Suspected videocard problem

[Oroka Sempai]

I keep getting blue screens in XP SP2 with my laptop. I suspect it is the videocard. The blue screens that I get the chance to read vary in explaination of the error. One error refrenced 'NTSF.sys', which I know is not the videocard. I have also seen the same file stop a boot-up sequence. I turn off the system, leave it for a min, restart it, and there is no error again.

Sometimes the laptop just restarts and boots up again, sometimes it locks up solid, sometimes the monitor just goes black. Sometimes it will boot back into windows, sometimes it powers up, but there is no HDD activity, and the screen stays black. If turned off for 15-20 mins, it starts up normally.

I am thinking the videocard is overheating, or maybe the RAM. I dont think the HDD is directly malfunctioning, but maybe being affected by something overheating near by.

I have also seed the blue screen error 'DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL', which confuses me, but sounds like a videocard issue.


Anyone seen anything like this or have any ideas?

[Oroka Sempai]

::update::

So, I couldnt get past the boot screen into Windows without getting a BSOD. In safemode, it always paused at AGP440.sys then BSOD. So I formatted it again, re-installed XP, now it boots up to windows, but I cant keep it running more than 3-4 mins before the screen goes black, and stays that way for about 10-15 mins, even with a restart.

I dont know alot about laptops, but if it was a desktop... if it was a RAM problem, the system spearker would be beeping at me, and it isnt on the laptop, and I know the system speaker works cause the low battery warning works fine even in DOS.

Laptop videocards can be upgraded, right? I had the unit tore apart a few days ago and didnt see anything that passed as a videocard, or anything with ATI or anything on it.

I am thinking it is the videocard, but have no idea, and I cant just swap out parts as I dont have a pile of spare laptop hardware sitting around as I do with desktop stuff.

[wizard james]

i think its heat ..if its an older lappy then it can be packed with dust and ..well its baking

[Oroka Sempai]

First thing I did when I got the laptop was pull the HSF unit, give it a good cleaning, and apply new thermal grease. I dont think it is heat as sometimes I can run the laptop for 2 hours no problem, then I start it after being off all night and it BSOD after 2 mins. I have a temp program displaying the temp all the time, and it crashes at its idle temps quite often.

I have also recently read about this Northwood Sudden Death Syndrome (god I hate pentiums) and some of the issues people are discribing sound simular.

[Oroka Sempai]

how the hell can I turn my laptop off for 30 mins, and is boots up into windows at 55c when it idles normally at around 50c?

I would really like to underclock this thing, bug I have no idea how. Would enabling the HTT do anything to help?