BSOD Vista Alienware m7700 ... help?!

abrimelara · Sep 30, 2007, 01:40 AM

thanks

Necrosis · Sep 30, 2007, 05:40 AM

Did you upgrade from XP or install Vista fresh?

abrimelara · Sep 30, 2007, 12:03 PM

i did the clean install. i still have that windows.old file kicking around somewhere, but thats it. should i get rid of that?

BillUp · Sep 30, 2007, 03:40 PM

I dont know whether this will make any difference at all but when you install Vista it gives you the option of either deleting whats on the partition (which I think is similar to a quick format) or you can format the partition. What you have done is install Vista without doing either of the above. If it was me I would format the Hardrive before installing Vista. As I have said I am no expert and I may well be wrong and if I am I will be put right by someone that does know but this is the only advice I can offer.

Golbeze · Sep 30, 2007, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillUp

I dont know whether this will make any difference at all but when you install Vista it gives you the option of either deleting whats on the partition (which I think is similar to a quick format) or you can format the partition. What you have done is install Vista without doing either of the above. If it was me I would format the Hardrive before installing Vista. As I have said I am no expert and I may well be wrong and if I am I will be put right by someone that does know but this is the only advice I can offer.

Ok, the options the Vista install gives you is an upgrade from an earlier version, or a clean install. Now, I have done the clean install before on an existing partition without formatting, and have no problems with it. It acts exactly as a clean install should. Basically, it moves everything on the existing partition, including the Windows folder, into a new folder called windows.old, which makes it inaccessible for booting to. It then proceeds to create a new windows folder into the root folder of the drive and install into there. There should be no reason to format unless something was wrong with the partition. It should NOT be accessing any files in the old Windows folder in the windows.old folder, thus there should be no conflicts there.

Now for the OP, go to Memtest86.com - Memory Diagnostic, and use their memory testing tool. You'll have to create a bootable floppy or cd for it. Then, once you have, boot into the cd or floppy, and it'll run a memory diagnostics. Let it complete at least two passes and see if any errors. If it does, then your system needs new memory as it means you have a bad stick.

Sep 30, 2007, 01:40 AM	#1
abrimelara DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 2 Rep Power: 0	BSOD Vista Alienware m7700 ... help?! thanks Last edited by abrimelara; Mar 16, 2008 at 03:23 PM.

Sep 30, 2007, 05:40 AM	#2
Necrosis HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 8,838 Rep Power: 129 System Specs	Did you upgrade from XP or install Vista fresh?

Sep 30, 2007, 12:03 PM	Thread Starter #3
abrimelara DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 2 Rep Power: 0	i did the clean install. i still have that windows.old file kicking around somewhere, but thats it. should i get rid of that?

Sep 30, 2007, 03:40 PM	#4
BillUp DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Maidenhead Posts: 13 Rep Power: 0	I dont know whether this will make any difference at all but when you install Vista it gives you the option of either deleting whats on the partition (which I think is similar to a quick format) or you can format the partition. What you have done is install Vista without doing either of the above. If it was me I would format the Hardrive before installing Vista. As I have said I am no expert and I may well be wrong and if I am I will be put right by someone that does know but this is the only advice I can offer.