BSOD on XP

rowlers

my PC running XP Pro keeps BSODing, and it is driving me nuts!

It runs 247 as a DVR for my Security camera, every now and then the cooling fans needs a clean out, so I did this last saturday. Now it turns off with a BSOD every 20 hours or so.
I have ruled out heat, as I have left it running without its cover and and fan did not even ramp up - sitting nice and cool.

I'm currently trying to test the RAM (2*1gb Sticks). Also ran CHKDSK and it found some errors and fixed them (no bad sectors tho).

Just crashed now during a boot after chkdsk! - Aahhh!

No HW or SW changes other than windows updates. is it this thats caused a SW conlfict or something?

Error on BSOD is:
BUGCODE_USB_DRIVER.
*** STOP: 0x000000EF (0x00000004, 0x86EC6008, 0x86E0A840, 0x00000000)

Please help before I throw it through the window!

blister pus

I don't have time to walk you through a minidump routine atm, but...

BUGCODE_USB_DRIVER.

I'm assuming you've got summat plugged in. go check for driver updates first.

rowlers

MORE googling is pointing toward a USB driver problem (yeh I know thats what the error suggests!).

BUT nothing has changed!! So why start now? Must be a XP update thing!

blister pus

So what's using USB ports?

rowlers

beat me too it...

I have plugged in wireless USB KB & Mouse, USB 7.1 ext sounds card and the security camera DVR box.

I've got them unplugged atm. see how it goes. Bit of a bummer if it turns out to be the Camera box, as that is the PCs WHOLE purpose!

Read somewhere that it could be a driver trying to use windows files that have been updated and so the driver can't "talk" to these new system files properly?!?

blister pus

Just make sure you've got the latest drivers for the hardware plugged in, including the security camera, and if you have, do a clean uninstall and reinstall the software. Is your starting point.

rowlers

cheers bp, having a look at my minidumps now.

its stayed up with the soundcard and camera uplugged...

rowlers

checked thru the last dumps, one stays atapi.sys, ALL the others point to CM106.sys, which looks like it could be the driver file for the ext. soundcard.

NOW I bet I can't get updated drivers for it cos it is an unbranded one off ebuyer.

I'll prob just leave it unplugged if this is the culprit!

blister pus

show us it.

rowlers

I'll post it up, but Kids/wife have taken charge of the TV now!
I'll post it in the morning.

It has ran all afternoon now, with no BSOD. I've just plugged the Camera dooberry back in, so we'll see how it goes. Fingers xed.
cheers BP

blister pus

no need to go to that trouble rowlers, just show us a pic on the web, there must have been some detail that came with it. generic cards have some traceable origin

rowlers

aahh thought you meant my dump

this is the fella:

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/106540

a c-media cm6207 chip, but there webby doesn't seem to av a driver for it...

(still running with the camera plugged in)

blister pus

lol. nah, the dump is straightforward from what you said.

blister pus

what c-media version - and version number have you got on the install disk and what size?

rowlers

meant to update..
anyways, all working again, re-installed the Ext SC driver and all is stable for now..
But now the sound is crap, pops crackles though the speakers..

It'll do for now, but I feel an HTPC is n the cards

something either core 2 duo based or I might go tiny and get and Atom 330 with ION?

blister pus

depends what you wanna do/run with/on the htpc , plenty of options.

rowlers

Main uses are ripping of DVDs, playback of VOBs, avis and mp3s, onto my tosh lcd and though my Marantz Amp (via HDM/VGA and SPDIF)
And of course the recording of my CCTV.

I'm looking at either at Aspire Revo or
ASUS AT3N7A-I NVIDIA ION
Crucial 2GB Kit (2x1GB) DDR2 800MHz/PC2-6400
Compucase Mini ITX Case
With 120W PSU
320gb SATA HDD and DVDRW

cheers BP

blister pus

well they changed the fan on the ASUS AT3N7A-I so it no longer sounds like a hovercraft and you don't have to hide it in the garden shed, so that because the Revo is under powered for me. If it were me, like.

rowlers

blister pus wrote:

Revo is under powered for me. If it were me, like.

same Atom(330) and Ion tho in it?
The revo would mean an ext HDD too.
Any better Main boards then for the same cash?

blister pus

double check it but I thought they were single-core Atom 230

rowlers

This one:

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/182588

still better off with a self build Ion 330?
Or is MATX Core 2 system a better bet? God the options!!

Wish I was still in the IT game!

blister pus

looks like they've upped the spec on the 09 one I remember so it's even-stevens and it runs a linux version so as not to tax it. Nice package, visually for home use too. Tempting.