[Vista] Inexplicable BSOD on Startup

[Phate]

Problem: After shutting down running completely fine last night, I go to boot up my computer this morning, and it gets all the way to the vista loading screen when it flashes a BSOD and reboots. I try again, and it prompts me to select safe mode or non safe mode (or all the other choices) because vista didnt shut down correctly. I choose Safe Mode With Networking, same problem happens, so I choose Safe Mode (regular), same problem. Right when it begins to boot, it flashes the BSOD and restarts.

When I say flashes, I mean it appears for probably half a second, I've tried to watch really closely, but for the life of me I can't see what the error is sadly.

Computer Specs:
Windows Vista Home Premium 32-bit
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 3.0ghz
ASUS P5Q/E Mobo
4gb OCZ Reaper RAM
2 HDDs, Master - Seagate 500gb, Slave - WD 1TB
NVidia GTS 250 Gfx
800W PSU

Solutions Tested:
Restart
checked all the BIOS settings
made sure computer was thoroughly dusted and being cooled properly
checked all connections

I am completely surprised by this, it was working perfectly fine last night and then this morning it wont even boot.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated,

Phate

 

[Osiris]

What about last known good configuration?

 

[joelm3103]

Just for precaution sake, have you tried booting with at least 1 stick of RAM (doubt it has anything to do with a memory issue, but just to eliminate it from the possible causes)?

I researched a way to get the BSOD to show, but it involves Registry editing, which I don't really recommend at this stage, since I'm gonna try to think of possible steps before we get there.

 

[Phate]

Last known good configuration doesn't work either

I'm a bit wary of opening my case and taking out the ram, do you really think it would be worthwhile? This doesn't strike me as a memory issue, but if you think it should definetly be checked out, I'll try it.

Edit: also, it would be pretty hard for me to access the registry editor at this stage, since I can't even get vista to boot up in any mode.

Also, I should note, I don't have the vista installation disk, so hopefully reinstalling vista would be the last possible scenario

 

[joelm3103]

Don't really think it's a memory issue either, just known faulty RAM to cause BSODs. If you opened you tower and check your RAM, would you be voiding warranty?

 

[Phate]

no, its custom built, I am just worried because my CPU Heatsink/Fan assembly is large, and it has those just totally shoddy plastic push-pins, and it took me probably 3 hours of fiddling to get them seated, I'd hate to bump them and have to start over.

I was able to disable automatic restart so I could read the BSOD, here is the technical info:

*** STOP: 0x0000007E (0xC0000005, 0x8436F6AF, 0x80599A40, 0x8059973C)

 

[joelm3103]

I'll research it and see what I come up with. By the way how you got the pc not to restart if you didn't reach Windows?

Edit: After all my searches, it says "STOP: 0x0000007E" is some kind of hardware/driver issue. Any other info the BSOD referred to? Like any specific file?

 

[Phate]

I solved it, thanks everyone for your help.

By the way, I got it to not automatically restart by entering the 'F8' menu when it told me to select startup options, one was "Disable Automatic Restart".

 

[joelm3103]

I solved it, thanks everyone for your help.

By the way, I got it to not automatically restart by entering the 'F8' menu when it told me to select startup options, one was "Disable Automatic Restart".

Oh right...that completely slipped my mind . Glad you got through and glad we can help . May I ask though, what exactly was the solution to the problem? Just in case anyone else has this problem.