Computer Operating System Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition OS Service Pack Service Pack 1 Internet Explorer 6.0.2800.1106 (IE 6.0 SP1) Computer Name XXX User Name XXX Logon Domain XXX Motherboard CPU Type AMD Athlon XP, 1300 MHz (6.5 x 200) Motherboard Name Asus A7N8X v2.0 (5 PCI, 1 AGP Pro, 3 DIMM) Motherboard Chipset nVIDIA nForce2 Ultra 400 System Memory 1024 MB (DDR SDRAM) BIOS Type Award (03/19/03) Communication Port Communications Port (COM1) Communication Port Communications Port (COM2) Communication Port ECP Printer Port (LPT1) Display Video Adapter NVIDIA GeForce FX 5900 (128 MB) 3D Accelerator nVIDIA GeForce FX 5900 Monitor Dell M570 (6204T16KA0CX) Multimedia Audio Adapter Creative SB PCI128 (Ensoniq ES1371) Sound Card Storage Floppy Drive Floppy disk drive Disk Drive Maxtor 2B020H1 (20 GB, 5400 RPM, Ultra-ATA/100) Disk Drive Maxtor 6Y080P0 (80 GB, 7200 RPM, Ultra-ATA/133) Optical Drive LG CD-RW CED-8080B (8x/4x/32x CD-RW) Partitions C: (NTFS) 78152 MB (69223 MB free) D: (FAT32) 19059 MB (16925 MB free) Input Keyboard Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard Mouse Logitech USB Cordless Mouse Network Primary IP Address 24.230.44.173 Primary MAC Address 00-08-A1-34-B6-40 Network Adapter CNet PRO200 PCI Fast Ethernet Adapter (24.230.44.173) Peripherals USB Device Logitech USB Cordless Mouse That's the system information in as much depth as I can get it. Here's the problem: Day one, system runs just fine. Running Winamp, AIM, MSIE, several games, etc. Works perfectly fine. Day two, no change in system from day one whatsoever. Suddenly the system doesn't want to load the games; it crashes to desktop (CTDs) while trying to load them at times, at others it restarts the system. Upon shutting down/restarting, it also throws the system into a "restart loop," and I eventually have to power down manually, then power it back up. I just reinstalled the OS last week, hoping to correct the problem. The hardware's drivers are, to my knowledge, current. What's going on? Why does it act up sometimes, and run beautifully at others, with no change in the system? Thanks in advance. Bleidd Sionnach

You may be able to get more info from the Event viewer . HOW TO: View and Manage Event Logs in Event Viewer in Windows XP http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;308427 ================================ Windows XP Events and Errors Enter the message source and ID in the text field, then click G http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/support/ee =================================== If you want to stop the blue screen auto reboot so you can read the error message from the screen: Go to Start -> Control Panel -> System Go to Advanced Under the Startup and Recovery section, click Settings... Under System Failure un-check "Automatically restart" =============================== This is a small extract from the links provided . http://www.ultratech-llc.com/KB/ASP/FileView.asp?File=/KB/BSOD.TXT http://www.ultratech-llc.com/KB/?File=BSOD.TXT http://www.microsoft.com/technet/treeview/default.asp?url=/technet/prodtechnol/winntas/tips/techrep/bsod.asp http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=325011 http://windows.about.com/library/weekly/aa030599.htm http://windows.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q192/4/63.asp http://www.labmice.net/WindowsXP/TroubleshootingXP/error.htm http://sft-cyber.com/stoperrors.htm http://aumha.org/win5/kbestop.htm Troubleshooting Windows STOP Errors (BSOD) and Freezes Last Updated: 06 Jul 2003 The following issues are easily responsible for 99% of all system instability issues, particularly with Windows: • Bad or Flaky RAM • High CPU/Case temperatures (Insufficient cooling) • Bad Drivers (usually with el-cheapo hardware) • Inadequate or Dirty Power • Overclocking (some devices cannot run out of spec) • Improper Permissions/Rights (results in Access Denied) • Dirty Upgrade from Win9x/ME to 2000/XP • Virus Infection (can result in a wide variety of problems) • Incorrect jumper settings on your hard drive • Improperly terminated drivers and controller • Disabled or Misconfigured Services SYMPTOMS OF COMMON ISSUES • Bad Drivers ............ BSOD (Blue Screen of Death) or Spontaneous Reboot • Overheating ............ Spontaneous Reboot or System Freeze • Bad/Flaky RAM .......... Spontaneous Reboot or System Freeze or Failed Install • Dirty Power ............ Spontaneous Reboot or System Generated Errors • Inadequate Power ....... BSOD or Spontaneous Reboot or System Freeze • Overclocking ........... BSOD or Spontaneous Reboot or System Freeze • Improper Permissions ... BSOD or System Generated Errors • Dirty upgrade .......... BSOD or System Errors or Slowness or Erratic Behavior • Virus Infection ........ Inexplicable slowness or Highly Erratic Behavior • Wrong Drive Settings ... Inexplicable slowness or Failed Install or Long Boot times • Bad SCSI Termination ... Inexplicable slowness or Failed Install or Long Boot times • Disabled Services ...... Poor System Performance or Installation Problems or Limited OS Functionality

if i were you i would increase the multiplier on your processor a little bit to get it a little faster.. but thats just me.

Regarding the multiplier: The system gets unstable for some unknown reason at anything past what its set at. I can take the hit in CPU performance for added stability. Regarding the original post: BSOD message is reading as follows: IRQL not less or equal to. Then it gives me a long list of suggestions that I'm certain sound viable in the event I have added any additional hard/software. Which I haven't. Which again makes it sound like a driver problem. My guess is its the most recent Nvidia drivers... anyone have a link to an older set?

roll back the driver if possible

Only let me roll it back once. And have already tried that with no change.

Troubleshooting a Stop 0x0000000A Error in Windows XP IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314063 http://sft-cyber.com/stoperrors.htm The information in this article applies to: * Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition * Microsoft Windows XP Professional ========================================== Have you tried MS Updates for their drivers ?