Blue Screen

[Philadelphia]

I have 2 5870's, one with 2mb and the other 1mb. When I have the 2mb one in I've been getting the dreaded blue screen. I took it out and put in the 1mb and I'm not getting the blue screen.

Is the card the issue? Could it be the power supply? Could it be the driver? Could it be.....????

Thanks for your thoughts.

EDIT: So much for the 1mg not getting the blue screen, it just got it too :mad:

[coronicus]

When is the blue screen happening? before windows boots up... after windows is loaded....

[Philadelphia]

The blue screen was in windows just 'doing stuff'.

I put in the card that's been in it for years and I've had to reboot as the computer hung up with the original card..

I had a new PSU and I just replaced it with the old one so I'm officially back to my original H/W configuration.

Hopefully no more locked computer or blue screens. I'm totally frustrated.

[DrPop]

This could be a couple things - is there any text on the blue screen? That might help us figure it out.
It could be a RAM issue - that is the most common error that causes blue screens - how are your timings, and all that in the bios - did you change anything recently? If not, then it is likely something to do with the cards and/or drivers. Do you have old drivers in there? Did you do a complete uninstall of the old drivers first, before installing the new ones? Also, it works better if you get one of the cards in there working good, before you put the other one in (for crossfire or just crunching on two).

[Fire$torm]

In addition to the above, has Windows run an update recently?

Other causes for BSOD:
*Bad HDD sector(s)
*Corrupt system/driver file
*Corrupt BIOS configuration
*Dirty/oxidized contacts on video card, memory, NIC card, etc...
*Failing PSU or HDD

There are other possibilities but these are the most common.

F$

[rgathright]

First, nice to see you on the forums. Always glad to see another team member show up.:-h

TO DO! TAKE A PICTURE OF THE BSOD AND SHARE IT WITH US!

Now, you could be getting this problem because your processor is getting to hot.

Have you tried checking your heatsink and cpu temperatures? 150F would be way to hot for idle (no BOINC).

If you have the system CPU overclocked, take it back down to stock.

Keep us up to date and feel free to share photos, we are all glad to get you crunching again! [-O<

[Philadelphia]

I'm sorry for not getting back to everyone with your helpful input, I've been without internet computer/access. These as so frustrating to figure out as you all know.

I don't know how big my butt is but I think (ATM) you all have a right to kick it, lol.

After about 2 hours on the phone (burnt a bunch of my monthly minutes) with my virus software company (support person from the Phillipines) (sp?), it appears it was the issue.

If that is/was the issue, I would never have figured that out.

Soooooooo, I'll do this in steps to get it back to what I want.

Everyones thoughts are appreciated and welcomed.

First, I'll put the 'new' PSU in and see if everything is fine for 'some amount of time'. If all goes well......

Second, I'll put back in the memory chips, G-Skill memory chips (4 1mg's), then....

Third, put the 1mb 5870 by itself, then....

Fourth, put the second 2mb 5870.

'Assuming' the software was the issue, does this sound reasonable?

Philly/Dan

Again, thanks 2 everyone for your thoughts.

[Mike029]

Let us know how it turns out. *Fingers crossed*

[Philadelphia]

This could be a couple things - is there any text on the blue screen?

Lots of text, but way faster than I could read it.


It could be a RAM issue - that is the most common error that causes blue screens - how are your timings, and all that in the bios - did you change anything recently?

I did put 4 megs of G.Skill memory in it, put I pulled it and put back the tried and trued original 2 megs back in, no luck.


If not, then it is likely something to do with the cards and/or drivers. Do you have old drivers in there?

I don't know if I have the old drivers still installed (probably so though), after I put the 5870 in there I installed the current ones, so I guess the old one is still there?


Did you do a complete uninstall of the old drivers first, before installing the new ones? I didn't


Also, it works better if you get one of the cards in there working good, before you put the other one in (for crossfire or just crunching on two).

Someone told me that crossfiring them was not a good idea for BOINC. I have no idea.

[Philadelphia]

In addition to the above, has Windows run an update recently?

Other causes for BSOD:
*Bad HDD sector(s)
*Corrupt system/driver file
*Corrupt BIOS configuration
*Dirty/oxidized contacts on video card, memory, NIC card, etc...
*Failing PSU or HDD

There are other possibilities but these are the most common.

F$


If it's any of the above, I hope its the PSU, others are beyond my knowledge, other than cleaning the contacts.

Since getting off the phone with the software company, no computer lock ups and/or blue screens. My small fingers are crossed in more ways that should be possible, lol.

[Philadelphia]

First, nice to see you on the forums. Always glad to see another team member show up.:-h

TO DO! TAKE A PICTURE OF THE BSOD AND SHARE IT WITH US!

If you know how to take a picture of it in about a nano second, I'd be happy to do it, lol :)


Now, you could be getting this problem because your processor is getting to hot.

Heat isn't a problem in this case. Just checked it and it's as 28 (c) and 32 (c) on the E6600.


Have you tried checking your heatsink and cpu temperatures? 150F would be way to hot for idle (no BOINC).

See above.


If you have the system CPU overclocked, take it back down to stock.

Nothing overclocked ATM.


Keep us up to date and feel free to share photos, we are all glad to get you crunching again! [-O<

Thanks. Me too :)

[Fire$torm]

This could be a couple things - is there any text on the blue screen? That might help us figure it out.


Lots of text, but way faster than I could read it.

OK. Just for future reference, this will help that fast scrolling text. Right after you power on your computer and it is almost finished with the Power On Self Test (POST) start tapping the F8 key. This will force Windows to display a screen that will allow the user to select among Windows boot options like "Safe Mode" and such. The option you should use is "Disable automatic restart on system failure".


Someone told me that crossfiring them was not a good idea for BOINC. I have no idea.

Correct. Usually. A few team members have reported that one project, I think it was DistrRTgen, required Crossfire/SLI for their particular systems to work properly. I believe it is dependent on GPU manufacturer.


My small fingers are crossed in more ways that should be possible, lol.

=)) =))

[zombie67]

If you know how to take a picture of it in about a nano second, I'd be happy to do it, lol :)

With your camera/phone....

[Philadelphia]

OK. Just for future reference, this will help that fast scrolling text. Right after you power on your computer and it is almost finished with the Power On Self Test (POST) start tapping the F8 key. This will force Windows to display a screen that will allow the user to select among Windows boot options like "Safe Mode" and such. The option you should use is "Disable automatic restart on system failure".
=)) =))



I wasn't aware of that, thanks for the information.

I also learned something else from the tech that I wasn't totally aware of, that on the config file, on the start up tab, if you unclick everything, nothing starts up in startup mode. I used to see some 'stuff' that was 'windows' associated that I didn't/couldn't figure out what it/they were for, so I didn't unclick them. He unclicked everything and I questioned on it, and when he explained what he was doing, I was, wow, what a time saver when booting up.

[Philadelphia]

With your camera/phone....

I'll give it a try, lol, but it would require that I put down the can of beer. Maybe I should take a poll to see who takes the picture and who holds onto the beer =))=)) PS, I'm Irish. =))=))

EDIT - I'm darn near temped to put the other 5870 in tonight, but way too tired. Probably would screw it up anyway, lol.

[Duke of Buckingham]

Irish Blue screen Robots partying

http://www.dreamstime.com/blue-screen-robots-drunken-companionship-thumb15802863.jpg

Irish Blue screen returning home

http://www.demotivationalposters.org/image/demotivational-poster/0907/worst-timing-ever-blue-screen-plane-demotivational-poster-1247152913.jpg

[coronicus]

=:) =))