19 replies to this topic

[sharonjs]

My computer randomly restarts, sometimes I get the blue screen. I have done everything possible that I can think of doing. I checked the event log and it pointed to an application that windows was not able to start. I removed that application, but I still end up with this problem. I have attached the mini dump information. Please help me figure this out, I really don't want to format my hard drive.

Attached Files

•  errors of minidump.txt   147.85K   169 downloads

[Broni]

Welcome aboard

There are different types of errors listed involving different system files, so it could be.....almost anything.

Let's start some checking....

Download System Information for Windows (SIW free version)
No installation required.

After it scans your computer, navigate to Hardware>Sensors and post all info from there.



====================================================================

Download Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware (aka MBAM): http://www.malwareby...lwarebytes_free to your desktop.

* Double-click mbam-setup.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
* At the end, be sure a checkmark is placed next to Update Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware and Launch Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware, then click Finish.
* If an update is found, it will download and install the latest version.
* Once the program has loaded, select Perform quick scan, then click Scan.
* When the scan is complete, click OK, then Show Results to view the results.
* Be sure that everything is checked, and click Remove Selected.
* When completed, a log will open in Notepad.
* Post the log back here.

Be sure to restart the computer.

The log can also be found here:
C:\Documents and Settings\Username\Application Data\Malwarebytes\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware\Logs\log-date.txt
Or at C:\Program Files\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware\Logs\log-date.txt

[sharonjs]

Broni, on 11 July 2011 - 11:14 PM, said:

Welcome aboard

There are different types of errors listed involving different system files, so it could be.....almost anything.

Let's start some checking....

Download System Information for Windows (SIW free version)
No installation required.

After it scans your computer, navigate to Hardware>Sensors and post all info from there.



====================================================================

Download Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware (aka MBAM): http://www.malwareby...lwarebytes_free to your desktop.

* Double-click mbam-setup.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
* At the end, be sure a checkmark is placed next to Update Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware and Launch Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware, then click Finish.
* If an update is found, it will download and install the latest version.
* Once the program has loaded, select Perform quick scan, then click Scan.
* When the scan is complete, click OK, then Show Results to view the results.
* Be sure that everything is checked, and click Remove Selected.
* When completed, a log will open in Notepad.
* Post the log back here.

Be sure to restart the computer.

The log can also be found here:
C:\Documents and Settings\Username\Application Data\Malwarebytes\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware\Logs\log-date.txt
Or at C:\Program Files\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware\Logs\log-date.txt

I am surprised by the amount of malware that was on my computer, since I run a virus check everyday on my computer.

My computer has restarted twice since removal of malware.

Attached Files

•  Sensors.html   14.3K   17 downloads
•  mbam-log-2011-07-12 (11-59-25).txt   30.85K   18 downloads

[Broni]

Assuming this is desktop, you're seriously overheating.
What processor is it?

On a top of it, you're infected as well.

[sharonjs]

Broni, on 12 July 2011 - 11:34 PM, said:

Assuming this is desktop, you're seriously overheating.
What processor is it?

On a top of it, you're infected as well.

I have an Intel Pentium D 820 CPU.

[Broni]

These temperatures are waaaay too high:
CPUTIN 60 °C (139 °F) 58 °C (136 °F) 78 °C (172 °F)
Maximum temperature for Pentium D is listed at 64C (it slightly varies depending on Pentium D version).
This issue has to be resolved first and basically you shouldn't have this computer on if you don't want to cause permanent CPU damage (hopefully it's still OK).

Turn the computer off.
Remove side panel.
Get a can of compressed air (do NOT use anything else).
Clean the interior well, especially CPU housing, CPU fan and all other fans and parts.
With the case open, turn the computer on and see if all fans are running.

If so, post new SIW report.

[sharonjs]

Broni, on 13 July 2011 - 01:53 AM, said:

These temperatures are waaaay too high:
CPUTIN 60 °C (139 °F) 58 °C (136 °F) 78 °C (172 °F)
Maximum temperature for Pentium D is listed at 64C (it slightly varies depending on Pentium D version).
This issue has to be resolved first and basically you shouldn't have this computer on if you don't want to cause permanent CPU damage (hopefully it's still OK).

Turn the computer off.
Remove side panel.
Get a can of compressed air (do NOT use anything else).
Clean the interior well, especially CPU housing, CPU fan and all other fans and parts.
With the case open, turn the computer on and see if all fans are running.

If so, post new SIW report.

I have done several things since the last post. I have followed your suggestion and shutdown my computer, the fan was running on the cpu, just fine. I have have purchased a new fan for the case, I have also replaced the cmos battery since I tried accessing the bios and I was not able to.

I was able to checked the bios and saw that the cpu temp was 45 degree to 50 degree. I however am not able to boot up into windows now. I am able to turn on my machine but all I get is the black screen telling me that it is initializing the usb. I was able to get to the screen where it gave me the option to boot into safe mode but it started to and then it restarted. I really don't know what else to do. I thought it might be that the hard drive is bad so I had unplug the power to the hard drive, but still the computer would boot to the intel black screen and nothing else, it did not do a post at times. I am thinking maybe the motherboard is going or the cpu. Anyways I am at a loss.

[Broni]

We can check couple of things....
We'll check hard drive and...remember, there was some infection there as well.

=======================================================

Run hard drive diagnostics: http://www.tacktech....ay.cfm?ttid=287 (or http://www.bleepingc...rive+diagnostic)
Make sure, you select tool, which is appropriate for the brand of your hard drive.
Depending on the program, it'll create bootable floppy, or bootable CD.
If downloaded file is of .iso type, use ImgBurn: http://www.imgburn.com/ to burn .iso file to a CD (select "Write image file to disc" option), to make the CD bootable.
For Toshiba hard drives, see here: http://sdd.toshiba.c...ties#diagnostic

Note : If you do not know how to set your computer to boot from CD follow the steps HERE

=======================================================

Let's see, if we can look at your computer booting from an external source.

Please download OTLPE (filesize 120,9 MB)

• When downloaded double click on OTLPENet.exe and make sure there is a blank CD in your CD drive. This will automatically create a bootable CD.
  
• Reboot your system using the boot CD you just created.
  
  • Note : If you do not know how to set your computer to boot from CD follow the steps HERE
• Your system should now display a REATOGO-X-PE desktop.
  
• Depending on your type of internet connection, you should be able to get online as well so you can access this topic more easily.
  
• Double-click on the OTLPE icon.
  
• When asked Do you wish to load the remote registry, select Yes
  
• When asked Do you wish to load remote user profile(s) for scanning, select Yes
  
• Ensure the box Automatically Load All Remaining Users" is checked and press OK
  
• OTL should now start.
  
• Press Run Scan to start the scan.
  
• When finished, the file will be saved in drive C:\OTL.txt
  
• Copy this file to your USB drive if you do not have internet connection on this system
  
• Please post the contents of the OTL.txt file in your reply.

[sharonjs]

Broni, on 15 July 2011 - 10:05 PM, said:

We can check couple of things....
We'll check hard drive and...remember, there was some infection there as well.

=======================================================

Run hard drive diagnostics: http://www.tacktech....ay.cfm?ttid=287 (or http://www.bleepingc...rive+diagnostic)
Make sure, you select tool, which is appropriate for the brand of your hard drive.
Depending on the program, it'll create bootable floppy, or bootable CD.
If downloaded file is of .iso type, use ImgBurn: http://www.imgburn.com/ to burn .iso file to a CD (select "Write image file to disc" option), to make the CD bootable.
For Toshiba hard drives, see here: http://sdd.toshiba.c...ties#diagnostic

Note : If you do not know how to set your computer to boot from CD follow the steps HERE

=======================================================

Let's see, if we can look at your computer booting from an external source.

Please download OTLPE (filesize 120,9 MB)

• When downloaded double click on OTLPENet.exe and make sure there is a blank CD in your CD drive. This will automatically create a bootable CD.
  
• Reboot your system using the boot CD you just created.
  
  • Note : If you do not know how to set your computer to boot from CD follow the steps HERE
• Your system should now display a REATOGO-X-PE desktop.
  
• Depending on your type of internet connection, you should be able to get online as well so you can access this topic more easily.
  
• Double-click on the OTLPE icon.
  
• When asked Do you wish to load the remote registry, select Yes
  
• When asked Do you wish to load remote user profile(s) for scanning, select Yes
  
• Ensure the box Automatically Load All Remaining Users" is checked and press OK
  
• OTL should now start.
  
• Press Run Scan to start the scan.
  
• When finished, the file will be saved in drive C:\OTL.txt
  
• Copy this file to your USB drive if you do not have internet connection on this system
  
• Please post the contents of the OTL.txt file in your reply.

Oh, I forgot, I had cleaned my machine using stopzilla antivirus.

[Broni]

Please don't quote my replies because it creates unnecessary clutter.
Thanks :)

I'm not a big fan of Stopzilla. It's little bit shady program.

Let me know how you did with the above steps.

[sharonjs]

update, I was able to run the software for checking my hard drive it found a problem and fixed it, however I am unable to run the OTl software, each time that I tried to run it my computer restarts. I thought the problem might be the ram at some point, so I have removed each stick but I have the same problem. My computer comes on without me turning it on now, so maybe the motherboard has a short. I am just guessing at this point, but I would like to test my rams to make sure that they are ok, but it is hard to do that.

[Broni]

Are you booting from OTLPE CD?

[sharonjs]

yes, but it only reaches at the beginning of the installation and then it restarts. I am really beginning to think that it is the ram. I have taken out both rams and I was able to power on and power off the computer without it restarting on its own. So I am looking into purchasing ram.

[Broni]

Why don't you try to start a computer with one RAM stick at a time to see which one is a bad one?

[sharonjs]

I did that already, and they both appear to have given the same problem. The first time I took the 512mb out I was able to start the computer and get to the point where the disc was starting to load, but it was not able to finish since the computer restarted. I then took out the 1 gb stick out and put back in the 512 which did not get me very far. So that is why I have concluded that both sticks are problematic.

Oh I was assuming that you were talking about the computer that I was having the issue with. I don't have another computer that I can mess around with.

[Broni]

At this point it's hard to say something definitively.
It's pretty unlikely to have both RAM stick going out at the same time.

When you're inside the case dis you clean everything well with a can of compressed air.
Reapplying thermal paste may be needed as well.

[sharonjs]

yes, I reapply the thermal paste and I have also sprayed everything with the compressed air. I know it seems a bit odd to have both stick go at the same time, but I don't have a spare ram that I can try to make sure that is what I say, anyways I have ordered two new sticks so I should be getting that any day now. Hopefully that solve the problem other than that if it happens to be the board or the cpu I am quitting at that point and looking into investing into a laptop.

[Broni]

Very well.
I hope there is no damage to the CPU because of overheating.

[sharonjs]

ok, my motherboard had a faulty ram socket, nothing was wrong with the ram. I have since changed out the motherboard.

[Broni]

Thanks for letting us know :)