Just had a Blue Screen crash on my Win 7 machine

[csziggy]

Report gave this info:

Problem signature:
Problem Event Name: BlueScreen
OS Version: 6.1.7601.2.1.0.768.3
Locale ID: 1033

Additional information about the problem:
BCCode: 7a
BCP1: C05C4210
BCP2: C000009C
BCP3: 842348C0
BCP4: B884201C
OS Version: 6_1_7601
Service Pack: 1_0
Product: 768_1

This computer was locally built in July 2009. I don't really need an update, but the blue screen worries me. My last computer was unreliable at the end and I lost data because it wasn't saving stuff to the hard drive even when it said it had.

That computer turned out to have the swollen and leaking capacitor problem both on the motherboard and in the power supply. Now I'm concerned that this computer is developing hardware issues.

I can have my local builder put together a new computer and move my 4 terrabytes of hard drives into it. He'd probably need to upgrade Windows since my version of 7 is 32 bit and I'd like to move to a 64 bit system.

This is NOT in my budget. But I've been wishing for an excuse to upgrade - guess I've got it!

[ChromeFoundry]

1. Is this an isolated occurrence?

If so, write down as much information about what you were doing when this happened. Programs running. version of app. etc.

If not, what functions were you performing when these BSODs occurred? (watching YouTube, system backup, etc)
Compare them and try to determine if there is anything in common and work to upgrade your versions.

This appears to be system driver related. Make sure all your system drivers are updated to the latest versions (vendor site or windows update). Apply service packs and updates. If that doesn't help, you can try disabling things such as hardware acceleration on your video..depending on what activity causes this BSOD to occur.

[csziggy]

2. It's happened once or twice before

I haven't updated any new drivers recently. I did install a new powered USB hub last week when I rearranged my office and all my peripherals, but I just let Windows install their drivers - none came with the hub. I'd been having intermittent problems communicating with my laser printer and thought a powered hub (and verifiable USB 2.0 hub) would help.

All I was doing when it crashed was reading DU. I had a couple of tabs open in Firefox, one for DU and one for a story linked from a post.

I'll go check for new drivers - but I am sort of looking for an excuse to upgrade my system. I usually do it every 4-5 years and it's been 4.5 years since I got this system. I think I'll call my local computer builder tomorrow and get him to put together a quote for me.

[gvstn]

3. I don't want to take away any excuses to upgrade from you.

And that is a rather tricky error because it can be pretty much anything. You did mention data loss as a concern so I am going to suggest doing a chkdsk /r to rule out a failing HDD.

You can right-click your C: drive in Computer and select Properties and then under the Tools tab hit Check Now. Tick both boxes and hit Start. It will schedule for next reboot. It will take at least a half hour for the exhaustive 4th stage so you may want to do it when you know you will have time to wait. Then pay attention to the results and look for any number above 0kb for files in bad sectors. That would indicate a problem with the HDD. You can also see the results of chkdsk in Power Shell if you miss them after running the check because you aren't watching--Power Shell can be accessed by typing power into the Start box and hitting enter. http://aspiringtech.blogspot.com/2012/03/using-powershell-to-retreive-chkdsk-log.html

I mention the chkdsk because besides possible driver problems, I also saw where failing HDD or bad SATA cable or cable connection could cause that error and it is a simple test to run.

[csziggy]

4. CHKDSK didn't show any problems

But then the computer wouldn't reboot.

I powered down, disconnected the new USB hub, and turned it on - it booted without a hitch. I suspect the USB hub - but it was the only powered hub with enough ports I could find locally.

I called my computer guy - he's putting together a quote for a new system. The big hitch is the video card. I really want to be able to use two monitors. We have an extra 19" flat screen sitting around and it'd be nice to push my tools over onto that and have the 21" wide screen for the images to be edited. The video cards recommended for "Best" PhotoShop CS6 systems cost around $1500-1800!!!!! ( NVIDIA Quadro 4000) They do handle two monitors, so I'd only have to buy one - but that is THREE times as much as the original quote for the system!

I'm waiting for a call back from the builder so we can discuss reasonably priced alternative video cards. IMO a video card should not cost more than the entire system. I'm not doing high end PhotoShop work, so even though those cards speed up processing I can't justify the expense.

On another forum an Asus GT620 video card was recommended - I found Asus GT640 dual monitor cards on NewEgg.com for $100-112 - that sounds much more my comfort level!

[hobbit709]

5. Sometimes Windows hangs on boot with any kind of USB device connected.

Go into BIOS and disable boot from USB device and it should clear up.
Most any decent video card will handle two monitors. Evidently Adobe thinks you have money left to throw away after buying their overpriced software.

[csziggy]

6. Hmmm - didn't think of that!

I haven't worked much with building my own computers or the BIOS since booting from USB was possible. Most of the computers I built were pre-USB at all (dating myself here).

I did some more looking around and talked with the builder. We're going with an Asus GT640 video card. From NewEgg.com they are around $112 with 2GB onboard. That should be sufficient for my purposes and the price is decent. We're also putting in two 120GB SSDs - one for the OS, one for the scratch disk.

Then I'll move my 1 and 3 terrabyte SATA drives over for data storage as well as my two DVD burners. Eventually I'll consider upgrading to a BluRay burner, but I mostly am using the drivers for data storage, not for video production. I have two for when I need to copy disks, but I really don't need that much anymore. Making a disk image is more efficient these days, though when I first started disk copying, disk space was too limited to do that for DVD disks.

I've been upgrading PhotoShop since PhotoShop Elements 3. Adobe offered a cheap ($150) upgrade to full PS. I waited until the last moment to upgrade from my old version so I jumped two or three versions with each upgrade. With their new subscription online model, I may not upgrade again. That's another reason to upgrade my computer now, so I can keep using my current PS CS6 as long as possible.

[hobbit709]

7. SSD probably not the best for a scratch disk

SSDs have a limited number of write cycles compared to a regular drive. They're best for installing the OS and software where it's mostly used to read from.

[csziggy]

8. The idea is that SSDs are much faster than a regular drive

Since the main function is to supplement RAM, the faster, the better for a scratch disk. I'm putting in 32GB RAM so the scratch disk may not get used much. And since it is not used for critical storage, if it wears out, it should be easily replaced without losing data.