[BloodCross]

Okay, well, I bought my new Vista computer last night and I've only had it like 24 hours and it's already "crashed" three times with a blue screen that pops up randomly and says something about Bios? It doesn't give me enough time to read it before it shuts down. And then I have to restart and it asks me if I wanna start in safe mode, blah blah....

Can anyone help me? I really wanna keep Vista. I just dunno whats wrong.

[BloodCross]

Bump D:

[BloodCross]

Bump

[Rollin' Rog]

An error referencing the BIOS is something you should be talking to the vendor about. You must have some warranty support. However most STOP messages do give you some gratuitous advice about changing BIOS settings -- this is usually to be ignored.

Did you install anything prior to getting the message? If so, you should uninstall it -- or run "system restore" and choose a prior reference date.

Also, run sysdm.cpl and select Advanced > Startup and Recovery and take the check out of "automatically reboot". Make sure "small memory dump" is the option selected.

As far as getting some more information -- if this was a typical blue screen STOP message -- follow the instructions below if you can boot to Windows. If you can't boot -- try starting in either Safe Mode or Last Known Good Configuration.

I can run a debugging utility on the dump files if you do this:

1 > create a new folder on the desktop and call it "dumpcheck" or whatever you like
2 > navigate to %systemroot%\minidump and copy the last few minidump files to that folder.%systemroot% is normally c:\windows. They are numbered by date. You can paste that address in address bar to get there.
3 > close the folder and right click on it and select Send to Compressed (zipped) Folder.
4 > use the "manage attachments" in the "advanced" reply window to upload that zip file here as an attachment.

This might point us to a 3rd party driver causing the error, if one exists for it.

>> and by the way, you need to show a little more patience in waiting for a reply here. Usually 24 hours.

[BloodCross]

I don't understand what you are saying? I found the sysdm.cpl thingy, but what does it do if I change it?

Sorry for bumping, I'm new to the site. D:

[Rollin' Rog]

If you uncheck "automatically restart" when a STOP error occurs windows will halt on the STOP screen (BSOD).

This will give you a chance to copy the error information (always look for a driver file).

Normally you will also find the minidumps in the folder indicated and these can be uploaded here for analysis.

But this is not always the case so you should copy essential "bugcheck" information from the BSOD as well.

>> Are you still getting these stop messages?

[BloodCross]

Actually I haven't has any problems since the last crash about three days ago.

[Rollin' Rog]

Well these things happen, if it's not a recurring event it doesn't make sense to try to troubleshoot it -- as there would be no way to judge success.