Root Cause

How to Test for this Root Cause

The Cure

Notes/Comments/Procedures

Poorly Written Applications

Restart the app and see if it happens again at the same spot.

Don’t run the rogue app.

(Patient: “Doctor ! Doctor !  It hurts when I do this.” 

Doctor: “Don’t do that !”)

Sometimes failing RAM will cause crashes at the same point in using the app because this is the usually the first time since each PC startup that that particular RAM address is  used. Running other apps before the suspect one may trigger the same RAM problem. This way you may be able to figure out whether it’s the RAM or the app that’s causing the problem.

Bad/Failing RAM

MEMTEST86

or

MEMTEST86+

Remove the bad RAM module

MEMTEST86

MEMTEST86+

These 2 programs from different developers are darn near identical !

The download is a CD image .ISO file to be burned with a suitable burning app that can handle .ISO files. For hand-built desktop systems: Most reputable RAM manufacturers have a lifetime warranty on their products ! Hang on to the receipts (a PDF file made from the order confirmation email or web page will do nicely.)

Corrupted Device Driver

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Uninstall, then reinstall the current driver.

Sometimes the currently installed driver becomes corrupted in XP for no apparent reason. Simply reinstalling it  will cure this.

Driver was Published with Bugs

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Install an updated driver.

Sometimes the driver publisher has foisted on you a poorly written driver that goes along with its hardware product (e.g., a video card). Check for an newer driver. Hopefully there is one that has fixed its problems. In the particular case of video cards, go to the web site of the manufacturer of the video chip (nVidia or ATI/AMD) to get the latest driver. The manufacturer of the video card may not have the latest drivers available.

Root Cause

How to Test for this Root Cause

The Cure

Notes/Comments/Procedures

Viruses/Malware

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Thoroughly scan for and eliminate Viruses & other Malware

See the following post on how to get expert advice on identifying and eliminating all types of viruses and malware:

HijackThis Logs and Analysis

Perform steps 1 – 9 in order. You will get your money’s worth !

Bad (i.e., Marginal/Failing) or Underpowered Power Supply Unit (PSU)

Marginal or Underpowered Supply:

Observe the main output voltages (3.3V, 5V, 12V) often and under heavy load.

If any one is not within +/- 5% of its nominal voltage then replace the power supply.

Voltages on the vast majority of PCs can be observed easily with either of these 2 free utilities:

SpeedFan,   Everest Home 2.20

Allowable voltage ranges:

+3.3:  3.1V to  3.5v

+5:    4.7V to  5.3V

+12:  11.4V to 12.6V

Sometimes during heavy PC usage such as playing games with high powered video cards the PS can’t keep up with the demand and the voltages dip below acceptable levels. In this particular case a more powerful supply is needed.

Often gaming video card manufacturers give specific minimum power guidelines for choosing a suitable supply. Even though an under-powered supply is not defective the cure is the same as if it were:  replace it.

Defective Supply:

Replace the questionable supply with a “Known Good” one.

Replace the supply.

Sometimes a supply can’t be definitely diagnosed as defective, though it is. Replacing it is the only fix. On laptops the only way to fix a power supply is to replace the motherboard (Expensive if not outrageously expensive or even possible for laptops not covered under warranty.)

For desktops:  Make sure th PSU's fan spins freely otherwise the PSU may be overheating and will shut down or fail.

Some PS fans normally don't spin very fast, but they all are supposed to spin all the time.

Root Cause

How to Test for this Root Cause

The Cure

Notes/Comments/Procedures

Damaged Registry

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See the following post on how to get expert advice on identifying and eliminating all types of viruses and malware:

HijackThis Logs and Analysis

Perform steps 1 – 9 in order. You will get your money’s worth !

Sometimes doing a System Restore to a time before the infection will eliminate it - you could get lucky !

 This is a situation where having installed ERUNT in the past can "save your bacon" !

XP Screwed Up

or it was damaged by an application, malware or by the user.

Restore the Registry from a Previous Time:

1) System Restore;

2) Run ERUNT's ERDNT Registry restore program;

3) Reinstall or Uninstall/Reinstall the Application;

4) Do an XP Repair Install.

System Restore can sometimes work wonders, but is very problematic – it often does not work, possibly because it was disabled by Viruses/Malware.

Making a Registry backup using Regedit is not a thorough backup.

ERUNT is thorough and makes a backup each time the PC is restarted.

ERUNT

A Repair Install can only fix Registry problems related to the XP OS, but not problems with applications or damage due to Viruses/Malware..

Overheating CPU

Observe the CPU Core Temperature

1) Clean out dust and dirt from the CPU heatsink and its fan;

2) Clean out dust from the case fans;

3) Make sure all fans spin freely.

CPU and usually motherboard temps on the vast majority of PCs can be observed easily with either of these 2 free utilities:

SpeedFan,   Everest Home 2.20

The CPU and motherboard temps should always be below 50C = 122F.

Run a test utility (diagnostic) from your drive’s manufacturer to make sure the drive's mechanics and electronics are OK.

Seagate/Maxtor/Quantum

Western Digital (WDC)

Hitachi/IBM

Samsung

Fujitsu

The drive's manufacturer and model number will be listed by:

Control Panel > System > Hardware tab > Device Manager button.

Click the plus sign next to Disk drives. The manufacturer and the model number will be listed there.

Example:  WDC  WD2500KS-00MJB0