help diagnosing hardware failure

Hi,

I've been having computer crashes and freezing and thought I had a virus but think that's been ruled out from the other forums

link

any suggestions on what my problem might be and what I need to do to resolve it?

Thanks,

Don

have you looked at the 'system' event log ? right-click -my computer-, choose -manage-. When the "computer management" window opens, maximize and expand -event viewer-. Then choose -system-. look for Red X error items. If you do not see any, then also look in the Applications log. when it "crashes" are you getting a Blue Screen O Death ? If yes, then what "stop error" is listed ? Tallon41

have you looked at the 'system' event log ?

right-click -my computer-, choose -manage-. When the "computer management" window opens, maximize and expand -event viewer-. Then choose -system-. look for Red X error items. If you do not see any, then also look in the Applications log.

when it "crashes" are you getting a Blue Screen O Death ? If yes, then what "stop error" is listed ?

Tallon41

When I try to choose system or application under the computer management window I get the following error message "Unable to complete the operations on "system(or application)". The interface is unknown."

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When it has crashed I do get the blue screen of death here are the images.

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Had another error message pop up while I was using firefox

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Hello dank 64,

This could be hardware or also simply the driver for the hardware. Your latter dump is often related to graphics drivers.

Try this program:

http://www.resplendence.com/whocrashed

It will ask you to install the Debugging Tools from Microsoft and then will interpret this data.

Another good tool at this point is Windows Memory Diagnostic:

http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp

When I try to choose system or application under the computer management window I get the following error message "Unable to complete the operations on "system(or application)". The interface is unknown."

That means the Event log system is set to Disabled.

Follow the suggestions from jephree.

so there will be no info there, even when/if you turn on that service……and you SHOULD turn it on and set it to "automatic"

1. Open a comand prompt window. start—-accessories—-command prompt

2. Type the following commands, pressing Enter after each line:

cd /d %SystemRoot%\system32
sc config Eventlog start= auto
net start Eventlog

Tallon41

Hello dank 64,

This could be hardware or also simply the driver for the hardware. Your latter dump is often related to graphics drivers.

Try this program:

http://www.resplendence.com/whocrashed

It will ask you to install the Debugging Tools from Microsoft and then will interpret this data.

Another good tool at this point is Windows Memory Diagnostic:

http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp

Here is the analysis and conclusion from whocrashed:

Analysis
——————————————————————————–

Crash dump directory: C:\WINDOWS\Minidump

Crash dumps are enabled on your computer.


On Fri 5/8/2009 10:56:36 PM your computer crashed
This was likely caused by the following module: ntoskrnl.exe
Bugcheck code: 0x1000000A (0x0, 0x1C, 0x0, 0x80538102)
Error: Unknown
file path: C:\WINDOWS\system32\ntoskrnl.exe
product: Microsoft® Windows® Operating System
company: Microsoft Corporation
description: NT Kernel & System
The crash took place in a standard Microsoft module. Likely the culprit is another driver on your system which cannot be identified.



On Tue 4/28/2009 1:54:17 PM your computer crashed
This was likely caused by the following module: ntoskrnl.exe
Bugcheck code: 0x1000008E (0xC0000005, 0x805BE7F8, 0xF43FBA68, 0x0)
Error: KERNEL_MODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED_M
file path: C:\WINDOWS\system32\ntoskrnl.exe
product: Microsoft® Windows® Operating System
company: Microsoft Corporation
description: NT Kernel & System
The crash took place in a standard Microsoft module. Likely the culprit is another driver on your system which cannot be identified.



On Sun 10/29/2006 12:08:55 AM your computer crashed
This was likely caused by the following module: ntoskrnl.exe
Bugcheck code: 0x1000000A (0x9D086240, 0x2, 0x0, 0x80519696)
Error: Unknown
file path: C:\WINDOWS\system32\ntoskrnl.exe
product: Microsoft® Windows® Operating System
company: Microsoft Corporation
description: NT Kernel & System
The crash took place in a standard Microsoft module. Likely the culprit is another driver on your system which cannot be identified.




——————————————————————————–
Conclusion
——————————————————————————–

3 crash dumps have been found and analyzed. Note that it's not always possible to state with certainty whether a reported driver is really responsible for crashing your system or that the root cause is in another module. Nonetheless it's suggested you look for updates for the products that these drivers belong to and regularly visit Windows update or enable automatic updates for Windows. In case a piece of malfunctioning hardware is causing trouble, a search with Google on the bug check errors together with the model name and brand of your computer may help you investigate this further.


I downloaded and "installed" the memory diagnostic using the option to save a bootable CD image to your hard disk since I don't have any floppies handy. I re-started as directed by the website and a program ran upon re-start but at the end it had an option to view helpful hints or something not a report. The zip file windiag is still in my documents and the mtinst is on my desktop but now if I re-start nothing happens? Should I remove it and re-install it?


I also enabled the event log system per your instructions Tallon41

Try running Check Disk as follows:

• Click Start > Run… then type in CMD and click on OK.
• At the Command Prompt C:\ > type the following: chkdsk c: /r and hit the Enter/Return key.
  Note: chkdsk c: /r presumes that the disk upon which you wish to run Error Checking is your C: Drive (most often)
• When prompted with:

CHKDSK cannot run because the volume is in use by another process
Would you like to schedule this volume to be checked next time the system
restarts (Y/N)

• Hit the Y key then at the Command Prompt C:\ >
• Type in EXIT and and hit the Enter/Return key.
• Now Reboot(Restart) your computer.

Note: Upon Reboot(Restart), CHKDSK will start and carry out the repairs required.

Further details and instructions here if needed:

http://forums.whatthetech.com/How_run_CHKD…XP_t102348.html

Also don't forget about the Windows Memory Diagnostic linked in my previous post.