Member Avatar for stevendmar

When i go to a website or view anything with animation/video my computer goes to a blue screen of death, or internet will shut down (unexpectedly). Also I am not able to install many software programs. I have had this Acer monitor hooked up for about a year. About 6 months ago it randomly started acting up. Before it would load windows xp and just go to a black screen and so no signal. Found out that by uninstalling the Dell provided video driver it fixed that issue. Worked fine until now. I can't even install my printer. Wondering if anyone has any tips for me. Thanks.

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A concise, practical plan to isolate whether the crashes are hardware, video-driver, or Windows/installer related — building on points from , , and .

First collect hard evidence. Disable automatic restart so the BSOD can be read (System -> Advanced -> Startup and Recovery -> uncheck Automatically restart) and note the STOP code and any filename shown (for example: stop code and a driver name). After a crash, check the System event log and the Minidump folder (C:\Windows\Minidump) for timestamps. Those entries point the next step: a driver name suggests driver cleanup/reinstall; memory/disk errors suggest hardware diagnostics.

Isolate with safe environments. Boot into Safe Mode (with networking) and try video/animation activity — if it no longer crashes, drivers or software are likely at fault. If Safe Mode still fails, try a Live Linux USB and play a short video there: a crash under a different OS strongly indicates failing hardware rather than Windows. Also test with a different browser and disable browser hardware acceleration to rule out plugin/acceleration issues (this follows ’s suggestion to eliminate IE as a variable).

Targeted hardware checks and simple fixes. Run a memory diagnostic (the built-in Windows Memory Diagnostic if a bootable tester cannot be used), reseat RAM sticks and the video card, inspect the PSU and motherboard for bulging/leaking capacitors, verify fans and temperatures in BIOS/hardware monitor, and try swapping or borrowing a known-good DVI/VGA cable or monitor. Reset the BIOS to defaults (clear CMOS) after a recent flash before assuming firmware is stable.

Driver/installer troubleshooting. In Safe Mode uninstall the display driver and choose to remove driver software, then install a stable driver package from the GPU vendor (if latest is problematic, try a known older stable release). For repeated .NET/installer failures, confirm the Windows Installer service is running, disable antivirus during install attempts, clear temporary update caches, and consider using an offline installer. Always back up personal data before hardware replacement or major system changes. Minidump and Event Log entries will guide whether to focus on drivers or replace components.

Recommended Answers

All 11 Replies

Member Avatar for jumbowat

The problem is with the OS, you will have to re-install it or you might have changed the BIOS setting of your PC.

Member Avatar for Pjieter

When i go to a website or view anything with animation/video my computer goes to a blue screen of death, or internet will shut down (unexpectedly). Also I am not able to install many software programs. I have had this Acer monitor hooked up for about a year. About 6 months ago it randomly started acting up. Before it would load windows xp and just go to a black screen and so no signal. Found out that by uninstalling the Dell provided video driver it fixed that issue. Worked fine until now. I can't even install my printer. Wondering if anyone has any tips for me. Thanks.

Maybe start by running a chkdsk and a memory test? Just to make sure that it's not hardware-related. If you're using a Dell, you can simply run the Support-program that comes with it (or you can download it from the site, can't remember the name) to make sure your system is OK. If all tests are clear, you'll probably have to take a look at your OS (Windows 7 I guess? or still xp?)

Member Avatar for stevendmar

Have re-installed the os a few times. I flashed the BIOS a week or two ago. It did all of this before and after the BIOS update. Is there any BIOS settings that I could try changing? I did run a chkdsk yesterday. It came up with a couple issues as far as I know it corrected them. I wasn't at the computer when it finished. How do I go about a memory test? Is that one of the options at the startup? Like I said my system has had issues in the past, since I got this new monitor. No issues like this before hand though. My previous monitor was hooked up to the VGA card built in. This current monitor is on the DVI card. I don't have the VGA cable any more, so i can not do that simple test. I know they are cheap but I think it might be a video driver of some sort seeing as the monitor came with no install disk of any kind. Any other help is appreciated everyone! Thanks!

Member Avatar for Pjieter

Have re-installed the os a few times. I flashed the BIOS a week or two ago. It did all of this before and after the BIOS update. Is there any BIOS settings that I could try changing? I did run a chkdsk yesterday. It came up with a couple issues as far as I know it corrected them. I wasn't at the computer when it finished. How do I go about a memory test? Is that one of the options at the startup? Like I said my system has had issues in the past, since I got this new monitor. No issues like this before hand though. My previous monitor was hooked up to the VGA card built in. This current monitor is on the DVI card. I don't have the VGA cable any more, so i can not do that simple test. I know they are cheap but I think it might be a video driver of some sort seeing as the monitor came with no install disk of any kind. Any other help is appreciated everyone! Thanks!

Install the Dell OS support center, and let it run all the tests, see if something comes up. The tests include a check-up of most hardware in your laptop, and can maybe locate the cause of the (hardware)issue you are having atm:
http://www.dell.com/content/topics/global.aspx/services/en/dsc_home?c=us&l=en

Edited by Pjieter because: n/a
Member Avatar for jumbowat

If you have switched to some other OS then you need to change the BIOS settings, this is also needed in case of a new hard disk

Member Avatar for stevendmar

I like the sound of the Dell support software. Am unable to install it however. I have to download the Microsoft 3.5 installer from windows update. But everytime I try, it fails. I have not switched to another OS, same as always. Thanks again.

Member Avatar for Pjieter

I like the sound of the Dell support software. Am unable to install it however. I have to download the Microsoft 3.5 installer from windows update. But everytime I try, it fails. I have not switched to another OS, same as always. Thanks again.

Are you able to run the Diagnostics on this page?

http://www.dell.com/support/troubleshooting/us/en/19/diagnostics?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19

Of course, this is just one way to locate your problem. I think a OS reïnstall won't be helpful, as it is probably hardware-related. So unless you want to replace every piece of your computer in order to find the issue, I think running a (software) hardware-checkup is the way to go. If it turns out that your computer is in perfect health, you can maybe start focusing on your operating system to find the problem

Member Avatar for stevendmar

can't even run that without installing the 3.5 microsoft installer. I am kind of striking out here. Anyone have anything else? Thanks.

Member Avatar for Pjieter

can't even run that without installing the 3.5 microsoft installer. I am kind of striking out here. Anyone have anything else? Thanks.

Stop using IE, and see if your problem is caused by that?

Member Avatar for caperjack

memtest86 ,download the iso file and burn it to disk ,it will create a bootable disk and you just put it into the cddrive and reboot ,let it run the full scan ,may take a few hrs .
http://www.memtest86.com/

if need a iso burning software get free isoburn .
http://www.imgburn.com/index.php?act=download

Edited by caperjack because: n/a
Member Avatar for gerbil

Just a note... if your monitor came without a support disc then it means that the software to operate its controls [picture adjustment, source etc] are hardwared inside. Mine came with a disc, software to load - without the sys fired up I cannot adjust a thing on my monitor, there is not even any display to view.
But the picture... that comes from your video driver, you either loaded that with the chipset software or for your vid card. The DVI output is supplied by that driver, a monitor knows what to do with it.
Your problem.. could well be dodgy memory, caper has pointed you up on htat ; have you considered heat? Any slightly intensive activity is shutting you down....

Edited by gerbil because: n/a
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