BSOD on Vaio Laptop

[viob]

What is the best way to check if the RAM isn't causing problems? I read about some test scan software for that but how good are they and how reliable is the result of these scans?
p

 

[richc46]

Memtest, I will get it for you
run for at least 8 passes
Then take a good known stick and check each slot
http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/topic/246994-guide-to-using-memtest86/

 

[viob]

Thanks once more Richard. I will give it a try tonight or tomorrow...
Best,
Peter

 

[richc46]

It takes time
At least 8 passes and then test each slot
Wish you luck, Peter

 

[viob]

Didn't have the time for any mem tests yet but I found that without using hybernate/stand by modes the bsod didn't happen again. Still with the same usage of the laptop. Sometimes only web and email, then hours of tricky calcualtions and rendering... weird... can it be a win7 problem with these modes?
p

 

[richc46]

Many have had problems with the power saving modes. Not many solutions found other than do not use them.
If you persist, you will find the solution.

 

[viob]

Are those problems more likely to be win7 or hardware related?
p

 

[richc46]

I think its Windows; notice the word think.

 

[viob]

Hi Richard, Sorry for the delay once more... I finally had the time to do the memtest. And - not surprisingly - no errors... So I think I have to start from scratch and reinstall win7. The weird thing still is that the BSOD appear without any user / usage pattern. Sometimes twice a day. But then doing EXACTLY the same things it doesn't happen for days. After a clean start, how can I make sure the latest drivers are installed? We went through the Intel part of it. Are there any further hints you can offer me? If even a new OS has the same problems I will return the laptop... still have warrenty... Thanks for your support again. Best, Peter

 

[richc46]

You can do this
Go to search
type cmd
in cmd type driverquery
Then any driver older than 7/09 is considered outdated.
Ignore Microsoft drivers and if a driver is older than 7/09 and it is from installed software it may still be not outdated.

How to Find Drivers
search Google for the name of the driver
- compare the Google results with what's installed on your system to figure out which device/program it belongs to
- visit the web site of the manufacturer of the hardware/program to get the latest drivers (DON'T use Windows Update or the Update driver function of Device Manager).
- if there are difficulties in locating them, post back with questions and someone - will help you search Google for the name of the driver
- compare the Google results with what's installed on your system to figure out which device/program it belongs to
- - if there are difficulties in locating them, post back with questions and someone will try and help you locate the appropriate program.
- The most common drivers are listed on this page: http://www.carrona.org/dvrref.html
- - Driver manufacturer links are on this page: http://www.carrona.org/drvrdown.html

 

[viob]

...sorry for the long delay.

Just wanted to do a kind of follow up. I had now several weeks without any problems. Had the laptop even with me in the office for a few days. Hooked it up to Monitor, keyboard and mouse and worked flat out with quite hardware demanding software (3d modelling, photoshop etc). No problems, no BSOD. So there is no pattern to this at all. Probably it will crash now just by typing these words.

So I decided to leave it all as it is. Fingers crossed. Thanks for all your help and your incredible patience with me and my laptop!

Best,

Peter