New Viper III Problems

[Visby]

Just received my new Viper III laptop today, which looks pretty awesome, but sadly hasn't had the greatest of starts.

The first startup seemed to go normally for a while - went through choosing a password etc. for Windows 7, set the broadband key, then got to the desktop. Literally all I did was this:

• The Bigfoot Network Manager popped up and asked me if I wanted to run a broadband speed test. Clicked "yes" and waited a couple of minutes.
• It then suggested I download an update, so I clicked "yes" again, IE opened up and I downloaded the update file.

Then the system simply froze - I don't mean the usual "not responding" message, the display was completely unresponsive. No mouse cursor movement, no changes at all in the display, no response to the usual CTRL+ALT+DEL or any other keystrokes. I've used Windows 7 for quite a while, and never experiened this before on any computer.

I also noticed a red light coming from the Line-In jack (16 on the "System Map" in the User Guide). That's the third of four 1/8" inputs on the right of the case. Does this indicate some kind of hardware fault?

After waiting for a while I finally powered the system off. On restart, everything went normally for about 5 minutes (probably around the same length of time before the original fault), then I get a "blue screen of death". It restarts, eventually says that "Windows failed to start" and then settles on a blue screen:
"check for any BIOS updates", "disable BIOS memory options" and remove any newly installed hardware etc. - it ends with:

STOP 0x0000007E
with a bunch of other values in brackets, ending with "xFFFFF88002BAD820".

Anyway, not too pleased with this as you can imagine - if anyone has any suggestions I'd be very grateful. Is this likely to be a driver or BIOS thing, or am I looking at a damaged component inside? Fortunately my last laptop never had any issues at all, so this is pretty worrying, especially as I'd hate to do any damage to such a high spec laptop with all these crashes.

 

[vanthus]

I would suggest you do a clean install,
instructions are given in the welcome booklet.

 

[AshleyUK]

Defiantly do a fresh install, a blue screen of death can easily be caused by a driver not o properly installed which probably happened when the laptop hanged and had to be forcefully restarted. Doaent sound like a hardware problem more likely windows 7 and drivers not happy.

Secondly that red light is the fibre optic digital port, nothing to worry about.

 

[UndeadJack]

Defiantly do a fresh install, a blue screen of death can easily be caused by a driver not o properly installed which probably happened when the laptop hanged and had to be forcefully restarted. Doaent sound like a hardware problem more likely windows 7 and drivers not happy.

Secondly that red light is the fibre optic digital port, nothing to worry about.

You mean Ethernet?

 

[AshleyUK]

You mean Ethernet?

Not sure what you meant.

 

[Visby]

Thanks for the replies - I'll try a clean install just now. Just praying there's nothing seriously wrong with this one... Had visions of the thing going back and forth for the next few months! So that red light could normally be there all the time, with this case? I hadn't noticed it until after the freeze, so was a bit worried.

 

[Visby]

No luck yet

Completed the clean install, then decided to run the Memory Diagnostic Tool recommended in the booklet.
"Hardware problems were detected. To identify & repair these problems, you will need to contact the computer manufacturer".

Now it's just going into this black "Windows failed to start" screen every time I start up, with this message:
"Status: 0xc0000017
Ramdisk device creation failed due to insufficient memory"

 

[PokerFace]

I'd give PCS a ring if I were you. It sounds like a RAM problem. If you fancy it you could remove the RAM and re-seat it, but if in any doubt just give PCS a call.

 

[Visby]

Managed to fix the RAM problem (I think) - they suggested the same thing, removing and reseating it, which managed to get the system to start up.

I then, perhaps foolishly in hindsight, decided it'd be a good idea to start with another clean install of Windows 7, thinking my problems were over. So now I have no OS and every time I try to install it, I get either a blue screen or "Windows cannot install required files".

PCS seem to think I should get a replacement hard disk, but I have a feeling that might still not be a solution (seeing as it apparently worked yesterday). Anyone an expert in error messages?

"IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL
STOP: 0x0000000A" (during Windows install, on blue screen of death)

Also, does anyone know if there's anything else I could run without getting into Windows, like any diagnostic options or BIOS stuff? This all well beyond my limited knowledge...
Any ideas would be very welcome. I have a feeling I'll probably end up replacing the HD, and then finding it's all caused by something else, and still broken this time next week

 

[Wozza63]

you could try running ubuntu or another form of linux from a memory stick and then try installing it to the HDD

you may also enjoy some of the free games in the software centre while your on it

no real diagnostics tools, just an OS to keep you covered i guess

 

[vanthus]

Assuming you have more than one RAM module, try them one at a time
to eliminate the possibility of having a faulty one.

 

[Visby]

Thanks to all who've offered help and suggestions here. Sadly still not resolved - apparently they're picking it up next week, since it turns out that the motherboard was in fact the defective part all along (after having replaced the RAM).

With hindsight I should've just returned the thing straight away, on Monday, which would've saved a week of my life... But I was hoping it was just a small issue that could be resolved without risking it in the post again. Oh well, I've learned a few things at least... I just hope they test it more thoroughly next time (I'm sure it costs them money ultimately, when their QA lets them down).