[SimpleRules]

I am getting quite a few BSODs on Vista, for whatever reason on my ATI graphics card (X700 PRO) I couldn't read them - just blue screens, having recently switched to a nVidia card, I can, and they all read "Memory Management".

Memtest, Windows Vista Memory Diagnostics can't find a fault though, I've checked the BIOS for memory timings and they're running at frequency and timings specified by SPD (667 - 5-5-5-15), I also checked there weren't any "easy overclocking" features turned on, that up the frequency when needed ... and there were not.

When I reboot from a BSOD, Problems and Solutions says "How to solve a problem with a video device", doesn't sound Memory related to me.

Event Viewer lists 1580 of these: The hardware has reported an uncorrectable memory error.

I can't find the problem - I've tried multiple graphics cards, that work in other machines, using different drivers (both ATI & nVidia), clean installs and the like ... but it happens anyway, from the day I got Vista.

[spdabbs]

Do you have the latest BIOS for your mobo? Any mobo related Vista drivers may also be worth looking into.

[SimpleRules]

Got the latest BIOS and all Vista ready-drivers.

[spdabbs]

Did the BSOD's occur at random, or can you link them to anything specific? Also try stripping msconfig (non-MS services and all startup) to see if the BSODs continue.

[SimpleRules]

Occur at random, can't think of anything to link them, I will try the services and start-up trick ... although I got the BSODs from moment of install - before I installed a single program.

[Blueyonder]

It sounds like the video driver right enough.

Make sure you have totally uninstalled all ATI drivers, in fact all drivers you are not using . Look in the registry for ATI and remove it all from there too.

Then reinstall the NVidia drivers

[SimpleRules]

They happened on the ATI card though ...

Switching between the two is a horrid task though, I still get all sorts of weird artifacts because I've got nVidia drivers and ATI have left things on the machine, I've tried to remove them all but.

[Blueyonder]

You are keeping the Nvidia card, so go to Control Panel/Programs/Uninstall or change a Program.
Uninstall any ATI entries.
Then search the hard drive for ATI and remove everything

Then go download “jv16 PowerTools 2006”. It is Vista compatible. You get a 30day fully functional trial, then you have to pay for it or lose it.

http://www.macecraft.com/jv16powertools2006/

This is an excellent set of tools. Use the registry cleaner and be sure to allow it to make a backup. It will ask you to do this before deleting anything. It should remove any traces of ATI

You really must always clean out all old drivers before installing new ones

Then if the problem not fixed try reinstalling the Nvidia drivers.

[SimpleRules]

Well, an ATI replacement card will be coming back eventually ... but I'll do this anyway, and again when I return to ATI.

[techy689]

thanks...

[Blueyonder]

BSOD
Blue Screen Of Death.
This is the blue screen with the error messages which appears when the system crashes.