Bluescreen - Hardware Malfunction

by Baggiez • 4 Aug 2007, 18:36 • Journals
1 in 20 times I run ET, I will be playing without any problems.

Running stable FPS and ping, then suddenly I get a blue-screen.

"Hardware Malfunction blah blah"

Can't do anything from that screen other than turn off. Computer is unresponsive.

Any ideas? How to fix?
Comments
12
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evan 4 Aug 2007, 19:38
Usually your graphics card crashing, probably because the driver isn't installed properly or it's overheating.
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pedro 4 Aug 2007, 19:55
You don't get blue screens from your graphics card overheating. You would see artifacts all over your screen, then the computer would switch itself off eventually when there was an exponential number of artifacts present on the screen.
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pedro 4 Aug 2007, 20:02
It looks like a memory problem. If it was another issue like overheating for example, the problem would introduce itself slowly with noticeable changes, like random shutdowns or graphical errors such as artifacts. Your computer is saying that it's having a problem recognizing/working with your hardware, which makes me believe that your computer has having trouble either accessing or dumping some from memory. This is the only real way that hardware & software could produce a blue screen of that nature.

However, I'm only talking from personal & professional experience, I could be obviously wrong. Plus I really dislike you, so fuck knows if I'm actually telling the truth.
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Baggiez 4 Aug 2007, 20:23
Artifacts? Explain?

Something happens when I play ET which I didn't mention.

Sometimes, the screen will like ... um ... flicker, so to speak. Random textures will change colours for split seconds, or dissappear. It happens all over the screen incredibly fast, like a crazy lights show. If I vid_restart it usually dissappears but not always.

Also, I get random FPS slowdown somtimes. I run at a steady 333fps then it'll drop to 30-50fps for a few minutes. It doesn't seemed to be linked to the bluescreens though
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Baggiez 4 Aug 2007, 20:25
Ok I googled artifacts and I'm getting them too :P
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pedro 4 Aug 2007, 20:33
If you're getting artifacts and you're getting a blue screen related to hardware, it's pretty safe to say that your graphics card is broken to some degree.

The artifacts and strange effects you are experiencing are directly linked to overheating, that's simple. The blue screens probaly originate from the same problem, although this has more to do with your software checking your hardware and finding an error so to Protect itself, it's blue-screening your system. It should shut itself down in an instance such as this but for some reason it's chosing a blue screen instead.
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Re/d 4 Aug 2007, 20:03
Overclocked too far, faulty ram, bad drivers, overheating, could be anything. Try entering the 'blah blah' info (usually something like STOP: 0x0000008E) in google and see if it comes up with a solution.
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artlove 4 Aug 2007, 20:40
only nabs get blue screens :D
0 blue screens since got my computer :D
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wAndAA 4 Aug 2007, 20:56
reinstall windows and make sure you don't install vista :)
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abort 4 Aug 2007, 21:02
ultimate boot cd. check your memory hdd. If it's none of both, reinstall windows and see if it works. Test your vga with 3dmark, and your cpu with prime95. If your install seems instable or its still instable and the tests all result in non-faulty components it's your mainboard. (if not pci cards, dvd/cd-player/(re)writer and other useless stuff)
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