Hello

I am by no means an expert, but I am the kind of person that likes to explore all my own options before seeking help. Now is the time I ask for it lol.

About a month ago, I started getting BSOD's, and random, constant reboots.

The BSOD would say: IRQL Not less than equal, but with no program or filename.

The Error reports would say either: "Error caused by Unknow Device Driver"

OR/AND:

"Error caused by Video Adapter Driver"

Now, I have tried reformatting a lot...I have installed new drivers for my monitor, mouse, everything I can get hold of.

I tried to install new drivers for my graphics card, but that didnt help, so i bought a newer model, and still no cigar.

This is my system specs:

Operating System System Model
Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2 (build 2600) Enclosure Type: Desktop
Processor a Main Circuit Board b
1.53 gigahertz AMD Athlon XP
128 kilobyte primary memory cache
256 kilobyte secondary memory cache Board: Gigabyte Technology Co., LTD 7DXR 1.x
Bus Clock: 133 megahertz
BIOS: Award Software International, Inc. 6.00 PG 07/13/2001
Drives Memory Modules c,d
120.02 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
112.24 Gigabytes Hard Drive Free Space

PHILIPS DVD8421 [CD-ROM drive]
PIONEER DVD-ROM DVD-114 [CD-ROM drive]
TEAC FD-05PUW USB Device [Floppy drive]

MDT MD1200AB-00DBA3 [Hard drive] (120.03 GB) -- drive 0 1024 Megabytes Installed Memory

Slot 'BANK_0' has 512 MB
Slot 'BANK_1' has 512 MB
Slot 'BANK_2' is Empty
Local Drive Volumes


c: (NTFS on drive 0) 120.02 GB 112.24 GB free
Network Drives
None detected
Users (mouse over user name for details) Printers
local user accounts last logon
Zaush 11/03/2006 16:33:05 (admin)
local system accounts
Administrator never (admin)
Guest never
HelpAssistant never
SUPPORT_388945a0 never

DISABLED Marks a disabled account; LOCKED OUT Marks a locked account
None detected
Controllers Display
Standard floppy disk controller
Primary IDE Channel [Controller]
Secondary IDE Channel [Controller]
VIA Bus Master IDE Controller NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 [Display adapter]
AOC 7V [Monitor] (15.7"vis, December 2001)
Bus Adapters Multimedia
ALi PCI to USB Open Host Controller (3x)
VIA Rev 5 or later USB Universal Host Controller (2x) Creative AudioPCI (ES1371,ES1373) (WDM)
Game Port for Creative
Communications Other Devices

Realtek RTL8139 Family PCI Fast Ethernet NIC
primary Auto IP Address: 192.168.0.2 / 24
Gateway: 192.168.0.1
Dhcp Server: 192.168.0.1
Physical Address: 00:50:BF:A0:29:98

Networking Dns Server: 192.168.0.1
USB Human Interface Device
Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard
A4Tech USB Port Mouse
TEAC USB Floppy
USB Root Hub (5x)
Virus Protection [Back to Top]
Norton AntiVirus Version 12.20
Virus Definitions Version 10/03/2006 Rev 7
Realtime File Scanning On

Missing Microsoft Security Hotfixes [Back to Top]

All required security hotfixes (using the 02/14/2006 Microsoft Security Bulletin Summary) have been installed.

Installed Microsoft Hotfixes [Back to Top]
Internet Explorer 6
SP0
passed verification KB834707-IE6-20040929.115007 on 11/03/2006 (details...)
Internet Explorer
no verification data SP2 (SP2)
Windows Media Player 10
SP0
passed verification KB911565 on 11/03/2006 (details...)
Windows Media Player
SP0
passed verification KB911564 on 11/03/2006 (details...)
Windows XP
SP2
no verification data KB811113[SP] on 11/03/2006 (details...)
SP3
passed verification KB873339 on 11/03/2006 (details...)
passed verification KB885250 on 11/03/2006 (details...)
passed verification KB885835 on 11/03/2006 (details...)
passed verification KB885836 on 11/03/2006 (details...)
passed verification KB886185 on 11/03/2006 (details...)
passed verification KB887472 on 11/03/2006 (details...)
passed verification KB887742 on 11/03/2006 (details...)
passed verification KB888113 on 11/03/2006 (details...)
passed verification KB888302 on 11/03/2006 (details...)
passed verification KB890046 on 11/03/2006 (details...)
passed verification KB890859 on 11/03/2006 (details...)
passed verification KB891781 on 11/03/2006 (details...)

Windows XP
SP3 (continued)
passed verification KB893756 on 11/03/2006 (details...)
passed verification KB893803V2 on 11/03/2006 (details...)
passed verification KB894391 on 11/03/2006 (details...)
passed verification KB896358 on 11/03/2006 (details...)
passed verification KB896422 on 11/03/2006 (details...)
passed verification KB896423 on 11/03/2006 (details...)
passed verification KB896424 on 11/03/2006 (details...)
passed verification KB896428 on 11/03/2006 (details...)
passed verification KB898461 on 11/03/2006 (details...)
passed verification KB899587 on 11/03/2006 (details...)
passed verification KB899589 on 11/03/2006 (details...)
passed verification KB899591 on 11/03/2006 (details...)
passed verification KB900725 on 11/03/2006 (details...)
passed verification KB901017 on 11/03/2006 (details...)
passed verification KB901214 on 11/03/2006 (details...)
passed verification KB902400 on 11/03/2006 (details...)
passed verification KB904706 on 11/03/2006 (details...)
passed verification KB905414 on 11/03/2006 (details...)
passed verification KB905749 on 11/03/2006 (details...)
passed verification KB905915 on 11/03/2006 (details...)
passed verification KB908519 on 11/03/2006 (details...)
passed verification KB910437 on 11/03/2006 (details...)
passed verification KB911927 on 11/03/2006 (details...)
passed verification KB912919 on 11/03/2006 (details...)
passed verification KB913446 on 11/03/2006 (details...)

I was going to quote your question, but it's to long...

Random reboots or Blue screens are a sign that something is wrong as you have reinstalled and changed what you thought was the problem, the video card, then your fault lies elsewhere.

Try removing one of the memory sticks, they can cause errors if one is faulty, if the error occurs, try the other stick, also look at temperature of the board, is the CPU running to hot, is there sufficient cooling for the board, etc.

Remove all items except the video card and 1 stick of memory and work upwards until you get the reboot, as you have changed the video card you know it's not this, unless the motherboard has a fault somewhere in the AGP controller.

Jud

Maybe..

Could it possibly be my hard drive?

I have reformatted it constantly, but the eroors started happening not long after my new hard drive was installed..

It doesnt explain the "Error caused by Video device drivers" I dont think, but maybe thats the issue?

I did have problems formatting it, as halfway though it kept stopping, so i had to format it in another pc, as a secondary HDD, via the My Computer in my friends Windows...

Should i just get rid of the 120 gig HDD and go back to my silly 20 gig one?

..

Ok, tried that, hard drive replacemtn didn't work, so i browsed the forums, and saw a post about RAM, I have removed each stick of ram and tries them seperately, the first one cause a BSOD, and the second one, though did crash a game i was playing, has'nt reset my machine yet...any other ideas guys just in casE?