Hi gang.

After extensive testing, finding my computer to be clean but seemingly being unable to find the root cause of my initial problem, i.e. periodic re-booting, BRONI suggested that I bring the following issue to the Windows forum

http://www.d-a-l.com/help/spyware-ad...e-windows.html

Given that the thread goes on for about four pages, I figured that it would be simpler for me (and the moderators) to just post the link to it in order for them to see what has already been done.

My issues are as follows:

A. Periodic re-booting of the system either while I am surfing the Net, or when I get back on the Net after a period of inactivity

B. The possible elimnation of the HP blue page (initialization), which on average stays up close to ten minutes on the screen, in order to greatly accelerate the re-booting process, assuming that the first issue cannot be resolved.

I don't know which of the issues this forum deals more specifically with usually, but any help in either respect would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

Well, periodic suggests after a set period of time - so I would ask, is this rebooting consistent? That is, does it always happen or does it seem totally random? When it happens, is it always after the computer has been up and running for some time - that is, after it has warmed up? Or does it some times happen when still cold?

Since you have been cleared of malware, this problems suggests a hardware failure and in that event, I always want to know first if the system is being fed good, clean, solid power and if the system is being properly cooled. Other potential causes could be failing RAM, failing graphics solution, or failing motherboard.

Swapping in a known good power supply is the best way to make sure it is not your power supply that is failing. What are your temperatures? Is your system clean of heat trapping dust? Do all fans spin freely? Do you have good front to back air flow? Do you see any leaking or bulging capacitors? Have you tried running with just one stick of RAM at a time?

Post back if help needed in any of those areas - but also provide hardware and OS specifics.

That's the beauty of it. It seems totally random. While surfing on a site, switching from site to site, writing an e-mail, reading mail, moving from Windows to Firefox/Opera, clicking on a link within a given site, simply ready the contents of a site, etc. I seem to be getting a different message each time

MEMORY_MANAGEMENT
BAD_POOL_HEADER
PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGE_AREA

etc.

I never turn my computer off so it's always 'warmed up'. AFAIK, because a friend of mine usually takes care of the technical aspects, power isn't the problem, nor is the cooling of the system (dust free, fans spinning freely, good back air flow). As far as

leaking or bulging capacitors? Have you tried running with just one stick of RAM at a time

I'll have to ask my friend since I have NO idea.

With my VERY limited knowledge of such matters, I would also tend to lean toward the failing RAM/failing graphics solution/failing motherboard angle as the principal source.

My main source of frustration, as I have mentioned in the other thread, is the time lag I have to deal with with the blue HP initialization page that appears on screen each and every time a re-boot has to be performed. This lasts on average around 8 minutes each time, after which I am asked if I want to start Windows normally, followed by a couple minutes where the screen turns black, and only then does the Windows password page show up, giving me instantly access to the Net. I believe I've seen on other sites that this HP blue page problem is somewhat not unusual and I am wondering whether it can be short-circuited in order to bypass or eliminate it. The constant need for re-booting would continue to be an irritant, but less so if it takes me about a minute to get back on the Net, instead of 10!

Incidentally, that blue page problem which I had experienced several months ago and I thought had disappeared has returned about a week ago for some unknown reason (at least unknown to me) and, obviously, I can't get rid of it.

Thanks for your quick response, BTW.

Operating System
MS Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
CPU
AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200+ 33 °C
Windsor 90nm Technology
RAM
4.0GB Dual-Channel DDR2 @ 326MHz (5-5-5-15)
Motherboard
ECS Nettle2 (Socket M2 )
Graphics
HP w2007 @ 1680x1050
NVIDIA GeForce 9600 GSO (Microsoft Corporation - WDDM v1.1) (XFX Pine Group)
Hard Drives
313GB Western Digital WDC WD32 00AAKS-00L9A SCSI Disk Device (Unknown)
Optical Drives
TSSTcorp CDDVDW TS-H653N SCSI CdRom Device
Audio
High Definition Audio Device

Well, certainly 33°C is fine - great actually, almost unbelievable!

MEMORY_MANAGEMENT
BAD_POOL_HEADER
PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGE_AREA

This would would lead me to suspect RAM. While not conclusive (as no software based tester is) Windows 7 users can use the built in Windows Memory Diagnostics Tool.

WMDT: No problems detected


Well, certainly 33°C is fine - great actually, almost unbelievable!

Maybe I should have mentioned that I am typing this from inside an igloo

Maybe I should have mentioned that I am typing this from inside an igloo

lol - well, as implied by one of the lines in my sig, your electronics is probably happy, as long as there are no rapid and wide swings in your ambient (room) temperatures.

The memory test is not conclusive, but that is still encouraging. I would still want to verify a good PSU and test each RAM stick individually.

Any ideas as to possible ways of resolving my 'B' problem above, i.e. the elimination or bypassing of the HP blue initialization page?

Thanks for your help so far.

I take it that that is the page that you get before windows starts to boot. Does it always bypass the HP page that you are talking about? If so perhaps it is set in the BIOS to bypass that. They probably call that a fast boot up or something along those lines. If it doesn't always do that the I would suspect hardware failure.

Bad memory is a possible cause to your blue screens but I would also try a system file scan as well as a disk check.

Here are some good articles on how to look for burst, bulging, or leaking capacitors. They even have pictures.
Blown, Burst and Leaking Motherboard Capacitors - A Serious Problem? - PCSTATS.com
Aw54-sc - Checking for bulging capacitors - Motherboard capacitor burst - Bulging capacitors | TokyoBit

It NEVER bypasses the blue page before it starts to boot. THAT is my main problem. All I can do when it has come on is wait in front of my screen for close to ten minutes (more like 7 or 8, but you get my drift) until it disappears. When my regular re-booting problem started about a week and a half ago, the system started to re-initialize itself, the blue HP page came on but stayed on about 10 seconds instead of 10 minutes, and then it proceeded to the Windows password page immediately. So the whole process, from start to finish, took about 30 seconds and I was back surfing the Net. Sure, it was annoying, but I could certainly live with it.

Now the 're-booting incidents' have remained the same in number, if not increased, and I must wait close to 10 minutes each time to get access back to the Internet. What I am thinking, to take care of THAT problem, is get into the BIOS and change the settings so this blue page NEVER comes on. I might still have to wait some 10 minutes for the system to re-initialize but at least I wouldn't have that friggin HP logo to stare at!