Reinstalling Windows XP = BLUE SCREEN OF DEATH

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AlexWilliamsGloves

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Not sure if this is an off-topic or tech forum thread,,,

I hope there are some technically minded people on here....please help?

Ok, i am really NOT very good when it comes to technical issues with computers so please bear with me.

I wanted to re-install XP on my laptop as it was getting glitchy and there were some pop-ups i couldnt get rid of, regardless of various anti-virus and antispyware progs i tried.

Anyhoo, i installed my original XP disk, started up my lap top to do the install...but at approximately 35mins left i get a Blue Screen Error...IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL

Now ive started to look into it and i read it could be a hardware problem. The last (only) thing ive put into the laptop was new RAM a few months back...but its been running fine after that.

One thread i found somewhere suggested reseating my processor/ram etc (i assume this means make sure its in properly)...ill try that later.

Another issue ive come across is one i wasnt aware of before i tried the install....my XP disk, whilst original, is quite old...ie SP1. Its certainly older than my laptop (i didnt get a disk with my laptop). Would re-installing XP but with a newer version resolve this problem??

Ive seen a few "solutions" which involve deleting and/or re-installing drivers for various things...but i cant get ON to my computer to do this, as i have no operating system....grrrrrrr

Can someone please help?
 
I would say it was possibly down to the stick of RAM you have put in.

The Windows installation is well known to throw up any little problems it may have with the RAM, even though it may have worked perfectly for a long time.

I would remove the stick and try reinstalling again.

If you need any futher assistance, let me know.
 
Pull it mate. You can always plug it back in if and when Windows installs.

Assuming that its not the only stick in there.....
 
It originally had 512....i replaced it a few months back with 2x 1Gb sticks.

[noob]Do you mean pull the ram out and try the install? i wouldve thought you'd need the ram in there.[/noob]
 
I agree with the original post, most probably the ram that is causing the problem at the re install stage. Try installing XP with one memory module at a time to determine if a particular stick of ram is causing the blue screen. If you feel confident enough try testing the ram with memtestx86 , get it here > <a class="postlink" href="http://www.memtest.org" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.memtest.org</a> Instructions on how to use the program are clear enough. That will tell you if either stick of ram is faulty or not.
 
Nice one...

Ill try each stick this evening. Fingers crossed...really cant afford a new machine right now
 
shouldn't have to mate, if one of the ram sticks is faulty you can still install Windows with 1Gb in the system. 99/100 a blue screen on installation is faulty ram. Even to replace the dodgy stick wont cost the earth and cheaper than a new machine.
 
OK, so that didnt prove anything :-(

I removed the ram, tried the process again...one stick at a time, then both again...each time getting same error

I then tried the original 512 stick that came with the machine...same problem.

A mate suggested that because the version i have of XP is so old (8 years maybe?) and the laptop i have is only 2-3 years old, there maybe problems with XP recognising some of the drivers/devices

He's going to "lend" me a recent version with all updates and hopefully that will solve the problem.

Does this sound plausible?
 
Okay, try an XP disc with Service Pack 2 on it. I've come across Asus mainboard with the same problem and SP1 so that makes good sense.

Good shout by your mate, beer in order I think.
 
If anyone is interested...

It seems the suggestion that using an OLD version of XP was the problem.

I tried it with XP with service pack 3 and it worked fine.

Shame i forgot that id need ALL the drivers for every piece of hardware in the laptop...D'OH

But its sorted now. Thanks
 
Of course youre now going to back up all your drivers and burn them onto a disk in case of any repeat performance....right?....right???
 
:-)

Thankfully it was as simple as getting them all from the Packard Bell site...downloaded them to another computer, burnt them to disk and then installed them.

So all safe
 
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