BSOD for my ATI driver Bad RAM or new System board?

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kermani · #1 Post by **kermani** » Thu Dec 18, 2008 10:20 pm

Hey guys I am having an issue with my r40. All the signs are pointing to a bad graphics card but since it's integrated I was wondering if it could be a bad RAM issue. I really don't want to have to buy a new system board. I got a BSOD saying that my ATI driver got caught in an infinite loop and every now and then the lappy won't start up. I have gotten the 1 long and 2 short beep thing and when I looked it up, it was supposed to mean a bad system board or graphics card. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

P.S. what's the highest "PC" rating that this computer can support? I am looking at new ram and I want to upgrade to 2 gigs...

ajkula66 · #2 Post by **ajkula66** » Thu Dec 18, 2008 11:48 pm

I'm not aware of any R40 with integrated graphics, all the ones that I've seen (and that's quite a few) have ATi discrete GPUs...

The message you're getting means exactly what you're afraid of, GPU going south and probably needing a solder re-ball/re-flow.

It would be helpful if you posted the 7-character model number of your R40 before any further discussion on what it can or can't do.

Good luck.

kermani · #3 Post by **kermani** » Fri Dec 19, 2008 12:17 am

ajkula66 wrote:I'm not aware of any R40 with integrated graphics, all the ones that I've seen (and that's quite a few) have ATi discrete GPUs...

The message you're getting means exactly what you're afraid of, GPU going south and probably needing a solder re-ball/re-flow.

It would be helpful if you posted the 7-character model number of your R40 before any further discussion on what it can or can't do.

Good luck.

Oh sorry I didn't mean integrated I meant the graphics GPU was on the mobo. I have a 2896. I was looking at new mainboards from Ebay and I was wondering if I could grab a mainboard with the 32 mb graphics chip in it instead of the 16 that I currently have. Otherwise what do I do?

kermani · #4 Post by **kermani** » Fri Dec 19, 2008 12:21 am

Oh and what's the word on the RAM? Mt friend said he thought my lappy could take up to pc 3200 ddr.

ajkula66 · #5 Post by **ajkula66** » Fri Dec 19, 2008 12:32 am

R40 will normally take PC2100 or 2700 RAM, DDR266/333, up to 2GB.

Once again, the full model number...2896-???

kermani · #6 Post by **kermani** » Fri Dec 19, 2008 1:33 am

ajkula66 wrote:R40 will normally take PC2100 or 2700 RAM, DDR266/333, up to 2GB.

Once again, the full model number...2896-???

Awesome! Thanks for the info.

Oops sorry the full model number is 2896-FZU The S/N is FX-00053

slname · #7 Post by **slname** » Fri Dec 19, 2008 12:41 pm

there's a great post here by cpc2004 on how to read minidump files (files created by the OS when you get a BSOD) http://www.techspot.com/vb/all/windows/ ... dumps.html

it should tell you exactly which system files are causing your computer to crash.

kermani · #8 Post by **kermani** » Fri Dec 19, 2008 8:24 pm

slname wrote:there's a great post here by cpc2004 on how to read minidump files (files created by the OS when you get a BSOD) http://www.techspot.com/vb/all/windows/ ... dumps.html

it should tell you exactly which system files are causing your computer to crash.

Not that I don't think this will be helpful, but when I got the BSOD, the comp told me the ATI driver was causing the issue. Will the mini-dump tell me more than that?

ajkula66 · #9 Post by **ajkula66** » Fri Dec 19, 2008 11:21 pm

And the web is full of people who have gotten the same BSOD that eventually led to mobo replacement...not to mention the fact that I've owned a T41 which went through exact same scenario when GPU started getting loose....

BTW, the planar you should be looking for with 32MB GPU is FRU 26P8403.

BSOD for my ATI driver Bad RAM or new System board?

BSOD for my ATI driver Bad RAM or new System board?

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