Okay. This computer is something of a hybrid. It is an all-in-one, so it is technically a desktop system, but has no box. Like the Mac, it's all built into the monitor.

So it is a real card, but I can't upgrade it. For all practical purposes, this desktop is a big laptop. It is built using mostly laptop components.

The video card can be replaced; it is not part of the motherboard, so if they make a new one that is compatible, I'll have another option.

It isn't a bad video card, but it isn't a particularly good one either.

It IS the video card at the root of the problem. I got that much from the blue screen. A little further research suggested that reinstalling the drivers might solve the problem ... unless the problem is hardware, not software OR the problem is in the operating system rather than the device software.

I went to the Dell driver site and got the current video drivers both marked urgent. They are not new releases, so they should have already been installed. However, I have nothing to lose. Possibly the drivers had somehow corrupted and I have noticed that the system keeps trying to automatically install this same driver. So perhaps I've gotten it. I will know soon enough.

I USED to know how to get into the BIOS, but in Win7, a lot of small changes have made it different and I'm no longer working with a bunch of software developers who help me.

If this doesn't work, I'm out of ideas.

I just had a computer crises. Blue screen 4 times in one day. Uh oh. Once is bad ... 4 times, omigod!

I ran every test I could think of and all I got were "Your computer is fine. No problems."

If there are no problems, why is it crashing? Blue screen no less, which is crashing big time. Finally, deep in troubleshooting mode, I discover that an "Unknown Device is missing a driver." The device has an ID number, but is listed in the device manager as "Other Devices" and seems to have no other identity. Can't update the driver because it's unknown. So finally, I give in and call Dell support, which is, as far as I am concerned, about as much fun as root canal. Maybe root canal is more fun.

However, this is my lucky day and I actually get to tech support in just minutes ... fewer than 5. A lifetime record for me. That never happens. And I am not disconnected even once. Wow. Like winning the lottery almost.

Anyway, this charming Indian fellow has me run a diagnostic and asks what the message is and I say "there is no message" because it is saying again that everything is hunky dory. Except for all those blue screens of death. Minor detail.

He tells me I need to reinstall Windows. Do I have any data?

Do I have data? I have 8 zillion photographs, audiobooks, documents. I have applications up the wazoo ... photoshop and outlook and quicken and corel and so much more.

I explain that I would just as soon jump off a bridge as replace my operating system. He says, okay, I understand. We seek a compromise. Which turns out to be uninstalling the unknown device which, as it turns out does not exist. The computer just THINKS it exists. But when I reboot, it's back. Like Jack in the Shining.

So this time, I disable it. Hah! Try and defeat that! Then he tells me to turn off automatic update because the whole thing was caused by a bad update FROM MICROSOFT.

So I double check. "You are telling me to NOT install the "critical updates" from Microsoft."

Yes Maam, that is correct. Do not install, do not pass go ...

Microsoft really IS the evil empire. Too bad I'm stuck with it. I really would rather eat broken glass than have to reinstall all this stuff. Just backing up all the email, omigod.

So hopefully, this fix works.

All you PC users: turn off the updates. You have it from the authorities: the updates are gonna kill you. Or try.

I believe that I fixed it. I returned the video card and associated video software to its original (and recommended by Dell) drivers and suddenly, all symptoms gone. The fix, once I knew what had to do, took me less than 5 minutes. That's the way it always is ... easy and obvious once you know the answer. It's finding the answer that's hard.

It WAS the updates, though not those from windows that got me. It was my own software that automatically updates drivers. When I changed the video drivers, it destabilized the system.

Moral of the story: leave well enough alone. If the magic is working, don't mess with it. Lesson learned, again. I really do know this. Stupid me.

I wonder if you might describe too me, what exactly happened to your system, and what the fix was. In detail so that I might learn from it...Thank you....

Ok, here goes:

Windows 7 Home Premium
Inspiron One 2305 Toucnscreen
23" HD Monitor
AMD Athlon II X4610e Process, 2.40 GB (Quad)
RAM: 8.00 GB
64-bit Operating System
Touch Input
Video: ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5470
TV: AVerMedia A3336 MiniCard Hybrid ATS/QAM
Audio: Realtek High Definition Audio
HD: 1 TB IDE SATA
DVD/CD ROM drives: HL-DT DVDRWBD

And there are wireless adapters, other devices, and more inputs including infrared receives and television capability, most of which I don't use.

The trick was getting the information from the blue screen so I knew what area the problem occupied. I finally got the code:

0X0000016 (I may have the number of zeroes wrong).

I punched THAT into Google and learned that this indicated a problem with the video card, which I had suspected already.

I went to the Dell driver download website. I punched in my computer's service tag and a list of drivers for my computer appeared.

I opened the Video section and selected two for download: the primary driver for the card and another for the TV tuner that is built into the computer. I installed them. I also downloaded and installed the IR driver since that had failed too.

I noticed immediately that what Dell was urgently recommending were NOT the newer drivers my update software had installed, but the original driver published more than a year ago.

I rebooted the computer and it has been fine since. The moral of the story really is:

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

The newest version of the driver is NOT necessarily the best one. I really should have known that, so it was my own fault. I wish I could blame someone else, but it seems to be me who is to blame.

Although this computer is a desktop, it really is at its heart, a laptop. It uses pretty much entirely laptop components in a typical laptop configuration with all the same limitations that attach to a laptop. The All-In-One design is very compact.

You might consider this something of a hybrid. It's a delight when it is running right. Then I remember why I was so happy to get it.

Goodness sakes... I went online in search of that particular video card..and it is from UK and has over sixteen different types of drivers for the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5470.

They list them from one to sixteen versions under that particular name of video card...Goodness no wonder you had difficulties in trying to get a new and "correct" driver for it...

ATI stated that they do not provide any drivers for the card..one has to go to the manufactor..of your system. in your case being Dell..and dell had the same sixteen choices for one to make..


But other than that craziness.. your description of the computer indicates it is one heck of a machine...
But one thing funny about the ATI sight..they list that monitor as a laptop one.. guess it is closer to being one than a PC...

I have installed windows 7 on many of a machine which did not have any previous operating system..and win 7 has always put in excellent drivers for everything in the system... I think if it was me..and I would only install a new driver from windows 7 installation disc..and not add new ones from the web alone..
but that is me..as I hate to be frustrated over systems that give me problems.. smile..


Thank you so much for taking the time to write all of that down for me.. I was so curious as to what had happened to your system... I just really wanted to know..and I certainly appreciate your time and kindness for doing it for me..

I would imagine you have had enough of this issue already...

PAX
Bro. Monte..