Member Avatar for moderate_rock48

Hey, I am running Microsoft windows XP professional edition. I have a few files when you scroll over them or try to do anything to them, the computer flashes a blue screen, this screen has writing on it and it looks like it could explain what is happening, but it only flashes up for half a second and restarts. I dont have time to read it, does anybody have any idea what is going on here? thanks.

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by caperjack

Dani AI

Generated

This is a kernel "blue screen" (STOP error). Because the machine restarts so quickly the stop-code and any faulting driver name are lost unless automatic restart is turned off (as already suggested). The exact STOP code (example formats: 0x0000007E, 0x00000050) and any filename ending in .sys are the single most useful clues. That the flashes occur only when interacting with a few files points toward three classes of cause: a thumbnail/preview handler or other Explorer shell extension, a buggy device/graphics/volume driver, or disk/memory corruption (malware is also possible, which has warned about).

Quick diagnostic checklist (suggested order):

  • Boot to Safe Mode (F8) and try the same action. If the crash stops, suspect third‑party drivers or shell extensions.
  • Test under a different Windows user profile and disable Explorer thumbnail/previewing (Folder Options → View → Always show icons). Crashes that follow hovering over files often implicate preview handlers.
  • Check Event Viewer (System/Application) for entries at the crash time to get corroborating error codes.
  • If thumbnails look suspect, selectively disable non‑Microsoft shell extensions with a shell‑extension manager to isolate the offender.

Collect technical evidence and repair checks:

  • Enable small memory dumps (System → Advanced → Startup & Recovery → Write debugging information → Small memory dump) so minidumps land in C:\Windows\Minidump; analyze them with tools like BlueScreenView or WinDbg to extract the STOP code and driver name.
  • Run chkdsk /r on the system drive and sfc /scannow (XP may require the install CD) to check for filesystem or system‑file corruption.
  • Run a thorough RAM test (memtest86+ from boot media) to rule out bad memory.

Notes and cautions: ’s screenshot idea won’t help while automatic restart is enabled. ’s malware/HJT suggestions are reasonable, but avoid blindly fixing HJT entries or deleting files without backups and expert review. When available, the exact STOP code plus any .sys filename gives the fastest path to a precise fix.

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Member Avatar for OurNation

You can press the print screen button to find out what it says.

Member Avatar for moderate_rock48

But its not going to save it, it restarts after that screen flashes up.

Member Avatar for caperjack

Right click on mycomputer/properties /advanced /settings in the srtartup and recovery section and in system failure section , uncheck, automaticlly restart
this way the message will stay longer ,post all what is says here ..
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might i also suggest the following


run these free online Virus scan

Be sure to Check off Auto Fix on this site

http://housecall.trendmicro.com/housecall/start_corp.asp
please run this one also to be sure .

Spyware & Trojans and Other Nasties
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Please Don't post the hijackthis log in this section Thanks .
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Please do this.
Download 'Hijack This!'. HijackThis
Save it in a convenient permanent folder such as C:\HJT\, double click HijackThis.exe, and hit "Scan".

Or if that link fails to work or you don't have a zip program installed .

Your copy of HijackThis needs to be in a folder of it's own. When HJT fixes anything, it makes backups of the original files in the folder it is in. Since Temporary folders are emptied now and then (the files are DELETED), it would not be a good idea to have your backups there. Those backups would be VITAL to restoring your system if something went wrong in the FIX process!


1. Please go to you're 'My Documents' folder, right-click and select 'New > Folder' then name the folder 'HJT'.

2. Copy and paste HijackThis.exe to the new folder.

3. Close ALL windows except HJT

4. SCAN with HJT

5. POST the new log in this thread using 'Add Reply'

DO NOT MAKE ANY CHANGES OR CLICK "FIX CHECKED" UNTIL WE CHECK THE LOG, AS SOME OF THE FILES ARE LEGIT AND VITAL TO YOUR COMPUTER'S HEALTH

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