Recovery Console does not recognise CD after being opened with it.

[BC_Programmer]

MACHINE_CHECK_EXCEPTION BSOD's practically guarantee a hardware problem.

I'd be inclined to blame the memory.

[Arno]

The Compaq diagnostics gave the memory a clean bill of health.
I have two 1GB sticks and I ran that one in one slot, then in the other and than did the same with the second stick.  It made no difference to the eventual BSOD.

I have to see if I can borrow some from someone for testing as I did not really want to spend more on this machine, hoping for the USB 3.0 mother boards to hit the majors.

[JJ 3000]

You should use memtest to check your RAM. Get it here
http://www.memtest.org/#downiso

If the RAM is OK, swap out your power supply with one of equal or greater wattage. Try to borrow a power supply for this if you can.

If the problem still persists after you've checked the RAM and the PSU, then it is most likely a problem with your CPU or motherboard.

[Arno]

Memtest came out OK.
I don't know anyone with a SFF Compaq/HP to borrow a PSU which also leaves me up the creek as far as the motherboard is concerned.

I appreciate your input.

[Computer_Commando]

MACHINE_CHECK_EXCEPTION BSOD's practically guarantee a hardware problem...

Yup, it's a hardware problem.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machine_Check_Exception
Get Hardware Monitor to keep an eye on voltages & temps.  http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/hwmonitor.html
No guarantee, but it's a place to start.  Post a screenshot.
Depending on the motherboard, some of the temps could be meaningless, i.e. TMPIN0, TMPIN1 in the example below.

[recovering disk space - old attachment deleted by admin]

[Arno]

http://tinypic.com/r/250pdp1/7


Haven't yet found out how to upload an image in this forums software.

[JJ 3000]

I just noticed this

downloaded ReImage, a couple of days ago and tried to clean the registry by importing the export I made before installation.

Did this problem start right after you used reimage?

[Arno]

The problem started about a month before that.
I cannot say for certain but maybe about the times that KB2416447 failed to install for about a week but took hold with the next bunch a week later.

Because all the searches fingered RAM, hardware or software problems I did uninstall that update but it made no difference to the BSOD.
About 3 weeks prior to that the last software change was a Java and Flash upgrade for Firefox.

[Computer_Commando]

...Haven't yet found out how to upload an image in this forums software....

Additional Options... below message reply box.
Everything looks normal.

[Arno]

Additional Options... below message reply box.

Thanks

Everything looks normal.

That's what the HP Invent Diagnostics (Control Panel>Diagnostics for Windows) reported but it is nice to have it confirmed by some newer software.

[Computer_Commando]

MACHINE_CHECK_EXCEPTION BSOD's practically guarantee a hardware problem.

I'd be inclined to blame the memory.

Maybe the graphics card memory?  Here's a link to the OP's hardware screenshot.  Looks like a dedicated graphics card

[Arno]

Maybe the graphics card memory?
Looks like a dedicated graphics card.

That is a GeForce 6200 with 256 MB Nvidia chip set.

Early on, during the physical RAM stick tests, I also tested with the video card removed.

[Computer_Commando]

That is a GeForce 6200 with 256 MB Nvidia chip set.
Early on, during the physical RAM stick tests, I also tested with the video card removed.

There are no tests for the video RAM, that I am aware of.  If you have another video card, use it and see if the problem disappears.

[Arno]

I do not have another video card.
I thought it could not be the card as the problem still existed when the card was removed from the computer.
That card is an aftermarket card.

[Computer_Commando]

1.  I do not have another video card.
2.  I thought it could not be the card as the problem still existed when the card was removed from the computer.
That card is an aftermarket card.

#1 & #2 are inconsistent.  If you don't have another video card, how would the computer function without one?  Does this computer also have onboard video which you have not yet told us about?  If it does, I suspect you have omitted other pertinent information.  I'm all out of ideas.