My Specs that pertain to the problem:
OS - Windows Vista RC1
Ram - DDR400 2x 512mb
Processor - P4 (HT) 3.2GHZ (no overclock)
Video Card - Radeon x1300 512mb ddr
This is the problem:

About 5 days ago my computer for no reason gives me the BSOD. Now I'm no newbie when it comes to computers or even the BSOD so I goto microsoft and look up the error code.

Machine_check_exception 0x9c
also this one popped up a couple of times but ALWAYS the one above: IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL_TO

Micro$oft says it's a processor stop code because of a hardware issue.

Could be one of these problems:
1. Bad RAM (Maybe)
2. Overheating (my CPU NEVER goes above 59C so this can't be it)
3. Motherboard (Maybe)
4. Over stressed or going bad Power Supply (Could be 'cause I don't even remember where I got the thing at and it's pretty old).

First and foremost I know it's not my OS because I tried installing Mandrivia (which I have before successfully) and I got a Kernel Panic at Bank 0 machine_check_exception. So it's not software or OS related.

This is what I've done so far to try and troubleshoot the problem:

1. Reset the bios to default config (no luck)
2
. Ran Windows Memory Diag. (finds memory errors)
since it found memory errors I proceeded to take one 512 stick out try that (no luck still BSOD) did it to both no luck.
Ran mem tests on one stick at a time 2xpass Extended test. Usually no errors but every once in a while there was.

So since I found mem errors I tried to up the DDR voltage by 2% 4% and 6% to find stability hopefully. It "kinda" worked for a while but it's too unstable while it's running to use. I upped the timing and lowered it. No luck.

I went to the "PC Health" in my BIOS and noticed all becides the 12v (this was running at 12.29v) were running under their supposed voltage ratings. (now only by like -0.02 , -0.3)

I'm thinking Maybe it's my aging power supply and not the RAM. I'm not a rich person and I'm hoping there is a $70 fix for my computer.

Also I played with ALL of the Caching in the bios (on off mixed) I overclocked a little (+/- 300mhz) and played with the voltage regulator with the CPU and the DDR.

I've never made any dramatic OCing changes I'm happy with the speed of my system so I don't really need too.

Please anyone, if you have any input into this, help me out here. Any Info (besides the def. from microsofts KB article 'cause I've already read it.

Should I buy a power supply (and what wattage should i buy), RAM DDR 400 2x512 again, or a new MOBO, could it possibly be that the heatsink on my processor is just not seated right?

Thank you all again for taking your time out to read this.

hello jinX84 and welcome to pchf

sorry for the delay in answering your post

if memory tests have found errors while testing your ram then you must have faulty ram in your pc do you have another stick of ram you could use on your pc to test it

genie3251

Hi JinX, most OS install problems are 100% related to memory.

Infact, if you get a BSOD of Windows XP before it's actually loaded, you've either got a hard drive with a bed sector on it, or bad memory.

I agree with Genie, if memory tests have found even 1 error....this is your problem and should be replaced ASAP.