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J_Smith 
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Post subject: Computer Help :/
 Posted: Sep 25, 2011 - 04:56 PM
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First post: Sep 30, 2008
Total posts: 2145
Location: Southampton
Status: Offline
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Right, i know a lot of you are IT guys, so im praying one (or more) of you could help me out...
Ive had an Acer Aspire One 531H-0BK for around half a year, it is the standard 10.1", 160gb, 1gb ram spec you'll find online if you fancy googling it. I installed Windows7 Home Premium on it within a week of owning it and it was totally fine.
Once i found all the relevant drivers and copied my iTunes/films onto it, i was away.
However, at the beginning of august i went to france for a family holiday and whilst watching a film (youth in revolt. it was surprisingly good, seeing as i saw the end a week later when i got home and used the desktop) the dreaded 'Blue Screen of Death' came up.
From that moment on, no matter what i did (whether it be go online, listen to music or open OpenOffice) the Blue Screen message came up and it crashed.
Ive endlessly trawled the internet for help but to no avail.
Ive narrowed it down to (i think):
- Driver error - Ive reinstalled all the audio/video drivers. No help :/
- Internet Related - Turned off WiFi & Re-Installed those drivers. Nothing.
- RAM issue - only got 1gb, so currently planning on buying 2gb.
- Stuff just malfunctions around me. Not likely, or a solution.
I also want to stress, i made NO system changes, it just started faulting. Ive considered re-installing but everyone says that doesnt work.
Anyone have any (helpful) solutions?
Cheers
Josh |
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når helvete fryser over, ville jeg snøbrett der også
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dunx
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Post subject: RE: Computer Help :/
Posted: Sep 25, 2011 - 05:06 PM
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First post: Oct 07, 2004
Total posts: 9314
Location: Herts, UK
Status: Offline
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The "easiest" thing to do is re-install. Copy everything you need to an external drive and then start from scratch. Don't install anything you don't need to and then use that external beastie for regular backups. That way, when something does go bad you have a good restore to go back to.
If it's hardware related, you're stuffed of course.
Won't be anything to do with RAM and very unlikely anything to do with internet, unless you have a virus, so get a decent AV - something free like AVG Free should see you good. |
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SCUK Editor • Me on Facebook • Neverland
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J_Smith
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Post subject: RE: Computer Help :/
Posted: Sep 25, 2011 - 05:51 PM
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First post: Sep 30, 2008
Total posts: 2145
Location: Southampton
Status: Offline
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| i had AVG, but that seemed to be causing issues of its own - others have had similar experiences online so i removed it. Figured i didnt need it if i wasnt connected to the web |
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når helvete fryser over, ville jeg snøbrett der også
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cwj
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Post subject: RE: Computer Help :/
Posted: Sep 25, 2011 - 05:59 PM
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First post: Nov 13, 2010
Total posts: 364
Location: Glasgow-ish
Status: Offline
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| Re-install, use nod32 or something instead of AVG as it's free full trial can never run out if you do some stuff, then in the future don't buy an acer. You get what you pay for. |
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Brain_Stew
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Post subject: RE: Computer Help :/
Posted: Sep 25, 2011 - 07:22 PM
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First post: Dec 28, 2010
Total posts: 211
Location: Gravesend, Kent
Status: Offline
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| If its BSOD you should have a dump file, if memory serves me right it should tell you what the last application was used before it crashed. I kept experiencing a BSOD on my desktop (Win7) a month or so back and fixing the MBR (Master Boot Record) sorted my problem out. might be worth a shot |
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AKA Graham
Member of the Judean Riders' Front
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winterfunman
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Post subject: RE: Computer Help :/
Posted: Sep 25, 2011 - 07:42 PM
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First post: Apr 20, 2008
Total posts: 8914
Location: BANSKO ..........Bulgaria
Status: Offline
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J_Smith
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Post subject: Re: RE: Computer Help :/
Posted: Sep 25, 2011 - 07:46 PM
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First post: Sep 30, 2008
Total posts: 2145
Location: Southampton
Status: Offline
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winterfunman wrote:
Stop downlaoding naked pics of snow ladies once you get it sorted
ah, that must be the problem!  |
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når helvete fryser over, ville jeg snøbrett der også
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BartSimpsonhead
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Post subject: RE: Re: RE: Computer Help :/
Posted: Sep 25, 2011 - 08:32 PM
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First post: Oct 25, 2004
Total posts: 3112
Location: Verulamium
Status: Offline
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Have you tried turning it off and on again..?  |
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"It's better to burn out, than to fade away..."
 Boardstore
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POW!POW!POW!
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Post subject:
Posted: Sep 25, 2011 - 08:43 PM
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First post: Apr 30, 2010
Total posts: 261
Status: Offline
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Where did you buy it? Is it waranteed?
As an IT manager who's gotten a bit too used to getting other people to do the dog work, I feel duty bound to say Its six months old, pull the warranty up and get the suplier to check it out thoroughly. Yeah, it could be a bad install, or a RAM issue, but it could also be a duff motherboard.
If it was mine, and still under warranty i wouldn't take any risks.
Andy |
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J_Smith
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Post subject:
Posted: Sep 25, 2011 - 08:48 PM
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First post: Sep 30, 2008
Total posts: 2145
Location: Southampton
Status: Offline
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POW!POW!POW! wrote:
Where did you buy it? Is it waranteed?
As an IT manager who's gotten a bit too used to getting other people to do the dog work, I feel duty bound to say Its six months old, pull the warranty up and get the suplier to check it out thoroughly. Yeah, it could be a bad install, or a RAM issue, but it could also be a duff motherboard.
If it was mine, and still under warranty i wouldn't take any risks.
Andy
I bought it from Elf as a refurb - probably not covered but i could sent them an email i guess |
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når helvete fryser over, ville jeg snøbrett der også
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Midwinter
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Post subject:
Posted: Sep 25, 2011 - 09:30 PM
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First post: Jan 24, 2011
Total posts: 429
Status: Offline
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When the computer starts (just after the black bios screen) press F8 and choose "last know good configuration"
If that doesnt work use the DVD you installed win7 with and choose repair!
Good luck! |
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J_Smith
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Post subject:
Posted: Sep 25, 2011 - 09:58 PM
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First post: Sep 30, 2008
Total posts: 2145
Location: Southampton
Status: Offline
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Midwinter wrote:
When the computer starts (just after the black bios screen) press F8 and choose "last know good configuration"
If that doesnt work use the DVD you installed win7 with and choose repair!
Good luck!
ive tried it, time will tell!
I also say an option for: 'disable system restart on failure' - is that a 'safe' thing to enable? |
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når helvete fryser over, ville jeg snøbrett der også
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philw
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Post subject:
Posted: Sep 25, 2011 - 10:25 PM
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First post: Nov 30, 2004
Total posts: 519
Location: uk
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My Acer Aspire is some Linux jobbie, I've not used Win 7 on one. Are you using a standard Aspire OEM version of Win 7 or is it stock Win7? Is it legit?
Rule one if you have a flakey machine would be to make sure you have a separate backup of any data you want off it. It's just that if it is a disk error (say), then once they start to go wrong, terminal failure may not be far away.
Personally I'd not have any AV anywhere near my machines except "Security Essentials".
The BSOD should tell you what the issue is. Google around and you find how to set the machine to create a "minidump". Once you have that there are multiple places on line where you can get help analyzing it.
That's the smart way, the other approach is trial and error. As someone said, could be RAM or a mobo fault, or a hard disk issue. Run the Windows diagnostics on memory and hard disk to eliminate them.
Of your suggestions:
- Driver error - Ive reinstalled all the audio/video drivers. No help
Get the latest versions. Nvidia update every couple of weeks.
I'm not convinced about this as you seemed to say it was ok at 1st, then after it happened, it happened all the time. Sounds more like hard disk.
- Internet Related
Sounds unlikely, especially if it dies when you're playing the video locally. Does it only die when playing video? If so you're looking at the graphics side obviously.
- RAM issue - only got 1gb, so currently planning on buying 2gb.
That's a small amount of RAM, but it won't BSOD because of that. Test the RAM from Windows.
> 'disable system restart on failure' - is that a 'safe' thing to enable?
Yes, it means something like (depending on where you're reading it):
"if I detect that something broke, should I just hang and wait, or should I reboot myself".
Otherwise, what's the machine doing when it fails - can you provoke it repeatedly? Is the BSOD always the same, and what does it say? Look at it and google it. If the machine has sleep/ power save options, you may want to disable those as sometimes they can cause BSODs. |
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powder mountain CoC snowboarding safety
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J_Smith
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Post subject:
Posted: Sep 25, 2011 - 11:16 PM
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First post: Sep 30, 2008
Total posts: 2145
Location: Southampton
Status: Offline
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philw wrote:
My Acer Aspire is some Linux jobbie, I've not used Win 7 on one. Are you using a standard Aspire OEM version of Win 7 or is it stock Win7? Is it legit?
Rule one if you have a flakey machine would be to make sure you have a separate backup of any data you want off it. It's just that if it is a disk error (say), then once they start to go wrong, terminal failure may not be far away.
Personally I'd not have any AV anywhere near my machines except "Security Essentials".
The BSOD should tell you what the issue is. Google around and you find how to set the machine to create a "minidump". Once you have that there are multiple places on line where you can get help analyzing it.
That's the smart way, the other approach is trial and error. As someone said, could be RAM or a mobo fault, or a hard disk issue. Run the Windows diagnostics on memory and hard disk to eliminate them.
Of your suggestions:
- Driver error - Ive reinstalled all the audio/video drivers. No help
Get the latest versions. Nvidia update every couple of weeks.
I'm not convinced about this as you seemed to say it was ok at 1st, then after it happened, it happened all the time. Sounds more like hard disk.
- Internet Related
Sounds unlikely, especially if it dies when you're playing the video locally. Does it only die when playing video? If so you're looking at the graphics side obviously.
- RAM issue - only got 1gb, so currently planning on buying 2gb.
That's a small amount of RAM, but it won't BSOD because of that. Test the RAM from Windows.
> 'disable system restart on failure' - is that a 'safe' thing to enable?
Yes, it means something like (depending on where you're reading it):
"if I detect that something broke, should I just hang and wait, or should I reboot myself".
Otherwise, what's the machine doing when it fails - can you provoke it repeatedly? Is the BSOD always the same, and what does it say? Look at it and google it. If the machine has sleep/ power save options, you may want to disable those as sometimes they can cause BSODs.
cheers dude, ill give it a go  |
_________________
_________________________________________
når helvete fryser over, ville jeg snøbrett der også
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Kitmatt
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Post subject:
Posted: Sep 26, 2011 - 10:42 AM
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First post: Nov 24, 2007
Total posts: 405
Location: Whistler, BC
Status: Offline
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philw wrote:
- RAM issue - only got 1gb, so currently planning on buying 2gb.
That's a small amount of RAM, but it won't BSOD because of that. Test the RAM from Windows.
Use Memtest 86+ for this. You can download it free and extract it onto a CD or USB. Boot from them and leave it overnight. If it's run 5 or more passes without any errors then your RAM is good. Any errors and you may need to think about replacing it (a few are Ok and may cause a BSOD from time to time but if you have lots, I'd bin the RAM). |
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YAY!!! '09 Rome Slash + Ride SDS's FTW
Judean Riders Front FTW!!!
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