Blue Screen & System Lock-up

Question

I have a Dimension 4100 with Windows ME.  In the past few days when I power on my computer a blue screen appears. Receive no error message. Sometimes the quick launch tool bar appears on the bottom of my screen. Also, the computer locks up. When I press, Control-ALT-DEL the system doesn't reboot. So, I need to push my restart button on my CPU. The systems runs a scan disk for errors. It may find one or two errors, then asks me for my next step. I tell it to repair the error and that usually brings up my desktop to its normal state.   I did experience a Kernell32.dll error while surfing the net last night. I also have Adaware and Norton SystemWorks loaded on my computer. I read on the message boards that Adaware could cause these errors.   Until I can speak live to a Dell Tech, I would appreciate any insight you can offer.   Thanks!

osprey4 · Answer

This is not going to be easy to diagnose without more information. Right off the bat, run a hard drive test. Reboot your computer. At the Dell blue logo screen, press the Ctrl + Alt + D keys at the same time. The computer beeps once to acknowledge that the hard drive diagnostics have been initiated and the following message appears:

IDE Diagnostics running, please wait
Primary
Drive 0: (Drive Model) -

The test may take up to three minutes to run the diagnostics (the time is dependent upon size and speed of drive). When the diagnostics are complete, one of the following messages appears:

IDE Diagnostics running, please wait
Primary
Drive 0: (Drive Model) - Pass
Drive 1: No IDE Device
-OR-
Secondary
Drive 0: (CD-ROM Model) - Diagnostics not supported
Drive 1: No IDE Device
Test complete, Press to reboot

Press the key and restart the computer.

If that checks out, try starting in Safe Mode. This will distinguish between a hardware and software problem.

Hiosilv4 · Answer

Thanks for your reply! I will try your suggestions later this afternoon. What is meant by 'if that checks out, try starting in Safe Mode. This will distinguish between a hardware and software problem' ? Could Adaware cause these errors? I also loaded Norton Personal Firewall the other night, but removed it from my system after causing me configuration errors. Is it possible my Registry still contains Personal Firewall files?

osprey4 · Answer

I mean, if the hard drive diagnostics do not detect any problems, try safe mode.

Norton will definitely leave changes to your system. Not even system restore can fix that. The only way to get rid of Norton is to reinstall Windows. Ad-Aware I would not expect to cause problems like this.

Hiosilv4 · Answer

I tried your suggestions late yesterday, but was having difficulty getting the system to cooperate. It seems the window to tell me if my system passed or failed went away in a split second. Anyways, my blue screen problems have stabilized. I did try cleaning the CPU fan and keeping my office cooler. The fan has been working extra hard due to the warmer weather. Now my current issue is system freezing especially when surfing the Net. This doesn't always happen. Have received Kernel32.dll and HPZSTATX in RPCRT4.dll errors. The second error occurred after reinstalling IE 6.0. I'll try posting to ME software site. Do you have any further suggestions?

Thanks again for your assistance!

:smileyhappy:

osprey4 · Answer

Do you have everything you need to reinstall ME?

Hiosilv4 · Answer

Presently, I don't have the patience to reinstall ME on my 4100. Are these errors caused by wonderful ME?  In the past year, ME has caused me lots of headaches. My next task is to purchase a new hard drive, upgrade my memory and install Windows XP.   What size HD can my current BIOS from American Megatrends 11/28/00 handle? A friend suggested that I increase to 250GB. My current HD is 20.4GB. Should I upgrade the BIOS? What's the steps? My current memory is 128MB. I want to increase to 256 or 512.   :smileywink:

Hiosilv4 · Answer

I put up with ME longer than I should have because the system was working fine until the past few months. How do I upgrade the BIOS?   What kind of errors occur in XP when hard drive is over 137GB?   Thanks again for your quick responses and wealth of knowledge!   :smileyvery-happy:

osprey4 · Answer

Now you're talking! You'll wonder why you put up with ME as long as you did.

Yes, you should update to the current BIOS version before any upgrading.

Your system can use a large drive but there are complications trying to install XP on a drive over 137-GB. Besides, they're premium priced, while a 80 or 120-GB drive will cost less than $50. It's up to you. I would suggest you get another 128-MB or 256-MB of RAM. XP seems to prefer 256-MB to 512-MB, but the cost of two 256-MB DIMMs is prohibitive. Adding 256-MB will give you 384-MB, a nice compromise. Crucial has this for about $70.

osprey4 · Answer

Since my main system is a 4100, I'm used to it.

You won't have any errors with the large drive, but when you install Windows, it will only see up to the 137-GB limit. After you complete the installation of SP2 and the Intel Application Accelerator, the remainder of the drive will be seen an unpartitioned space in disk management. You can then partition and format this space as another drive letter. If that's ok for you, then go ahead and get the 250-GB drive.

The BIOS update is available HERE

When you're ready to install, follow the Reinstall Guide HERE

Hiosilv4 · Answer

Here's the latest sage with my 4100 system with ME. I might have gotten rid of Blue Screen problems for the moment, but my system keeps locking up. This occurs while surfing the Net or working on the Desktop. Sometimes it takes 3 trys to get out of ScanDisk. It freezes up when trying to conduct a standard scan and get the system back and running.   I want my system to continue running until I can purchase a new HDD, upgrade memory and switch over to XP. I plan to start backing up my important files again today.   I would appreciate any further assistance and/or tips from our knowledgable forum members.   :smileysad:

Storage, Drives & Media

Blue Screen & System Lock-up

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