Hugh Mortensen wrote:

> Hello
> Recently, despite me not playing around with any configuration
> settings the computer suddenly seizes up for no apparent reason and i
> get a blue screen of death with the error mssg suggesting its a device
> driver problem, namely graphics card. Heres the details i got;
(snippage)
>
> ***STOP:0x0000008E (OxCOOOOOO5,0xF7c28A0D,OxBA1A175C,0x00000000)
>
If the error occurred immediately after you updated the video drivers
(your post is ambiguous as to when the error occurred) then roll back
the drivers as suggested by "Brian A.".

Otherwise, your video card may be overheating and/or failing. Turn off
the computer and unplug it. Then open the case and clean out any dust
bunnies, etc. Now turn the computer on and run it open for a bit.
Carefully observe all fans, particularly the one on the video card (if
there is one). If any fan is running right, replace it. With a video
card, you will probably have to replace the card. Without touching
anything, put your hand inside the case to feel how hot everything is
getting.

If all fans are running and things feel only slightly warm, then your
power supply may be failing. Although the Stop Error refers to the
video card, newer cards are very power-hungry and replacing the psu is
cheaper than replacing the video card so that's why I say to start with
the psu. Swap out the psu for a known-working one. If that solves the
issue, great.

If the issue continues, then uninstall the video card and swap it out
for a known-working one. If that takes care of the problem, replace the
video card.

Testing hardware failures often involves swapping out suspected parts
with known-good parts. If you can't do the testing yourself and/or are
uncomfortable opening your computer, take the machine to a professional
computer repair shop (not your local equivalent of BigStoreUSA).

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User