Help, blue screen of death

[Nevin]

Having a major problem with my laptop. Every few minutes a blue screen comes up with loads of text on it. It is on so briefly that the only bit I have time to catch is "beginning physical memory dump". Then my PC restarts. When it does restart it is desparat eto report a serious error to Microsoft. Have tried this once but MS doesn't recognise the error (helpfully).

This is driving me crazy. Anyone got any ideas?

[UpTheIron]

In Control Panel / System / Advanced / Startup & Recovery uncheck 'Automatically Restart'

Next time it happens make a note of the error message shown and post it here.

If you've got some webspace upload the memory dump that is created and let me have the URL and I'll do a spot of debugging for you.

[Nevin]

Will do. Where do I find the memory dump that is created?

[UpTheIron]

Assuming you are running XP

C:WINDOWSMinidump (for the Small Memory Dump) or if you are doing a Kernel Memory Dump (only do this if you have broadband) C:WINDOWSMEMORY.DMP

By analysing the file it should be possible to at least narrow down the problem to a specific driver, application or OS component.

Cheers


Paul

[BliarOut]

You should set the dump to be kernel at least. Minidumps are not very helpful if you are going to use the debugging tools.

If you enter the STOP number or description (At the top of the blue screen) on support.microsoft.com you might find the answer. Have you updated any software/drivers recently? If so, that is pretty much certain to be the problem.