Help please: 0XF4 BSOD error

[Ferret]

Whenever I turn on my computer I get a blue screen of death, the error code reads:
***STOP: 0X000000F4 (0X00000003, 0X81AF6268, 0X81AF63DC, 0X805F9F88)

I googled and the error occurs when A critical system process of thread can't be run, so windows shuts down. The First 0X.... code means it is a process (don't know what that means) the Second is the 'object' that causes the error, the third and forth are an image of the error, and a pointer to an ascii explanation.

According to the same website it is mainly software based, however, when I run the machine with only one of the memories I get different parameters (the second code changes, and obviously the thrid)

I'm going to reinstall windows now, but is there anything I should know?

 

[Simplicity]

The pointers may change when you change the amount of memory in the system. It doesn't really mean anything.

I would try a full re-install, personally. If there are still weird problems after that, then I'd start worrying about bad memory.

 

[XCorvis]

I'm going to reinstall windows now, but is there anything I should know?

You should be able to reinstall windows without deleting any existing data. It's tempting to try to pick up from there, but don't give in. Instead, just get it to the point where you can start burning CDs and backup everything. Then reinstall windows again, but this time format the drive first. This will delete all the data, and you'll start from a clean slate. Much better for system stability.

Oh, and if you're using Windows ME, get rid of it. Get 98 or XP - both are lightyears better.

 

[Ferret]

All of my stuff is backed up already, and I run XP so everything is ok now. (Posting from own computer; its fixed.)