[Ddunne012]

Hi

I've recently encountered a problem with my Dell Dimension E520. A blue screen appears on start-up which states;

'A problem has been detected and windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your cpu.

PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA'

then it basically goes on to say to check any new hardware or software is properly installed and if problems continue I should disbale or remove any new hardware or software and BIOS memory caching or shadowing which I can't find in the BIOS scrren. Also it tells me to start-up in safe mode which I am unable to to do because it will just take me back to this blue screen if I try to do that.

At the bottom it also says 'TECHNICAL INFORMATION: *** STOP: 0x00000050 (0xC4040000, 0x00000000, 0x804DADF8, 0x00000000).'

I was just wondering how I might go about fixing this? My mam installed a Logitech camera and I think that has been the only software installed on the computer. I don't think it has a drive updater.

I was thinking maybe something inside the computer may be loose, would that be the problem?

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

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Ddunne012

The E520 originally shipped with Windows XP installed, can you tell us what OS you have installed.

The computer has four diagnostic LEDs on it, can you tell us if any of them are illuminated and if so which ones and what color.
1 and 3 being lit would suggest a memory configuration problem for example, see troubleshooting tools @ ftp://ftp.dell.com/Manuals/all-products/esuprt_desktop/esuprt_dimension_desktops/dimension-e520_owner%27s%20manual_en-us.pdf

Do you know how many memory sticks are fitted and whether there is an add on video card fitted or is the MBs integrated video chip being used.

[phillpower2]

Ddunne012

The E520 originally shipped with Windows XP installed, can you tell us what OS you have installed.

The computer has four diagnostic LEDs on it, can you tell us if any of them are illuminated and if so which ones and what color.
1 and 3 being lit would suggest a memory configuration problem for example, see troubleshooting tools @ ftp://ftp.dell.com/Manuals/all-products/esuprt_desktop/esuprt_dimension_desktops/dimension-e520_owner%27s%20manual_en-us.pdf

Do you know how many memory sticks are fitted and whether there is an add on video card fitted or is the MBs integrated video chip being used.

[Ddunne012]

Hi Phil

Yes it is windows XP and as the computer starts up the 4 LEDs flicker and then it kind of pauses at 1 and 4 and then 1 and 2 and then if I leave it go to the Blue Screen all lights remain off however it I press F2 and go into the System setup screen 1, 2 and 3 remain permanently on and 4 remains off.

As for the video card I do not know where could I find this out I don't think one was ever added. Sorry I have limited info as it is my mother's computer and I have lived away from for awhile.

Also with reference to the memory stcik question when I go to memory info on the setup page it says there are 2 memory slots being used DIMM 1 and DIMM@ their size is both 512MB rank 1 Unbuffered x8. Is that what you are referring to?

[phillpower2]

Hi Ddunne012

Thanks for the additional information

If you have not done so already can you try Last Known Good Configuration http://support.micro...kb/307852/en-us

Are you ok with working inside the computer as we need to check that the Ram sticks are seated securely and that there are no loose connections to hardware such as the HDD, you will also be able to check for an add on video card.

We can walk you through it if need be + provide links to tutorials such as http://www.crucial.c...stall/dimm.aspx

BTW I asked about the OS because you have post on the Vista and W7 forum

[Ddunne012]

Hi phil

Sorry for the late reply but i've been pretty sick the last two days.

Sorry I got the OS wrong I was obvioulsy thinking of my laptop when I was writing the post. The Dell is actually Windows XP.

I am going to try and open the computer today. Is there anything other than the RAM and video card??

[Ddunne012]

I just opened the PC and checked all the connections and ram. I didn't find anything loose and there didn't appear to be a added video card. I tried to turn back on the PC then and the blue screen appeared again

[phillpower2]

Hi Ddunne012

No worries about the delay, I was under the weather myself last week and so fully understand computer issues are the last thing you feel like working on

From my reply #4

If you have not done so already can you try Last Known Good Configuration http://support.micro...kb/307852/en-us

Have you tried this and if so what was the outcome.

You have two sticks of Ram so we should check them and the MB slots separately, please see below;

First of all can you remove both stick of Ram and power up the computer to see if you get any error beeps etc, if you do it may suggest that the Ram and slots are ok, next do a physical test of the Ram as detailed below;

How to physically test your Ram.

The following checks require the computer case to be opened so take the following safety precautions 1st, disconnect the power cord from the wall socket and take anti static precautions before touching anything inside, you can do this by touching a bare metal part of the case.

Have a pencil and notepad to hand.
Remove each stick of Ram and blow out the memory slots.
Insert the first stick of Ram in memory slot one, reconnect the power and in the case of a desktop computer the video to screen cable.
Power up the computer and see how it goes.
Make a note of the results.
Repeat the procedure until the first stick of Ram has been tested in each memory slot and the results written down.
Remove the first stick of Ram and put it to one side on top of a piece of paper with the number one on it for identification purposes.
Repeat the procedure with all Ram until each stick has been tested in all slots, the results written down and the sticks identified numerically.
Please note that some MBs (motherboards) will not boot unless there is Ram in slot one so please provide us with your motherboard details, brand, model name/number and any revision number, these details may be found by the CPU, between the PCI slots and/or around the edge of the motherboard, once we have the MB details we can look for the user manual.

[Ddunne012]

Hi Phil

Thanks for getting back to me.

So I've tried the Last Known Good Configuration thing and it still just brings me to the blue error screen.

If I turn on the PC without any RAM sticks in the slots the PC does make some error beeps like 3 or 4 prolonged ones.

When I did the physical test on the RAM the same thing happened each time I tested the single sticks in each slot by themselves. Which is;
A black screen appears with the usually writing on it and then it notfies me the memory has changed.
Then it procedes to the Start Windows in Safe mode etc selection screen
Then it goes to the Blue screen

Although on the original black screen now it recognises that I have the windows operating CD in my CD-Rom and asks me to 'press any key to boot from the CD' upon trying this it brings me to a Blue set-up screen which gives the option to press r for a repair or to re-install a new windows xp. If I select either one option it still brings me to tthe blue error screen.

I also noticed the Video card is NVIDIA but I don't know which make exactly as it doesn't say any code on it after it.

Here are also some of the MB details I've noted around the board;
Dell Rev A01
Dell SU E210882
DS/n CN-OWG864-48111-6CF-OEGZ C/O CN

Also it maybe worth while knowing that there appears to be 4 MB slots for the RAM sticks. ( 2 slots with white clippers 1,3 and 2 slots with black clips 2,4). I could not get the RAM to fit into the slots with the black clips 2, 4 for some reason. I don't know if that matters but the 2 RAM sticks were originally placed in slots 1, 3 anyways.

[phillpower2]

You are welcome Ddunne012

Please remove the XP CD from the drive while we are troubleshooting, this will avoid accidently starting it to reinstall.

Getting a BSOD even though the XP disk is in the optical drive may suggest a problem with the HDD or possibly the PSU, we will come to this shortly.

From your reply #6

I didn't find anything loose and there didn't appear to be a added video card.

Then in your reply #8

I also noticed the Video card is NVIDIA but I don't know which make exactly as it doesn't say any code on it after it.

Can you please clarify.

[Ddunne012]

Sorry I don't know what the type of video card is in the PC. It appears to be an NVIDIA.

[phillpower2]

The specifications for the computer show that the video options are;

Video
Type optional integrated Intel 965 Graphics Media Accelerator
(GMA965)
PCI Express

There is no mention of Nvidea and so it suggests that there is an NVidea PCI Express type card fitted like the example below, is that correct.

[Ddunne012]

Yes that is correct

[phillpower2]

I suggest that you remove the add on video card and try using the motherboards integrated video chip and see how the computer behaves, please refer to page 78 of the user manual ftp://ftp.dell.com/Manuals/all-products/esuprt_desktop/esuprt_dimension_desktops/dimension-e520_owner%27s%20manual_en-us.pdf

A link that may also help http://www.dummies.c...r-computer.html

Let us know the outcome please.

[Ddunne012]

Hi Phil

I've removed the video card and tried as you suggested but the blue screen still appears

[Ddunne012]

It might also be worth noting that when the PC goes to a black screen before the blue screen it gives me two selections of Windows Media Edition XP. If I select the top one it goes to the start windows in safe mode selection screen but if I select the bottom one it brings me to a screen which says

'Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
system32\DRIVERS\pci.sys

You can attempt to repair this file by starting Windows Setup using the original Setup CD-ROM.
Select 'r' at the first screen to start repair'

I don't know if this makes a difference to anything but I thought I should let you know.