Dell Vostro 420 Desktop computer keeps crashing

Hi Carlo Borsattino,

I would like to know if there is a Blue Screen of Death or any error message when you say the system is crashing. Please reply with the detailed error message if there is any. As per the error code, I suspect the issue may be with the PCI express X1 slot. In case of any device connected to the slot, I suggest that you remove the device and run Dell PC Diagnostics through Dell website.

Also run PSA diagnostics, to run that restart the system and at the Dell logo tap the F12 key every two seconds. This will start the One-time boot menu. Using arrow keys select ‘Diagnostics’ and hit enter. This will run diagnostics on the hardware components of the system which may take around 5 minutes. Please reply to this post in case of any error message.

Thanks for your reply.

Sometimes there is the BSOD. Sometimes it just freezes. Sometimes it just suddenly switches off. Sometimes it restarts.

Previous BSOD "Technical information":

*** STOP: 0x0000007E (0x0000005,0x81E757FC,0x80B869AC,0x80B86590)

***   ramdisk.sys - Address 81E757FC base at 81E70000, DateStamp 4a5bc73d

Latest BSOD "Technical information":

*** STOP: 0x0000007F (0x0000000D,0x00000000,0x00000000,0x00000000)

I will try to run PSA diagnostics now.

What is "the PCI express X1 slot"? How do I tell what it is (so I can disconnect any device from it)?

Thanks.

Ran PSA diagnostics (restart system, at Dell logo F12 key, boot menu, select Diagnostics). Crashed twice in the middle of test; decided to try something else.

Someone suggested it might be a problem with out-of-date drivers. Used a program called DriverMax (recommended to me) to check and update drivers which Microsoft/Windows update weren't updating. Found 11 out-of-date drivers, including the suspect "Intel(R) ICH10 Family PCI Express Root Port 2 - 3A42" mentioned in my original post. |Used computer again; fine for a while then crashed again; sudden switch off (black screen).

Someone suggested if might be that my system might be in a mess (registry etc). Used a program recommended to me, Glary Utilities, to clean up registry etc. Found lots of errors; fixed them all. Used computer again; fine for a while then crashed again; sudden switch off (black screen).

Ran PSA diagnostics again (restart system, at Dell logo F12 key, boot menu, select Diagnostics). Third time lucky! Got through whole test (test ran in two stages); took around 1 hour. No errors found!!!

Ran utility on "My Dell Support Centre" called "PC Checkup". Came up with same error as before, but for a differently named device (perhaps beccause of the driver updates I ran?):

Matrox Extio PCI Standard PCI-to-PCI Bridge

Vendor Name: Intel Corporation

Interface: PCI Express x1

PCI Express Status Test

Test Started 26/11/12 22:58:20

Error Message: Fatal device error detected. 26/11/12 22:58:20

Test Finished: Failed (Error code: WPE01-ESC) 26/11/12 22:58:21

Don't know what to do next?... HELP, please!

Ran utility on "My Dell Support Centre" called "PC Checkup". Came up with same error as before, but for a differently named device (perhaps beccause of the driver updates I ran?):

Matrox Extio PCI Standard PCI-to-PCI Bridge
Vendor Name: Intel Corporation
Interface: PCI Express x1
PCI Express Status Test
Test Started 26/11/12 22:58:20
Error Message: Fatal device error detected. 26/11/12 22:58:20
Test Finished: Failed (Error code: WPE01-ESC) 26/11/12 22:58:21

There are actually 4 of these listed (only one fails):

Matrox Extio PCI Standard PCI-to-PCI Bridge
Vendor Name:	Intel Corporation
Interface:	PCI Express x1
PCI Express Status Test
Test Started		27/11/12 11:31:15
Test Finished:	Passed 27/11/12 11:31:15

Matrox Extio PCI Standard PCI-to-PCI Bridge
Vendor Name:	Intel Corporation
Interface:	PCI Express x1
PCI Express Status Test
Test Started		27/11/12 11:31:15
Error Message:	Fatal device error detected.	27/11/12 11:31:16
Test Finished:	Failed (Error code: WPE01-ESC)	27/11/12 11:31:16

Matrox Extio PCI Standard PCI-to-PCI Bridge
Vendor Name:	Intel Corporation
Interface:	PCI Express x1
PCI Express Status Test
Test Started		27/11/12 11:31:17
Test Finished:	Passed 27/11/12 11:31:17

Matrox Extio PCI Standard PCI-to-PCI Bridge
Vendor Name:	Intel Corporation
Interface:	PCI Express x1
PCI Express Status Test
Test Started		27/11/12 11:31:18
Test Finished:	Passed 27/11/12 11:31:18

I don't know what to do about this.. Does anyone have any good ideas?

When the system crashed while running diagnostics, the system froze on the same screen without doing anything. I'm sorry I didn't make a note which part the test was running at the time.

How do I ascertain which bit of hardware is causing the problem, so that I can replace it? Thanks.

Hi Carlo Borsattino,

PCI 1X slot is on the mother board where you connect extension cards like sound card, modem, wireless card etc.

Since the system crashed while running diagnostics, I suspect that it is hardware issue. It is mentioned in the post that the system crashed while running diagnostic. Since crashed is a general term, kindly reply in detail like if the system is shutting down, restarting or just freezing on the same screen without doing anything. Let me also when the system crashed on which part the test was running.

Hi Carlo Borsattino,

I request you to run the test once again and check on which part the system is crashing and reply to this post.