that I didn't spot this problem myself. I'm usually the one spotting small things like this for other people.

I'd still like to update my graphics card at one time or another, but for now, I'll just hug my ol' girl and tell her she's doing a great job. She's not a bad computer at all and has been working like a charm for almost four years.

------------------
VOld ConcernV
------------------
I need the help of people more knowledgeable than me at this point.
First, I run Windows Vista, Home Premium, 32 bit.
These are my computer's specifications:
http://h10025.www1.h...product=3443290
http://h10025.www1.h...product=3443290

I started getting errors about unexpected shutdowns (during shutdown), and sometimes my computer doesn't register my mouse or my keyboard on startup. Seems like the ol' gal is having motherboard problems. Unfortunately, my motherboard's bios is locked off from me, so I have no chance in Hades to update it. Gotta love being young, naive, and buying built-in mechanisms. This problem started soon after a Vista update, but I think the two are unrelated.

So that's where I need help. I'm looking for a new motherboard which is compatible with my computer's specifications, and while I'm at it, I'm also looking for a good graphics card update. I would rather something NVIDIA because I'm a Second Life addict. (LOL!) Any help and suggestions and step-by-step would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
Ty ♥

Edited by Ty_Ty, 07 July 2010 - 08:25 AM.

[Advertisements]

Hi Ty_Ty
Two suggestions for you;
If you are set on purchasing a new MB and gfx card regardless, you need to provide more information for people to work with, most importantly your budget.
Personally I would first attempt to resolve the present systems issues before putting any new components in the set-up, again you can do this by providing
more details for others to be able to help you better, you would need to do this in the hardware forum.

[phillpower2]

Hi Ty_Ty
Two suggestions for you;
If you are set on purchasing a new MB and gfx card regardless, you need to provide more information for people to work with, most importantly your budget.
Personally I would first attempt to resolve the present systems issues before putting any new components in the set-up, again you can do this by providing
more details for others to be able to help you better, you would need to do this in the hardware forum.

[Ty_Ty]

Hi Ty_Ty
...

Thanks much for the welcome. Price isn't really an object for me so long as it isn't going ridiculously high. I have a way of finding paying tasks when I need the money, and my grandmother is always willing to push a few $50s my way if I clean her house from top to bottom. Unemployment stinks. LOL.

Anyway, I added another link with more precise information for my computer. I thought that first page had all the needed information, but that's me being quick and seeing the larger picture without it being there. Thanks for alerting me that not all the specifications were listed on that page. Nobody else had!

[Ty_Ty]

Ok, been digging through old programs and drivers, updating and deleting stuff.
Had another blue screen this morning and a freeze as the Compaq / BIOS screen.
Fun.

Let's see if any of these updates are the solution to my problem.

[123Runner]

Ty_Ty

The problem with the specs on your computer is that it shows what it had when you purchased it. A lot of time has gone by since 2007. Things could have changed.

Your issues could be a number of things.
Lets look at what you have, and then try a couple things relating to diagnosis.
=====================================================================

Download and install PC Wizard 2010

Run the program and it will analyze your computer and then display the results.
In the upper left hand corner click on the floppy icon.
You will get a save as screen.
Change the range bullet "only this selection" to be "selected category".
Make sure that text is selected for format.
Click on ok and you will be given a spot to save it to.

Attach it to your response.
=================================================================

Go to
Start and then to Run
Type in Chkdsk /r Note the space between k and /
Click Enter ...It will probably ask if you want to do this on the next reboot...click Y
If the window doesn't shutdown on its own then reboot the system manually. On reboot the system will start the chkdsk operation
This one will take longer then chkdsk /f

Note... there are 5 stages...
It may appear to hang at a certain percent for a hour or more or even back up and go over the same area...this is normal...
DO NOT SHUT YOUR COMPUTER DOWN WHILE CHKDSK IS RUNNING OR YOU CAN HAVE SEVERE PROBLEMS
This can take several hours to complete.
When completed it will boot the system back into windows.

Let me know if this fixes the problem

[Ty_Ty]

123Runner:

Thank you for replying.

I already ran chkdsk/f and found nothing wrong.
I will later run chkdsk/r.

What do you think about running chkdsk/b? My tech friend mentioned it, but it was very brief before he had to leave.
I also ran verify, but the computer did not BSOD upon reboot.

[123Runner]

You should reference the website.
I think they made a typo.
There is no /b option. (At least as far as XP goes)

CHKDSK [volume[[path]filename]]] [/F] [/V] [/R] [/X] [/i] [/C] [/L[:size]]

Also where is PCWizard 2010?

[Ty_Ty]

You should reference the website.
I think they made a typo.
There is no /b option. (At least as far as XP goes)

CHKDSK [volume[[path]filename]]] [/F] [/V] [/R] [/X] [/i] [/C] [/L[:size]]

Also where is PCWizard 2010?

No, /b is a command for Vista. I've to run /r yet either, but I do have a PC Wizard report:
PC Wizard 2010 Version 1.94
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Owner: [[Omitted for my privacy]]
Organisation: Hewlett-Packard Company
User: [[Omitted for my privacy]]
Operating System: Windows Vista ™ Home Premium Home Edition 6.00.6002 Service Pack 2
Report Date: Sunday 11 July 2010 at 14:45

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


<<< System Summary >>>
> Mainboard : ECS Nettle2
> Chipset : nVidia GeForce 6100V
> Processor : AMD Athlon 64 X2 4000+ @ 2100 MHz
> Physical Memory : 2048 MB (2 x 1024 DDR2-SDRAM )
> Video Card : NVIDIA GeForce 6150SE nForce 430
> Hard Disk : Hitachi (320 GB)
> DVD-Rom Drive : HL-DT-ST DVDRRW GSA-H30L SCSI CdRom Device
> Monitor Type : Hewlett Packard Compaq WF1907 - 19 inches
> Operating System : Windows Vista ™ Home Premium Home Edition 6.00.6002 Service Pack 2
> DirectX : Version 11.00
> Windows Performance Index : 3.0 on 5.9

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
***** End of report *****


Also, here's my most recent crash, again first boot of the morning:
On Sun 7/11/2010 2:19:03 PM your computer crashed
This was likely caused by the following module: ntfs.sys
Bugcheck code: 0x50 (0x89DA0212, 0x1, 0x87C8DEB1, 0x0)
Error: PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA
Dump file: C:\Windows\Minidump\Mini071110-01.dmp
file path: C:\Windows\system32\drivers\ntfs.sys
product: Microsoft® Windows® Operating System
company: Microsoft Corporation
description: NT File System Driver
The crash took place in a standard Microsoft module. Your system configuration may be incorrect, possibly the culprit is in another driver on your system which cannot be identified at this time.


The reasons for my computer crashing are very random, but I have no viruses nor spyware on my computer.

Edited by Ty_Ty, 11 July 2010 - 04:03 PM.

[123Runner]

OK, /b is in Vista.
Sorry I assumed XP.
Run SFC (system file checker)
Note: The instructions are combined for XP and Vista.

Go Start and then to Run ("Start Search" in Vista),
Type in: sfc /scannow
Click OK (Enter in Vista).
Have Windows CD/DVD handy.
If System File Checker (sfc) finds any errors, it may ask you for the CD/DVD.
If sfc does not find any errors in Windows XP, it will simply quit, without any message.
In Vista you will receive the following message: "Windows resource protection did not find any integrity violations".

For Vista users ONLY: Navigate to C:\Windows\Logs\CBS folder. You'll see CBS.log file.
Usually, it's pretty big file, so upload it to Flyupload, and post download link.


If you don't have Windows CD....
This applies mostly to Windows XP, since Vista rarely requires use of its DVD while running "sfc"
Note This method will not necessarily work as well, as when using Windows CD, because not always ALL system files are backed up on your hard drive. Also, backed up files may be corrupted as well.

Go Start and then Run
type in regedit and click OK


Navigate to the following key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup

You will see various entries Values on the right hand side.

The one we want is called: SourcePath

It probably has an entry pointing to your CD-ROM drive, usually D and that is why it is asking for the XP CD.
All we need to do is change it to: C:
Now, double click the SourcePatch setting and a new box will pop up.
Change the drive letter from your CD drive to your root drive, usually C:
Close Registry Editor.

Now restart your computer and try sfc /scannow again!


Thanks to Broni for the instructions

[Ty_Ty]

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.0.6002]
Copyright © 2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\Windows\system32>sfc /scannow

Beginning system scan. This process will take some time.

Beginning verification phase of system scan.
Verification 100% complete.

Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.

C:\Windows\system32>


Nothing to find there.

------------------
Edit 07122010
Ran chkdsk /r.
I don't think it found anything.
No BSOD while booting this morning either.

I will keep you guys updated.
Runner123, thank you so much for your help thus far.

Edited by Ty_Ty, 12 July 2010 - 02:28 PM.

[Ty_Ty]

So far, all the scans have produced no results, but I've not had a BSOD yesterday nor today.
The only thing different is my tablet being unplugged.
I'll be darned if that was the 'problematic hardware' this whole time.

[Ty_Ty]

Alright! I installed a new graphics driver yesterday, and it solved the problems of my games no longer working.

It's an nVidia GeForce 8400GS. A little on the outdated side, but hey, it's better than struggling with an old card.

The installation went smooth as butter, and I could not be happier... Until this morning:

On Thu 7/15/2010 2:57:06 PM your computer crashed
This was likely caused by the following module: fileinfo.sys
Bugcheck code: 0xC5 (0xC14, 0x2, 0x1, 0x82524010)
Error: DRIVER_CORRUPTED_EXPOOL
Dump file: C:\Windows\Minidump\Mini071510-01.dmp
file path: C:\Windows\system32\drivers\fileinfo.sys
product: Microsoft® Windows® Operating System
company: Microsoft Corporation
description: FileInfo Filter Driver
The crash took place in a standard Microsoft module. Your system configuration may be incorrect, possibly the culprit is in another driver on your system which cannot be identified at this time.

I looked it up and it says this sort of BSOD is typically caused by new drivers. So my computer either hates one of my older drivers or it's hating the new graphics card drivers. What do you guys make of this?

[Ty_Ty]

Ok... No crashes until this morning.

Computer started up fine. Had to run some chores and came back to my computer. Monitor was asleep, mouse was non-responsive, keyboard wasn't responsive. So I restarted my computer, started in safe mode, and then restarted. I checked out the dump file and have this:

On Fri 7/30/2010 4:38:33 PM your computer crashed
This was likely caused by the following module: ntkrnlpa.exe
Bugcheck code: 0x4E (0x99, 0x1CD43, 0x2, 0x741DA)
Error: PFN_LIST_CORRUPT
Dump file: C:\Windows\Minidump\Mini073010-01.dmp
file path: C:\Windows\system32\ntkrnlpa.exe
product: Microsoft® Windows® Operating System
company: Microsoft Corporation
description: NT Kernel & System
The crash took place in a standard Microsoft module. Your system configuration may be incorrect, possibly the culprit is in another driver on your system which cannot be identified at this time.

I ran memory tests before, but everything seems to be fine.

I plan later this weekend to back-up all my art files and whatnot and just clean-wipe my computer and give Windows Vista a fresh reinstall.
It couldn't hurt, but it's going to be a major thorn in the side.

[Ty_Ty]

Alright - ran SMART today on my hard drive from setup - both quick and thorough. It found nothing. So it's looking less like my hard drive and more like a bad stick of RAM doing all of this from the start.

I was planning to get more RAM anyway, so I'm going to find out which of the sticks (if not bad) I have has gone sour on me.

[Ty_Ty]

SOLVED:
Flaky computer syndrome caused by a bad RAM slot.
Switched slots and computer has been running smoothly since.