Fractal fans: As I have been reporting the past few days, the main 2000mhz fractal computer is out of action and I am using the 200mhz backup machine. I am posting this list of symptoms hoping that someone on the list with more computer knowledge than myself might have an idea of what ails the machine and what if anything might be done to fix it. When I first turn on the machine it starts up normally and runs for a few minutes. Then a blue screen with white characters appears. The message says there is a problem and windows is shutting down to prevent possible damage. The message says to try restarting the machine, but when I try, the machine is locked up. When I cut the power for a minute or so, the machine beeps 1-3-2 and the normally all-green lights on the back panel turn (left to right) amber,amber,green,green. Nothing else happens. But if I keep the power shut off for a couple hours, the computer will again start up normally, only to go dead in a few minutes, with another identical blue screen. The following is some technical information that appears on the blue screen. It is beyond my understanding. STOP: 0x0000008E (0xc0000005,0xBF80232A,0xB797DC14,0x00000000) win32k545 - Address BF80232A base at BF800000, Datestamp4341deff Hopefully, I have copied all the characters correctly. The machine is a Dell dimension-8400 series about 8 years old, running WindowsXP Professional. Any help would be appreciated and would also promote the fractal cause. P.S. I have already tried reseating the memory cards. JIM
Check that the power supply fan, system fans and the CPU fan are running. My guess would be the CPU fan. Marco ============================================== Marc Reinig Phone: (831) 459-4362 Laboratory for Adaptive Optics Fax: (831) 459-5717 UCO/Lick Observatory Email: mreinig@ucolick.org University of California, Santa Cruz 1156 High Street Santa Cruz, CA 95064
-----Original Message----- From: fractint-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:fractint- bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Jim Muth Sent: Wednesday, October 26, 2011 3:38 PM To: fractint@mailman.xmission.com Subject: [Fractint] Fractal computer trouble
Fractal fans:
As I have been reporting the past few days, the main 2000mhz fractal computer is out of action and I am using the 200mhz backup machine. I am posting this list of symptoms hoping that someone on the list with more computer knowledge than myself might have an idea of what ails the machine and what if anything might be done to fix it.
When I first turn on the machine it starts up normally and runs for a few minutes. Then a blue screen with white characters appears. The message says there is a problem and windows is shutting down to prevent possible damage. The message says to try restarting the machine, but when I try, the machine is locked up. When I cut the power for a minute or so, the machine beeps 1-3-2 and the normally all-green lights on the back panel turn (left to right) amber,amber,green,green. Nothing else happens.
But if I keep the power shut off for a couple hours, the computer will again start up normally, only to go dead in a few minutes, with another identical blue screen.
The following is some technical information that appears on the blue screen. It is beyond my understanding.
STOP: 0x0000008E (0xc0000005,0xBF80232A,0xB797DC14,0x00000000)
win32k545 - Address BF80232A base at BF800000, Datestamp4341deff
Hopefully, I have copied all the characters correctly.
The machine is a Dell dimension-8400 series about 8 years old, running WindowsXP Professional. Any help would be appreciated and would also promote the fractal cause.
P.S. I have already tried reseating the memory cards.
JIM
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I just wanted to follow up on this, since people seem to all be headed down the "memory" path. If you are consistently getting the problem and fixing it by leaving the PC off in the manner below, you almost certainly do not have a memory problem, despite it manifesting with memory symptoms. You're either looking at an overheat, or a capacitance sort of thing. Start with the overheat. Is the system reasonably free of dust? Are the fans running when the computer is on? If memory serves, the 8400 has a single fan mounted near the CPU that is somewhat prone to failure. It's a proprietary dell fan; you can get them on ebay for $10-$15 and replace them in a few seconds. On capacitance, you could have either a power supply issue or a slightly broken motherboard capacitor. The former would be easy to test if you have a spare handy, annoying otherwise. You can usually spot the latter by looking, as someone else described. To give a bit more detail: the capacitors are little cylinders sticking up out of the motherboard. There are lots of them. They should be quite flat on top, and silver; if the top of one is bulging upward or there's any sign of whitish stuff on the top surface, that's your problem. They can be replaced if you have soldering skills and patience, but it's rarely worth the bother. On Wed, Oct 26, 2011 at 04:11:11PM -0700, Marc Reinig wrote:
Check that the power supply fan, system fans and the CPU fan are running. My guess would be the CPU fan.
Marco ============================================== Marc Reinig Phone: (831) 459-4362 Laboratory for Adaptive Optics Fax: (831) 459-5717 UCO/Lick Observatory Email: mreinig@ucolick.org University of California, Santa Cruz 1156 High Street Santa Cruz, CA 95064
-----Original Message----- From: fractint-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:fractint- bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Jim Muth Sent: Wednesday, October 26, 2011 3:38 PM To: fractint@mailman.xmission.com Subject: [Fractint] Fractal computer trouble
Fractal fans:
As I have been reporting the past few days, the main 2000mhz fractal computer is out of action and I am using the 200mhz backup machine. I am posting this list of symptoms hoping that someone on the list with more computer knowledge than myself might have an idea of what ails the machine and what if anything might be done to fix it.
When I first turn on the machine it starts up normally and runs for a few minutes. Then a blue screen with white characters appears. The message says there is a problem and windows is shutting down to prevent possible damage. The message says to try restarting the machine, but when I try, the machine is locked up. When I cut the power for a minute or so, the machine beeps 1-3-2 and the normally all-green lights on the back panel turn (left to right) amber,amber,green,green. Nothing else happens.
But if I keep the power shut off for a couple hours, the computer will again start up normally, only to go dead in a few minutes, with another identical blue screen.
The following is some technical information that appears on the blue screen. It is beyond my understanding.
STOP: 0x0000008E (0xc0000005,0xBF80232A,0xB797DC14,0x00000000)
win32k545 - Address BF80232A base at BF800000, Datestamp4341deff
Hopefully, I have copied all the characters correctly.
The machine is a Dell dimension-8400 series about 8 years old, running WindowsXP Professional. Any help would be appreciated and would also promote the fractal cause.
P.S. I have already tried reseating the memory cards.
JIM
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-- "talking to you is like talking to a riddle person. that's a person who talks in riddles" --anb about me
I don't think capacitors would respond to Jim Muth's computer being off. Since tunring it off for a few hours will make it work again, it is a dust problem, or a fan problem. Jim Muth's computer is overheating.
I had the same machine Dell 8400 with the same problem, it was a capacitor on the motherboard. As you say it was heat related ... the capacitor would fail only when warm ... worked fine until the temp in the case got over about 110F A better fan might help / and or cleaning ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jay Litwyn" <brewhaha@freenet.edmonton.ab.ca> To: "Advanced Paint By Number" <fractint@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Monday, October 31, 2011 2:47 PM Subject: Re: [Fractint] Fractal computer trouble
I don't think capacitors would respond to Jim Muth's computer being off. Since tunring it off for a few hours will make it work again, it is a dust problem, or a fan problem. Jim Muth's computer is overheating.
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Jim As a fan and follower for many years of your images, discussions, and the fractal cats, maybe here is a way I can give a little back. Both the error beep code and the diagnostic light display say you have one or more bad memory modules or a bad memory slot on your motherboard. Just reseating them is not going to fix them. Here is what I would do to figure out what is really wrong. Remove all the memory modules. Pick one memory module and put it back in the first slot on the motherboard. Turn on the computer and run it. If it fails soon that is the bad module or bad slot. Turn off the computer, remove that memory module and mark it as suspect and put another module in the same slot. Turn on the computer and run it again. If it fails again you probably have a bad motherboard slot. If it does not fail again you probably have a bad memory module. If you don't get a failure on one memory module, add a 2nd module in the 2nd slot and repeat the process until you get a failure. If you get a failure on the 4th module in the 4th slot, remove the 4th module and put the 3rd module in the 4th slot leaving the 3rd slot empty to identify if there is a bad slot or bad module. When done you have the following choices: - You have one bad module. You can run without it or go buy a replacement. Memory keeps getting cheaper and cheaper so this option is pretty easy to just go buy a replacement. - You have one bad slot. To fix that you would need a replacement motherboard and those are either nearly the price of a new machine from Dell or no longer available. Here the choice of just going without the slot on the lesser amount of memory may be the best option. Hope this helps. Donald P. Egen Chief Scientist Patricia Egen Consulting, LLC Jim Muth <jamth@mindspring.com> Sent by: fractint-bounces@mailman.xmission.com 10/26/2011 06:38 PM Please respond to Fractint and General Fractals Discussion <fractint@mailman.xmission.com> To fractint@mailman.xmission.com cc Subject [Fractint] Fractal computer trouble Fractal fans: As I have been reporting the past few days, the main 2000mhz fractal computer is out of action and I am using the 200mhz backup machine. I am posting this list of symptoms hoping that someone on the list with more computer knowledge than myself might have an idea of what ails the machine and what if anything might be done to fix it. When I first turn on the machine it starts up normally and runs for a few minutes. Then a blue screen with white characters appears. The message says there is a problem and windows is shutting down to prevent possible damage. The message says to try restarting the machine, but when I try, the machine is locked up. When I cut the power for a minute or so, the machine beeps 1-3-2 and the normally all-green lights on the back panel turn (left to right) amber,amber,green,green. Nothing else happens. But if I keep the power shut off for a couple hours, the computer will again start up normally, only to go dead in a few minutes, with another identical blue screen. The following is some technical information that appears on the blue screen. It is beyond my understanding. STOP: 0x0000008E (0xc0000005,0xBF80232A,0xB797DC14,0x00000000) win32k545 - Address BF80232A base at BF800000, Datestamp4341deff Hopefully, I have copied all the characters correctly. The machine is a Dell dimension-8400 series about 8 years old, running WindowsXP Professional. Any help would be appreciated and would also promote the fractal cause. P.S. I have already tried reseating the memory cards. JIM _______________________________________________ Fractint mailing list Fractint@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fractint
Text from the manual. Y,Y,G,G Memory modules are detected, but a memory failure has occurred. If you have two or more memory modules installed, remove the modules, reinstall one module (see page 73), and then restart the computer. If the computer starts normally, reinstall an additional module. Continue until you have identified a faulty module Marco ============================================== Marc Reinig Phone: (831) 459-4362 Laboratory for Adaptive Optics Fax: (831) 459-5717 UCO/Lick Observatory Email: mreinig@ucolick.org University of California, Santa Cruz 1156 High Street Santa Cruz, CA 95064
-----Original Message----- From: fractint-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:fractint- bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Jim Muth Sent: Wednesday, October 26, 2011 3:38 PM To: fractint@mailman.xmission.com Subject: [Fractint] Fractal computer trouble
Fractal fans:
As I have been reporting the past few days, the main 2000mhz fractal computer is out of action and I am using the 200mhz backup machine. I am posting this list of symptoms hoping that someone on the list with more computer knowledge than myself might have an idea of what ails the machine and what if anything might be done to fix it.
When I first turn on the machine it starts up normally and runs for a few minutes. Then a blue screen with white characters appears. The message says there is a problem and windows is shutting down to prevent possible damage. The message says to try restarting the machine, but when I try, the machine is locked up. When I cut the power for a minute or so, the machine beeps 1-3-2 and the normally all-green lights on the back panel turn (left to right) amber,amber,green,green. Nothing else happens.
But if I keep the power shut off for a couple hours, the computer will again start up normally, only to go dead in a few minutes, with another identical blue screen.
The following is some technical information that appears on the blue screen. It is beyond my understanding.
STOP: 0x0000008E (0xc0000005,0xBF80232A,0xB797DC14,0x00000000)
win32k545 - Address BF80232A base at BF800000, Datestamp4341deff
Hopefully, I have copied all the characters correctly.
The machine is a Dell dimension-8400 series about 8 years old, running WindowsXP Professional. Any help would be appreciated and would also promote the fractal cause.
P.S. I have already tried reseating the memory cards.
JIM
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I saw your post on Fractint news feed ... I just had the same problem on an old Dell 8400 too. The Dell diags say it is a memory problem but when I changed out the DRAM the problem continued ... (you might try taking the DRAM out and putting it back in) I traced my problem to a bad motherboard (I decided to strip the machine for parts and tossed the old motherboard) ... not worth fixing. Dell had a problem with power capacitors about this vintage of motherboards (If you see the tops of the capacitors expanding ... you have a bad motherboard) The problem is heat related ... they fail as the temp inside the machine goes up. My box finally died and would not boot past the post errors. -David ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jim Muth" <jamth@mindspring.com> To: <fractint@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Wednesday, October 26, 2011 2:37 PM Subject: [Fractint] Fractal computer trouble
Fractal fans:
As I have been reporting the past few days, the main 2000mhz fractal computer is out of action and I am using the 200mhz backup machine. I am posting this list of symptoms hoping that someone on the list with more computer knowledge than myself might have an idea of what ails the machine and what if anything might be done to fix it.
When I first turn on the machine it starts up normally and runs for a few minutes. Then a blue screen with white characters appears. The message says there is a problem and windows is shutting down to prevent possible damage. The message says to try restarting the machine, but when I try, the machine is locked up. When I cut the power for a minute or so, the machine beeps 1-3-2 and the normally all-green lights on the back panel turn (left to right) amber,amber,green,green. Nothing else happens.
But if I keep the power shut off for a couple hours, the computer will again start up normally, only to go dead in a few minutes, with another identical blue screen.
The following is some technical information that appears on the blue screen. It is beyond my understanding.
STOP: 0x0000008E (0xc0000005,0xBF80232A,0xB797DC14,0x00000000)
win32k545 - Address BF80232A base at BF800000, Datestamp4341deff
Hopefully, I have copied all the characters correctly.
The machine is a Dell dimension-8400 series about 8 years old, running WindowsXP Professional. Any help would be appreciated and would also promote the fractal cause.
P.S. I have already tried reseating the memory cards.
JIM
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Hi Jim, I see you have already got some helpful replies. As a general rule, the 'blue screen of death' usually indicates a hardware problem, although sometimes it can be caused by software, for example, a missing or corrupted Windows system DLL. The 'STOP' code supposedly tells you the cause of the problem, but in practice is useless. Since people more knowledgeable that me suggest checking the memory, I would try that first. Other things to consider:
Try booting from a CD. If you still get the blue screen, it is most certainly a hardware problem.
The most common cause of hardware failure in a PC is the power supply. If it hasn't been replaced in 8 years, it is really suspect. A flaky power supply can manifest itself in countless bizarre symptoms.
Running fractals takes a *lot* of CPU time. It is possible that the CPU is overheating. Do you have a temperature sensor that warns you of this? It could be that a fan has failed or the glue that holds the fan and/or heatsink to the CPU has dried out causing it to overheat.
Good luck! Nick On 10/26/2011 5:37 PM, Jim Muth wrote:
Fractal fans:
As I have been reporting the past few days, the main 2000mhz fractal computer is out of action and I am using the 200mhz backup machine. I am posting this list of symptoms hoping that someone on the list with more computer knowledge than myself might have an idea of what ails the machine and what if anything might be done to fix it.
When I first turn on the machine it starts up normally and runs for a few minutes. Then a blue screen with white characters appears. The message says there is a problem and windows is shutting down to prevent possible damage. The message says to try restarting the machine, but when I try, the machine is locked up. When I cut the power for a minute or so, the machine beeps 1-3-2 and the normally all-green lights on the back panel turn (left to right) amber,amber,green,green. Nothing else happens.
But if I keep the power shut off for a couple hours, the computer will again start up normally, only to go dead in a few minutes, with another identical blue screen.
The following is some technical information that appears on the blue screen. It is beyond my understanding.
STOP: 0x0000008E (0xc0000005,0xBF80232A,0xB797DC14,0x00000000)
win32k545 - Address BF80232A base at BF800000, Datestamp4341deff
Hopefully, I have copied all the characters correctly.
The machine is a Dell dimension-8400 series about 8 years old, running WindowsXP Professional. Any help would be appreciated and would also promote the fractal cause.
P.S. I have already tried reseating the memory cards.
JIM
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Hi Jim, I've got to go with the 'change your motherboard' crowd. Given the age of your box, if it starts and then goes blank after a few minutes I think that one of the circuits heats up, expands and severs. When you shut it down it cools, shrinks and 'miraculously' reconnects only to 'break' again as it gets hot. Alex Dukay
Jim Muth wrote:
....the main 2000mhz fractal computer is out of action.... I am posting this list of symptoms hoping that someone on the list with more computer knowledge than myself might have an idea of what ails the machine.... Any help would be appreciated and would also promote the fractal cause.
Anything new installed lately (hardware or software)?? Have you tried going back to a past restore point, before the problem started?? Maybe something was installed to cause a problem. Also, if you bought the machine from Dell, then it would have come with a CD that contains bootable diagnostics. They are more extensive than the other diagnostics already available within the machine. They take a bit longer to run, but will test many areas very well. Sincerely, P.N.L. -------------------------------------- Why do most folks hate cynics so much? Because we're almost always right. -------------------------------------- http://www.Nahee.com/PNL/Fractals.html http://www.Nahee.com/Fractals/
participants (10)
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alex dukay -
David W Riccio -
David W Riccio 02 -
Don P Egen -
Ian Kaplan -
Jay Litwyn -
Jim Muth -
Marc Reinig -
Nick Grasso -
Paul N. Lee