Anyone understand minidumps?

I was working away quite happily, then Windows closed down and restarted itself and a 'Serious Error' popped up and told me where the minidump was. And this screen came up - http://wer.microsoft.com/responses/R...2-72369eb44585

I don't know how to open minidumps, does anyone? I'll attach it (now found out I can't attach files like that)

Trying to think what I did that may have caused it? I needed a program to amend some audio files, so downloaded two shareware trials - Internet Explorer box said don't .. so I did !! They didn't work, but maybe that was it? And I don't know what they were, cos I uninstalled and deleted the downloads.

Ran Adaware - everything ok, but from one tracking cookie.
Ran Norton Scan - clean.
Also restored PC to yesterday's Restore Point.

Gotta dash...

A few hours later, turned PC on again and it seems stable again.

Did a Hijackthis and ran it through an Analyser, all safe.

Started running an sfc /scannow, but it's getting late, so will do that tomorrow.

Here's a site that may explain things for you.

It may also be helpful to take a look at the Event Viewer and see what application or system errors are reported, Mags. Sometimes you may find useful info in the MS Knowledge Base. Well, often you can't, but...

Anyway, it is important to look at groups of Event IDs. Two or 3 errors occurring nearly at the same time can be significant, because when you research them, you often find articles that talk about things like "Event ID 1037 and 1045 accompanied by Event ID 1001" rather than information that is helpful for a single error code.

And a good place to research Event ID's is www.eventid.net

I use it a lot, it is most useful.

Shamus, thank you for the site link, I did look, but it does start by saying, 'This article assumes that you are familiar with Win32 and C++ programming'. I'm not familiar with either, so got rather lost.
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Sligrieb

At 18.35 17/4/2007, I notice the System bit of Event Viewer reported an Event 1003, so I clicked on that (dunno what I'm doing here !) and found this:

Details
Product: Windows Operating System
ID: 1003
Source: System Error
Version: 5.2
Symbolic Name: ER_KRNLCRASH_LOG
Message: Error code %1, parameter1 %2, parameter2 %3, parameter3 %4, parameter4 %5.

Explanation
A blue screen (Stop error) was reported. The message contains details about the error. A matching event with Event ID 1001 might also appear in the event log. This matching event displays information about the specific error that occurred.

User Action
No user action is required.
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Emr, thanks, I've looked but you have to pay for that and I've only got one PC at home, so think I won't go for that. (I'm retired)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mags

Emr, thanks, I've looked but you have to pay for that and I've only got one PC at home, so think I won't go for that. (I'm retired)

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No, you don't have to pay. Only if you click the external links. The initial troubleshooting notes from others are very useful and even the external links you can find easily by yourself with a quick Google.

emr

Mags, I'd feel safe in assuming you got some ill-behaved shareware, and I think removing it should clear the issue. But, I'm curious about what software you downloaded, and what you are looking for in audio software. Audacity is an excellent freeware program, but it doesn't do everything. So, what do you need?

Emr, thanks again.

Slgrieb (oops spelt your name wrong last time) .. I was looking for software to change the Audio Sample Rate in an MP3 file without having to re-record stuff. I'd set my Edirol-R09 on 48 instead of 44 and thought I could change things the quick way. (Yes I've used Audacity for ages)

No idea what I downloaded? One trial program wouldn't do that function without paying. The other trial program was going to take over an hour to do a medium sized MP3, so I cancelled that and uninstalled that too.

WHY I downloaded software that IE objected to, I have no idea. Usually, if I'm looking at software, I always search for reviews first and if in doubt, don't. Must have been having a desparate moment, I think.

Have now also run a sfc /scannow, it takes for ever, but things seem fairly stable for now .... night night