XP keeps crashing

[Pcidiot]

I'm having a little trouble with my windows XP pro os. Everytime I try to play a shooter game (ex. Call Of Duty, or Battlefield 1942) when I exit the game the OS crashes. When the infamous blue screen comes up it says something like "less than and not equal to" and the file is one called cmuda.sys, which I figured out that it had something to do with my sound card. My sound card is integrated onto my motherboard and I believe it is an "AC '97 CODEC" chipset. I'm just worried about the crashes messing up my hard drives. I'm out of ideas here so any help I can get would be greatly appreciated.

[jamesrpm]

See if you can reinstall the drivers for your sound card , if it's built in they should be on your motherboard drivers disk or you can download them from the manufacturer.

[Pcidiot]

I've tried that before, and just to make sure I tried it again last night and it didn't work. I used the CD that came with my motherboard but I still got the "IRQL_NOTLESS_OR_EQUAL" something like that.

[Pcidiot]

Could this serriously harm my computer or is it something that I shouldn't worry about?

[bailey]

that error is related to bad ram

[Pcidiot]

Ok now my sound doesn't work. If this is a problem with my RAM is there anything I can do to fix it?

[Cricket]

Originally posted by Pcidiot Ok now my sound doesn't work. If this is a problem with my RAM is there anything I can do to fix it?

If it is bad RAM, about the only thing you can do is replace it.

How many sticks of RAM do you have in your system? If you have more than 1, remove all but 1 and run your system. If the problem goes away, the RAM you removed is bad. But switch the sticks around and run your system again just to be sure. If the problem returns then you know for sure the RAM in the system is bad.

Post your system specs, include brand and model of each component...especially the RAM.

Did your computer run okay when you first got it?

Cricket

[Pcidiot]

The motherboard is a Mach Speed V400 KT400 Socket A Motherboard, an AMD 2400+ processor, with a GeForcee4 MX 440 video card, and a single stick of PNY 512MB PC2100 DDR 266MHz RAM. It's a self build and it worked when I put it together which was only about 6 months ago

[Pcidiot]

Should i just replace the memory?

[oddjob]

http://hcidesign.com/memtest/

Download memtest and test your RAM. If it is bad you'll find out pretty quick, but do try to leave the program running overnight.

[Pcidiot]

Ok, I did the memtest all weekend (over 21,000 cycles) and it returned no errors. Does that mean the memory's fine or that the test missed something?

[oddjob]

No errors = good ram. So, rules out the bad ram possibility.

Go into BIOS, disable your onboard sound and see if you still get BSOD. I've heard of onboard sound going bad before, you can just get a pci sound card and put it in a spare slot.

[Pcidiot]

I reinstalled the drivers from my sound card and the sound's fine. The only problem comes when I try to exit one of those games.

[Pcidiot]

If it is the sound card what are some suggestions on good ones?

[Pcidiot]

Is there any possibility it could be the OS?

[Pcidiot]

Please someone help me, it is now crashing when I'm doing normal things. What is my problem?

[Cricket]

Check the motherboard capacitors for signs of bulging or leaking.

What brand and wattage is the power supply?

How's the case cooling? You got any case fans in there?

Cricket

[Pcidiot]

i don't have any case fans and my system does run a little warm, i was worried about that. Where would i find these capacitors?

[oddjob]

http://www.badcaps.net/

That'll tell you all about it. Hopefully, that's not your problem. If it is, and any electrolyte has leaked out of them and onto your motherboard (it's a corrosive chemical), say good-bye to the board.

[Cricket]

Originally posted by Pcidiot i don't have any case fans and my system does run a little warm, i was worried about that.

No case fans? One symptom of an overheating system is freezes and lockups.

Does your case have any fan ports on it? You should install at least 1 fan on the back of the case to remove built up heat from the system.

Try running your computer with the case sides off and see if the problem goes away. If it does, you definitely had an overheating system on your hands and you'll have to correct that by installing some case fans.

Cricket

[LadyKiller]

Being a lady killer, I both kill ladies and have had the same problem-thx cricket

[Pcidiot]

yeah i took the one side off. I'm gonna see where that gets me

[Trase]

You mentioned this all started when you exited from certian games? That could be a program issue, or a heat issue.

You mentioned you get a message referencing IRQ? That is a hard interrupt problem. You may have several devices conflicting. However, I have Win 9x and don't know how to check that on Windows XP. Maybe others could suggest that...

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computer: White box, built by Lee Nick Joel, Chris or Randy...
his name changed each time I was at the store

[Pcidiot]

i think it's a little of both, i have both sides off of my tower and i still get the error. Just not nearly as often

[Trase]

Originally posted by Pcidiot i think it's a little of both, i have both sides off of my tower and i still get the error. Just not nearly as often

Hmmmm....an IRQ error is a specific type of error. Type "IRQ" into the help section of Windows XP and it'll suggest a couple of things you can try.

If there is a heat issue, you can prove it by getting a small fan and aim it at the motherboard in your computer, that should provide enough cooling to completely stop the problem, if it is a heat realted issue.

...............................................................................
My Computer: A White box built by Carol, Steve, Kurt or... the name changed each time I visted the shop

[Pcidiot]

I think that it's a program fault because bought a case fan and my system runs about 110ºF which isn't that hot. If anyone has any info for how I could check this I'd appreciate it

[Trase]

Originally posted by Pcidiot I think that it's a program fault because bought a case fan and my system runs about 110ºF which isn't that hot. If anyone has any info for how I could check this I'd appreciate it

I am no expert, but when you say the error type referenced "IRQ" that says there is an interupt conflict. Try entering "IRQ" into Windows help. Follow the instructions, it'll take you to a point where you can disable the sound circuit. Try that.


Or... go to Windows help and enter "sound" and/or troubleshooter. The Windows troubleshooters can actually be pretty helpful in at least pointing you to the right place.

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computer: White box, built by Steve Dave Kurt Or check

[glc]

No, "IRQL" has nothing to do with IRQ's in the traditional sense. That error is usually a bad driver.

110F *system* temp is way too high. What is your *CPU* temp in C?

[Trase]

Originally posted by glc No, "IRQL" has nothing to do with IRQ's in the traditional sense. That error is usually a bad driver. 110F *system* temp is way too high. What is your *CPU* temp in C?

O.K. ... IRQ isn't the issue.

The problem started with the computer failing after two specific programs that were run.... a driver issue is possible..

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computer: White box build by Wily Steve Kurt or...

[[Mystic]]

Originally posted by Cricket No case fans? One symptom of an overheating system is freezes and lockups. Does your case have any fan ports on it? You should install at least 1 fan on the back of the case to remove built up heat from the system. Try running your computer with the case sides off and see if the problem goes away. If it does, you definitely had an overheating system on your hands and you'll have to correct that by installing some case fans. Cricket

Many machines I fix for a large company have no system case fans. I've never had problems with them overheating... For a simple system, you don't nesscerly need case fans.