[Casa Cantrell]

Dell XPS 400 running Windows XP (about 3 years old) shuts off at will, usually after 15 or 20 minutes. Sometimes it restarts several times. Sometimes it just stops. The ff blue screen error message often appears: "STOP: 0x0000007E." Further message has more numbers and refers to caching and shadowing. Then, "Beginning dump of physical memory" message at bottom of screen. Sometimes it just shuts down with no error message. The inconsistency has me confused.

After checking Microsoft Help & Support I think it may be related to the new monitor (emachines E19T 6W) OR monitor driver(?) which we replaced a couple of weeks ago. They refer to incompatible hardware device or driver. How can I check this for a monitor?

We replaced the Dell monitor because it went blank and showed nothing. My brother says the old Dell monitor works fine with his computer. ??? It makes me think the problem was the computer all along BEFORE the monitor replacement.

Do we have several problems or is it all related? I've checked lots of your messages, but don't see anything like this. Before buying a new computer, I'd like to know if this is fixable or not!! I am quite ignorant re. computers, but desperate to get it fixed, so be gentle and basic!

[BG-0]

Maybe try a new graphics card before buying a new PC: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814121259
Ooor.. Actually, maybe don't. Actually, download memtest: http://www.memtest.org/download/2.11...+-2.11.iso.zip (read a few instructions on how to burn it to a CD and how to use it) and test your RAM.

[wilson44512]

XP usually don't need to have a driver for the monitor. if you installed one that is for the monitor try uninstalling it and see if it helps. have you tried updating your video card driver?

[Casa Cantrell]

How does one go about checking on a video card? We have not installed a driver for the new monitor... just plugged it in and it worked... sort of. It gives messages. I'll have to check exactly what tomorrow. I'm on the laptop right now.

[geoffm]

because the old monitor went blank and works for your brother I would suspect the computer rather then the monitor, try the new monitor on your brothers computer, if it works then we must look at the display/graphics card, if you're not used to the insides of a computer then take it to someone that is and ask them to try a different display card before paying out for a new box.

[Casa Cantrell]

Thanks for grappling with my problem, guys. Since I'm definitely over my head, it looks like I need to take it to the shop and see what they can do. I'll share your ideas with them so that, hopefully, it will save them some time getting it up and running again. From what I hear you saying, it is fixable.