Help solve a major issue

Dist · 3 Apr 2010 at 16:30

I need to get my computer back up and running into a stable state so I'm hoping I can get some good, fast, responses to solve this.

A couple days ago I had a BSoD while playing a game, i restarted and a BIOS error came up followed by it constantly check between CD and USB drive for recovery. After a restart everything booted fine.

Last night I had another BSoD, this time no problem when restarting. Today I got several BSoD, one of them kept saying a bad bios checksum during boot even after restarting. Fixed itself after being shutdown for a few min though.

I didn't catch what files or errors were involved in all the BSoDs, but the first BSoD involved win32k.sys and had an error 0x000000003b or something, this latest one involved spbb.sys and a different error code.

I've tried running a system file check and no issues were found, and I'm in the process of trying to make a memtest USB to see if that picks up anything.

I've also ruled out overheating, as I had a BSoD at a time when my system was cool.

kellaway225 · 3 Apr 2010 at 16:38

Not Sure but maybe a reinstall would fix this

Leeroy123 · 3 Apr 2010 at 16:39

Reinstall and if the problem persists after that maybe its faulty hardware.

Dist · 3 Apr 2010 at 16:42

when you say reinstall, do you mean just installing vista over my current install, or a full format and start from scratch? because i'm not sure if i have enough space on my thinkpad to use to backup all my data to for a full format.

kellaway225 · 3 Apr 2010 at 16:44

try over the top first and if that doesnt work and you still get the BSOD errors then you might be forced to do a Full Format

Dist · 3 Apr 2010 at 17:29

I couldn't get a USB drive working, so I've had to resort to using windows memory diagnostics tool, currently set to 5 passes on standard settings. 8% into test 1, no issues so far. Long way to go.

kellaway225 · 3 Apr 2010 at 17:31

why not just burn it to a disc?

Dist · 3 Apr 2010 at 17:33

kellaway225 said:
why not just burn it to a disc?

I don't have any blank CDs or DVDs.

Dist · 3 Apr 2010 at 19:08

windows memory diagnostics got stuck at 21% (on both extensive and standard tests). I've removed one of my memory modules and left in the one that has worked for several years. Tommorow if I get a chance I may try pick up some blank DVDs for memtest86+.

kellaway225 · 3 Apr 2010 at 20:01

if it got stuck doing the test maybe something wrong with the RAM?

Dist · 3 Apr 2010 at 20:06

kellaway225 said:
if it got stuck doing the test maybe something wrong with the RAM?

It never reported any errors though, and its made by MS so there is more chance of it freezing due to the nature of the program or tests its running than memmory error. Memtest86+ will give better results if I can get it running when i get some blank dvds for it.

kellaway225 · 3 Apr 2010 at 20:19

yeah that might be true, MemTest should help figure out if its RAM problems
have you checked what Voltage the RAM should be running at? as i had to change mine manually after getting a few Memory Management BSOD

Dist · 3 Apr 2010 at 20:28

kellaway225 said:
yeah that might be true, MemTest should help figure out if its RAM problems
have you checked what Voltage the RAM should be running at? as i had to change mine manually after getting a few Memory Management BSOD

It's running at 2.1v and the exact speed timmings that the memory is designed for.

kellaway225 · 3 Apr 2010 at 20:38

then that aint the problem

Leeroy123 · 4 Apr 2010 at 22:27

try a full format, and a dvd costs less than 10p?

flying grouse · 5 Apr 2010 at 00:32

on vista there are lots more information to hand, have you checked the "reliability history"

Here is a link for more info: http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/winvista_ff_rmon.asp

if you click on any of the error icons "yellow triangle/red X" on the history graph it will tell what has happened at that time.

snaggster · 5 Apr 2010 at 09:26

Leeroy123 said:
Reinstall and if the problem persists after that maybe its faulty hardware.

Good time to go win7????