Custom Desktop blue screening too fast to read or make a dmp file for whocrashed

[Pc Fixed Right]

Custom Desktop blue screening too fast to read or make a minidump file for whocrashed to read.

Custom Windows Xp home machine with 2x512mb ram

What I've done
1. checked for spyware/viruses came back with nothing
2. checked mini dump files using whocrashed nothing came up
3. stripped machine down to the basics still get the blue screen and the computer immediately restarts.
4. checked HD for bad sectors- it has no bad sectors.

I am not sure how to read this error fast enough before the reboot to fix the problem.

Anyone have any ideas how I can view this error?

 

[dbdawn]

turn off auto-restart after the machine crashes or maybe use another tool to view the minidumps, like nirsofts blue screenview.

 

[iisjman07]

As dbdawn said, disable automatic reboot on system failure. You can do this by tapping F8 during bootup (same way as getting into safe mode) and choose 'Disable automatic reboot upon system failure'. Hopefully that will let you view the message.

I'd also try launching an ubuntu cd and also try it with some known good RAM

 

[phaZed]

I can alot of times cheat at the BS.. I use my cell phones video camera to video the quick blue screen, just alot faster than booting a distro to look a BSView.

I recently came across a XP system that wasn't writing a log, turns out that the SATA drivers had been mucked up by god knows what... booting in IDE mode got me to Windows where I was able to replace the "Correct" drivers from Dell, which didn't work, with generic ICH8 drivers. The system originally shipped with Vista.

 

[Xander]

Not to be harsh but you shouldn't need advice on disabling the auto-restart.

You also make no mention of checking the event viewer for information on said BSOD which should be your first stop if you don't have the error code.

 

[dbdawn]

Not to be harsh but you shouldn't need advice on disabling the auto-restart.

You also make no mention of checking the event viewer for information on said BSOD which should be your first stop if you don't have the error code.

Well I didn't want to be the one that said that

OP let us know if you figured this out besides N&P.

 

[Pc Fixed Right]

No I did not need advice on how to stop reboot on failure =P but thank you. I will try to video the blue screen and see if I can actually the read the error. thanks for your replies

 

[DCGPX]

No I did not need advice on how to stop reboot on failure =P but thank you. I will try to video the blue screen and see if I can actually the read the error. thanks for your replies

So why waste time video-ing it? By time you've recorded it, paused at right moment, squinted at small screen - its far easier just to disable restart and do it on screen???

Dont increase your time on this - disable autostart should be your first option to see whats causing it

 

[Pc Fixed Right]

Auto Restart is disabled but it still restarts...

 

[DCGPX]

Auto Restart is disabled but it still restarts...

I'll stand corrected!!

Right now cant think why it will restart!

 

[Pc Fixed Right]

I'll stand corrected!!

Right now cant think why it will restart!

Nah my fault I just havent posted in awhile so I started an incomplete post and failed to mention all the details.

Will post the solution once I get the machine working. N&P is the last option as always.

 

[Pc Fixed Right]

I manged to get this desktop working again. Windows XP repair did the trick. No more bsod or any other sort of error after a repair install and updates run. Updated all the drivers, re-checked for spyware/viruses.