Dell Studio XPS 8000, Windows 7 x64 Freezes

Instabile said:

Hi, I have a Dell Studio XPS 8000, OEM Windows 7 64-bit installed, my GPU is an nvidia geforce gt 220.
Sometimes Windows completely freezes (even the mouse pointer), and automatically shuts down after some minutes.
It started happening in January 2011, and happens from 0 to 6 times a day.
On the next windows start, this message is shown (sorry, it's in Italian):

Firma problema:
Nome evento problema: BlueScreen
Versione SO: 6.1.7600.2.0.0.768.3
ID impostazioni locali: 1040

Ulteriori informazioni sul problema:
BCCode: 116
BCP1: FFFFFA80046AB4E0
BCP2: FFFFF88004D64428 // NOTE: last 8 digits always change
BCP3: FFFFFFFFC000009A
BCP4: 0000000000000004
OS Version: 6_1_7600
Service Pack: 0_0
Product: 768_1

File che contribuiscono alla descrizione del problema:
C:\WINDOWS\Minidump\022411-26629-01.dmp
D:\Users\Enrico\AppData\Local\Temp\WER-50715-0.sysdata.xml

Seems like a BSoD happened, but I didn't see any blue screen.
Every Dell's diagnostics utility say everything is working alright.
After a Windows clean install, it seemed to stop happening for some days.

I did a google search on this error, and it seems related to the GPU, I did better testing on it.
I tried different nvidia drivers (266.58 and 263.11), but nothing resolved.
Sometimes it happens when I'm booting up my PC, but it mostly happens while I'm actively using it.
GPU is not overclocked and the freeze happens even when its temperature is really low. It didn't happen during the furmark benchmark.

The following details are not confirmed, since I'm currently testing them:
It doesn't seem to happen while I use the PC without video driver, or when I link the PC to the screen using a VGA cable.
It only seems to happen when I link my monitor (Samsung SyncMaster T220HD) with an HDMI cable.

The system is still in warranty, so I if I bring it back to the shop I will have it repaired for free, but I'd like to try solving the problem without having to wait several weeks...

Thanks in advance for any input!

You have 5 different Bug Check codes and that is usually hardware. Since 2-3 of them are video related I share your suspicion that is it video driver, or card.

I would re-install the driver this way

When upgrading your graphic driver you MUST remove all traces of the current driver. In order to do that we recommend using Guru3D - Driver Sweeper

When it is removed then download and install the fresh copy.



I would also run a system file check to verify and repair system files. Neither should void your warranty.

If these both come back clean there are a few other things we can try

zigzag3143 said:

You have 5 different Bug Check codes and that is usually hardware. Since 2-3 of them are video related I share your suspicion that is it video driver, or card.

I would re-install the driver this way

When upgrading your graphic driver you MUST remove all traces of the current driver. In order to do that we recommend using Guru3D - Driver Sweeper

When it is removed then download and install the fresh copy.



I would also run a system file check to verify and repair system files. Neither should void your warranty.

If these both come back clean there are a few other things we can try

Thanks for the reply!
Last time I installed a driver I removed the previous one using Guru3D Driver Sweeper.
Tomorrow I'll run the system file check, I'll let you know if it works.

I executed the "sfc /scannow" 3 times and the "SFC /VERIFYONLY" once, and the resulting log is attached.
The only corrupted file seems to be "tcpmon.ini", which only contains some printers' name.

I'm having the exact same problem with my xps 8000. I have a gtx 260. And 64-bit Home Premium. Everytime it freezes, my mouse light stays on but my keyboard numlock light turns off. I checked the drivers for my keyboard and they are fine. I also used 'sfc /scannow', which came back with no errors. It usually would freeze at random while on the browser or just on the desktop. I started running memtest at every start-up, because that seems to stop the freezing, when it is testing any amount of my ram. So maybe it's a ram problem?

It may seem strange, but I noticed it always happens when I change the location of my monitor on the desk or when I touch the cable that connects the monitor to the video card.

Then you and I must have different causes for our similar problem. I haven't the slightest idea what could be causing mine. Does your mouse light (if you have a light on your mouse) stay on while your keyboard light turns off when it freezes?

Every light stays on.
I can also continue speaking with people on skype or teamspeak while the screen freezes, before the BSoD appears.

My screen completely freezes. Mouse and all. The only time it WOULD NOT happen is if I was playing a game or running MemTest.

I was getting this exact same problem - mouse freezing - had to do A HARD SHUT DOWN. sometimes it would just shut down with Blue screen other times it would blue screen. Then trying to start up was a problem. sometimes it took up to an hour to get it started - but it wouldn't last - and oddly all these problems would occur in the morning when the unit was cold - often once running it would be good.
Did a couple of things - downloaded all drivers - reinstalled windows etc.. nothing solved the problem - then I read on another forum about reseating the memory.
This is so non technical that it actually worked.
here is what i did.
1. shut the machine down
2. unplugged it and drained the residual power - IE - pressed the on button a couple of times
3. got a can of non static compressed air and cleaned out the whole inside of the CPU - wow did that ever do a good job.
4. really worked the cooling fins of the cpu and video display board (GTX240) got the whole thing free of dust and breathing again. Really worked the cooling fins - there was a lot of dust in there. used half the can on the power supply alone... don't be shy! - keep the vaccum running close by because the stuff was flying everywhere!
5. next - I pop'ed out the memory dimms - - just pushed the side tabs and freed them a bit. then RESEATED them again.
6. Did the exact same thing with the video card- pulled it from the slot wiped the contacts and reseated it. disconnected all power and connector plugs and reseated them as well.
7. put everything back together and VOILA - 4 days no problems
8. Also, I updated to Norton version 5.0 and ran the registry cleaner - but there was nothing broken
9. I am telling you this worked as odd as it seems it really worked.
10. Now I have my old powerfull beast back and running fantastic again.