bumblebee_tuna
New Member
Can a bad or failing PSU cause random BSOD?
Bad PSU = BSOD?
- Thread starter bumblebee_tuna
- Start date
bumblebee_tuna
New Member
If you're not familiar with this term, you probably don't have the option tic'ed right.....
Go to Control Panel > System Properties > Advanced > Startup and Recovery > Un-tic Automatically Restart......
Before, with this tic'ed, it would probably appear as a random restart. Now, if you ever have a system failure, a scary looking, bright blue screen would come up with a bunch of technical information. They're not necessarily bad or dangerous but, moreover, annoying but can signal something possibly wrong, either hardware or software wise, with your system.........
Anyway, I've been getting A LOT of BSOD lately after I had messed with my PSU (accidently tested it with the amperage settings on a DMM....).........
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bumblebee_tuna
New Member
It did but it probably damaged something before it did......
I switched out the PSU with another PSU and it, otherwise, solved the problem that I had with restarting that was mentioned in another thread..... I guess I maybe getting less BSODs but I still got one after switching out the PSU.........
The last (and so far, only) BSOD that I got with this PSU mentioned something about 'DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL_TO', and then something about 'atapi.exe'.......... But, with the old PSU I got both 'DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL_TO' with and without mentioning about 'atapi.exe'...... So right now I'm checking/waiting to see if I get the general 'DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL_TO' or if I also get the 'atapi.exe' again..........
ceewi1
VIP Member
It's supposed to trip OCP before any damage is done, but unfortunately not all PSUs will respond quickly enough, particularly cheaper models. It is possible for a faulty PSU to cause those errors, particularly if the 3.3V rail is having problems, but there's also the possibility that the power supply surged damaging other components, most likely the RAM. It might be worth running memtest to at least check that.
Of course, that error could be completely unrelated to the PSU. Perhaps a driver problem?
Of course, that error could be completely unrelated to the PSU. Perhaps a driver problem?
bumblebee_tuna
New Member
I think I've now've ruled out the PSU because I got another BSOD related to something like usbport.exe or something.......... I'll try a memtest tonight to try and rule out that........