I'm having a problem with a BSoD, specifically one that comes up when I leave my computer idle longer than about 15 minutes or so. The error says the following:
Then it dumps physical memory and sits there. After a little while longer the screen will black out. It tells me to reinstall any new hardware or software or something, and to disable BIOS caching or shadowing or some such thing. Its been doing this ever since I reinstalled Windows a few months back after I got a nasty virus that crashed the computer. I'm running Windows XP Professional (build 2600 I think) on a Celeron 500 system with 192 MB RAM.
And no, a new computer isn't an option.
Posted by Nim the Fanciful (Member # 205) on :
That is interesting since I was sure Windows XP didn't have the "Blue Screen of Death" feature.
Don't take offense but are you sure you're not running Win2000?
I've had my XP running since November 2001 and I have never ever seen a BSoD. There have been lockups and software failure, but my XP merely jumps to the "Windows Task Manager" and lets me close the faulty application.
Posted by Topher (Member # 71) on :
Yes, I'm running XP and yes, it does have a BSoD. Its just normally quite difficult to cause.
Posted by Omega (Member # 91) on :
Try, for example, disconnecting an external burner while it's burning. That does it quite well.
Posted by Cartman (Member # 256) on :
I do wonder why Microsoft don't make more of the Knowledge Database, since it's quite useful, and no-one seems to know about it.
So, the problem (probably) is:
0xC0000185, or STATUS_IO_DEVICE_ERROR, indicates improper termination, defective storage controller hardware, defective disk cabling, or two devices attempting to use the same system resources.
And the solutions are:
1/ If the I/O status is 0xC0000185 and the paging file is on a SCSI disk, check for cabling and termination issues.
2/ Another cause of Stop 0x77 messages is defective, malfunctioning, or failed memory hardware, such as memory modules, Level 2 (L2) SRAM cache, or video adapter RAM.
3/ The problem might also be due to cracks, scratched traces, or defective components on the motherboard. If all else fails, take the system motherboard to a repair facility for diagnostic testing.
Since 3 is the hardest to fix, start with the other two. Have you got a SCSI device? Since the computer crashes after 15 minutes or so, take out all your memory modules apart from one, turn the computer on and then leave it, to see if it crashes again. If it does, swap memory modules. If it still crashes, congratulations, you've eliminated one option.
Try turning off your L2 cache in the BIOS, too.
(I know a new computer is out of the option, but running WIn XP on a 500mhz Celeron with less than 256mb? That's pretty brave.)
Posted by Nim the Fanciful (Member # 205) on :
My friend has XP on a 667MHz with 64Mb RAM. He complains that he can only have about three programs running at the same time.
Posted by Cartman (Member # 256) on :
64? That's INSANE. It'd be a minor miracle just to get Paint, Notepad and CALCULATOR running concurrently with that little memory, let alone any heavier programs. Your friend does know he can (cheaply) upgrade his PC, right?
[ April 29, 2004, 03:14 PM: Message edited by: Cartman ]
Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :
I keep forgetting to suggest that as an article to PC magazines. They're full of "build a PC for less than the cost of buying one" articles, but they still end up with PC's costing around �600-700. Poor university students and the like haven't got that money to upgrade their poor, desolate 500mhz PIIIs with 10gig hard drives and 64mb RAM.
They should do a "build a new, cheap PC" article, from time to time. Show how for around �200 you could get a 2600+ Athalon, 80 gig hard drive and 256mb RAM, along with a new motherboard and case. Sure, it won't play Half-Life 2 very well, but you the quality of graphics card you need varies massively depending on what you actually do with a PC, so there's a lot of flexibility in that. And it's a massive step up from the computers that a lot of people are using today.
Posted by Topher (Member # 71) on :
quote:Originally posted by PsyLiam: 1/ If the I/O status is 0xC0000185 and the paging file is on a SCSI disk, check for cabling and termination issues.
I have no SCSI disks, just the original 13GB hardrive that came with the computer.
quote:2/ Another cause of Stop 0x77 messages is defective, malfunctioning, or failed memory hardware, such as memory modules, Level 2 (L2) SRAM cache, or video adapter RAM.
Well, I was having a problem with some leaky RAM, but I pulled it out and replaced it.
quote:3/ The problem might also be due to cracks, scratched traces, or defective components on the motherboard. If all else fails, take the system motherboard to a repair facility for diagnostic testing.
Since 3 is the hardest to fix, start with the other two. Have you got a SCSI device? Since the computer crashes after 15 minutes or so, take out all your memory modules apart from one, turn the computer on and then leave it, to see if it crashes again. If it does, swap memory modules. If it still crashes, congratulations, you've eliminated one option.
My hardrive has been acting strangely lately, going into little spurts where it will create a disconcerting grinding noise...
quote:Try turning off your L2 cache in the BIOS, too.
Will do.
quote:(I know a new computer is out of the option, but running WIn XP on a 500mhz Celeron with less than 256mb? That's pretty brave.)
The computer originally came with 64MB of RAM and I went through Win98, Win2000, and WinXP for a bit before upgrading to 256MB. The guy that put the memory in said it was a miracle the computer even ran well.
Posted by Charles Capps (Member # 9) on :
quote:My hardrive has been acting strangely lately, going into little spurts where it will create a disconcerting grinding noise...
It's failing. Get a replacement.
NOW.
Do NOT delay.
Your drive WILL fail VERY quickly, and if you fail to get the data off of it and onto a new drive ASAP, you're going to be screwed.
Posted by Cartman (Member # 256) on :
Yes, to Obi-Capps you listen. Your drive's going to have a headcrash which will destroy EVERY last byte of data on it and there's NO way to recover your stuff once that happens.
Posted by Grokca (Member # 722) on :
quote:you're going to be screwed.
I never got sex when my hard drive crashed.
Posted by Topher (Member # 71) on :
This would be all nice and dandy if I had the money to buy a new drive. Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :
At least back up everything important to CDs.
80 gig hard drives cost �40 over here. Considering that everything is more expensive in the US than anywhere else in the world, you should be able to find them for cheaper than that. Make it a priority. Do not go out. Do not buy food. Save up for one.
And don't get a smaller one. You'll save a tiny amount of money for significantly less space. Unless things are drastically different over there, 80gig is about perfect on the price/performance graph for a decent but cheap hard drive.
Posted by Topher (Member # 71) on :
Well, I did a backup last night. And the computer's been behaving itself for now. It hasn't made any grinding noises in a week or so. Providing it survives the summer, I'll just save up for a new computer altogether as I'll be using a different computer primarily in the fall.
On another note, I did some research regarding my system. It was assembled in 1999, and the drive has an expected 5 year life. Which would be this year.
Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :
But if you built a computer, then you could use your new hard drive in it.
Don't do anything stupid like buying a pre-built system. That's only foor fools and silly-billys.
Posted by Nim the Fanciful (Member # 205) on :
Or not!
Posted by Balaam Xumucane (Member # 419) on :
I realize I'm gonna catch shit for this (shit I will undoubtedly deserve), {MACDORK RANT} but my G4 w/ OSX.3 has been running solid for three weeks straight now. I've edited two feature-length DV movies, done some 3D modelling and rendering, scanning and Photoshoping work stuff up and down, Illustrator inside-out, Acrobat-ics, bunch of Excel star-charting stuff, all kinds of iTunes BS, networking to/from my PCs, and, of course, email & surfing throughout. No crashes. Not (only) bragging. It's just creepy in a way. Creepy good.
Also, last weekend, my dad, who I always think of as being fairly technically literate was having trouble getting his Wi-Fi to work under XP and asked his snot-nosed Mac-geek son to lend a hand. It was weird because his Cli� wasn't having any trouble. It took me about an hour-and-a-half and some fiddling with 'network bridge' stuff (?!), but I was eventually able to get his laptop working with his wireless router through a lot of trial and error. Inspired, this week, I finally bought myself a wireless card for my PowerBook. I installed it at an internet caf�. I was online in, seriously, five minutes. No, but these computers were quite a bit more expensive than their PC counterparts. Somehow I feel like I got my money's worth. My two cents. {/MACDORK RANT}
Sorry to hear about your drive, Topher. I've lost a couple that way (Hooray Quanum!). About the only upside is that it's a really good excuse to get a bigger one. I don't know if XP will put the drives to sleep when it's not using them, but while performance will suffer, your drives will live longer healthier lives.
Posted by Cartman (Member # 256) on :
Well, shit, there goes the neighborhood.
Posted by Nim the Fanciful (Member # 205) on :
Balaam: "{MACDORK RANT}"
Balaam MacDork? Of the clan MacDork?
Posted by Balaam Xumucane (Member # 419) on :
![[Frown]](frown.gif)