Help - Blue Screen

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Dan1502

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Firs of all my apologies for posting on here about this. I realise there is loads of information available from searches on the web but there lies part of the problem. I don't know where to start and what steps to take to find the source of the problem, all explained simply.

Anyway I'm running Windows 7 64 and have been getting frequent blue screen issues (about one a day, sometimes more). The pc is pretty new and has been doing this from soon after getting it. After restarting I often got a message about the Trend antivirus software update causing a problem and being rolled back so I put it down to this but last night I had just saved something in PS and it happened again. I went back into PS and all the actions had gone, including the defaults. This has made me think it might not be the Trend software though I need to deal with this anyway.

My pc is a Dell Vostro desktop with an Intel i7 and 6Gb of RAM if that helps.

I would grateful for advice on how to go about resolving this as I only have the minimum level of support from Dell.

Thanks
 
I have a Dell 5150 which i've had for 3.5 years now, anyway when i first bought it this used to happen quite a bit, i was using McAfee antivirus at the time, to be honest it just seemed to right itself after a couple of months, as i don't recall doing anything in particular, i did change from McAfee to AVG but can't remember if that was partly the reason, i'm not sure if this is something familiar with Dell's but it's not the first time i've heard it mentioned.
 
Blue screening can be lots of things but, in my experience, dodgy RAM can often be the culprit.

Suggest you take out all but one of your RAM sticks (earth yourself first) and run it for a few days.

If all is well, add another stick etc. etc.

If not, replace the RAM with another stick.
 
also run a disc check on your hard drive.
its normally always been a ram issue for me but could be many things.
could also be your graphics card if you have one or a mainboard fault.

If you bought it from a shop just let them deal with it under your warranty.
 
I think the graphics card is onboard but will check. It was bought direct from Dell but is return to buyer so I'd like to try and diagnose the problem myself if possible. I've got two operating systems working on different hard drives and it happens with both so I'm guessing the hard drive isn't the problem.

I'll try a memory check.
 
TBH it could be anything - This may help you diagnose the issue by looking at the dump files created after a OS failure.
 
Thanks, I've done a screenpring of the error codes etc and googled it and found some information. The memory check using the windows 7 checker came back ok. I'll check out the links you kindly provided. It's event ID 41, Task 63.
 
dont dell have a built in check utility i think its on f12 on boot up look for test partition will do a self check for you
 
I'll try the self test. I did the memory check using the program within windows but will try memtest.

I have since downloaded windows debugger and got about 8 memory dump analysis reports. There are more but I thought that would do for now. Some seem to be to do with memory corruption, others usb related, vista driver fault, xerox print driver .... The Dell support site suggests if the caused are varying a lot then it is most likely a RAM issue.

I think I'll do the memtest then contact support. At least I'll be armed with more information. They'll probably ask if I've tried rebooting!
 
Try taking the memory out, clean the contacts, then reseat them back in. Sometimes they haven't clicked in properly, or they work loose. The vibration of the fan or the heating up of the components sometimes cause this to happen. If this doesn't work take all the memory modules out, then try with just one stick of RAM in the first bank. Try them all in turn, then at least you will know if it's a problem with any of the memory modules.

One of my clients had a similar problem and it was due to the capacitors leaking, but I wouldn't think this would be the problem with a new pc.
 
Well memtest has run for an hour and a quarter without any errors detected. I have opened the cover and checked all connections are seated correctly but I haven't taken them out and cleaned the contacts. I would have thought if this was the issue, the memory test would have shown errors. I think the next thing I shall do is check all the drivers are up to date manually (ie not just rely on windows telling me they're up to date but by checking the websites of the hardware manufacturers). I checked that the hard drive firmware is up to date and it is. The problem is that if it's not the memory then I could have a number of issues. I suspect it could be the antivirus software (but that's because of the above mentioned errors and a mistrust of such software) but it would seem there are endless possibilities. Computers eh - can't live with them and can't live without them!
 
Are you running Windows Defender? It's not compatible with AVG and AVG switches it off. Maybe Trend could be having a problem with it. Just a thought as I run Vista and don't use Win 7, but it may be worth a try.
 
I've disable the windows firewall as I know this to have caused problems with internet connections as well. I did also try disabling the antivirus driver in network adapter settings as this initially caused me problems too ( I think I left it that way).

I'll try Prime 95. It is an Intel I7. I've not been monitoring the temps but it doesn't seem to get particularly hot.
 
Just running the Dell diagnostics utility and shall leave it running whilst I go out for a curry and a beer! Thanks for all the help.
 
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