Xp Crashing, Need Help.

[adams]

i have recently built a new computer and ever since i installed xp pro it has been having random reboots. i have no idea what is causing it.

system specs:
amd athlon 2500+ (barton core) (retail)
2 - 256MB PC3200 DDR Ram (512MB total)
40gb hd
80gb hd
side and top case fans
tv tuner

also, where is that log file at so i can take a look at it. thanks.

[Shiromagius]

Have you checked the Event Viewer? Control Panel -> Admin Tools -> Event Viewer. Also you can uncheck "automatically restart" on system props -> Advanced -> Startup and Recovery Settings and maybe get a bsod and see what the problem is. Just some ideas

[adams]

in the event viewer on the minidump it has the following:

Code:

The computer has rebooted from a bugcheck.  The bugcheck was: 0x1000008e (0xc0000005, 0xf13f7cf1, 0xf163ba2c, 0x00000000)

and in the event viewer, application. there are many errors in there, here is what most of them say:

Code:

The description for Event ID ( 1 ) in Source ( True Vector Engine ) cannot be found. The local computer may not have the necessary registry information or message DLL files to display messages from a remote computer. You may be able to use the /AUXSOURCE= flag to retrieve this description; see Help and Support for details. The following information is part of the event: .

check out the screenshot.

[richardc2000]

I did a google search for 0x1000008e and ofund all sorts of
possiblities - PSU and bad RAM were the main culprits.
Have you atried running any other OS on it - just in case it is a
bad copy of XP.

[adams]

i'm pretty sure its not a bad copy. its retail upgrade from staples. but no i haven't tried running any other OS, didn't know there was such a thing.

edit: ran memtest and it reported over 1,000 errors. so i guess that is the problem.

[war59312]

Um turn off zone alarm and see what happens.

[adams]

the firewall or the av? they are both by etrust.

edit: just to add a little more info.

its not a constant reboot, just like once a day. but the memory is still bad so i'm going to see which stick tomorrow and rma it back to newegg.

[adams]

how do i tell which stick it is?


if i take out one stick and it happens to be the bad one will i even get into windows? or what happens? thanks.

[war59312]

Test your memory with this:
http://www.memtest86.com/

[adams]

thanks war, i did that. thank goodness it was only one stick.