You installed a new piece of hardware in your computer and -BSOD!

There are some pitfalls to setup of new hardware.

• First did you read all the documentation?
• Did you check to see if the device would actually run in conjunction with the other hardware in your computer?
• Is it compatible with your other hardware and the Operating System?

When the computer fails to start and the new hardware is installed correctly (seated in the slot, power and interface cables inserted and seated) then there is a conflict with the other hardware or Operating System.

It could be an interrupt (mainly unheard of these days with the PCI and AGP specifications) or the DMA setting may be conflicting.

Before going through this checklist did you go into the BIOS before letting the Operating System start?

You need to go into the BIOS setup and let the BIOS find the new hardware even if there are not any settings for the new hardware.

Proceed if you have done this step...

So what is a person to do when your new hardware causes a BSOD?

Note: A "Stop Error..." also known in the IT world as a BSOD (Blue Screen Of Death) is the white lettering on a blue back ground when the Operating System detects a problem, it could be a hardware failure or software failure with a driver. The computer is NOT dead the Operating System has stopped functioning in some manner. (You think that is funny? Mac's use a Spinning Ball Of Death or SBOD... )

First power the computer down, next check the new device, is it really properly seated? Remove it, look at the edge where the "Copper Connectors" are that go in to the slot, any damaged? If so the card may be useless unless you know how to do low level component repair. No damage? Insert it in the slot, is it all the way down? Can you see any copper of the connectors? If you can it may not be seated all the way. Is it in the correct slot for the type of interface the card is? PCI is different from PCIe and they are both different from PCIx!

If it is in the correct slot try powering the computer up again.

• Did you go into the BIOS?
• Did it start properly?
• Did you get to Log On?
• Did the "New Hardware Wizard" run?
• Did the wizard find the drivers?
• All set?

If it still doesn't start or BSOD's then power it down and remove the device.

Power the computer up, did it start ok?

Troubleshoot, repair, maintain, upgrade & secure...     With this!

Or if it comes with software that has a setup or install program that you may need to run before installing the hardware.

Power the computer down, install the new device, check you work as mentioned above, power up.

Did it start ok, yes then check the device in the Device Manager. Does it work as advertised?

If it still BSODs on power up, power the computer down remove the device.

Power up, did it start? Yes then remove the drivers from the computer by using the Device Manager to uninstall the drivers. There is something incompatible with the new device and your computer hardware.

If did not start then go to this page:  Troubleshooting a BSOD

Check the documentation, you may have to set an interrupt or DMA in the BIOS before installing the new device.

Then again it may just be incompatible with an existing device in the computer, finding that one will take some research.

I have a Joy Stick and Throttle combination by Thrustmaster with a controller card, a great setup for flying simulators, unfortunately the card will not work in a computer that has PCIe slots, it can not grab the interrupts and DMA no matter what I try...

Do you have any devices that will absolutely not work in your computer?