Blue Screen

[william gunkel]

Thank You Rich, I was able to update the driver from NVIDIA. This following is leading into a question.
The driver I had was 7.15.11.7521 and I updated from the mfg. site to 8.17.12.6099. After I installed the driver WINDOWS UPDATE shows a driver update which was older that the one I got from the mfg. site. It failed to install and the error code said it was proability due to the fact that I had a newer version already installed.
I down loaded a program from Pit Stop that ran a scan and showed me all outdated drivers and I could update them them for a fee.
Is there a free program like this?
If so should I install it or just use the windows update which I tried and it was showing "you have the latest driver etc."
Thank you for your response.

 

[richc46]

If I understand correctly, why do you want to replace a newer version with an older one?

 

[The Howling Wolves]

Always download drivers from Manufactures site.
Pit Stop (free version) just informs you of your system and how it is working.
They want you to spend money when you can go to manufactures site and get it free.

 

[william gunkel]

If I understand correctly, why do you want to replace a newer version with an older one?

I don't want to replace the new version with a older one. What happen was that after I had installed the new and latest version from Nvidia that windows update notified me that I could download a different version and I thought it was something to go with the new one but it was a older version that what I had installed, therefore it would not install. It was then that I found out it was a older version.
I was updating my driver per your instruction to update driver and I am glad that I did just in case this was the cause of the BSOD.
If I get another BSOD I will post the report.
Thanks for all your help Rich, without your help and others on the forum I would be lost.

 

[richc46]

Always go with the website. Windows update give one driver fits all. Website give the specific driver for your needs.

 

[william gunkel]

Always download drivers from Manufactures site.
Pit Stop (free version) just informs you of your system and how it is working.
They want you to spend money when you can go to manufactures site and get it free.

Thank You for your response. Is there a program that I can install or run to see if all my drivers are up to date. I know that some of them date back to 2006 but when I use Device Manager to see if there is a newer version it says that I have the latest version. This is what it reported when I wanted to use it to update the graphic driver but when I went to the mfg. site a new version was available.
What I am asking is "what is the best way to update all drivers as it appears that windows update does not have the latest drivers".
Thank You.

 

[richc46]

We use arbitrary dates to determine outdated drivers. Dont download any of the software that will tell you. Does the term problems mean anything to you
Go to search
type cmd
in cmd type
driverquery.
Any driver older than 1/1/08 is considered old by Vista standards.

You go to the website to determine most current, not windows update.

How to Find Drivers
search Google for the name of the driver
- compare the Google results with what's installed on your system to figure out which device/program it belongs to
- visit the web site of the manufacturer of the hardware/program to get the latest drivers (DON'T use Windows Update or the Update driver function of Device Manager).
- if there are difficulties in locating them, post back with questions and someone - will help you search Google for the name of the driver
- compare the Google results with what's installed on your system to figure out which device/program it belongs to
- - if there are difficulties in locating them, post back with questions and someone will try and help you locate the appropriate program.
- The most common drivers are listed on this page: http://www.carrona.org/dvrref.html
- - Driver manufacturer links are on this page: http://www.carrona.org/drvrdown.html
and here
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/the-vista-master-driver-list/
To remove any left over driver remnants, especially from graphics cards, use driver sweeper
www.guru3d.com/category/driversweeper/
You can also locate information about your driver using this information
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/96442-device-manager-finding-unknown-devices.html

Also any drivers manufactured by Microsoft, leave them alone.

 

[william gunkel]

Thank You Rich for the information. I will go step by step and see if I can get the job done. You are so right I don't need any problems.

 

[william gunkel]

Rich, I just got a BSOD so I will post the information. I have not downloaded anything other that the one driver update and that was yesterday and have used the computer for a good 6 hours before the blue screen.

Problem signature
Problem Event Name: BlueScreen
OS Version: 6.0.6002.2.2.0.768.3
Locale ID: 1033
Files that help describe the problem (some files may no longer be available)
Mini031211-01.dmp
sysdata.xml
Version.txt
View a temporary copy of these files
Warning: If a virus or other security threat caused the problem, opening a copy of the files could harm your computer.
Extra information about the problem
BCCode: 24
BCP1: 001904AA
BCP2: CFF4D8F4
BCP3: CFF4D5F0
BCP4: 870A4C77
OS Version: 6_0_6002
Service Pack: 2_0
Product: 768_1
Server information: af6d93b1-c6a3-49b2-8c24-d7bed8d464b5

Thank You for taking a look at it.

 

[richc46]

Bill
What has to be understood, is that these reports give only clues and not answers. Please complete all that I have suggested. If you get additional BSODs after that, I will try to resolve it for you.
This time, I will look at the report and if anything new is found, I will post. It makes it much easier if all suggestions are tried, before attempting to make the next educated guess.

 

[richc46]

OK I looked at the last report code 24, NTFS given as a cause. That could mean hard drive problems. Now you see what I mean. We do not know which way to turn. Should we go with the first hunch or the second. If all the steps of the first report were followed, we could safely move on to a hard drive test. YOu can choose how you want to take the suggestions. Here is the hard drive test.

Test Hard Drive HD Diagnostic or this test Hard Drive Diagnostics Tools and Utilities (Storage) - TACKtech Corp.