Blue Screen of Death on Windows 7

Bob,

I am concerned about your statement that outdated software drivers can cause the BSOD; I have never had this problem,and I sure don't want to have it. I have windows update turned on to automatically download their important updates, and I always install them. However, the tech who set up my computer told me not to download everything that Windows sends along. So,I usually do not download and install the optional updates.

Right now, I have three optional updates available: Atheros Communications Inc. Dualband Wireless Network Module.

nVidia--Other hardward--NVIDIA--nForce System Management Controller.(Oct. '09)

Realtck Semiconductor Corp.--Audio--Realtek High Definition Audio.

Do I need to download and install these items to avoid a future problem with the BSOD? Do I need to download and install ALL the updates that come from Windows--the important updates as well as the optional updates?

I know that the above updates have to do with drivers because, when I click on "more information" in Windows, a page about drivers comes up. But,I also still remember the tech's warning about downloads from Windows. It is very hard for a computer novice to know what to do about the optional updates. For the record, I always follow your advice. Thanks in advance for your help.

EDITOR'S NOTE: I run Windows Update on auto-pilot. Everything that Update recommends is automatically installed. I've never run into a problem as a result, and I recommend this for all users.

Yes, some users have experienced a problem after a Windows Update. But if that happens (and it's VERY rare), you just roll it back.

Hi,
I have tried to find a comprehensive list of BSOD errors and their meaning, but have been unable to locate one. Apparently Sun Microsystems once had one in PDF form, but Oracle has taken it off the site. Do you know of such a list?

I experienced a BSOD with windows 7 (Ultimate X64), an upgrade from Vista Ultimate x64). Someone recommended a free utility, BlueScreenView. That one tells me that the error message was PEN_LIST_CORRUPT, with ntoskrnl.exe, which a number of people commenting on that type of error message said might be a memory problem. Second choice was a driver problem. I have an Nvidia X1800 card, and I had recently upgraded the driver, so I dropped back to an earlier version. No issues since (knock on wood).

My Win 7 was prone to fairly frequent BSODs for a few months in 2010 until the manufacturer admitted that the probable cause was incompatible memory chips (Corsair chips with Asus motherboard - they had been arguing the case with Asus for some time and finally came to that conclusion. A change to other generic chips - I forget the make but will find out if you are interested - resolved the problem). I have since received just one completely unconnected BSOD a few weeks ago, but this has not recurred so I'm hoping it was due to some software that I have since uninstalled!

PS regarding your comment on Driver Detective, I have found SlimDrivers to be very effective and totally free :-)

Are you serious? Driver Detective? How much did they or do they pay you for that mention? You don't even mention human reason!???

EDITOR'S NOTE: Disclosure: $0.00

Here is a website that seems to have a very good list of stop errors:

http://pcsupport.about.com/od/findbyerrormessage/tp/stop_error_list_0x1_0x5f.htm

Almost 100% of HP i7 chip ownwers with constant Blue Screens of Death are caused by bad Truckee motherboards. Check their user blog.

I have not had much with Win 7, but have had a lot of experience with HPs in general, and I have found many a bad factory image. Restoring from the restore partition does the trick every time.

Well I don't understand. I click on start menu and type action centre and it pops up a pdf file from my desktop? duh?

EDITOR'S NOTE: Perhaps it has something to do with running an Australian version of Windows? Here is an alternate way to do it: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/What-is-Action-Center

Ask Bob Rakin? I don't think so! I would never ask a man who runs his auto-updates on auto-pilot and accepts every that Mictrosoft foists upon him.

I can never understand the mentality of people who give Microsoft god-like status and obey at all costs and never questions the complete and utter shoddy rubbish that they sometimes foist upon you. Would I trust my PC to such a man? Not in a million years.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Neil, it's fine to have a bias. But an angry, spiteful bias is almost always counter-productive. I can tell you this: millions of Windows users do exactly as I recommend (updates on auto-pilot) and do not experience any problems as a result. The alternative is FAR scarier... a world where naive users are left to decide which updates they should apply.

I have a HP i7 Windows 7 machine and I've been having the BSOD regularly. I have restored the system but that didn't help. It seems that if you would do the Windows7 restore it would know if all windows programs were correct! Then windows should have a way to determine what is going wrong if it wasn't hardware and which program is causing the problem. Looking at the event log I haven't been able to figure it out. I've ran all the hardware tests and they never fail. HP has been no help all they want me to do is reinstall the operating system.

EDITOR'S NOTE: If you can save the BSOD error numbers, that might help.

Neil,
I always set my Windows 7 updates to auto-pilot (just important updates, not optional ones) and I have always been satisfied. How can you decide which important updates are not necessary? I think Microsoft geeks know it better. And one more thing: hackers are always there. Is it not better to fix holes as soon as possible?
And about Microsoft being bad: I do not consider Microsoft as a god but are you sure Apple OS and Linux are saints and want to rescue the world from devil Microsoft? I really doubt !!

I have a Core i7 HP Pavilion laptop with Windows 7 and every time I update the nVidia display driver, I have major or minor problems. I always have to rollback the driver.

BSODs may also appear if you use optimizer programs that go too far in deleting everything that appears to be unnecessary. Instead, use just ONE comprehensive optimizer with good reputation like WinUtilities (http://www.ylcomputing.com/)(free and paid versions) or TuneUp Utilities (http://www.tune-up.com/products/tuneup-utilities/) (paid version only with 15-day trial download).
This Microsoft TechNet article also gives a little of information about demystifying BSODs: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc750081.aspx#XSLTsection128121120120

Get apple they don't get these problems.

PS: the latest display driver installed AFTER all important Windows 7 updates (including SP1) and no problems so far

I have this problem when trying to open a file in office 97.
Help

@ guys with Intel/Nvidia hardware:

Check your computer's temperatures.

My Windows 7 Vista running on Toshiba Satellite laptop -- three times in the last 2 weeks the screen has gone black and the machine is unresponsive. During these events I was (1) nowhere near the computer; (2) running a backup; and (3) watching a YouTube video. Shutting off the computer and restarting it causes it to restart normally; however, it has lost my passwords for Facebook and another website to which I was signed in. I received this computer from my brother in law who said that it has never done this in the time he had it. Any ideas?

EDITOR'S NOTE: Random glitches like that usually point to a failing hardware component. Could be the RAM memory, or power supply. Also possibly an overheating condition. See http://askbobrankin.com/computer_overheating.html