Computer Shuting Down With Blue Screen

I'm going to assume you have Vista.

Right-click on Computer in the Start menu and select Properties. On the left side, click on advanced options and on one of those tabs, you will see a checkbox for automatically restarting after system failure. Uncheck the box and click ok. Next time it has the blue screen it should stay there so you can write down the info and POST it here. We will need the STOP error code and any file names listed below that. :smileyhappy:

Thanks for the reply. I did what you said and now I'm just waiting.

There was no numeric code listed either?

Sorry it took so long I had to wait for it to happen again, here's what numbers said:

 

Technical Info

Stop:0X000000pF (0X0000000000000003,0XFFFFFA80093FF050,0XFFFFFA80093FB790,0XFFFFFA8007451AF0)

 

Hope that answer's the questions you needed and again thanks for the help!

Anyone?

Searching for 0XPF brings up nothing:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=0XpF&btnG=Search

 

Above Google search suggest 0XBF error..... you might want to read up on for clues:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=0xbf&btnG=Search

 

Also consult:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Driver_Power_State_Failure&btnG=Search

 

 

 

 

 

Peace

 

 

CD60, I'm having similar problems with my two XPS720 machines as well.  I suspect, though, that you got the stop error wrong: 0x000000pf is invalid, all characters ought to be in the range 0-f (being hexadecimal).

 

I'm getting a few repeating stop errors: EA, 8E, 7F are the main ones.  One of my two machines (purchased at the same time) started acting up two weeks after receiving.  The most common error description I get is nv4_disp or nv4_disp.dll, pointing to something wrong with the video card.  It seems to me that high graphic demand triggers the blue screen, and the machine has to have been on for some time.  Three things that make it go haywire: any of the hi-res screen savers (Aquarium, Da Vinci, Nature), the Guru3D Video Stability Test running for hours (http://freestone-group.com), and Dell's PC Checkup (2D-3D Video Fixed Transformation & Lighting Test).

 

The other machine fares a bit better, but has lately developed similar issues.  BSOD once a day or so, and is disturbingly increasing.  I've uninstalled the nVidia driver (and reverted to lower res 1024x768, which is not the best) to see if not demanding too much of the video card might point to something useful. 

 

I've been dealing with tech support for what seems like forever.  Tech support seems to think that it's a driver issue, but nevertheless has so far changed the video card, RAM, and mobo.  I had to clean re-install Windows because of my blunderings.  It's working so far, but I haven't fully tested it.  I'm not convinced yet that it's not a hardware failure or compatibility issue.

 

CD60, my advice is this: keep working with support, eventually they'll replace all the components.  If that still doesn't fix it, they have a bigger problem on their hands because it seems many people with XPS720s have this issue.  In the meantime, try out the Video Stability Test, leave a hi-res screen saver running at all times, and record everything you do to the machine including any details of tech support calls (you may need to have supporting evidence, if it comes to that).

 

WyrdForge

 

--------------------

DELL XPS720 Red
E6600 Core2 Quad  2.4GHz
XP Media Center 2005
2GB Corsair DDR2 RAM
1TB x 2 (Raid1) Hitachi DeskStar 7K1000
Dual DVD+/-RW DVD/CD-RW
nVidia GeForce 8800GTX 768MB
SB X-Fi
FPS SP2208WFP

 

---------------------

 

I'm not a well-adjusted person, but I role play one in D&D

 

I didn't mean that the system is misbehaving for a lack of graphics capability, but that the high demand is making a flaky component (perhaps video card, but could be other) act wonky.

 

Also meant to ask: are you dealing with the generic tech support or the XPS tech support?  Either way, I believe the "Dell way" is to keep on replacing components but never a complete machine (just in case it comes down to being a lemon).

 

Cheers 

Thanks for the info. I don't think it's a lack of graphics capacity because I have two 8800GT's in SLI but some of your other points make sense. And believe me I intend on hounding Dell until until something gets done.

 

Thanks for the help and advice it's much appreciated!

Yeah Dell replaced the graphics card not too long ago at which time I added a second identical card. I just got of the phone with the XPS tech support and they are sending out a tech to replace the processor and motherboard. I am also going to add another 2 gigs of Corsair Dominator memory for a total of 8 gigs. Hopefully all of this will solve my issue. Wish me luck and again thanks for the help!

0x0000009F: DRIVER_POWER_STATE_FAILURE

Are there any files that are listed below the stop code?

More than likely one of the drivers for one of your devices are causing a problem. This can be caused by a variety of hardware and software drivers. To localize it, you'll need the Windows debugger tool to look at the crash dumps. Once you figure out what file it is, find it and look at the properties of who makes it to determine what it is used for and then you'll know what needs to be reinstalled. :smileyhappy:

 

How to use Windows debugger:

Follow the steps in order to download and install the program:

 

1.       Google > windows debugger> look for the link installing debugging tools for windows 32-bit version (usually the second link) http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/devtools/debugging/installx86.mspx

2.       Download and install the program. "In vista you will have to right click on the download and run it as administrator."

 

Once the Program is installed you have to set it up. 

 

1.      In XP you can launch the program from Start>All Programs>debugging tools for windows>windbg.  In   vista Pearl> in the search field type windbg right click and run as administrator.

2.       When you launch the program click on File> Symbol file path.

3.       When the box opens type in the symbol file path:

a.      SRV*C:\WINDOWS\SYMBOLS*http://msdl.microsoft.com/download/symbols

4.      Hit ok

5.      Close the Program and save the workspace.

6.      Launch the program according to step 3. 

7.       Click on File> open crash dump> navigate to C:\Windows\minidump folder and open the latest crash dump.

8.       Type !analyze -v in the bottom white bar to get detailed information about the crash.

 

 

After everything that was tried and replaced it turned out to be the external maxtor hard drive and installed using firewire. I started from the begining with the OS and just started adding drivers one at a time until the problem arose. Took the hard drive back to Staples and all has been well for over a week now. Again thanks for all the help!