I saw your post on Fractint news feed ... I just had the same problem on an old Dell 8400 too. The Dell diags say it is a memory problem but when I changed out the DRAM the problem continued ... (you might try taking the DRAM out and putting it back in) I traced my problem to a bad motherboard (I decided to strip the machine for parts and tossed the old motherboard) ... not worth fixing. Dell had a problem with power capacitors about this vintage of motherboards (If you see the tops of the capacitors expanding ... you have a bad motherboard) The problem is heat related ... they fail as the temp inside the machine goes up. My box finally died and would not boot past the post errors. -David ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jim Muth" <jamth@mindspring.com> To: <fractint@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Wednesday, October 26, 2011 2:37 PM Subject: [Fractint] Fractal computer trouble
Fractal fans:
As I have been reporting the past few days, the main 2000mhz fractal computer is out of action and I am using the 200mhz backup machine. I am posting this list of symptoms hoping that someone on the list with more computer knowledge than myself might have an idea of what ails the machine and what if anything might be done to fix it.
When I first turn on the machine it starts up normally and runs for a few minutes. Then a blue screen with white characters appears. The message says there is a problem and windows is shutting down to prevent possible damage. The message says to try restarting the machine, but when I try, the machine is locked up. When I cut the power for a minute or so, the machine beeps 1-3-2 and the normally all-green lights on the back panel turn (left to right) amber,amber,green,green. Nothing else happens.
But if I keep the power shut off for a couple hours, the computer will again start up normally, only to go dead in a few minutes, with another identical blue screen.
The following is some technical information that appears on the blue screen. It is beyond my understanding.
STOP: 0x0000008E (0xc0000005,0xBF80232A,0xB797DC14,0x00000000)
win32k545 - Address BF80232A base at BF800000, Datestamp4341deff
Hopefully, I have copied all the characters correctly.
The machine is a Dell dimension-8400 series about 8 years old, running WindowsXP Professional. Any help would be appreciated and would also promote the fractal cause.
P.S. I have already tried reseating the memory cards.
JIM
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