Event Viewer - "unexpected shutdowns"

[Blithe]

My 'unexpected shutdowns' are random and occur -on average- once every
session. They vary but usually go by two main scenarios: (1) Vista desktop
and mouse cursor freezes - control/alt/delete and keyboard too - the only
alternative is to push the PC restart button - or (2) the monitor goes
black and Vista reboots on its own.

What's usually happening when these scenarios occur? Well, I ought to keep
a log ready to record these events. I'll soon have to try but as a student
in a much earlier life - I took such bad lecture notes I could not read them
after two class lectures. Here's what I can recall:
1. I think most shutdowns have happened when either beginning to view a
video or going to a new web page that pops up a streaming advertisement.
2. I recall one when I opened Windows Mail - but cannot say if I had clicked
on anything yet or if mail was downloading at the time. So - it may not be
Windows Mail but just the action of opening a new window?

My Internet research indicates these 'unexpected shutdowns' have been
frustrating Vista & earlier MS OS users for years. Rather surprisingly, I
found no promising suggestions for troubleshooting or remedies - to date.
For years the OS of my choice was W2K. If only Vista had W2K's reliability.
I rarely - if ever- experienced such ongoing, unexpained W2K events.

Perhaps I've missed some new info that addresses this issue - so that's the
primary reason for this posting. Anything?

Thanks - Blithe
PS - I should add that upon rebooting after an unexpected shutdown - Vista
asks if Safe Mode is desired during rebooting. I never benefited by going
to Safe Mode - except that on the many occasions that I bypassed Safe Mode &
choose normal rebooting - I would experience a variety of other issues soon
afterwards. So - Safe Mode is probably the best way to go if one's patience
permits - even if it avails few if any hints as to the specific shutdown.

[System Summary]
OS Name Microsoft® Windows VistaT Ultimate
Version 6.0.6001 Service Pack 1 Build 6001
System Model: Maximus Extreme (Asus)
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "6.0.6001.18000"
System Type: x64-based PC
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Extreme CPU Q6850 @ 3.00GHz, 2997 Mhz, 4
Core(s), 4 Logical Processor(s)
BIOS Version/Date American Megatrends Inc. 0904, 12/18/2007
SMBIOS Version 2.4
Installed Physical Memory (RAM) 4.00 GB
Total Physical Memory 4.00 GB
Available Physical Memory 2.70 GB
Total Virtual Memory 8.20 GB
Available Virtual Memory 6.82 GB
Page File Space 4.29 GB

 

[Blithe]

Well - all is going as expected - yet another 'unexpected shutdown' - It's
1:55AM Central & I'm overdue for bed, but I will try to record the happening
as best as I am able. Before I do, be advised I ran the 'repair' options
within the last two weeks a few times by booting from the Vista CD. No
problems were reported.

The memory diagnostic tool ran cleanly - as reported during the test and
after the reboot - nothing to report.
The attempted chkdsk from the command prompt reported that I did not have
the privilege & advised I had to run in 'elevated mode' - I had never heard
or read such a term & have been a PC enthusiast since Windows 3.0 from 1990.
I Googled 'elevated mode' - got a likely hit to a tech webpage - & almost as
soon as the page loaded & I began to navigate - I lost my desktop to a
frozen, pretty, & totally blank blue screen. Note: This was uniquely
different from the previous shutdowns that froze whatever was open and
visible on the desktop - this one erased every graphic, cursor & icon to
blue blankness - maybe a little darker plain blue than I customarily set by
preference for all my Windows desktops. As usual - I pushed my PC restart
button.

I booted into safe mode & opened Event Viewer. I copied a few abbreviated
event IDs to paste here for your review. I scheduled a dskchk for the next
reboot that will have to wait until after I get some sleep:

Log Name: System
Source: Service Control Manager
Date: 5/9/2009 1:29:35 PM
Event ID: 7001
Task Category: None
Level: Error
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: QuietOne
Description:
The DHCP Client service depends on the Ancilliary Function Driver for
Winsock service which failed to start because of the following error:
A device attached to the system is not functioning.
(NOTE: Device MGR. always seems to disagree - as do I - since everything I
have attached to my PC is functioning)
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Log Name: Application
Source: Microsoft-Windows-EventSystem
Date: 5/9/2009 1:29:00 PM
Event ID: 4609
Task Category: Event System
Level: Error
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: QuietOne
Description:
The COM+ Event System detected a bad return code during its internal
processing. HRESULT was 8007043c from line 45 of
d:\vistasp1_gdr\com\complus\src\events\tier1\eventsystemobj.cpp. Please
contact Microsoft Product Support Services to report this error.
(Note: My PC has two permanent hard drives - neither the slave drive D:\ nor
a Vista search reports this file)
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Log Name: System
Source: Microsoft-Windows-DistributedCOM
Date: 5/9/2009 1:28:53 PM
Event ID: 10005
Task Category: None
Level: Error
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: QuietOne
Description:
DCOM got error "1084" attempting to start the service ShellHWDetection with
arguments "" in order to run the server:
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Log Name: System
Source: EventLog
Date: 5/9/2009 1:28:29 PM
Event ID: 6008
Task Category: None
Level: Error
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: QuietOne
Description:
The previous system shutdown at 1:21:55 PM on 5/9/2009 was unexpected.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Thank you & good morning - Blithe

Have you run memory diagnostic (Control Panel in classic mode -
Administrative Tools - Memory Diagnostic Tool) also
chkdsk c: /r in a command prompt.

--
.
--

My 'unexpected shutdowns' are random and occur -on average- once every
session. They vary but usually go by two main scenarios: (1) Vista
desktop and mouse cursor freezes - control/alt/delete and keyboard too -
the only alternative is to push the PC restart button - or (2) the
monitor goes black and Vista reboots on its own.

What's usually happening when these scenarios occur? Well, I ought to
keep a log ready to record these events. I'll soon have to try but as a
student in a much earlier life - I took such bad lecture notes I could
not read them after two class lectures. Here's what I can recall:
1. I think most shutdowns have happened when either beginning to view a
video or going to a new web page that pops up a streaming advertisement.
2. I recall one when I opened Windows Mail - but cannot say if I had
clicked on anything yet or if mail was downloading at the time. So - it
may not be Windows Mail but just the action of opening a new window?

My Internet research indicates these 'unexpected shutdowns' have been
frustrating Vista & earlier MS OS users for years. Rather surprisingly,
I found no promising suggestions for troubleshooting or remedies - to
date. For years the OS of my choice was W2K. If only Vista had W2K's
reliability. I rarely - if ever- experienced such ongoing, unexpained W2K
events.

Perhaps I've missed some new info that addresses this issue - so that's
the primary reason for this posting. Anything?

Thanks - Blithe
PS - I should add that upon rebooting after an unexpected shutdown -
Vista asks if Safe Mode is desired during rebooting. I never benefited
by going to Safe Mode - except that on the many occasions that I bypassed
Safe Mode & choose normal rebooting - I would experience a variety of
other issues soon afterwards. So - Safe Mode is probably the best way to
go if one's patience permits - even if it avails few if any hints as to
the specific shutdown.

[System Summary]
OS Name Microsoft® Windows VistaT Ultimate
Version 6.0.6001 Service Pack 1 Build 6001
System Model: Maximus Extreme (Asus)
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "6.0.6001.18000"
System Type: x64-based PC
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Extreme CPU Q6850 @ 3.00GHz, 2997 Mhz, 4
Core(s), 4 Logical Processor(s)
BIOS Version/Date American Megatrends Inc. 0904, 12/18/2007
SMBIOS Version 2.4
Installed Physical Memory (RAM) 4.00 GB
Total Physical Memory 4.00 GB
Available Physical Memory 2.70 GB
Total Virtual Memory 8.20 GB
Available Virtual Memory 6.82 GB
Page File Space 4.29 GB

 

[Guest]

Have you run memory diagnostic (Control Panel in classic mode -
Administrative Tools - Memory Diagnostic Tool) also
chkdsk c: /r in a command prompt.

 

[Guest]

Also type in CMD

sfc /scannow

which makes sure files aren't corrupted.

The fact you crash without reason makes me suspect causes like the power
supply or other hardware.

--
..
--

Well - all is going as expected - yet another 'unexpected shutdown' - It's
1:55AM Central & I'm overdue for bed, but I will try to record the
happening as best as I am able. Before I do, be advised I ran the 'repair'
options within the last two weeks a few times by booting from the Vista
CD. No problems were reported.

The memory diagnostic tool ran cleanly - as reported during the test and
after the reboot - nothing to report.
The attempted chkdsk from the command prompt reported that I did not have
the privilege & advised I had to run in 'elevated mode' - I had never
heard or read such a term & have been a PC enthusiast since Windows 3.0
from 1990. I Googled 'elevated mode' - got a likely hit to a tech
webpage - & almost as soon as the page loaded & I began to navigate - I
lost my desktop to a frozen, pretty, & totally blank blue screen. Note:
This was uniquely different from the previous shutdowns that froze
whatever was open and visible on the desktop - this one erased every
graphic, cursor & icon to blue blankness - maybe a little darker plain
blue than I customarily set by preference for all my Windows desktops. As
usual - I pushed my PC restart button.

I booted into safe mode & opened Event Viewer. I copied a few abbreviated
event IDs to paste here for your review. I scheduled a dskchk for the
next reboot that will have to wait until after I get some sleep:

Log Name: System
Source: Service Control Manager
Date: 5/9/2009 1:29:35 PM
Event ID: 7001
Task Category: None
Level: Error
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: QuietOne
Description:
The DHCP Client service depends on the Ancilliary Function Driver for
Winsock service which failed to start because of the following error:
A device attached to the system is not functioning.
(NOTE: Device MGR. always seems to disagree - as do I - since everything I
have attached to my PC is functioning)
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Log Name: Application
Source: Microsoft-Windows-EventSystem
Date: 5/9/2009 1:29:00 PM
Event ID: 4609
Task Category: Event System
Level: Error
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: QuietOne
Description:
The COM+ Event System detected a bad return code during its internal
processing. HRESULT was 8007043c from line 45 of
d:\vistasp1_gdr\com\complus\src\events\tier1\eventsystemobj.cpp. Please
contact Microsoft Product Support Services to report this error.
(Note: My PC has two permanent hard drives - neither the slave drive D:\
nor a Vista search reports this file)
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Log Name: System
Source: Microsoft-Windows-DistributedCOM
Date: 5/9/2009 1:28:53 PM
Event ID: 10005
Task Category: None
Level: Error
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: QuietOne
Description:
DCOM got error "1084" attempting to start the service ShellHWDetection
with arguments "" in order to run the server:
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Log Name: System
Source: EventLog
Date: 5/9/2009 1:28:29 PM
Event ID: 6008
Task Category: None
Level: Error
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: QuietOne
Description:
The previous system shutdown at 1:21:55 PM on 5/9/2009 was unexpected.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Thank you & good morning - Blithe

Have you run memory diagnostic (Control Panel in classic mode -
Administrative Tools - Memory Diagnostic Tool) also
chkdsk c: /r in a command prompt.

--
.
--

My 'unexpected shutdowns' are random and occur -on average- once every
session. They vary but usually go by two main scenarios: (1) Vista
desktop and mouse cursor freezes - control/alt/delete and keyboard too -
the only alternative is to push the PC restart button - or (2) the
monitor goes black and Vista reboots on its own.

What's usually happening when these scenarios occur? Well, I ought to
keep a log ready to record these events. I'll soon have to try but as a
student in a much earlier life - I took such bad lecture notes I could
not read them after two class lectures. Here's what I can recall:
1. I think most shutdowns have happened when either beginning to view a
video or going to a new web page that pops up a streaming advertisement.
2. I recall one when I opened Windows Mail - but cannot say if I had
clicked on anything yet or if mail was downloading at the time. So - it
may not be Windows Mail but just the action of opening a new window?

My Internet research indicates these 'unexpected shutdowns' have been
frustrating Vista & earlier MS OS users for years. Rather surprisingly,
I found no promising suggestions for troubleshooting or remedies - to
date. For years the OS of my choice was W2K. If only Vista had W2K's
reliability. I rarely - if ever- experienced such ongoing, unexpained
W2K events.

Perhaps I've missed some new info that addresses this issue - so that's
the primary reason for this posting. Anything?

Thanks - Blithe
PS - I should add that upon rebooting after an unexpected shutdown -
Vista asks if Safe Mode is desired during rebooting. I never benefited
by going to Safe Mode - except that on the many occasions that I
bypassed Safe Mode & choose normal rebooting - I would experience a
variety of other issues soon afterwards. So - Safe Mode is probably the
best way to go if one's patience permits - even if it avails few if any
hints as to the specific shutdown.

[System Summary]
OS Name Microsoft® Windows VistaT Ultimate
Version 6.0.6001 Service Pack 1 Build 6001
System Model: Maximus Extreme (Asus)
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "6.0.6001.18000"
System Type: x64-based PC
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Extreme CPU Q6850 @ 3.00GHz, 2997 Mhz, 4
Core(s), 4 Logical Processor(s)
BIOS Version/Date American Megatrends Inc. 0904, 12/18/2007
SMBIOS Version 2.4
Installed Physical Memory (RAM) 4.00 GB
Total Physical Memory 4.00 GB
Available Physical Memory 2.70 GB
Total Virtual Memory 8.20 GB
Available Virtual Memory 6.82 GB
Page File Space 4.29 GB

 

[the wharf rat]

You can't find that file because it's not on your computer.
It's one of the original source code files Microsoft built Windows
from. That message is meant to direct a programmer to the right section
of c++ code so she can fix it.

This doesn't specifically address Vista but it sure sounds
like what's happening to you, and it's a simple fix:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/909444

Of course if it was my machine first I'd replace all the fans
and then the power suppliy and then I'd replace the motherboard TWICE
because I have a shotgun...

 

[Rick Rogers]

Hi Blithe,

You have all the classic signs of impending hardware failure. It doesn't
matter what you do with the operating system or the software installed on
it, the fix is to isolate and replace the faulty component. If you've run
the memory diagnostics and ruled that out, the next steps involve checking
the hard drive, motherboard, cpu, and power supply. While some manufacturers
offer bootable diagnostic software, generally the best way to sort it is to
swap in known good components. Steps I would take are: 1) download and run a
hdd diagnostic from the manufacturer, 2) pop the case open and check for
proper fan operation and ensure the processor heat sink is clear, 3) take a
small pen flashlight and examine the motherboard for bulging/leaking
capacitors, 4) swap in a new power supply. Beyond this requires a technician
or someone comfortable with working inside the pc.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

My 'unexpected shutdowns' are random and occur -on average- once every
session. They vary but usually go by two main scenarios: (1) Vista
desktop and mouse cursor freezes - control/alt/delete and keyboard too -
the only alternative is to push the PC restart button - or (2) the
monitor goes black and Vista reboots on its own.

What's usually happening when these scenarios occur? Well, I ought to
keep a log ready to record these events. I'll soon have to try but as a
student in a much earlier life - I took such bad lecture notes I could not
read them after two class lectures. Here's what I can recall:
1. I think most shutdowns have happened when either beginning to view a
video or going to a new web page that pops up a streaming advertisement.
2. I recall one when I opened Windows Mail - but cannot say if I had
clicked on anything yet or if mail was downloading at the time. So - it
may not be Windows Mail but just the action of opening a new window?

My Internet research indicates these 'unexpected shutdowns' have been
frustrating Vista & earlier MS OS users for years. Rather surprisingly, I
found no promising suggestions for troubleshooting or remedies - to date.
For years the OS of my choice was W2K. If only Vista had W2K's
reliability. I rarely - if ever- experienced such ongoing, unexpained W2K
events.

Perhaps I've missed some new info that addresses this issue - so that's
the primary reason for this posting. Anything?

Thanks - Blithe
PS - I should add that upon rebooting after an unexpected shutdown - Vista
asks if Safe Mode is desired during rebooting. I never benefited by going
to Safe Mode - except that on the many occasions that I bypassed Safe Mode
& choose normal rebooting - I would experience a variety of other issues
soon afterwards. So - Safe Mode is probably the best way to go if one's
patience permits - even if it avails few if any hints as to the specific
shutdown.

[System Summary]
OS Name Microsoft® Windows VistaT Ultimate
Version 6.0.6001 Service Pack 1 Build 6001
System Model: Maximus Extreme (Asus)
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "6.0.6001.18000"
System Type: x64-based PC
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Extreme CPU Q6850 @ 3.00GHz, 2997 Mhz, 4
Core(s), 4 Logical Processor(s)
BIOS Version/Date American Megatrends Inc. 0904, 12/18/2007
SMBIOS Version 2.4
Installed Physical Memory (RAM) 4.00 GB
Total Physical Memory 4.00 GB
Available Physical Memory 2.70 GB
Total Virtual Memory 8.20 GB
Available Virtual Memory 6.82 GB
Page File Space 4.29 GB

 

[Blithe]

Well... maybe something is not working after all. My PC calendar/clock is
still at May 9 & my atomic wall clock says it's 3:17AM on Sunday, May 10 -
that's not the 1st time it slowed down- the hour is correct but the day got
left behind - so my PC battery is obviously not up to speed. However - is
that relevant?

I must get some sleep. Today is another day. I'll have to start it later.

Blithe

Well - all is going as expected - yet another 'unexpected shutdown' - It's
1:55AM Central & I'm overdue for bed, but I will try to record the
happening as best as I am able. Before I do, be advised I ran the 'repair'
options within the last two weeks a few times by booting from the Vista
CD. No problems were reported.

The memory diagnostic tool ran cleanly - as reported during the test and
after the reboot - nothing to report.
The attempted chkdsk from the command prompt reported that I did not have
the privilege & advised I had to run in 'elevated mode' - I had never
heard or read such a term & have been a PC enthusiast since Windows 3.0
from 1990. I Googled 'elevated mode' - got a likely hit to a tech
webpage - & almost as soon as the page loaded & I began to navigate - I
lost my desktop to a frozen, pretty, & totally blank blue screen. Note:
This was uniquely different from the previous shutdowns that froze
whatever was open and visible on the desktop - this one erased every
graphic, cursor & icon to blue blankness - maybe a little darker plain
blue than I customarily set by preference for all my Windows desktops. As
usual - I pushed my PC restart button.

I booted into safe mode & opened Event Viewer. I copied a few abbreviated
event IDs to paste here for your review. I scheduled a dskchk for the
next reboot that will have to wait until after I get some sleep:

Log Name: System
Source: Service Control Manager
Date: 5/9/2009 1:29:35 PM
Event ID: 7001
Task Category: None
Level: Error
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: QuietOne
Description:
The DHCP Client service depends on the Ancilliary Function Driver for
Winsock service which failed to start because of the following error:
A device attached to the system is not functioning.
(NOTE: Device MGR. always seems to disagree - as do I - since everything I
have attached to my PC is functioning)
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Log Name: Application
Source: Microsoft-Windows-EventSystem
Date: 5/9/2009 1:29:00 PM
Event ID: 4609
Task Category: Event System
Level: Error
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: QuietOne
Description:
The COM+ Event System detected a bad return code during its internal
processing. HRESULT was 8007043c from line 45 of
d:\vistasp1_gdr\com\complus\src\events\tier1\eventsystemobj.cpp. Please
contact Microsoft Product Support Services to report this error.
(Note: My PC has two permanent hard drives - neither the slave drive D:\
nor a Vista search reports this file)
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Log Name: System
Source: Microsoft-Windows-DistributedCOM
Date: 5/9/2009 1:28:53 PM
Event ID: 10005
Task Category: None
Level: Error
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: QuietOne
Description:
DCOM got error "1084" attempting to start the service ShellHWDetection
with arguments "" in order to run the server:
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Log Name: System
Source: EventLog
Date: 5/9/2009 1:28:29 PM
Event ID: 6008
Task Category: None
Level: Error
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: QuietOne
Description:
The previous system shutdown at 1:21:55 PM on 5/9/2009 was unexpected.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Thank you & good morning - Blithe

Have you run memory diagnostic (Control Panel in classic mode -
Administrative Tools - Memory Diagnostic Tool) also
chkdsk c: /r in a command prompt.

--
.
--

My 'unexpected shutdowns' are random and occur -on average- once every
session. They vary but usually go by two main scenarios: (1) Vista
desktop and mouse cursor freezes - control/alt/delete and keyboard too -
the only alternative is to push the PC restart button - or (2) the
monitor goes black and Vista reboots on its own.

What's usually happening when these scenarios occur? Well, I ought to
keep a log ready to record these events. I'll soon have to try but as a
student in a much earlier life - I took such bad lecture notes I could
not read them after two class lectures. Here's what I can recall:
1. I think most shutdowns have happened when either beginning to view a
video or going to a new web page that pops up a streaming advertisement.
2. I recall one when I opened Windows Mail - but cannot say if I had
clicked on anything yet or if mail was downloading at the time. So - it
may not be Windows Mail but just the action of opening a new window?

My Internet research indicates these 'unexpected shutdowns' have been
frustrating Vista & earlier MS OS users for years. Rather surprisingly,
I found no promising suggestions for troubleshooting or remedies - to
date. For years the OS of my choice was W2K. If only Vista had W2K's
reliability. I rarely - if ever- experienced such ongoing, unexpained
W2K events.

Perhaps I've missed some new info that addresses this issue - so that's
the primary reason for this posting. Anything?

Thanks - Blithe
PS - I should add that upon rebooting after an unexpected shutdown -
Vista asks if Safe Mode is desired during rebooting. I never benefited
by going to Safe Mode - except that on the many occasions that I
bypassed Safe Mode & choose normal rebooting - I would experience a
variety of other issues soon afterwards. So - Safe Mode is probably the
best way to go if one's patience permits - even if it avails few if any
hints as to the specific shutdown.

[System Summary]
OS Name Microsoft® Windows VistaT Ultimate
Version 6.0.6001 Service Pack 1 Build 6001
System Model: Maximus Extreme (Asus)
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "6.0.6001.18000"
System Type: x64-based PC
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Extreme CPU Q6850 @ 3.00GHz, 2997 Mhz, 4
Core(s), 4 Logical Processor(s)
BIOS Version/Date American Megatrends Inc. 0904, 12/18/2007
SMBIOS Version 2.4
Installed Physical Memory (RAM) 4.00 GB
Total Physical Memory 4.00 GB
Available Physical Memory 2.70 GB
Total Virtual Memory 8.20 GB
Available Virtual Memory 6.82 GB
Page File Space 4.29 GB

 

[Blithe]

Thank you, Rick. I replaced my CMOS battery yesterday($5), switched the
graphics card to another slot in order to access the battery, spent some
time cursing while trying to locate a slot screw that I fumbled & dropped on
the mobo, tried to remove a card reader/floppy that never worked - thanks to
my PC vendor's sloppy quality control - & gave that up when I could not
see/locate the mobo connection point, booted sucessfully, reset the clock,
cleared my Event Viewer logs, read my email, & now all I have to do is await
the next sign of an 'impending hardware failure" for my $5,200 desktop
lemon. All seems normal at the moment but isn't that usually the case
before an impending failure? The suspense is more enjoyable than most TV
drama these days.

Cheers - Blithe

Hi Blithe,

You have all the classic signs of impending hardware failure. It doesn't
matter what you do with the operating system or the software installed on
it, the fix is to isolate and replace the faulty component. If you've run
the memory diagnostics and ruled that out, the next steps involve checking
the hard drive, motherboard, cpu, and power supply. While some
manufacturers offer bootable diagnostic software, generally the best way
to sort it is to swap in known good components. Steps I would take are: 1)
download and run a hdd diagnostic from the manufacturer, 2) pop the case
open and check for proper fan operation and ensure the processor heat sink
is clear, 3) take a small pen flashlight and examine the motherboard for
bulging/leaking capacitors, 4) swap in a new power supply. Beyond this
requires a technician or someone comfortable with working inside the pc.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

My 'unexpected shutdowns' are random and occur -on average- once every
session. They vary but usually go by two main scenarios: (1) Vista
desktop and mouse cursor freezes - control/alt/delete and keyboard too -
the only alternative is to push the PC restart button - or (2) the
monitor goes black and Vista reboots on its own.

What's usually happening when these scenarios occur? Well, I ought to
keep a log ready to record these events. I'll soon have to try but as a
student in a much earlier life - I took such bad lecture notes I could
not read them after two class lectures. Here's what I can recall:
1. I think most shutdowns have happened when either beginning to view a
video or going to a new web page that pops up a streaming advertisement.
2. I recall one when I opened Windows Mail - but cannot say if I had
clicked on anything yet or if mail was downloading at the time. So - it
may not be Windows Mail but just the action of opening a new window?

My Internet research indicates these 'unexpected shutdowns' have been
frustrating Vista & earlier MS OS users for years. Rather surprisingly,
I found no promising suggestions for troubleshooting or remedies - to
date. For years the OS of my choice was W2K. If only Vista had W2K's
reliability. I rarely - if ever- experienced such ongoing, unexpained W2K
events.

Perhaps I've missed some new info that addresses this issue - so that's
the primary reason for this posting. Anything?

Thanks - Blithe
PS - I should add that upon rebooting after an unexpected shutdown -
Vista asks if Safe Mode is desired during rebooting. I never benefited
by going to Safe Mode - except that on the many occasions that I bypassed
Safe Mode & choose normal rebooting - I would experience a variety of
other issues soon afterwards. So - Safe Mode is probably the best way to
go if one's patience permits - even if it avails few if any hints as to
the specific shutdown.

[System Summary]
OS Name Microsoft® Windows VistaT Ultimate
Version 6.0.6001 Service Pack 1 Build 6001
System Model: Maximus Extreme (Asus)
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "6.0.6001.18000"
System Type: x64-based PC
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Extreme CPU Q6850 @ 3.00GHz, 2997 Mhz, 4
Core(s), 4 Logical Processor(s)
BIOS Version/Date American Megatrends Inc. 0904, 12/18/2007
SMBIOS Version 2.4
Installed Physical Memory (RAM) 4.00 GB
Total Physical Memory 4.00 GB
Available Physical Memory 2.70 GB
Total Virtual Memory 8.20 GB
Available Virtual Memory 6.82 GB
Page File Space 4.29 GB

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

On Sun, 10 May 2009 11:36:30 +0000 (UTC), the wharf rat wrote:

Of course if it was my machine first I'd replace all the fans
and then the power suppliy and then I'd replace the motherboard TWICE
because I have a shotgun...

LOL