Bluescreen and can't update

[jvqpDjzh]

The computer of my friend is getting crazy. He has windows 7 and, sometimes, suddenly his computer restarts after a bluescreen appeared on the screen, like this: https://www.google.ch/search?q=bluescreen&biw=1536&bih=697&tbm=isch&imgil=dpBUgWzLj1bAjM%253A%253Bhttps%253A%252F%252Fencrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com%252Fimages%253Fq%253Dtbn%253AANd9GcQfAMwfO-pERQaDT5Ra5oJVT-ESWa7-iR4TF5WUMwLXqXARUBaU%253B744%253B401%253BqvHrAZHF31cOYM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fteamapproach.ca%25252Ftrouble%25252FBlueScreen.htm&source=iu&usg=__3mlnnlzKaFDdKfjN0LxENehkLAo%3D&sa=X&ei=x-NXU6LoHYW44ASXvICgDg&ved=0CDAQ9QEwAg#facrc=&imgdii=&imgrc=dpBUgWzLj1bAjM%253A%3BqvHrAZHF31cOYM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fteamapproach.ca%252Ftrouble%252Fimages%252FblueScreen2000.bmp%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fteamapproach.ca%252Ftrouble%252FBlueScreen.htm%3B744%3B401

He didn't have anti-virus for a while, except the microsoft security essentials, but now he has avast. He can't update what the system suggests: "w7 security x64 based system".

He has a Samsung RC530.

What can he do to solve this problem? What are the possible problems?

Thank you in advance!

[ResidentBiscuit]

Aren't bluescreens usually due to a hardware/driver failure?

[jvqpDjzh]

Yes, usually. But what do you suggest to fix this problem?

[Computergeek01]

@ OP: Make one of these: http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/download.html

Find the model of his HDD either in device manager or by opening a command prompt and typing: wmic then press enter. (The command prompt will change to read "wmic:root\cli" or "wmic:root\cimv2" depending on what you have it set to). Then type: diskdrive get caption to get the model of the drive. Use that companies utility off of the UBCD to check for errors on the disk. If it comes back clean run MemTest over night. Get back to us with the results.

EDIT: @Everyone else: You are correct, there is no need to get into the WMI console just to try and find out who makes this drive. I am trying to spark an interest in a very useful utility that gets over looked far too often.

[Little Bobby Tables]

also i would like to note that you can get them from running out of ram

[Computergeek01]

@ Little Bobby Tables: Memory allocation failures are caught by the OS, they normally don't propagate all the way to the kernel. Is there some specific instance you are talking about?

[Little Bobby Tables]

@computergeek01: yes. i have a picture of it: http://imgur.com/qZibyN4

edit: isnt the kernel a part of the os?

[Computergeek01]

Ah, I see what you're saying now. Yes that is technically possible. It's one of the first things tested for before releasing a driver though.

[jvqpDjzh]

@Computergeek01 wrote:

EDIT: @Everyone else: You are correct, there is no need to get into the WMI console just to try and find out who makes this drive. I am trying to spark an interest in a very useful utility that gets over looked far too often.

Thank you for telling me about wmic! Can you tell me a good guide to learn about this console and its commands?

[Computergeek01]

I honestly learned more about wmic while learning vbscript, but this is a pretty good tutorial: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb742610.aspx

Something that took me a minute to catch onto was that "wbemtest" is essentially a GUI front end for this console. So start button -> Run\Search -> TYPE: "wbemtest" -> SELECT: <SOME_NAMESPACE> -> CLICK: "Connect".

[jvqpDjzh]

Is Hiren's Boot CD a good alternative for Ultimate Boot CD (if you ever used it) ?

[Computergeek01]

I have heard of Hiren's Boot CD in certain circles that would suggest it has some utility, but I have not compared the two side by side.

[Little Bobby Tables]

excuse my language, but hirens is fucking amazing. hirens just isnt a boot cd. my hdd had failing sectors and i fixed it with hirens. i recommend it very much

edit: it has pretty much a tool for each situation, and then for the few it didn't i just booted into a live mint usb to run those tools