3 (I think) Random BSOD...

MadOnVaux · 14 Apr 2013

OK, i'm a new member, i'm not 100% computer savvy but i know a wee bit so you may have to bare with me.

I bought a cheap laptop from a colleague (who said it wasnt running right) with the view to upgrading it cheaply. which i have...

It is a Packard Bell EasyNote Argo C MZ35, and i have fitted 2 GB Ram (from 512mb) and a bigger HD and also installed Windows 7 Pro.

I get 3 random BSOD, which are:

'APC INDEX MISMATCH'
'PAGE FAULT IN NON PAGED AREA'
and another with no title like the above ones, just numbers/codes.

Someone said try and upgrade the BIOS, but when i try to update it from the Packard Bell site it only gives me the option of Windows XP or Vista....which i hope doesnt mean this laptop isnt entirely compatable with Windows 7?

I am looking for some expert help on here to help me sort these BSOD...and i hope i have done this right, the file below should include the dump files.

Many many thanks in advance :)

Arc · 14 Apr 2013

Its a very old laptop, and Its BIOS is very old.

Code:

BiosVendor = Packard Bell                    
BiosVersion = V0.18                           
BiosReleaseDate = 01/16/2007
SystemManufacturer = Packard Bell BV                 
SystemProductName = EasyNote MZ35
SystemVersion = ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ
BaseBoardManufacturer = Packard Bell BV                 
BaseBoardProduct = EasyNote MZ35
BaseBoardVersion = D3B

If you get any recent BIOS for vista, you may apply it. Also, try to update the chipset drivers, too.

All the crashes are with random stopcodes, and they gives no more information at all. So, BIOS update should be the first try in this situation.

After updating the BIOS and chipset, do a Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7, and nothing more. Then, depending on the situation we will take the subsequent steps.

MadOnVaux · 14 Apr 2013

Hi Arc, many thanks for the reply and advice, it s really appreciated :)

I dont think i can update the BIOS as i have tried to download the 2010 BIOS from the Packard Bell site and it says it requires XP or Vista, and when i go to update the Driver package, it only gives XP and Vista again, so i'm abit stumped there

any further advice on this part?

Also, when you say 'Factory OEM Windows 7' I take it you don't mean the Pro version?....I only have the Pro version, which i was advised to use as it is less 'Hungry' than Vista on an old, low power laptop.

I fear the diagnosis is terminal.

Arc · 14 Apr 2013

Pro is a bit resource hungryfor sure, than home premium, but it is not the real problem here. Factory OEM guide works good for retail too, it gives you the perfect and lightweight install, which maximizes the performance of windows 7 natively.

It is bad that you cannot update the BIOS. We think that we may need to pay attention to it again, after some time.

Now, let us check the RAM, as it is newly employed. Are you sure that it is compatible with the board? Test your RAM modules for possible errors.
How to Test and Diagnose RAM Issues with Memtest86+
Run memtest for at least 8 passes, preferably overnight.

Download Seatool for dos: SeaTools | Seagate download. Burn it in a blank cd. boot from the CD, click on "Accept", wait for it to finish detecting the drives, then in the upper left corner select "Basic Tests", then select "Long Test" and let it run.

Stress test the CPU.
Hardware - Stress Test With Prime95

Is the computer hot? Report us the heat of the computer after a couple of hours of your normal usage. Upload a screenshot of the summery tab of Speccy.

Let us know the results.

MadOnVaux · 15 Apr 2013

I have run the Memtest in the past and it didnt throw anything up....and i bought the RAM from a guy on ebay who asked what laptop i had and sent me the correct compatible RAM.

I'll try the others soon when i get abit of time, which is abit tight at the moment.

The laptop isnt overly hot no, it gets warm but only as warm as ive known other laptops get.....it did run very hot when i bought it, but upon stripping it down I found the fan was disconnected somehow.

**Pauly** · 15 Apr 2013

The thing i dont understand is bios is OS free it does not matter what OS you intend to run after the bios is installed the XP/Vista bit it is quoting im guessing is the OS the bios installer is programmed to run on as they were the only OS`s around at the time it was published

Where no Win 7 software is available then choosing the vista equivalent ie 32/64 bit is the next best option although it is not always guaranteed to work !!

If machine is running you can always try running Download Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor from Official Microsoft Download Centre to see if any hardware is flagged as incompatible with win 7

Layback Bear · 15 Apr 2013

This is Microsoft's method to let you know if your computer will handle Windows 7.

Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor - Download - Microsoft Windows

Britton30 · 15 Apr 2013

"OEM w7" in this instance would mean factory installed operating system (OS). Go ahead and install the 2010 BIOS. I think it will work as Pauly said.

MadOnVaux · 24 Aug 2013

Hi Guys...

I'm sorry ive not been on for a while, and as much as i very much appreciated all your help and advice, i could not get anywhere and lost the will to live with the laptop in question and have bought another, a 2nd hand Toshiba Satellite C650D-12J, which is all running well and good.

It had Windows 7 Home Premium 32 bit, but as i type this im trying to install Windows 7 Professional 64 bit.....but it doesnt seem to be going to plan for some reason?? and it wouldnt run dban either....hey ho have to see how it goes.

Thanks once again :)