[greenman19]

I don't think that's the problem, vents are pretty cool and it's always on a cooling pad. Do you have any other ideas?
Note: It seems to crash more in safe mode when in low res (Default VGA driver problem?)

[Advertisements]

At this point I have to say it';s either a faulty video chip or maybe a mainboard itself.
Since all the other components check out good like the memory and the hd then the options are very slim what we can check.
We have done diagnostics on everything else and according to your results everything is checking out fine.
That leaves either

• OS
• Mainboard
• Video

Since you stated the issue started before the recovery process and faulty installation then the only two options left are the Mainboard or the video card.
If the hd drive was to blame then that would have shown up when I had you run the diagnostic software from the manufacturer
If Memory was to blame memtest86 would have picked that up.
A controller on the mainboard could be bad. A capacitor could be leaking. The video chip could be faulty.
Short of opening it up and having a repair shop physically look at these components it is almost impossible for us to see it and tell you.

[rshaffer61]

At this point I have to say it';s either a faulty video chip or maybe a mainboard itself.
Since all the other components check out good like the memory and the hd then the options are very slim what we can check.
We have done diagnostics on everything else and according to your results everything is checking out fine.
That leaves either

• OS
• Mainboard
• Video

Since you stated the issue started before the recovery process and faulty installation then the only two options left are the Mainboard or the video card.
If the hd drive was to blame then that would have shown up when I had you run the diagnostic software from the manufacturer
If Memory was to blame memtest86 would have picked that up.
A controller on the mainboard could be bad. A capacitor could be leaking. The video chip could be faulty.
Short of opening it up and having a repair shop physically look at these components it is almost impossible for us to see it and tell you.

[greenman19]

Oh well, that sucks. :v
Thanks for all your help.

[rshaffer61]

When the shop checks it out please let us know what they find. It would be interesting to know if our diagnostics is correct or what they actually find is the problem.

[greenman19]

I'm not sending it to a shop, it's going back to HP themselves (Whenever they come to pick it up) They should let me know what it is if they find anything though.

[rshaffer61]

Yes and since it is going to them they can repair the mobo and video if that indeed is the issue.

[greenman19]

Weird, since the new driver was installed I don't get BSOD's or pinstripe crashes anymore, just the freezes/

[rshaffer61]

Exactly the freezes could be caused by mobo or psu or the controller not being set right.
Lets check that just in case.

ok I need you to do the following and let me know what it says



For HD only



Let's make sure all drives are using DMA mode

Click the Start and then Right click My Computer
Select Manage and In the Computer Management window, select Device Manager
In the right pane, click to expand IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers
The click on the + sign next to your Hard drive controllers on both the Primary Controller and Secondary Controller
Right click on the drive and select Properties
Click the Advanced Settings tab
In the Transfer Mode box open the drop down menu and select DMA if available
Redo the steps to check each of the Controllers
Click OK and exit all windows
Reboot to make sure all settings take affect. Reply back with your results

[greenman19]

All of them had DMA checked (Some didn't have the option)
What is DMA?

[rshaffer61]

Direct Memory Access
Wiki has a good explanation of it HERE

[greenman19]

Thanks. No change though.

[rshaffer61]

Well we are back to the original possibilities then.

[greenman19]

Well I'm stumped. :|

[rshaffer61]

Sounds like at this point it is up to HP to figure it out as it is something other then what can be diagnosed with normal steps.
If it is indeed the mobo they will have to replace it and I'm just not sure how much that would cost.

[greenman19]

Sounds like at this point it is up to HP to figure it out as it is something other then what can be diagnosed with normal steps.
If it is indeed the mobo they will have to replace it and I'm just not sure how much that would cost.

Parts and labour are included in the warranty.