Getting more blue screens than I like when doing install

[thestain]

Hi,

I am doing more large scale installs than I used to. This usually involves installing a minimum of ten to fifteen programs and a couple dozen games in getting computer ready for family member or friend.

With so many programs.. I tend to get 2-3 blue screens on average and I am concerned.

A couple days ago, I used CCleaner to fix registry problems and the fix blue screened the pc..

So.. just looking for suggestions to make for cleaner installs of not just xp but all the programs and games i install at same time.

i do check compatibility issues, but I am sure to miss some.. so assuming some things will be incompatible... how best to proceed and make the best of things?

Also.. what is best way to set up some kind of image that I can fall back on during this process?

I have tried with Acronis True image, but had mixed results the way I did things.

Mike

 

[LOUISSSSS]

Originally posted by: thestain
Hi,

I am doing more large scale installs than I used to. This usually involves installing a minimum of ten to fifteen programs and a couple dozen games in getting computer ready for family member or friend.

With so many programs.. I tend to get 2-3 blue screens on average and I am concerned.

A couple days ago, I used CCleaner to fix registry problems and the fix blue screened the pc..

So.. just looking for suggestions to make for cleaner installs of not just xp but all the programs and games i install at same time.

i do check compatibility issues, but I am sure to miss some.. so assuming some things will be incompatible... how best to proceed and make the best of things?

Also.. what is best way to set up some kind of image that I can fall back on during this process?

I have tried with Acronis True image, but had mixed results the way I did things.

Mike

you should be getting 0 blue screens ever. if u got one, it means u have a driver error or a hardware error and will likely get another in the future if you don't fix it.

what are your system specs?

 

[thestain]

Thanks for responding Louissss!

I agree, therefore I am worried. Most of my installs are on XP. The system specs vary, but I have encountered most of the problems with older socket 939 installs. I use what were top of the line parts for that time.. Asus Premium or A8R-32 MVP ATX motherboards, 1-2 GB of proven compatible memory.. and for micro atx problems are limited to MSI K8NGM2-FID.. Once Intel comes out with new 45nm 8000 series, I plan to be using intel until amd comes out with Shanghai.. some problems with Core 2 Duo, but not as prevalent as what I have experienced with old DDR 400 ram and Socket 939 single and dual core Optys and Athlon 64 cpus.

I believe some of the games and programs might be the culprits, not sure why... sometimes they might seek to load a particular version of Dir x.. or windows installer or maybe make changes to the registry.. I don't know.. my eyes are sore and I am just trying to improve my procedures for install to deal with problems when they come up..I do my best not to load games and other software I have had problems with in the past, but.. I do keep coming accross them

I am trying to improve how I do the installs, so that I don't have to start over when I encounter problems. I was thinking of doing images of installs that are clean up to certain point. Right now I just try to make sure I set restore points, but that is not good enough.

This usually does not occur until i have installed a couple games.. and then it surfaces after I install one.. one program installed compatiblity drivers to make game work in xp and it was a problem.. thinking of just installing a version of windows 98 in addition to xp or vista for older games, rather than mess with dosbox or certain software and drivers that come with older games.

anyway.. if these blue screens do come up .. and I don't like to see them are there a few programs like registry cleaners, etc.. that are good to help fix these problems?

I prefer free, but to avoid other problems, I'd be willing to pay for a good software program that will help fix whatever driver issues I might not be aware of or reveal the conflicts and identify the problem games and programs.

In short, i am just trying to get better at installing and recent problems have humbled me and caused me to see if I can get some good advice or get pointed in the right direction to improve.

Mike

 

[KeypoX]

Your getting these errors on more than one computer? Are you using the same xp disc each time, is it pirated? If so maybe it has some virus and you need to get a better/legit copy.

I think you need to do a fresh install and then stress test these computers. Do not install whatever programs or games you keep installing. You should not be getting BSOD's and defiantly not on multiple machines. Vista hates bad ram so memtest the ram using memtest, and stress the cpu using orthos.

Also drivers do not come with games and do not install drivers without your permission. Drivers are a software interface between your hardware and operating system. It seems you may have picked up the term incompatibility and you are using it wrong. A driver made for XP will not be incompatible, and a game can be incompatible such as something made for dos trying to run in vista but this generally will not cause a BSOD. Dosbox is a stable program. Nevermind all this your problem is not drivers or software it is more likely hardware. Maybe your cpu's are overheating? or you have bad timings, voltages, speeds on your ram/cpu.

 

[thestain]

Assuming hardware is fine and windows is not pirated.. anyone have ideas on how to improve installs, so that if you do have problems, you can recover from them easily?

I am going to look into some protections built into the games themselves that might be doing something. I just read one game I have installed might have starforce and that this protection can mess with drivers, etc.. so just trying to learn.

To safeguard against this nonsense found in programs and games, I am looking for ideas beyond reading the read mes.. etc.. and setting restore points that will help recover from problems that can arise from installing game software protections without knowing it that can mess with things and when they do, how best to proceed to remove them beyond uninstall and system restore, which may not be sufficient.

 

[BlueAcolyte]

The problem could be hardware related, therefore no matter how much you research installs, the problem could be there. Strip each machine you have problems down to just the OS and stress test them to check the hardware and OS disc integrity.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: KeypoX
Also drivers do not come with games and do not install drivers without your permission.

Unless of course it's a current game, in which case it installs DRM/Spyware-esqe drivers, that can in fact cause bluescreens.

 

[thestain]

Thanks guys!

Hardware and initial install of legitimate copy of windows showed no problems... I run memtest and hard drive test before I install OS. Temps are fine.

My post and question is more on how to prevent some of these problems, given hardware and legit copy of windows are ok.

System restore has not proven good enough.. i plan to be more dilligent backing up the registry.. in order to prepare for negative impact of protection garbage found in some software.. what else can I do?