Blue screen of death help...

Ok, well my old ass laptop just got the BSOD and wont come back on. I get the screen when I try to start in safe mode, and when I try to restore it. I havent installed anything recently, software, or hardware.

What do I need to do?

Is the BSOD a flasher, or is a persistent one that stays until you shut down or it restarts after a memory dump? Either way, try and see the exact cause. There should be some text midway down the screen that tell you what the problem is. Only other way is I think, pending the version of Windows, to check the error console, which is accessed through the Administrator Tools.

XP (Home or Pro), Vista, or 7?

It's XP Home. The screen does not flash. And it wil stay blue till I manually turn it off. And the only error message it gives me is STOP: 0x0000007E followed by morecodes like that in paragraphs. It doesn't show an error message toward the middle like every website is telling me it should.

If you haven't installed anything recently, try removing any extraneous hardware. Remove your video card if you have onboard. Same with a sound card. Try reseating your memory, dust out the innards of your computer.I know these are broad attempts at solving this problem, but it's an obscure one to begin with. I looked up that error code, and it's giving me everything under the sun. Sorry I can't be more helpful.

Worse comes to worst, boot up an Ubuntu Live CD, back up all of your data, and reinstall. If you have to resort to this, you can at least save some time with Ninite, which installs all of you most used apps in one simple installer. It was on Lifehacker a few days ago.

It really could be that a good driver turned sour. Corruption isn't unlikely.

I wouldnt doubt if its a hardware problem. Its an old computer, and I use it alot. I took the ram and HDD out, made sure everything was good and clean, and put them back in. As far as opening it up, I dont know if Im comfortable opening the laptop. Ill see if I can find a how to on it and see how hard it is. Its Dell Inspiron e1505.

I am thinking about installing Ubuntu. Ive used it before, and all I use the laptop for is internet, music, and movies. No games really.

The HDD in my laptop is an 80 GB, but I also have a 200 GB. I popped it in and Im running all the system tests now. And Im downloading an Ubuntu disc.

Installing Ubuntu now.

What are good programs for it. I need a good programs for movies, music, torrents, and internet.

VLC media player does me well for movies.

I used VLC on windows and liked it. Il get that. What about torrents and music?

Rhythmbox or Songbird. Both have their good/bads.

Haven't used torrents in ages really. Transmission or Vuze are the ones I mainly used.

hell I like Vuze and I'm pretty much a retard on torrenting shit

I was able to put my old HDD in an external case, and I was able to get all my music, porn, and movies off it. So Im set.

Anyone know if I can copy all my bookmarks from firefox off that HDD to Ubuntu?

Fuck, tht whole time I didn't realize you said it was a laptop.

<--- Way to go, dumbass.

Just for the record, the 'flasher' BSOD's only flash up quickly, because there is a setting to say to restart as soon as it BSODs.

Just turn off automatic restart under system failure in the startup and recovery settings. Thats where it is in xp pro anyway, should be the same for home.