Can Only Boot in Safe Mode?

lemonkettaz · 16 Apr 2006 at 18:43

Hey, Slight problem.. well big problem..

I can all of a sudden only boot up in safe mode.. anytime i try and boot in normal mode i get the following message

MACHINE_CHECK_EXCEPTION

When its loading windows it will cut to a big blue screen with basically that on.

Ive installed no new hardware at all.. ive done nothing i can think of to damage the computer... This morning it was fine.. now it isnt... Can anyone help please

kinetic747 · 16 Apr 2006 at 18:53

First thing I'd do would be to check your memory, try to boot with only 1 stick of RAM.

lemonkettaz · 16 Apr 2006 at 21:04

This problem has now been overshadowed by another problem.. AGAIN

Joe42 · 16 Apr 2006 at 21:08

lemonkettaz said:
This problem has now been overshadowed by another problem.. AGAIN

Lots of wierd random problems caused by nothing in particular... Ram or psu.

lemonkettaz · 16 Apr 2006 at 21:09

now it isnt copying a file i need for soundcard drivers... i feel like kicking the useless piece of junk.

Joe42 · 16 Apr 2006 at 21:18

Thats definately indicative of a ram problem.
Everything goes through it, and you get all sorts of wierd problems when it corrupts randomly. Unlikely to be both sticks tho, take one out and see what happens.

It may have corrupted some windows files necessitating a re-install.

Heres a microsoft article on machine check exception.

The following factors may cause this error message:
System bus errors
• Memory errors that may include parity or Error Correction Code (ECC) problems
• Cache errors in the processor or hardware
• Translation Lookaside Buffers (TLB) errors in the processor
• Other CPU-vendor specific detected hardware problems
• Vendor-specific detected hardware problems

Good old windows ehh:

STATUS
This behavior is by design.

It also says:

Machine check exceptions are frequently caused by one of the following conditions:
• You are running the processor or mainboard beyond its specifications. For example, you are overclocking the processor or bus. We recommend that you run your hardware at the manufacturer-rated speeds.
• Noisy power, overstressed power strips, outmatched power supplies and failing power supplies can destabilize your computer. Make sure that you have a stable, reliable power supply to your computer.

So thats:
-Ram
-Overclocking
-PSU
Acording to ms.

You need to:
-Revert to stock speeds
-Swap ram around
-Check psu v rails

Hope thats some help.

lemonkettaz · 16 Apr 2006 at 23:34

Cheers for the info.

I took my xfi card out

.. and now the computer is has been fine since... could it be the xfi was a problem or not..

onboard sound is poor to the xfi like

im gutted

Joe42 · 16 Apr 2006 at 23:52

Creative drivers aren't renowned for their, err, quality.
Their tech support was ok when i last used it tho, might aswell let them know that the drivers team need sacking again. If they have one that is...

I assume your running xp? Otherwise i suppose it might be a irq issue.

gr0d0n · 17 Apr 2006 at 09:49

Did you have the onboard sound disabled in the device manager before you took the xfi out ? if not you could do that then try putting the xfi back in.

lemonkettaz · 17 Apr 2006 at 11:27

I had my onboard disabled while having the xfi in.. it just wouldnt let me install the drivers...

ive had to take it out now and ive enabled onboard sound

should i contact creative about the problem?

i got the card at christmas.. still got the box and the reciept (in email form)

Joe42 · 17 Apr 2006 at 11:52

Yes, contact creative.
As i said, its probably a driver problem.