BSoD :(

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gogatrs

gogatrs

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gogatrs
My PC has gotten the blue screen of death. :(
We have Windows XP Professional Service Pack 3.

I am not a techie in any way shape or form.
I am like the Sarah Palin of computers. :/

Can some of you guys give me a walk through guide on how to fix this?
I'm posting from my iPod in case anyone is wondering.

I've turned off the computer with the button and it worked fine for a few minutes until I opened firefox when the screen came up again.
I tried disconnecting from the power source then reconnecting with no success.

Help!
 
skylinefx
Have you installed any new drivers recently?
Click to expand...

Only thing I've recently installed is rFactor.
Now it refuses to turn on.
If I press the button, it'll turn on, but the screen remains black and the fan just whirs, nothing else. :/
 
Run the program Bluescreenview and it will show the crashdump log of the lastest bluescreens.

http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/blue_screen_view.html

It will tell you what caused it which can lead to a fix.

Since it wont turn on unplug the computer from the wall and leave it for 10 mins(for a full reset), then start the computer in safemode(keep tapping F8 at soon as you turn your PC on), if you get a crash again,keep tapping F8 so you bring up the boot selection screen and select Disable Automatic restart on system failure.
 
2 days ago I experienced the BSOD too but in a weird way. I, as usual only hibernate my laptop because soon I'll be using it again at night. I've always done it for a year already without only problem but just that day it took a very long time that I fell asleep. When I woke up, the laptop wasn't hibernating instead it showed the BSOD with an unreadable letters, not symbols but just unreadable and they're kind of vibrating from left to right.

I tried to Google the matter but didn't find any solution. I then downloaded the 'Bluescreenview' and strangely, it never record the latest BSOD!
 
Grayfox
Run the program Bluescreenview and it will show the crashdump log of the lastest bluescreens.

http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/blue_screen_view.html

It will tell you what caused it which can lead to a fix.

Since it wont turn on unplug the computer from the wall and leave it for 10 mins(for a full reset), then start the computer in safemode(keep tapping F8 at soon as you turn your PC on), if you get a crash again,keep tapping F8 so you bring up the boot selection screen and select Disable Automatic restart on system failure.
Click to expand...

Yeah, but it wont turn on now.
At start up I usually get two beeps, I'm getting no beeps and only the fan...
 
dchPSUone
Sounds like your motherboard is most likely finished. :(
Click to expand...

It happens inconsistently.
Like I've just turned it on.
It works fine.
I turned it off. It wouldn't start.
I get it to start again an hour or so later/after a few tries of turning it on/off with the button, but then the screen will go black and the fan will come on in the middle of my session, forcing me to shut down via the button...
 
Open the case and reseat the RAM moduels.

While you have the case open you can get rid of any dust by using a horsehair brush to dust it out.
 
Grayfox
Open the case and reseat the RAM moduels.

While you have the case open you can get rid of any dust by using a horsehair brush to dust it out.
Click to expand...

Can you say that with a fifth graders vocabulary level?
I'm really stupid when it comes to computer stuff...
 
I would suggest, if you're unable to fix it yourself, putting the computer into sleep mode when you're not using it. It would mean that it doesn't turn off, so you won't go through the pain of having to wait for it to turn on.

My old computer had the same problem except it was when I opened Google Chrome, I would ALWAYS get the Blue Screen Error.

My computer before that, if I turned it off, I would have to spend 20-30 minutes trying to turn it back on.
 
Putting the PC to sleep may not help as you are still powering it back up.

gogatrs
Can you say that with a fifth graders vocabulary level?
I'm really stupid when it comes to computer stuff...
Click to expand...

I cant dumb my self down much as even when i am i still confuse people who know nothing about PCs.

So use this link
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial118.html

You don't need a static strap just touch the chassic of the case to discharge static.
If you don't have a horse hair brush, you can use the compressed air can(they are cheap to get).
Popping the CR2032 CMOS battery out for a while will reset the bios and any issues it may have.(to this as a last attempt).
 
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Basically he just means... take the stick(s) of RAM out of the motherboard and then put them back in. While you're in there, grab some compressed air and dust everything off in case heat is part of the problem.
 
dchPSUone
Basically he just means... take the stick(s) of RAM out of the motherboard and then put them back in. While you're in there, grab some compressed air and dust everything off in case heat is part of the problem.
Click to expand...

Dust is the main issue.

Dust can short circuit video cards, modems, ram moduels.

Dust blocking the CPU heatsink fins is another issue that you should check out and fix while you are doing the dusting(like dchPSUone said).

You can also burn this program to a CD/DVD to check if any RAM moduels are faulty.
http://www.memtest.org/#downiso

Use the Pre-Compiled Bootable Binary (.zip) option then burn and boot off it.

It will tell you if their are any memory errors.
 
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Grayfox
Dust is the main issue.

Dust can short circuit video cards, modems, ram moduels.

Dust blocking the CPU heatsink fins is another issue that you should check out and fix while you are doing the dusting(like dchPSUone said).

You can also burn this program to a CD/DVD to check if any RAM moduels are faulty.
http://www.memtest.org/#downiso

Use the Pre-Compiled Bootable Binary (.zip) option then burn and boot off it.

It will tell you if their are any memory errors.
Click to expand...

OK, it probably is a dust issue.
I'll try that a little later.

I'm convinced that it isnt a motherboard or RAM problem.
I had the exact same problem with my older computer and I got a new motherboard and reset the RAM module. Neither of those helped the issue and I soon just got a new computer.

I didn't dust it out though.

I haven't got any compressed air, any other ways I can do that?
 
gogatrs
I haven't got any compressed air, any other ways I can do that?
Click to expand...

If you have a horse hair brush you can use that(plastic ones can generate static).

They do make brushes made for this sort of thing and they tend to cost a $5 or so.

If you don't have any Horse haired brushes you can try using a nomal one but it has to be clean with no paint in it(but try this at own risk).
 
Grayfox
If you have a horse hair brush you can use that(plastic ones can generate static).

They do make brushes made for this sort of thing and they tend to cost a $5 or so.

If you don't have any Horse haired brushes you can try using a nomal one but it has to be clean with no paint in it(but try this at own risk).
Click to expand...

Tooth brush?
No vacuum I'm assuming. :lol:
 
Tooth brushe bristles are plastic which are not safe.

You are correct with No Vacuum, It will cause build up static which is a bad thing.

These ones are made for this job and i would recommend you have one for future use.

ux_a08032000ux0066_ux_m.jpg

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images
 
if you have a shop vac, reverse the nozzle so it blows.
put on an adapter to make the opening small so you have fast moving air

take the case outside, open it, and use the shop vac to blow out as much dust as possible
make sure to blow out the power supply (block looking thing in a corner with a bundle of multicolored wires) at all vents. make sure to blow out the processor (in the middle of the big circuit board - it will have a big metal heat sink with a fan on it) , blow the sites of the cpu heatsink to get dust out of it.
basically, de dust it as best as possible - if you have fuzz bunnies, you may have to remove certain modules to properly clean. if so, place them on a non static surface (natural wood , anti static bags if you have any) while cleaning
i do not suggest brushing or using any duster with any type of brissles
air is the best way to go.
if you have a compressor in your garage , you can use an adapter to blow high pressure air into the case. this works very well, and is probably the cheapest (dusting air cans are ridiculously expensive and low powered)

do not do it inside at all - breathing in the dust may get you sick
 
nethereal
if you have a shop vac, reverse the nozzle so it blows.
put on an adapter to make the opening small so you have fast moving air

take the case outside, open it, and use the shop vac to blow out as much dust as possible
make sure to blow out the power supply (block looking thing in a corner with a bundle of multicolored wires) at all vents. make sure to blow out the processor (in the middle of the big circuit board - it will have a big metal heat sink with a fan on it) , blow the sites of the cpu heatsink to get dust out of it.
basically, de dust it as best as possible - if you have fuzz bunnies, you may have to remove certain modules to properly clean. if so, place them on a non static surface (natural wood , anti static bags if you have any) while cleaning
i do not suggest brushing or using any duster with any type of brissles
air is the best way to go.
if you have a compressor in your garage , you can use an adapter to blow high pressure air into the case. this works very well, and is probably the cheapest (dusting air cans are ridiculously expensive and low powered)

do not do it inside at all - breathing in the dust may get you sick
Click to expand...

OK, I'll do that sometime this weekend.
I can't even start it up now. :(
The fan just whirs and whirs, mocking me. :banghead:

What do you guys think I can salvage out of there for future use?
 
I would not even being to say what is wrong with nethereals, because a vacuum even on suck will cause static build up caused by the air.

Brushes like i pictured are made for this type of job.

But if it is now not even posting it may be that the mainboard has had it.
 
gogatrs
OK, I'll do that sometime this weekend.
I can't even start it up now. :(
The fan just whirs and whirs, mocking me. :banghead:

What do you guys think I can salvage out of there for future use?
Click to expand...

Salvage? RAM modules, assuming they're DDR3. Video Card, assuming it has one and not just on board video. Hard Drive, DVD drive, wireless card, ethernet card.. Not much else I'm guessing. CPU, if that wasn't fried in the process..
 
bergauk
Salvage? RAM modules, assuming they're DDR3. Video Card, assuming it has one and not just on board video. Hard Drive, DVD drive, wireless card, ethernet card.. Not much else I'm guessing. CPU, if that wasn't fried in the process..
Click to expand...

CPUs rarely get fried.

Mainboard is just dead is the most likely issue.

Ethernet in onboard.
Wifi card would be a PCI device(if installed).
So best thing to do is remove the HDD and use it for backup use.
The DVD may be IDE or Sata if it is sata you can use it as a secondary drive.
Video card wont be of much use as their are faster ones for dirt cheap.

What kind of computer is it?
 
OK, my Dad just vaccumed it out despite all my protests.
Then reset the RAM module, and it's now working fine. ;)
Thanks for the help guys.
I'm going to uninstall some software in a little bit.
Right now Windows has just flooded us with updates lol.

Could the vacuuming have any long term effects that may pop up in the future?
 

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