Error on computer!!! Please help?

Question

a Friend of mine's PC is doing some strange thing! It started yesterday.

Whenever he switches on his PC, and it's on for some time (not long, about 5 minutes), it does a strange error! This error only comes up when you use ANY APPLICATION after 5 minute's of "on-time". (except if he connects to the internet, then it immediately gives the error)...

Before going into more detail, the error:

The screen goes black for about 3 seconds, then afterwards gives a blue screen with white text (DOS-like style), and gives the following error code: "*** STOP: 0x00000000F4".

Does anyone know what this could be? The computer's specs are as follows:

Pentium 4, 1.8GHz processor.
128MB Nvidea Graphics Card
512MB RAM
Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2

Thanks in advance for any response!

Answer 1

It could be a corrupt OS but, I'm guessing it is a hard drive that is beginning to fail. Schedule a disk check. If the hard drive is starting to develop bad sectors. It is only a matter of time before it fails completely.

Answer 2

My assumption would be memory error.If it happens with "any applications running" for 5mins, the program is using the memory, in the memory there is an error point, once it hits that point you get the blue screen. The connection to the internet, There is alot of data used to connect to the internet, which will use up memory too.

Answer 3

Sounds like a problem with the RAM. Search Google for memtest. it's $10 there are others out there that are free.



Have your friend boot into safe mode and see if there error still occurs.

Answer 4

I think it is the blue screen of death ( yes, thats what it is called) http://jmobley123.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/blue-screen-of-death1.jpg)

there is a picture. I dont exactly know what this means, but I think it is when your computer goes into this state to protect it from irreversible damage. You may need a new computer.

Answer 5

Your windows and partition table is become corrupted and you might have installed a program that caused this problem. So take the original CDs (Recovery) that came with your system and restore the Windows.