BSOD - Vista has become very unstable

[MasterFlash]

Hi all,

I put a new system together at the beginning of the year.

Q6600 (Stock)
Asus P5k-E
4 gig Corsair
512MB BFG Technology 8800GTS (latest drivers)
520W Corsair HX Series Modular PSU

In the last 3 weeks its developed BSOD issues. Its getting worse and worse, to a point where it will BS as it loads the OS. Leaving it for 30mins once did get it going again, only for it to fail an hour or 2 later.

(I was running at 3ghz but put it back to stock)

I’ve put all sticks of RAM in independently, in different slots with no joy. Its not overheating as far as I'm aware. I've re-seated the CPU, cleaned out the heatsink.

I've had to use the recovery CD twice now, and last night even had to do a fresh install. The install itself took 3 attempts as it was blue screening

Since the re-install I'm still getting the BSOD, I've at least got this bit of info on the crashes:

Problem signature
Problem Event Name: BlueScreen
OS Version: 6.0.6000.2.0.0.768.3
Locale ID: 2057
Files that help describe the problem (some files may no longer be available)
Mini040308-03.dmp
sysdata.xml
Version.txt
View a temporary copy of these files
Warning: If a virus or other security threat caused the problem, opening a copy of the files could harm your computer.
Extra information about the problem
BCCode: a0
BCP1: 0000000000000101
BCP2: 0000000000000007
BCP3: FFFFF98000CA9340
BCP4: 0000000000000000
OS Version: 6_0_6000
Service Pack: 0_0
Product: 768_1

The only hardware change was recent, a new SATA DVD RW, my old IDE DVD stopped showing up in BIOS, checked leads / power, swapped leads, swapped drives… no joy. I bought the SATA one as a quick fix. I've un-plugged it to see if it still crashes, which it does.

If anyone’s got any ideas of what to try next or how to pin point the source of the problem I would be eternally grateful!

Best Regards

Baz

[csi_grissom]

sounds painful and might be just a matter of checking each part methodically when caught like this, last time i saw these sort of probs it was the motherboard but ya never know until u test each part which isnt easy.

[timizere]

whats the specifics of the ram? try checking the voltage, although if the probs started randomly its a little farfetched. my vista install died completely out of the blue (excuse the pun) a few weeks back. bsod shortly after the vista logo.

good luck!

[MasterFlash]

I've bit the bullet, and ordered another motherboard - kinda a gut feeling.

// fingers crossed

[kmac]

Was going to suggest a Bios update. Something to try till you new mobo arrives....

[Blitzen]

Why do people always blame Vista??

This is a hardware issue.

[Agent]

Why do people always blame Vista??

THis is a hardware issue.

Not one single person has blamed Vista?

In fact, every post in the thread is about hardware troubleshooting

[Blitzen]

Not one single person has blamed Vista?

In fact, every post in the thread is about hardware troubleshooting

Remind me of the thread title again

BSOD - Vista has become very unstable

So not strictly true that is it

[kmac]

The title jsut describes the symptoms - if the OS is blue screening it has become unstable. The OP is now looking to find the cause to ameliorate it. No one said the cause was a crappy OS though.

[Blitzen]

The title jsut describes the symptoms - if the OS is blue screening it has become unstable. The OP is now looking to find the cause to ameliorate it. No one said the cause was a crappy OS though.

So if its not a 'vista slap' then why mention it?

[Agent]

Remind me of the thread title again

So not strictly true that is it

He's saying his OS is unstable...he did not say that Vista was the cause of it

Heck, the opening post pretty much makes it clear he is looking at hardware

Its no different to saying "Ubuntu has become unstable" - the OS is not being blamed, its just what the problem actually is.

[Blitzen]

If you say so