Summary: While there are many reasons your computer could blue screen, there are some things you can look into to help determine the cause.
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I keep getting a "blue screen of death" and the following error message: PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA and a bunch of other lines and the computer locks up. What is causing this and how can I fix it? |
Unfortunately with only that to go on, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of possible answers. To really diagnose, we'd need a lot more information about the system it's happening on, the software and hardware installed, and what was happening at the time the problem happened.
I'll throw out some guidelines, so perhaps you can narrow down the diagnosis.
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New Hardware - while the hardware can sometimes be bad, the real culprit is typically outdated, or just buggy, drivers. If you've just installed new hardware then it's likely to be related to the problem. Make sure you're running the latest drivers for that device that you can, and check with the manufacturer's support site for specific information. Conversely, if you've just updated drivers, that would also be something to be suspicious of.
New Software - it's rare these days, but occasionally software can cause this as well. If you've just installed new software then I'd be very tempted to uninstall it and see if the problem goes away. I'd also make sure that your Windows is as up-to-date as possible by visiting Windows Update.
Viruses and Malware - Since they're written specifically to cause damage, this is occasionally the result. Make sure your virus and spyware scanning software is up to date with the latest databases and scan regularly.
Old or Broken Hardware - If you're positive nothing's changed and you've been using your system like always and these problems just started happening without any real cause, then you do need to consider that you're experiencing a hardware malfunction. One of the most common is a stuck or broken power supply fan which is now allowing your computer to overheat. However, everything from memory to your add-on cards to the motherboard itself could all cause issues here. It may be time for some hardware diagnostic work.
The bottom line when experiencing blue screens and reporting the problem to anyone is to include enough information to at least narrow down the problem. Items to include:
operating system version and how up to date you are
your computer model and what additional hardware is installed
what software is running at the time of the crash
what you were attempting to do, if anything, at the time
if the problem happens randomly, or if you can make it reoccur somehow
any changes you made to your hardware or software recently
any other problems or suspicious issues you've been experiencing recently
Related:
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Ask Leo! - My computer locks up and won't boot. What do I do?
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Ask Leo! - What backup program should I use?
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MemTest 86 - a memory test program
Article C2128 - July 17, 2004
It seems most of these problems are from Compaq. I to am having this difficulty but non of these tips have helped. My friend says it could actually be the video cards or adapters. Is this true?
Posted by: peter at April 12, 2009 10:57 AMMy laptop only 'blue screens' in certain buildings. Why is this? What kind of toxic signals are being emitted?
Posted by: Chuck at April 25, 2009 9:11 AMHi Leo, Your solutions are a boon for computer illiterates like us. Recently I installed Intel GMA driver 946gz on my PC, this is when it started giving blue screen (memory dump). My PC came with factory installed vista home. I bought an XP professional os and using it. Now I am unable to uninstall the GMA driver(rollback). It is asking for a CD or location for old driver. If I do not do it, it is showing "found new hardware" every time I log in. Please help.
Posted by: Mohammed Abdul Wajid at May 13, 2009 12:28 AMi have an acer aspire notebook model no.ZG5.Operating System is linux. I turned my notebook on a couple of months ago and i got blue screen of death. I don't know what caused it or how it happened because on every website i've visited it explains that you cannot get blue screen of death with the linux operating system! Can you help me please?
Posted by: Eamonn at June 11, 2009 5:31 AMWell when I was on windows live messenger, my computer I think randomly Bluescreened I Put it into Safe Mode and and used the system restore and this then seemes to solve the problem is there any chance that my computer will reoccur with this problem
Posted by: Shaun German at June 11, 2009 2:57 PMHi, i keep getting a blue screen whenever i turn my computer on. I have tried going to safe mode with networking to see if i could download a registry cleaner but it keeps telling me that the administrator won't allow the installation. I kow i am the administrator but i can't see anywhere that i can change it. Please can u help as i keep ringing Dell and they have charged me nearly £100 for nothing at all. Kind regards Suzanne.
Posted by: Suzanne at July 12, 2009 8:50 AMtry reformat maybe some viruses.
Posted by: Mgino at August 13, 2009 10:26 PMMy computer has a blue screen. I try to update my windows and it started to give the Blue Screen. Now I have upload the Window Xp Pro recovery cd but it doesn't want work. I even format my driver and try to put the Window Xp Home and it would go on then in about 10 minute me being online it would turn back to the blue screen Can you please tell me what wrong. thank you.
Posted by: Carmen at September 17, 2009 11:58 AMno matter what i do, when i turn the machine off, and turn it back on the machine stay blue. If i press f8 and hold the key it goes right back to b luue again, what other options are there
Posted by: donald at September 19, 2009 10:42 AMI came from school and discovered that my PC was having a blue screen effect, I was not in the house and wonders how it could have come on its own in the house. Help me solve my dilemna before I blame my roommate who was there,or could he have performed an operation.
Posted by: FELIX at November 20, 2009 5:16 AM