Blue Screen of Death Problem!

**Scipio Afracanis** · July 06, 2011, 04:47 PM

Bought my comp last year to play games on. I have Nortons Anti Virus. Around the time of the Firefox update,(a couple of months ago) I have been getting that Memory BSOD thing.

I have Windows 7 Home Premium(pretty sure), then when I try to start my computer it doesn't boot up.
(90% of the time)

So the computer turns on but nothing appears on the monitor. Take it to my friends house and he runs it for a week straight and says there's no problem. Still happens when I get it back. I change to a different monitor,same problem. Take it to Best Buy where I bought it,boots up fine and they can't see a problem.

Bring it back to my house and works fine for a day or 2 then same BSOD.

I end up only getting to use it every couple of days for 8-10 hours after turning it on and off 10-30 times,letting fix it self but now it freezes during that screen.

All the fans are spinning when I looked inside,connections seem ok but I am not computer guy so I wouldn't know anyway. Even though I have the latest Norton could it be a virus? Mal Ware? I am very careful of what I put on that comp since its for gaming, no weird sites,porn or otherwise. Corrupt drives?
It still has 40% or more space so I know its not a lack of RAM.

Like I said I don't know much about computers so if you have any advice how ever simple or common sense please suggest, I won't take any offense. Thanks either way.

**PoleCat** · July 06, 2011, 05:23 PM

You definitely have an odd one here. When you took it to your friends house he could never see the problem. Best Buy wouldn't know a problem if someone shoved it up their backside so we can mostly rule them out - but they didn't find anything either.

I'm going to ask the esoterical questions first. How good is the wiring in your house? Do you have your system plugged into a grounded outlet?
How about heat issues? Hawaii can get pretty hot through these months. Have you checked your system temps?

If it boots only 1 out of 10 then I'd say you have some sort of power issue going on there. I'd need more to confirm. Anything else you can tell us? How does it work when you actually get it to work? Good luck!

**irishron** · July 06, 2011, 06:18 PM

House/apartment wiring problem. Not enough electricity getting there for some reason. Is it pulling enough to trip the circiut breaker or blow the fuse?

**AlfonsoVIII** · July 06, 2011, 11:22 PM

I agree, where you are plugging it in could be the problem, or you are plugging something into the computer like an ipod or other usb device that you did not take with you to your friends houses or at Best Buy.

**Scipio Afracanis** · July 07, 2011, 02:56 AM

I am unplugging everything in my room, lap top charger/phone charger ect...........

The comp turns on, all the fans spin, the lights are flashing out of the tower but the monitor is still not connecting with it.

But you have given me something to think about, should I open the tower side and let it get cooler like that?

When the comp actually works its fine, play online FPS games no problem,you tube vids. But to get to that point is difficult.

Thanks for all the quick responses!!

**PoleCat** · July 07, 2011, 04:17 AM

Originally Posted by Scipio Afracanis

...The comp turns on, all the fans spin, the lights are flashing out of the tower but the monitor is still not connecting with it.

Have you checked to make sure the monitor wire is firmly seated? If everything on the system lights up but the monitor doesn't work then check the cable.

Originally Posted by Scipio Afracanis

But you have given me something to think about, should I open the tower side and let it get cooler like that?

When the comp actually works its fine, play online FPS games no problem,you tube vids. But to get to that point is difficult.

Opening the side of the tower can be problematic. Most towers are designed to direct air in from one side and out the other. By taking the side of the case off you could screw with that arrangement. But it can work. At least one person I know of in a high-heat area opens his case and directs a stand fan into the computer. That may work for you too maybe.

Also, when was the last time you opened the case and cleaned the components? Canned air ring a bell for you at all?

Do you know how to check your system temps? Good luck!

**Inarus** · July 07, 2011, 04:45 AM

Don't happen to play Minecraft do you? That certainly has caused Black Screen/BSOD issues.

**eisenkopf** · July 07, 2011, 06:41 AM

Your description of the problem is a bit confusing, because you mix up three things in it:

1. BSOD
2. No boot-up.
3. No image on screen.

I did not get a clear understanding which problem happened when, except that none of them were reproducible at your friend's or the comp shack. Each of these can have multiple reasons, so you have a real mess there

I agree with the previous posters that probably the wiring in your house is part of the problem in case the computer does not start up at all. Try out several plugs while using no other equipment in the same room (including the monitor! only keyboard and mouse allowed). And check the power cable and connectors.

Only once the computer is running (and maybe you've figured out the "perfect plug"), plug in the monitor, but check all cables and plugs first. If it does not show anything, plug in a different monitor. Then the first monitor with a different cable. Then the second monitor with the second cable. Note what works and what does not.

In cases like yours, you have to be very systematic. Only change one factor (power outlet, cables, monitor) at a time. By doing so, you should be able to figure out what causes the problems.

Only if none works reliably I would open the case and make sure that each part is firmly sitting in its place - graphics card, power connectors, RAM, CPU, fans. I don't think heat is the problem, since if it was, your computer would not be able to run for several hours straight.

**Scipio Afracanis** · July 07, 2011, 02:59 PM

Originally Posted by eisenkopf

Your description of the problem is a bit confusing, because you mix up three things in it:

1. BSOD
2. No boot-up.
3. No image on screen.

I did not get a clear understanding which problem happened when, except that none of them were reproducible at your friend's or the comp shack. Each of these can have multiple reasons, so you have a real mess there

I agree with the previous posters that probably the wiring in your house is part of the problem in case the computer does not start up at all. Try out several plugs while using no other equipment in the same room (including the monitor! only keyboard and mouse allowed). And check the power cable and connectors.

Only once the computer is running (and maybe you've figured out the "perfect plug"), plug in the monitor, but check all cables and plugs first. If it does not show anything, plug in a different monitor. Then the first monitor with a different cable. Then the second monitor with the second cable. Note what works and what does not.

In cases like yours, you have to be very systematic. Only change one factor (power outlet, cables, monitor) at a time. By doing so, you should be able to figure out what causes the problems.

Only if none works reliably I would open the case and make sure that each part is firmly sitting in its place - graphics card, power connectors, RAM, CPU, fans. I don't think heat is the problem, since if it was, your computer would not be able to run for several hours straight.

Sorry if I wasn't clear all.

When I said the comp doesn't boot up I meant, it turns on, the lights are flashing and fans spinning but nothing appears on the monitor.

After 10-20 tries of turn off turn on, fixing screens then the comp works, plays great for 6-10 hours then BSOD. (Or I turn it off because I am done playing and in another day or 2 we start all over again.)

There are 2 places that I can plug my monitor into, my friend says I have to plug it into the video card slot on the back.(Or was it the other way around?) Anyways I plugged it into the one that I thought was the video card slot and it worked fine for 6 months.

Then it starts having the problems described, I take it to Best Buy and they plug it into the other slot and it works fine. I try the other slot when I get home and it works fine for awhile, but the problems start again. Now I only use the 2nd slot because I have not successfully started the comp with it plugged into the 1st video card monitor hook up slot for a month. (Maybe it has nothing to do with anything related?)

I do need to use that air can stuff, thats what someone recommended awhile ago.( keep forgetting to do that)

I only have 2 outlets and 3 things to plug in close to my comp, but I have tried other plug strips with no different results.

I have been plugging and unplugging the power cord, monitor hook up, internet cord ect..... in the back to see if its those connections that are wrong, I end up doing that 10-15 times and then the comp turns on.(not sure if it helps)

The comp is not in hot crowded area, its in the open and I feel it when playing and doesn't seem to be hot. Could be wrong of course, I don't know how to check heat temp.

Will air can spray it today and see if that will help.

**Doono** · July 07, 2011, 12:41 PM

Are you using an extension lead as the power source? If yes try using a direct wall connection.

**PoleCat** · July 07, 2011, 03:25 PM

Just a question out of curiosity - when you brought your system over to either your friends house or to Best Buy did you bring your video cable with you or did you use one provided at either location? Are you sure that cable is still good?

**Scipio Afracanis** · July 07, 2011, 03:49 PM

Video cable?

Good idea though, change power cords. Next thing on the list.

**PoleCat** · July 07, 2011, 04:00 PM

Originally Posted by Scipio Afracanis

Video cable?

Well since I assumed we were talking about a tower case here than yes - have you checked to make sure the cable is still good. If we're talking about a laptop then you should spell that out for us. Actually there are quite a few things you should really help us to understand. Few to none of us are mind readers. Good luck!

**Scipio Afracanis** · July 07, 2011, 04:23 PM

I didn't know if you were talking about a power cord.(if that is what your talking about)

Wasn't sure if you might have been talking about something inside the computer.

I think I gave him a power cord but I have a couple of them. So I will change them out to see if thats a possible. I did not bring a power cord to Best Buy. (they wanted to sign up for a year or 2 to possibly fix my comp)

Thanks for all the suggestions all, very much appreciated.

**PoleCat** · July 07, 2011, 05:11 PM

I mean a monitor cable (such as an old VGA or HDMI cable). One of your last posts you mention that you can get the system to fire up (MoBo lights up, fans spin, etc.) but no monitor output. I was wondering if you used your friends cable to connect your monitor. If so then that may be your problem. Maybe your cable is going bad.

I'm not talking about power cords. Power may still be the issue but I'm trying to help you cross one thing off of your checklist. Good luck!

**Scipio Afracanis** · July 07, 2011, 05:15 PM

Ahh, monitor cable!

I will check that as well. He did not use that when he was testing my comp. The only thing is I tried another monitor and it still didn't work. I do have another monitor I can use besides those two so I will try that one and change cords for the others.

Cheers!

**irishron** · July 07, 2011, 06:27 PM

Two monitors and not work? Monitor cable or graphics card. Only things left.

**Taiji** · July 08, 2011, 03:40 AM

Which BSOD are you getting?

**Scipio Afracanis** · July 08, 2011, 03:31 PM

Memory is not right one.

If you recently installed any new software that could be a problem.

Used the Air spray and got out alot of dust.

Changed monitor cords and it booted up no problem 1st time.

I will know in a few minutes if it blue screens me but all your suggestions seemed to have helped.

Thanks all!