Member Avatar for Dispel

Stop: 0x0000009c (0x00000002, 0x8054D370, 0xF6002000, 0x0000017A)

This is the error I've been getting at the blue screens every time my computer locks up. =\ I've been trying to install World of Warcraft (I know this forum isn't for such things) and it isn't going too well. I've had this lock up ever since this computer was given to me as a gift. No documentation of this computer came with it because the gift was bought by my mother who bought it fro my uncle. My uncle never got any documentation from the person he bought it as used from.

I decided yesterday that it'd be a good idea to install Windows XP Home Edition on my computer that already had Windows XP Professional. That didn't turn up too well because my computer had lock ups at the stage where the Setup copies installation files.

I'm on the verge of jsut paying Geek Squad $200 just to fix this issue. I don't even know what it really is besides it being either my RAM, CPU, or power supply. Those are three out of four items that can be causing this problem or so says the prompt given by Microsoft's error report. I'm don't know a whole lot about my computer but any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

  • 3 Contributors
  • 7 Replies
  • 127 Views
  • 2 Days Discussion Span
  • Latest Post Latest Post by Chaky

Dani AI

Generated

STOP 0x0000009C is a Machine Check Exception — a CPU-reported hardware fault rather than a normal driver crash. Given the repeated freezes during install and normal use, focus on gathering any crash data first and then on the physical components that fail under load.

If there are any minidump or full-dump files on the drive (typically under C:\Windows\Minidump or C:\Windows\memory.dmp), copy them to a working PC (remove the drive or use a USB/IDE/SATA adapter) and inspect them with a simple viewer (BlueScreenView) or with WinDbg. The dump will often point to the failing component or nearest driver and can save a lot of guesswork.

Do a careful hands-on check before spending money: visually inspect the motherboard for swollen or leaking capacitors; make sure the CPU heatsink/fan is tight and spinning; clean dust from fans; reseat RAM sticks and try one stick at a time in different slots; reseat the graphics card and any controllers. For the power supply, either borrow a known-good PSU or measure the main rails with a multimeter/PSU-tester (do not open the PSU). Expected ranges: +12V ≈ 11.4–12.6V, +5V ≈ 4.75–5.25V, +3.3V ≈ 3.135–3.465V. If you see large deviations or instability under load, replace the PSU.

Practical order: extract/analyze dumps → swap in a known-good PSU or RAM to see if problems stop → inspect motherboard/CPU cooling → run vendor HDD diagnostics if you can boot or by connecting the drive elsewhere → only consider BIOS updates after hardware is proven stable. This follows ’s isolation approach and ’s OEM-aware advice: document what you tried before paying a shop, and if the PC is a prebuilt, check the vendor’s support steps and warranty options first.

Recommended Answers

All 7 Replies

Member Avatar for Xpenetrator

I'm on the verge of jsut paying Geek Squad $200 just to fix this issue. I don't even know what it really is besides it being either my RAM, CPU, or power supply.

Ok, before you spent 200 bucks you can try some harmless things:

Since Windows bails out during installation already, I first suspect your memory module(s) to be bad or running at wrong timings. You can try to run this RAM test program for a couple of hours: Memtest86 from http://www.memtest86.com. (You'll need to copy it onto a bootable floppy or CD first)

The other thing to try would be to reset the BIOS to it's defaults (best assisted by someone with some knowledge on that), but I would try to test the memory first.

If all that fails, swapping out CPU and PSU with some borrowed parts would be the next step. But before that, you can try to reduce your hardware to it's minimums (CPU, 1 RAM module, Video and 1 Harddisk) if it isn't already that "bareboned"...

The problem could also be caused by a bad harddisk. Every HDD manufacturer has a diagnostic software for its drives, you can download and test your drive's health with it.

Maybe you're lucky and find out the bad part on yourself. Then you can spent all the bucks for a replacement... ;)

If something's unclear, come back and ask :)

Member Avatar for Dispel

Ok, before you spent 200 bucks you can try some harmless things:

Since Windows bails out during installation already, I first suspect your memory module(s) to be bad or running at wrong timings. You can try to run this RAM test program for a couple of hours: Memtest86 from http://www.memtest86.com. (You'll need to copy it onto a bootable floppy or CD first)

xD Okie, well I found one floppy disk that I have but my computer can't reformat it. ~Sigh~ x.x Do I need a special floppy disk or can all floppy disks be considered bootable floppy disks?

Thank you so much for your help so far. xD!

Member Avatar for Xpenetrator

Hmm...I thought I sent this a few hours ago, but it didn't work...:eek: :mrgreen:

Do I need a special floppy disk or can all floppy disks be considered bootable floppy disks?

Unfortunately not. To create a bootable diskette with memtest86, follow the instructions on "To make a bootable Floppy from with in Windows" on this website: (Detailed description and FAQ)

Another way to run memtest86:
If you're on DSL, download a "Knoppix" Linux live-CD-image from http://knoppix.org and burn the image. Then boot from that CD and at the prompt type "memtest".

Member Avatar for Dispel

Is it possible to download a RAM test to a USB flash drive? At the moment, I don't have a floppy disk or a CD I can copy the information to. Sorry for the hassle.

Thanks!

Member Avatar for Dispel

I have checked that site and I'm in the process of working it out with Gateway. xD Thank you.

By the way, my computer seems to get worse as I try to figure out what is wrong and at the same time trying to fix it. >.>... My computer won't let me repair in the Windows Setup and everytime I try to do that it crashes and then I need to reinstall my video and network card.

Member Avatar for Chaky

That site basically says that if you're not OCing than something is toasted.

I'll just brainstorm you a little here.

- Floppy disc - maybe it's write-protected? Look at the top right corner. If it is a see trough hole, it is write-protected. Move that thing to cover the hole.

- memtest86 - it can be run in windows. Only the results are not 100% accurate.

- BIOS settings - some bioses have setup default and bios default presets. In general bios default (or just default) is safe-mode kind of setup. All enhancements are turned off and all detection is automated (HD memory and such). Setup default is one that the mobo manufacturer have set. That one should work if all is OK.

Check that the quick post is disabled. This way bios will do all the tests when booting.
I had problems with memory settings on my own. HAD to set it manually, hence the bios would set it all wrong.


I suspect that memory is either faulty or the timings are wrong.

Be a part of the DaniWeb community

We're a friendly, industry-focused community of developers, IT pros, digital marketers, and technology enthusiasts meeting, networking, learning, and sharing knowledge.