BSoD on startup

I was not doubting the legality of your OS As I posted not a great deal of info available that I could find.

 

It's difficult to say if this is a hardware or software problem ....

You posted that the hard drive passed the quick and long scans so that is unlikely to be the source of the problem.

Memory problems could be an issue, but ......

The only satisfactory way of testing RAM is to test the installed RAM in various configurations. If you have a single module swap it around the slots. If you have a pair of modules run each one singly, swapping between slots; then run them in pairs swapping between pairs of slots. If you have 2 sets of matched modules do not get them mixed up.

However given your posted experience and the fact that we are dealing with a laptop in which some of the memory is likely to be buried in the bowels of the computer - often under the keyboard this is not straightforward.

Despite the quote above it would not harm to run Windows Memory Diagnostic which is built into Windows 7.

If that throws nothing up you may have to bite the bullet and make a repair installation of Windows 7. This assumes that you have a full 7 installation CD - I don't know what Dell provide these days - a full install DVD, a Recovery DVD or a Recovery partition on the hard drive.

It is not clear if data is lost making a Repair Install, but it most certainly will be using a Recovery DVD or partition as this restores the computer to the delivered state.

So the message is - back up all your data and ensure that you have the installation media for any programs you have installed.

There is no guarantee that a Repair Install or Recovery will solve your problem if it is the result of a hardware issue.

 

Good news - at least you have a candidate for the source of your problems

If the laptop is still under warranty a clear case of RMA'ing it - if not try to ascertain which module/slot is faulty by running one stick of memory in each of the slots in turn with the second slot empty. Repeat for the second stick. If both sticks run OK in one slot but not the other you are looking at a faulty slot on the motherboard.

 

Gi0 - Welcome to WindowsBBS

The quote comes from a later KB - Parity Error Messages May Indicate Bad Memory which references W98 and Me.

In our experience it is also applicable to later versions - there have been cases on the BBS where the memory has passed through a memory tester without issue, but has still been found to be faulty. The advantage of swapping memory modules around is that both the memory and the motherboard slots are checked out.

 

Tiny

If the laptop is still under warranty it should be the supplier's responsibility to either fix it at no cost to you or to replace it. It is currently 'not fit for purpose' as we would say in the UK.

As I understand it the Geek Squad are troubleshooters/repairer's - not suppliers. I must say that from what I have read here on the BBS from time to time that they are not highly regarded It is surprising that they failed to replicate the memory failure that the Dell diagnostics revealed. That does not fill me with confidence

If they will not resolve the issue FOC your next port of call should be Dell.

I would not think that a reinstall of the OS would resolve the problem - you have already made a repair install which comes close to a clean install.

IMHO it is the supplier's responsibility to deal with problems like this - not for you to go spending $$ in the hope of fixing it yourself.

Footnote ....

You have a Recovery DVD from Dell - this will restore the computer to the state in which it was delivered to you - note that any programs that you have installed and any personal data will be wiped out. This is essentially the same as making a clean install with a retail OS DVD, the only difference being that you will not have any of the software installed by Dell and more importantly you will have to download and install the motherboard drivers from Dell - unless you also have a Dell driver CD.

 

Then you have a Recovery Partition on the laptop and the CD is, as you rightly say, diagnostics and drivers. It would be correct to assume that when you ran the Recovery function that the laptop was returned to the as delivered condition?

Does that mean the BSOD issue is resolved?

That is absolute rubbish - I am surprised at Dell coming up with an irresponsible statement like that - 32 bit or 64 bit has no bearing on this at all.

Wrong again - Avast free is pure antivirus, Avast Internet Security does indeed include a firewall, but is not free.

If you want a free firewall to replace the Windows firewall I suggest Comodo which I currently use on 7 x64.

I am sure you mentioned to Dell that the memory failed the stress test? What was their response?

Main question is are you still seeing BSOD's - if not I might point the finger at Zone Alarm which has been removed.

 

This is most frustrating for you I agree - a hardware problem and I would still put my money on memory - we don't have anything else to go on.

You have run the Dell diagnostics - I wonder if you can run Windows Memory Diagnostics as noted in my post #23 for confirmation of a memory problem.

Alternatively download WMD from here ....

http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp

and create a boot CD to run it - full instructions given.

 

You did right - it looks like a serious hardware problem either with the memory or the motherboard slots.

Please keep us posted as to the outcome.