So, i've had my Acer Aspire 7720Z laptop for about 4-5 years. It runs Vista home premium. Recently i've started getting the BSOD. It's happened 3 times in the last couple of months and it tends to just come without warning and makes my computer shut down and then restart. Once my computer has restarted and returned to the desktop, a box appears saying, "Windows has recovered from an unexpected shutdown" and if i click the dropdown arrow labeled "details" i am given the following information:
Problem signature:
Problem Event Name: BlueScreen
OS Version: 6.0.6002.2.2.0.768.3
Locale ID: 2057
Additional information about the problem:
BCCode: fe
BCP1: 00000008
BCP2: 00000006
BCP3: 00000005
BCP4: 87697C98
OS Version: 6_0_6002
Service Pack: 2_0
Product: 768_1
Files that help describe the problem:
C:\Windows\Minidump\Mini090911-01.dmp
C:\Users\Sarah\AppData\Local\Temp\WER-144815-0.sysdata.xml
C:\Users\Sarah\AppData\Local\Temp\WER6048.tmp.version.txt
Last time i got the blue screen (this morning) i clicked on the "check for a solution" button and this comes up:
Troubleshoot a problem with a USB driver
You received this message because your universal serial bus (USB) driver has caused a stop error, also called a blue screen error. This type of error means the computer has shut down abruptly to protect itself from potential data corruption or loss.
What is a driver?
A driver is software that allows your computer to communicate with hardware or devices. Without drivers, the hardware you connect to your computer (for example, a video card or a webcam) will not work properly.
The following recommended steps might help you eliminate this problem, or at least reduce its frequency. Try them in the order given. If one step does not solve or reduce the problem, then move on to the next one.
Steps to solve this problem
Adjust your computer's power settings
The following power setting adjustments might help reduce the frequency of this problem.
Disable the USB selective suspend setting:
Click the Start button .
In the Search box, type power options, and then press ENTER.
Find the plan that's selected and click Change plan settings.
Click Change advanced power settings.
Double-click USB Settings , and then double-click USB selective suspend setting.
Make sure the USB selective suspend setting is disabled. If it is enabled, click it and select Disabled, and then click OK.
Turn off power saving mode (non-laptop computers only):
Click the Start button .
In the Search field, type power options, and then press ENTER.
Under Preferred Plans, make sure High Performance is selected, and then close the window.
Check for a system BIOS update for your computer
Several computer manufacturers whose computers exhibit this problem have released BIOS updates to fix this known issue. Contact your computer manufacturer to see if a BIOS update is available for your specific model of computer.
What is the BIOS?
The basic input/output system (BIOS) is software built into a computer that is run when the computer is first turned on. Among other things, this software starts the operating system and supports the transfer of information between hardware devices (such as the keyboard and the monitor).
How do I find my computer manufacturer?
Click the Start button , type msinfo32 in the Search box, and then press ENTER. Your computer manufacturer is listed as the System Manufacturer in the right pane of the System Information window.
Click to go online to see contact information for most computer manufacturers
Download and install the latest updates and drivers for your computer
It is a good idea to periodically check for driver updates for your computer, especially if you have added new hardware recently, like a USB hub or other USB device.
What is a USB hub?
A USB hub is a device featuring multiple universal serial bus (USB) ports. USB ports are narrow, rectangular connection points for connecting USB devices to your computer. A USB hub serves as a port extender or replicator, providing multiple USB ports to operate from one built-in USB connection on your computer. USB hubs can be external devices that plug into a single USB port, or they can be internal devices built into your computer.
To check for driver updates:
Use Windows Update to check for and install updates:
Go online to Windows Update
Click the Check for Updates link in the left pane, and then click View available updates.
What if I don't see any available updates?
If you see You receive updates: Managed by your system administrator, you can try clicking the link to Check online for updates from Microsoft Update or Check online for updates from Windows Update, but you might need to contact your system administrator to obtain the desired updates.
If you don't see the message above and no updates are available in Windows Update after clicking the Check for Updates link in the left pane, then the available updates have already been installed.
Select driver updates for your device and any other updates you want to install.
Note
We recommend that you install all Important and Recommended updates. These updates improve your computer's security and stability.
Click Install. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
If you recently added a new hardware device to your computer, go online to the manufacturer's website to see if a driver update is available.
If you recently added a new program to your computer, go online to the manufacturer's website to see if an update is available.
Steps to work around this problem
Warning
These steps are designed to address a particular problem but might do so by temporarily disabling or removing some functionality on your computer.
Try removing newly added USB devices
If this problem occurred after adding a USB hub or other USB device, consider removing it to see if the problem goes away. If this solves the problem, contact the device's manufacturer for product updates or other recommendations.
Do not disconnect USB devices while the computer is shutting down or going to sleep
This problem is known to occur when USB devices are disconnected while the computer is in the process of shutting down or going into sleep mode. This is common with laptops, especially those with docking stations, because the docking station can act like a USB hub. The frequency of this problem might be reduced by allowing your computer to fully shut down or fully enter sleep mode before removing it from its docking station or disconnecting USB devices from it or from the docking station.
If you know which USB device is causing this problem
It might be possible to prevent the blue screen error by choosing the Safely Remove Hardware option in the Notification Area before putting your computer in sleep mode or hibernation.
In the System Tray, click the Safely Remove Hardware icon, select the USB device that you think is causing the problem, and then click OK.
Do not physically remove the USB device.
Perform the action that resulted in the blue screen error, whether that was resuming operation of your computer after putting it in sleep mode, hibernation, or, in the case of laptops, closing the laptop or placing it in a docking station.
If the blue screen error still occurs, then it is likely the problem is with another USB device. Try this procedure using other USB devices until you find the one causing the problem.
If the blue screen error went away, then you have most likely identified the device causing the problem. Contact the device manufacturer for more information on how to solve this problem, or use the Safely Remove Hardware option to work around it.
Note
Depending on the device manufacturer and model, some USB devices will become available automatically when you resume use of your computer. Others will require that you first physically unplug them and then plug them back in before they will be recognized by the computer. Check the System Tray to see if the USB device you safely removed became available when you started using your computer again. If it did not become available automatically, then physically unplug it, and then plug it back in.
Now i don't know what to do.
Problem signature:
Problem Event Name: BlueScreen
OS Version: 6.0.6002.2.2.0.768.3
Locale ID: 2057
Additional information about the problem:
BCCode: fe
BCP1: 00000008
BCP2: 00000006
BCP3: 00000005
BCP4: 87697C98
OS Version: 6_0_6002
Service Pack: 2_0
Product: 768_1
Files that help describe the problem:
C:\Windows\Minidump\Mini090911-01.dmp
C:\Users\Sarah\AppData\Local\Temp\WER-144815-0.sysdata.xml
C:\Users\Sarah\AppData\Local\Temp\WER6048.tmp.version.txt
Last time i got the blue screen (this morning) i clicked on the "check for a solution" button and this comes up:
Troubleshoot a problem with a USB driver
You received this message because your universal serial bus (USB) driver has caused a stop error, also called a blue screen error. This type of error means the computer has shut down abruptly to protect itself from potential data corruption or loss.
What is a driver?
A driver is software that allows your computer to communicate with hardware or devices. Without drivers, the hardware you connect to your computer (for example, a video card or a webcam) will not work properly.
The following recommended steps might help you eliminate this problem, or at least reduce its frequency. Try them in the order given. If one step does not solve or reduce the problem, then move on to the next one.
Steps to solve this problem
Adjust your computer's power settings
The following power setting adjustments might help reduce the frequency of this problem.
Disable the USB selective suspend setting:
Click the Start button .
In the Search box, type power options, and then press ENTER.
Find the plan that's selected and click Change plan settings.
Click Change advanced power settings.
Double-click USB Settings , and then double-click USB selective suspend setting.
Make sure the USB selective suspend setting is disabled. If it is enabled, click it and select Disabled, and then click OK.
Turn off power saving mode (non-laptop computers only):
Click the Start button .
In the Search field, type power options, and then press ENTER.
Under Preferred Plans, make sure High Performance is selected, and then close the window.
Check for a system BIOS update for your computer
Several computer manufacturers whose computers exhibit this problem have released BIOS updates to fix this known issue. Contact your computer manufacturer to see if a BIOS update is available for your specific model of computer.
What is the BIOS?
The basic input/output system (BIOS) is software built into a computer that is run when the computer is first turned on. Among other things, this software starts the operating system and supports the transfer of information between hardware devices (such as the keyboard and the monitor).
How do I find my computer manufacturer?
Click the Start button , type msinfo32 in the Search box, and then press ENTER. Your computer manufacturer is listed as the System Manufacturer in the right pane of the System Information window.
Click to go online to see contact information for most computer manufacturers
Download and install the latest updates and drivers for your computer
It is a good idea to periodically check for driver updates for your computer, especially if you have added new hardware recently, like a USB hub or other USB device.
What is a USB hub?
A USB hub is a device featuring multiple universal serial bus (USB) ports. USB ports are narrow, rectangular connection points for connecting USB devices to your computer. A USB hub serves as a port extender or replicator, providing multiple USB ports to operate from one built-in USB connection on your computer. USB hubs can be external devices that plug into a single USB port, or they can be internal devices built into your computer.
To check for driver updates:
Use Windows Update to check for and install updates:
Go online to Windows Update
Click the Check for Updates link in the left pane, and then click View available updates.
What if I don't see any available updates?
If you see You receive updates: Managed by your system administrator, you can try clicking the link to Check online for updates from Microsoft Update or Check online for updates from Windows Update, but you might need to contact your system administrator to obtain the desired updates.
If you don't see the message above and no updates are available in Windows Update after clicking the Check for Updates link in the left pane, then the available updates have already been installed.
Select driver updates for your device and any other updates you want to install.
Note
We recommend that you install all Important and Recommended updates. These updates improve your computer's security and stability.
Click Install. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
If you recently added a new hardware device to your computer, go online to the manufacturer's website to see if a driver update is available.
If you recently added a new program to your computer, go online to the manufacturer's website to see if an update is available.
Steps to work around this problem
Warning
These steps are designed to address a particular problem but might do so by temporarily disabling or removing some functionality on your computer.
Try removing newly added USB devices
If this problem occurred after adding a USB hub or other USB device, consider removing it to see if the problem goes away. If this solves the problem, contact the device's manufacturer for product updates or other recommendations.
Do not disconnect USB devices while the computer is shutting down or going to sleep
This problem is known to occur when USB devices are disconnected while the computer is in the process of shutting down or going into sleep mode. This is common with laptops, especially those with docking stations, because the docking station can act like a USB hub. The frequency of this problem might be reduced by allowing your computer to fully shut down or fully enter sleep mode before removing it from its docking station or disconnecting USB devices from it or from the docking station.
If you know which USB device is causing this problem
It might be possible to prevent the blue screen error by choosing the Safely Remove Hardware option in the Notification Area before putting your computer in sleep mode or hibernation.
In the System Tray, click the Safely Remove Hardware icon, select the USB device that you think is causing the problem, and then click OK.
Do not physically remove the USB device.
Perform the action that resulted in the blue screen error, whether that was resuming operation of your computer after putting it in sleep mode, hibernation, or, in the case of laptops, closing the laptop or placing it in a docking station.
If the blue screen error still occurs, then it is likely the problem is with another USB device. Try this procedure using other USB devices until you find the one causing the problem.
If the blue screen error went away, then you have most likely identified the device causing the problem. Contact the device manufacturer for more information on how to solve this problem, or use the Safely Remove Hardware option to work around it.
Note
Depending on the device manufacturer and model, some USB devices will become available automatically when you resume use of your computer. Others will require that you first physically unplug them and then plug them back in before they will be recognized by the computer. Check the System Tray to see if the USB device you safely removed became available when you started using your computer again. If it did not become available automatically, then physically unplug it, and then plug it back in.
Now i don't know what to do.