Graphics Card Cause Multiple Blue Screen Errors?

[Eblim]

I have been getting multiple blue screen errors and I am about 80% sure that it's the graphics cards. I get these blue screens at complete random. Random such as completely idle on desktop with nothing running, restarting computer, putting computer to sleep, shutting it down, while play a game, etc.

A few errors I can remember are stop errors:

-0x000000a
-0x00000019
-0x000000D1
-0x000000D7

And many more. I was told that it was most likely my graphics card driver, which it's not considering I'm using the computer with only my integrated graphics card now.

But how come when my graphics card is installed, my computer still crashes regardless of have my integrated graphics card?

 

[Maguscreed]

Please refer to the instructions here
http://www.sevenforums.com/crashes-debugging/96879-blue-screen-death-bsod-posting-instructions.html
and post back once you've got that handled

This will allow us to put some reason to your 'randomness'

 

[thefabe]

If at all possible you could try a different card and see if you still get the BSOD. Maybe borrow a friends or something.
Fabe

 

[smarteyeball]

I was told that it was most likely my graphics card driver, which it's not considering I'm using the computer with only my integrated graphics card now.

But how come when my graphics card is installed, my computer still crashes regardless of have my integrated graphics card?

Even if you are using the integrated card, Windows will most likely still be detecting the other one and installing drivers for it.

The only way to eliminate the card as a cause would be to ensure the drivers are uninstalled as well as physically removing the card.

I'd also follow Maguscreed suggestion of posting the info to see if it points to a common cause.

The amount of different crashes could be potentially be caused by a number of different issues: ie Bad driver, application issue, faulty card, faulty memory, faulty PSU etc.

 

[Eblim]

I'm using a NVIDIA 9800 GT (1GB GDDR3). I called Microsoft many times and they repeatedly told me it's a major graphics card failure (90% probability of Video Card, 10% Other). I used this video card on Windows Vista Home Premium x64 before I upgraded to Windows 7 and these stop errors started occuring after I upgraded to Windows 7. I ordered an EVGA GeForce 460 GTX (1GB GDDR5). It will be shipped to me by Tuesday. I would love to get back here with the results and possibly help others that may be having this problem, as from my experience, it's extremely frustrating. If problem persists, I will report back here and call Microsoft as soon as possible for more assistance.

smarteyeball, thanks for your reply. This problem occurs even without any drivers installed, meaning after I did a clean install of Windows 7, the stop error still occurs. I have been working on this issue for a few months now. I do not easily give up. I have tried everything that doesn't require me to empty my wallet. Even if this new graphics card doesn't solve my problem as I'm highly hoping it to, it's a good investment for me to enjoy a higher-end video experience. However, may not be able to enjoy it with a goofy computer.

I'm glad you're all willing to help me. Therefore, I thank you.

Eblim.

 

[smarteyeball]

A 460 should give you a noticeable improvement, even at your screens resolution. Fingers crossed that it was your card causing all the problems.


However, if after installing the new card you still experience multiple/random crashes, the following are just a few potential causes:

• 
  
  Driver / software related (although the amount of different errors tends to point to hardware)
  
  Memory errors (either faulty RAM module or motherboard)
  
  PSU is faulty
  
  

 

[Eblim]

I just installed the new graphics card and I reinstalled the NVIDIA drivers. The problem of the multiple stop errors on blue screen crash still occurs. I know for a fact that it's not my RAM. It's a software issue and it's something that comes with Windows 7 when it's first installed.

 

[Maguscreed]

If that's the case I would contact gateway about compatibility for your system.
The core windows files should be stable. If an entire gateway product line was affected by something in windows 7, I'm pretty sure we would have heard about it by now.

 

[Eblim]

My computer was working as it should in Windows Vista Home Premium x64 just before I upgraded. What a mistake I made. I can't contact Gateway as my product warranty expired November 17th, 2009. You guys and Microsoft is the best I have for assistance and I do appreciate that anyone is willing to help me.

 

[Maguscreed]

We really need dump files from you if you are willing to pursue this. It's the only way we'll be able to dig down to what's really causing it. I appreciate the effort you've gone to in order to relay the error messages to us, but we really need the dump files. If you don't know how to find them, clicking on the picture under my post will take you to a thread on what you need to do.

 

[Eblim]

I have already done that. It doesn't collect any dump files. My dump files are enabled. I don't know what the issue is. I'll repost my results again as soon as possible. Thanks again for your response.

File uploaded.

I called Microsoft Technical Support team and they have now said that it's my hardware drivers. They're out dated and my drivers compatibility doesn't support Windows 7 well.

 

[Maguscreed]

I actually kind of figured that, it's the reason I was asking for a dump file. It would let me do a detailed review of all your drivers.

There is a way to possibly generate some dump files with driver information, but it's a tad tricky.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/101379-driver-verifier-enable-disable.html

If you decide to go forward with that, make sure you read and understand the whole thing before beginning.

 

[Eblim]

I did what you asked and followed through. What's the next step?

 

[Maguscreed]

The hope is that driver verifier has created some dump files. Did you have any bsod's after activating it?

 

[Eblim]

Yes, I've had two in the past 7 minutes. Where would the dump files be located?

 

[Maguscreed]

c:\windows\minidump

 

[Eblim]

No such folder exists.

 

[DeanP]

Create a folder and name it Minidump
Some minidumps may be in C:\Windows and C:\Windows\System32 (named as MEMORY.dmp). Check those folders too.

If you have CCleaner installed on your computer, make sure it is configured to not delete mini dumps.

Do let me know if these do not work and problem persists.

 

[Eblim]

Created. Don't know what good that did because the dump files won't go there on their own.

 

[Eblim]

Created a Minidump in c:\windows and my computer crashed 3 times. No dump files were created. Next steps please.