Q:I bought my Acer Aspire L3600 Mini PC earlier this year. After a few weeks, I experienced a blue screen error.
Each time the blue screen appears, the system quickly restarts automatically. Each time I can catch only the words "dump of physical memory".
The CPU itself is connected only to the Acer monitor so I'm not sure what the error message means or what causes it. Is this a serious concern and should I send the machine to the service centre?
Linda Lee
A: blue screen is a serious error. Finding the cause of the problem is difficult but with a little troubleshooting and process of elimination, you may be able to pinpoint it.
You can start by trying to recall exactly when the blue screens started to appear. Then think back if you had installed any new software, hardware or been to any websites you do not normally visit.
For software and hardware, you can easily backtrack and uninstall or remove the hardware.
If the problem persists, you will have to look back at your browsing history. Some websites can sneakily get you to install a plug-in, browser helper object or some other insidious code that can wreak havoc on your system.
Give your entire system a once-over with an up-to-date anti-virus, anti-spyware and ensure your Windows is up to date.
There is one additional situation often overlooked and that is overheating. Make sure your Aspire L3600 has adequate ventilation and if it does not, give this a try.
Use a household fan to circulate air around the machine. Do this before you start the system up. If the problem goes away you know the problem is heat related. Re-arrange your equipment to allow proper and adequate ventilation.
Answers by Chester Chen, a PC enthusiast.
This story was first published in The Straits Times Digital Life.
