Blue Screen errors occur every week or so on a brand new HP Pavillion P7-1154.

[JVanPF]

My 8 year old gateway desktop never had a blue screen until just before I traded it in. I replaced it with a new HP Pavillion P7-1154 desktop with Windows 7 and instead of Norton Security I had BestBuy install Titanium which they thought was better. My new HP worked well for about a month and then, about once a week a blue screen error occurs with sometimes the same error message and sometimes different. I turn off the computer and wait a minute, turn it back on and everything works fine for another week. Do I need to return the computer or is it a minor problem which I can fix myself? Much obliged for any help.

[Beeker318]

If it was working okay originally, then one thing to check would be an update. It may have been a Windows update or an update to another application. One possible check would be to examine the Windows Restore function and see if you can find a restore point around the time the problem started. It should identify the program or update that was installed and created the need for a restore point. 

If an update is listed, you can restore back prior to that point and turn off or decline the update that caused the problem. Check out this forum post for information on performing this task.

[JVanPF]

Thankyou Scott. I will try to follow these instructions. Hope it works. Now I have another question. If it is the updates that are causing the problem, what can I do to stop updates??

Thanks,

JVanPF

[wskay]

what are the error messages specifically?  have you run any malware checkers lately.. ad-aware, malwarebytes, hijack this, are the best free ones.

as recommended, try older restore points, the majority of funky windows issues are usually caused by modifications of windows settings or installing questionable aps.

[JVanPF]

Hi again,

Here are the errors, or some of them: "Page Fault in nonpaged Area"; Modification of system code or a critical data structure was detected"; Both of these have appeared more than once. The last one I've received didn't really have an error message, it just said "Run a system diagnostic utility supplied by your hardware manufacturer. In particular run a memory check, and check for faulty or mis-matched memory. Try changing video adapters."  "Disable or remove any newly installed hardware & drivers. Disavble or remove newly installed software, etc. " I haven't added any new software or hardware, I wouldn't dare with this computer. I can give you the strings of 0X000's and F's etc. if that's any help. Oh yes, I have paid for  Titanium Security. I don't download free software from on-line.

To tell you the truth, I need a computer that works 99% of the time, not 10% of the time. I've been using PC's since 1980 when you had to tell the computer what to do, no pretty pictures, etc. This is the first computer that is impossible to depend on. The greater part of my time is spent trying to fix it. Don't you think I may just have a lemon???

Much obliged for your thoughts.

Sincerely,

JVanPF

[wskay]

Most likely a memory problem, because BSOD occurs so infrequently it's hard to diagnose.  Try (in order of easiest):

1. Set BIOS to default settings.  Memory speeds, voltages, etc, may have been tweaked.  Are you overclocking?

2. As suggested, go to early Restore Point.

3. Reinstall Windows.

4. New memory.

Machine under warranty?

rgds

[JVanPF]

The restore point it went back too clearly wasn't far enough back. Had two Blue Screens since. The machine was purchased in January and is under warranty. I do not think I should have to lose all this time in fixing when I have paid for a NEW machine!!!