Bsod--multiple Error Messages

[sbk]

Well, this is on my old computer I had hoped to install Linux on. The install CD wouldn't work, I assumed it was corrupted files.

But, according to my husband, it had been giving him random BSOD's before I came home. I also attemped to wipe and install Winxp again as the shop had wiped and installed all sorts of stuff on my computer a few months ago.Well, it wouldn't install XP either. Sorry, can't remember the exact error message and lost the little piece of paper I wrote it on

So, now I get BSOD's fairly regularly. Windows has shut down blah blah blah.... sym_U3.sys, Bad_Pool_Header, and Page_fault_in_nonpaged_area with a reference to afd.sys are three of the different error messages that have shown up with the BSOD.

It has had new RAM installed while I was gone.

I am suspicious this is the beginning of the end for my old computer.

[Rice_King]

I have not had many incidences of a BSOD with XP. However, "back in the day," when supporting NT4, most of the BSODs I troubleshot resulted from a corrupted or incompatible device driver. And in 90% of those cases, it was the display driver that was the culprit, followed by the modem, then network card.

Regarding your scenario SBK, (assuming the RAM is good) that is where I what I would start looking as well.

Good luck!

Edited June 16, 2007 by Rice_King

[cdnvic]

Are you formatting before the install?

[sbk]

Cdnvic: Tried to with the XP disk, but it didn't get that far.

The display driver is a fairly recent download, last year I think. So, it should be fairly up to date. Mind this is a very old computer literally feet from the sea. Usually when I have major computer issues it is hardware. They just don't like the salty air, the dirt or high humidity.

[TopDogger]

you should have had the mini dumps analysed before formatting

[Kyosuken]

I would assume your ram is bad (or some part are incompatible with the motherboard/chipset) Random BSOD, and not able to install something from boot CD is mostly because of bad ram

[cdnvic]

This thing had Windows working on it previously I think.

[Kyosuken]

It has had new RAM installed while I was gone.

Enough to have to suspect the RAM imho

[cdnvic]

It has had new RAM installed while I was gone.

Enough to have to suspect the RAM imho

I missed that one.

[TopDogger]

Perhaps they've put a dodgy stick on 2nd hand RAM in it, best get ya husband to go and sort em out.

[sbk]

Thanks guys, it could be a dodgy RAM, could be rusty in the mainboard. We've taken it back and he'll look at it again. And don't worry TopDogger, he's a friend, he won't need to be sorted by the hubby.