Nice bluescreen..any suggestions?

[actionjackson27]

Here's the laptop..

Toshiba Satellite M70 (PSM73C-CL100E)
Celeron M 1.6GHz
512 MB VERY recently replaced Corsair DDR2 RAM
ATI RADEON® XPRESS 200M
60GB HD

This computer is obviously out of warranty by now..but it will not stop giving the user blue-screen errors at the most random times..but always within at the most, 30 minutes of operation. Various drivers are listed on various bluescreens, some of which being ntfs.sys, acpi.sys, drivers specific *.sys files (specific to the built-in wi-fi card, an Atheros card)..all sorts of shit!

Last night, what resulted in the most bluescreens was sending a command through to copy large amounts of files to the clipboard. I was in the process of trying to copy and paste a bunch of files across the network (obviously in an attempt to backup) and finally did manage to back up less than one gig of data..in three hours.

I have a new 80GB hard drive, too, that I plan on putting into this laptop, to see if that's what's doing it. I was just going to put the hard drive in and run the laptop's bundled-recovery DVD in an attempt to start fresh with a new HD - any suggestions before I proceed?

I did try a brand new stick of RAM, but the computer locked up while loading Windows. That wasn't it. Oh yeah, it isn't just bluescreens..it's random lockups too, no notice - just all the sudden, frozen screen. Definite hardware issue..but..which piece!?

Anything at all would be greatly appreciated.

[Raymond]

Random BSOD and lockups are tough to diagnose. It takes time and also a lot of testing. Most likely its your memory. Try using Memtest to test your ram.

http://www.memtest.org/
http://www.memtest86.com/

Oh, and one more thing. I used to have a Twinhead laptop, which also gives me blue screen nearly everyday. Finally I found out that there's a problem with the design and it is not dissipating the heat properly.

Run Everest Ultimate, it should show you the temperature of your laptop, cpu and hard disk.

[woody]

I find it odd that your laptop (having the old specs that it does) is using DDR2 memory... iono, just a thought...

Can you boot into safe mode without any problems?

[Raymond]

I was curious about the DDR2 memory too but when I searched for that model, it is using DDR2 memory.

http://www.toshiba.ca/web/product.grp?lg=en&section=1&group=223&product=5050&part=4470#spectop

[actionjackson27]

Booting into safe mode with no problems: Yeah - I can..it seems to me whatever it is I'm loading might not even be the problem, it's something strictly hardware..Normal mode or safe mode will crash in the exact same manner..just a random bluescreen at any point. It's hit or miss on whether I'll be able to accomplish whatever it is I'm trying to do before a bluescreen happens (back up files, diagnose anything)

Memtest: I'll get to it when I can get enough time in Windows to get the installer going..before a bluescreen.

The laptop is actually used in an office for day-to-day work, which sucks for the user. They say that (even though you can't really label this sort of problem with showing any pattern) it usually gives a lot of trouble between 9 and 11 in the morning..(random bluescreens 5, 10 minutes into freshly booting/restarting the computer) - then run smoothly throughout the rest of the day, only to start freezing/bluescreening around 4-5 PM again. Very strange. I don't know how much attention anyone should pay to that last block..probably has nothing to do with the issue. It's so random for me.

As of right now, I've tried to run the laptop's recovery DVD with a new HD in there. Once, already, it's frozen up while copying over its image files. I think with the laptop forcing me to power it down the hard way, I may have done something..bad to possibly important sectors on the HD. I hope it's not gone, before getting any use..I just started into to the recovery app for a second time and it's frozen at 2%..What the hell is going on here!?

[woody]

Since you've mentioned that the computer freezes duing the times between 9 - 11, and then 4 - 5, it could be a overheating problem. Do you have overheating issues? (I'm' talking about being too hot to keep your hand on the bottom of the laptop - that kind of hot)

Also, since you have put in a new HD and have try using the recovery DVD on IT, it is definitely a hardware problem, but it is obviously not a the hard drive's fault.

I am not exactly sure HOW to reset the BIOS on a laptop (except you'd have to open up the casing which would require a lot of unscrewing), but I would definitly try to reset the BIOS AFTER the memory testing.

The only other things I can think of is:
Permanent damage has been caused (motherboard, cpu, etc...) :(

[Raymond]

At least we know for sure it's definitely a hardware problem. Few questions here, hope you can answer them.

1. In Normal and Safe Mode, if you don't use/touch it, will the problem occur?
2. Go into your BIOS and don't do anything. Will the problem occur?
3. Test your memory with memtest. Use another computer to create the bootup disc and then boot the cd on the laptop. Test it...

Since your ram is new, it is very likely to be the CPU / mainboard problem. Laptop has very low CPU voltage, it shouldn't overheat. Moreover, yours is a celeron.

[actionjackson27]

1. In Normal and Safe Mode, if you don't use/touch it, will the problem occur?

This is a tricky answer. Long story short, I've attempted to test it that way where I'd boot it up and just leave it. Even for hours. Everything will be fine. Then, I insert a USB key, and bang, bluescreen. Other times, the USB key is read, but it's when I open a file ON the USB key that the bluescreen happens. Least often, sometimes I will return to the laptop after having planned on leaving it as long as it could go without bluesreening..and it will have bluescreened. I'll come back to either the bluexcreen itself, or a blank LCD with the laptop still running. I've observed this more in normal mode..not so much Safe mode, I don't spend as much time in it, but from I can remember I would get the same instability as far as performing certain tasks go..copying files, USB key insert, etc.

2. Go into your BIOS and don't do anything. Will the problem occur?

Last night, the computer stopped responding while I was going through the tabs at the top of the screen in the BIOS. It hung up on a boot device selection screen. Eventually, after re-trying it, it proceeded through. Just randomly hung up in the BIOS, though. I (thankfully, somehow) was able to use the flash utility that comes with the latest BIOS update from Toshiba's website, and that installed itself without a crash. At the same time, I got all the other latest drivers I could (video, network, just bare essentials) and managed to install them..without proceeding any further on the bluescreen issue.

3. Test your memory with memtest. Use another computer to create the bootup disc and then boot the cd on the laptop. Test it...

Did memtest..exceptions are recorded even with the brand new Corsair RAM..I don't know where in MemTest it indicates if it's cache or the main memory that it's detecting exceptions on, but it did report the exceptions in a block of "446 MB'...I kinda figured it was trying to say there was something wrong with the main RAM. I don't have any other sticks of DDR2 RAM to throw in the computer just to test it..I figured a brand new name-brand stick of RAM would be void of errors. Maybe that's what I need to do..a third stick of RAM, just in case..

Let's pretend I don't have access to a third stick to test. (I don't at the moment..but I can get one)..Is there anything else left on anyone's 'bitch-of-a-problem' checklist? "Divorce/lawsuit" was next on mine, but unfortunately/fortunately I'm not married to this laptop.

Thank you very much everyone, also, for all the input. Much appreciated.

[Raymond]

From Toshiba website, it says "Standard Memory: 512MB PC2-4200 DDR2 (512MB x 1)"

Did you replace that memory? Last time I had a laptop, it has one default memory which is hidden and hard to take it out. And there's another slot for me to add 1 more stick of RAM.

Just wondering, you've been talking about your new Corsair RAM and you've changed it. Did you replace the default 512 with your new Corsair RAM?

If you've changed it, then go no further. It's surely your cpu or motherboard. You've got to bring it to Toshiba and let them change the parts :(

[actionjackson27]

Yeah, I did replace the memory that came with the computer..it wasn't hidden away or embedded or anything, luckly..I think I have arrived at the conclusion that it's always going to give trouble until like you say, the CPU or motherboard are serviced..I tried a fresh XP install instead of the recovery disc, DID manage to install Windows onto the laptop w/the new HD and the new RAM in it (and the old RAM out) and still experienced bluescreening and lockup issues just like before.

Case closed for now, I'll dig this thread out of the archives later on after I find a TOSHIBA dealer willing to take a look at it, and post the results of a repair. Here, where I live, 'CompuSmart' in Canada seems to be my closest option. I'll probably pay out the ass to have $200 worth of parts serviced, but it's still a relatively good work laptop. Thanks again everyone.