Resolve Blue screen issue

[mhumphri]

I recently put together a new computer system and installed Vista 64 ultimate. Periodically Windows will shut down unexpectedly, or I get a blue screen, or the system will freeze. This situations seem to occur just sitting at the desktop. I can't play an entire DVD movie. The system will freeze in the middle. What is the best approach for determining where the problem is.. After reviewing some posts in the forum it seems like a memory test might be valuable. I did install the >4gb memory patch. I have gone thru all the drivers and think they are all the latest.

My System configuration
Hardware
Processor: Intel E6850 3ghz 8 GB Ram 4 x 2 GB DDR2
MotherBoard: Gigabyte GA-EP35C-DS3R 2.1
Bios: F3B 2/4/2008
DVDROM: LG - Blu-Ray + HD GGC-H20L. Sata
2 750GB seagate hard drives in raid.
Nvidia 8800 GTS 384MB
24" Samsung HD monitor
Hauppage TV tuner card
Vista Ultimate 64

 

[Brink]

Hi Mhumphri,

Welcome to Vista Forums.

Check to make sure that you are also using the latest BIOS and/or chipset drivers for your motherboard.

You could also be having a issue with overheating. Pop the side of the case open to check to see if the fans are running and flowing in the correct direction.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[Dwarf]

Hi Mhumphri,

This sounds as though it could be an overheating issue. I notice that you have built your system yourself. Hopefully, you should have some fans that circulate air through your system. Assuming that they are all working, you need to check them to make sure that you have got the correct air flow direction. The fans have markings on the case, an arrow to show the rotational direction of the fan and an arrow to indicate the air flow. The air flow through the fan is generally, but not always, towards the label (check the individual fan). The fans need to be arranged so that air is drawn in from the front of the case and exhausted at the back.
In addition, I have also noticed that you have 8GB of RAM. Whilst Vista 64-bit has no problems with that amount of RAM, problems can occur when trying to install Vista with more than 2GB on board. Sometimes, even if you have no apparent problem with installing with more than 2GB, issues can make themselves known in other ways. Many people, both here on Vista Forums and elsewhere on the Web, recommend that Vista is installed on systems with a maximum of 2GB RAM onboard. The full complement of RAM can be reinstalled once Vista has completed installation.
Dwarf

 

[mhumphri]

Fans are running great and ventilating front to back.. I have two 120mm fans plus the arctic CPU cooler which has an additional ventilation port. Its the Alumnus Full size gamer case with clear sides. The Bios is the latest and I updated the Intel ICHR9 Raid controller. I see realtek just came out with a 4/22 update that I don't have.
Since I already installed the Vista with the 8GB installed, should I pull out the memory and reinstall the Vista? or uninstall?

 

[roy69]

Try running the computer in the bios screen.
Leave it running and watch the temp.
Another area to look at is the voltages in the bios screen to see if any are below or above the norm.
Look in your error and performance logs, you can get to this by;
Start --> right click on my computer and choose manage.

Do the top 2 first because if this shows up a problem it will elliminate the OS from your diagnostics.

 

[mhumphri]

Thats a good suggestion. What temperatures should I be looking for?

 

[mhumphri]

I ran it in bios mode.. System temp was 48C and the CPU temp was 32C. No failures at all. 3.3 v was 3.296 and 12v was 12.112. I went into manage and looked at the reliability monitor. There were many windows failures.

 

[mhumphri]

I had several crashes tonight.. I copied down the message: DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL
TCPIP.SYS

Is there something wrong with the LAN card. I checked the drivers and they are up to date.

 

[sidney1st]

Try first to reset the TCP/IP protocol:
Run CMD as admin, then: netsh int ip reset resetlog.txt

If you have still the same problem, it should probably come from your firewall/antivirus.
An analysis of the minidump file could tell more.
Have a look too in the reliability monitor section.

 

[roy69]

Is your nic part of your motherboard or a card. A quick check suggest that you may need to reinstall drivers for the motherboard.

Your cpu temp is fine but your system temp looks to high. I find it very odd that your system temp would be higher than your cpu temp.

Try memory diagnostics if this does not work or use just 4gb of memory to insure that the patch you installed is working.

 

[Dwarf]

Hi Mhumphri,

As you are having so much trouble with your system, you are better off reinstalling Vista. However, just have 2GB installed whilst you do so (you can reinstall the rest once installation has completed). Don't forget to disconnect from the Internet whilst you carry out this procedure, and don't forget to make use of the 30 days that you have before activation. Although you say that your cooling fans are working, they should be operating so that your case is under NEGATIVE pressure. This means that more air is being exhausted from the case than is being pulled in. If this balance is not achieved, then it can lead to a build up of heat within the case. Links are given below to the main page for your motherboard, and also to the Realtek download page for your audio driver (you need to accept the disclaimer before proceeding).
Dwarf

GIGABYTE - Product - Motherboard - Overview - GA-EP35C-DS3R (rev. 2.1)

Realtek

 

[mhumphri]

The NIC card is part of the mother board. I went to the Gigabyte mother board site last night and checked all. Everything was in order. I do have the system fans turned down a bit.. I can crank them up.

I found out that the memory I had in the mother board G.skill 4x2gb 1066 dual channel is not on the mother board's support memory list..

I downloaded the microsoft memory test program but I have no floppy drives. I need to set it up on a CD.

 

[mhumphri]

When I reinstall the Vista, do I do it as a repair?

 

[Dwarf]

Hi Mhumphri,

According to the Website, your motherboard is capable of supporting a floppy drive, so if you have got a spare 3.5 inch external drive bay available I would install one as they are cheaply available. This would then enable you to run the memory test from a floppy - link given below to the Memtest86+ website. Note that you will have to prepare the disk on a non-Vista system as the install routine does not currently work in this environment. As you have had severe problems with your current installation, I strongly advise you to do a full reinstall and not a repair.
Dwarf

Memtest86+ - Advanced Memory Diagnostic Tool

 

[sidney1st]

You also can boot on an USB flash drive to run any tests.

 

[roy69]

Booting from a flash drive is quite easy. Follow the steps here;
http://www.bootdisk.com/pendrive.htm
You can also put diag software on it that will because of it nature, run on any computer that can boot from flash.

 

[mhumphri]

I discovered a microsoft hotfix for this error. DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL STOP X000000D1 TCPIP.SYS.
support.microsoft.com/kb/931365/en.us

I called Microsoft and they sent me the hotfix. When I tried to install it I got the message. This update does not apply to your system.

I have a followup call with them.

Funny thing. The kb says the problem is due to installation of antivirus software. I have not done that yet.

I have not reset the TCP/IP protocol yet.

 

[mhumphri]

I still have not resolved this problem. I ran the computer for about 10-12 hours in safe mode with networking and there was no problem. I rolled back the LAN driver and then went to the Gigabyte web site and redownloaded the current LAN driver and reinstalled it. I tried booting normally and leaving the network cable unplugged and it eventually failed with the same message however the base address is slightly different.

When I boot in safe mode with networking support and do an IPCONFIG /all the tunnel adapter local area connection *7 says media disconnected and there is no IPV6 adress or link-local IPV6 address.

But when I boot normally there is an IPV6 adddress. Also, in normal mode there is a connection-specific DNS suffix: socal.rr.com. When I boot in safe mode there is no DNS suffix.
I would think if the local area connection *7 was a problem, pulling out the network cable would have prevented any errors.

In general should I only install drivers from the mother board mfgs site or should I install drivers from the component mfgs site. For example, the LAN is Realtek and is built into the motherboard made by gigabyte. Should I only install drivers from gigabyte or if realtek comes out with an updated driver for their chipset, can I install from there?

thanks.