Computer is randomly crashing - Blue screening 2

[Huggan]

Hi, i am getting random system crashes once i load up my pc. It is blue screening and coming up with various different errors.

Sometimes my PC wont even start until i turn it on and off several times. Note: This all started happening after i formatted and installed Vista. So no doubt the problem was caused be myself.


Some of the errors i am getting:

"A problem has been detected and windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer.

IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL

*** STOP: 0X0000000A (0XC5AC8354, 0X00000002, 0X00000001, 0X81C83D15)"

and another:

"The BIOS in this system is not fully ACPI compliant. Please contact your system vendor for an updated BIOS."



Thanks in advance for people willing to help me.

 

[wahnula]

From:

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms793589.aspx

If you encounter bug check 0xA while upgrading to a later version of Windows, this error might be caused by a device driver, a system service, a virus scanner, or a backup tool that is incompatible with the new version.

So, double-check all your device drivers are Vista versions. The BIOS conflict will also cause this error. Refer to your mainboard's webpage to download Vista-compatible BIOS. If none exists, then go back to XP.



Tony

Users helping Users...

 

[Huggan]

Ok, thanks for your help.

Some information that may be useful:

Board: Hewleet-Packard Asterope2 1.0
Bus Clock: 133 megahertz
BIOS: American Megatrends Inc. 3.16 06/22/2006

From that information i can't seem to find my mainboard's webpage anywhere so i update my BIOS...

 

[wolluf]

Did vista actually install ok? If so, when did the problems start? (you said you formatted - so presume it was a clean install - not an upgrade). Also if so, have you tried repairing the installation (boot vista DVD and choose repair option).

If it didn't install ok, then back to XP (was there a reason for Vista - cos I haven't found one yet!)

 

[Huggan]

I have no idea, sorry i'm not much use in making things easier for you guys. I presume it installed ok, it was a clean install from a fully formated PC.

If i go back to XP can i keep all my documents etc?


Thank you!

 

[wahnula]

it was a clean install from a fully formated PC.

If i go back to XP can i keep all my documents etc?

If you are talking about files that you recently generated on the Vista install then the answer would probably be no. Back them up to flash drive or second external drive (REMEMBER TO UNHOOK EXTERNAL DRIVE BEFORE XP INSTALL!) and then format during XP install. Since MS considers this a "downgrade" then I don't believe the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard will work...and it's always best to start with a clean drive.


Tony

Users helping Users...

 

[Huggan]

Ok, so i've just formatted again, and went back to XP. However the same problem remains.

Upon the 2nd format i realised i must have deleted both partitions that existed on the harddrive. Partion 1 was the C:/ drive, main bit with all programs etc on. The other one was D:/ that was some small partition created by Compaq, which i formatted (DOH!)

That MUST be the problem, so is there any way of getting that section of my HDD back?

Thanks for all your help, i really appriciate it.

 

[wahnula]

Remove any add-in cards, all but one stick of RAM. No network cards, sound cards etc. Just a HDD, M/B, one stick RAM & CD-ROM. Go into the BIOS and Load Optimized Defaults. Is the HDD IDE or SATA? If SATA then load the drivers from floppy at F6 or set the BIOS for SATA as IDE or SATA as Legacy Mode.

That small Compaq partition was probably a recovery partition, if you're booting from a Compaq Recovery CD it will probably recreate the partition. Other than that, no great loss.

Tony

Users helping Users...

 

[Huggan]

Ok, about removing all the cards etc what exactly will this do? The computer doesn't have a floppy drive either.

I don't have the Compaq Recovery CD either as it all came built in the Computer, along with Windows XP.

Cheers.

 

[wahnula]

removing all the cards etc what exactly will this do?

If one of the cards or its driver is faulty then it may be causing the issue. Removing the cards eliminates that possibility. Removing attached peripherals like a printer, UPS, and external drives will also eliminate them as culprits.

Troubleshooting is a lot of trial and error. What we're trying to do is reduce any possible conflicts by reducing the amount of hardware. The less you have, the less that can go wrong.



Tony

Users helping Users...

 

[Huggan]

Ok, so once i have removed everything what exactly am i looking for/to do??

Just run Windows and see if it all works ok?

 

[acewarlock]

Yes and then if it works you can add back the things you removed until it starts having the problem and that last item you put backin is probally the bad one so remove it and then add backin the next item until you have everything backin except the bad items.




This is a Signature and not part of the answer, it appears on every reply.

This is an Analogy so don't take it personally as some have.

Why change the engine if all you need is to change the spark plugs.

 

[Huggan]

Had a new error today:

Disable BIOS memory options such as caching or shadowing.
Win32k.sys


I'd rather see if there is any other solution rather than start taking my computer apart, because i haven't got a clue what everything is inside my PC.