Dont understand message before laptop restarts?

[Tbag]

My laptop restarts a lot and right before it retstarts this flashes on the screen for a second.
I was just using the net at the time.

http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/8894/21022008274001iu4.jpg

[redwudz]

That looks like it might be a problem with your USB drivers or hardware. What do you have plugged into the USB bus at the time of the BSOD?

[Tbag]

I dont understand what BSOD is.

I have 4 usb ports, a mouse and a usb modem is plugged in

[Richard_G]

BSOD Blue Screen of Death

As it is a usb related file that is failing, I would also think it might be a usb issue. I notice your computer details say you are running XP SP1 which does not support USB 2.0. Maybe upgrading to SP2 might be worthwhile.

[Tbag]

BSOD Blue Screen of Death

As it is a usb related file that is failing, I would also think it might be a usb issue. I notice your computer details say you are running XP SP1 which does not support USB 2.0. Maybe upgrading to SP2 might be worthwhile.

I tried a while ago but my screen went all black so I had to use my restore disks to get back

[JohnnyMalaria]

XP SP1 does support USB 2.0.

Is this the same computer that you had trouble with last year after trying the Vista Transformation Pack?

Have you done a complete, clean reinstall of XP since then?

Have you installed anything else "odd" like the transformation pack?

[Tbag]

XP SP1 does support USB 2.0.

Is this the same computer that you had trouble with last year after trying the Vista Transformation Pack?

Have you done a complete, clean reinstall of XP since then?

Have you installed anything else "odd" like the transformation pack?

lol you remember that transformation pack, yes its the same laptop
I used the restore disks I got with it to get back to factory settings and I havent installed anything like that since.

[JohnnyMalaria]

How long have you had the modem?

[Tbag]

nearly a year ago

[JohnnyMalaria]

Does the computer crash like this a lot?

If so, have you tried disconnecting the modem for a while to see if the computer still crashes? Same with the mouse, too.

[Tbag]

Does the computer crash like this a lot?

If so, have you tried disconnecting the modem for a while to see if the computer still crashes? Same with the mouse, too.

It has shutting down by itself issues too.

Shall I just leave it after unplugging all the USB's? I dont really do anything else other than go online.

[JohnnyMalaria]

It will be worth trying.

If, say, you leave it on overnight and it doesn't crash then it probably is a problem either with your laptop (most likely some driver issue) or the modem.

If it does still crash, it could be a faulty RAM issue.

Have you noticed if the computer gets hotter than it used to? Laptops are more prone to dust accumulation which could affect airflow through it.

[cyflyer]

Wouldn't a failing/failed HDD give a similar screen ?

[guns1inger]

I had a system that had that problem (same error messages), but it only occurred when the modem was in use. I had been using the same modem for months beforehand, but upgraded my connection speed, which changed the connection type. This necessitated a re-install of the drivers, which then caused persistent blue-screening. I tried many different possible solutions without any success. In the end the only solution was to switch to a modem that had an ethernet connection instead of USB. Never had the problem since.

I have seen this problem manifest itself several times on other systems, and the solution has always been to stop using the USB connection, and use an ethernet connection instead.

[Bjs]

That usb issue seems to have been going on for sometime now

What brand and model is this laptop?

If the system restarts after sometime, and you have carried out the "no usb devices connected" test, then visit manufacturer's web site for updated drivers, esspecialy those refered to as usb patch type's.

That usb issue can also be caused by fault hardware, device drivers for video, and may simply require updating the video drivers.

Where common device's have been removed, yet laptop shut's down after sometime, could indicate a heat issue, faulty heat sink compound, or dust blockage in the ducts.

Without knowing the brand and model, remove all non-essential devices, addon's such as wireless, bluetooth, get it right down to the very basic hardware, and run tests again. If the issue disappears, then one of the removed devices would be the cause of the problem.