[novastar753]

phew~ new poster here and I hope someone can work through this problem because I've been given the hardest time with this one.

System Specs:
OS: Vista Ult. 64bit
Mobo: AN9 Fata1ity (want to change very soon)
RAM: Corsair 2 sets of 2, 512mb dual channel DDR2
Video: Nvidia 8800gts 320mb
CPU: Athlon x64 (dual ~2.4ghz, can't remember exact numbers)
others are basics, dvd-r, 600w power supply, etc.

I've been getting a ton of BSODs since I got back from a 4-5day vacation, ranging from Memory Management issues to IRQL/Driver_IRQL messages, and even some other ones I've never even heard of before (e.g. System something...I don't even know. continuously BSOD'd right before the login screen.) I haven't had very many issues before, but the most noteworthy was the DRIVER_IRQL BSODs. I've definitely had my fair share of those. The DRIVER_IRQL issues also happened when I was using an ATI x1900 256mb video card, which I had replaced 4-5 months ago. I haven't had these DRIVER_IRQL issues since my old video card, but it seems to be coming back for some reason, so I did update my video card's drivers. I've run into a site today depicting the System BSOD issue I've been having just recently, talking about the ATI catalysts software still running its update manager in my services and I ended up getting that BSOD to leave me alone when I disabled it. crossing my fingers and hoping that was it for that specific issue.

The rest of these BSOD's are continuing to haunt me though. I had my computer offline, disconnected, with no nearby obstructions that would make any kind of weird happenings like this. DRIVER_IRQL and simply IRQL messages, as well as the Memory Management errors are still showing up after my login into the OS, anywhere from 1-10minutes in. These issues, although less frequently, are also happening in safe mode, making any kind of software test (the...what is it, memtest86?) pretty difficult. I've brought my system to barebones at this point until I can figure out a way to at least reduce the problems I'm having, so I brought it down to 1 stick of RAM, processor, video card and running it that way until someone can shed some light on this.

sorry for the lengthy problem. it IS quite complicated from my eyes. =x

[kiwiguy]

If it runs in a stable manner with just one stick of RAM (as your post suggests), you have faulty RAM.

Faulty RAM will give all manner of BSOD's

[novastar753]

I had a suspicious feeling that it was the ram, but I wasn't too sure. I'm not exactly sure how it just went bad all of the sudden, but I hope that's the extent of my problems. I was looking to buy more soon anyway. If I end up going over 3gb, am I going to need that hotfix that I keep seeing show up? Or is that just an isolated problem on vista?

[nilpo]

I agree that it is the ram, but if you want to be more certain you can always run Memtest86+.

[novastar753]

haha no problems since I changed out the ram. 0 problems, no nothing. thanks for the help.