[newbe]

Hello there -- I'm using a Dell XPS 600 desktop running XP SP2. Over the past month, my computer has been randomly bringing up a blue screen. At first it was only periodic -- and it never happened when I was actually using the computer. When...

Hello there --

I'm using a Dell XPS 600 desktop running XP SP2. Over the past month, my computer has been randomly bringing up a blue screen. At first it was only periodic -- and it never happened when I was actually using the computer. When I'd get up to leave for work -- I'd notice the blue screen was up. It was so infrequent I didn't think it was a big deal and let it be. Tonight I was using the computer watching a video on a news website and it went to the blue screen with PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA (0x8E). I tried to restart like I usually do to fix the problem and it didn't even try to load XP -- bringing me straight to the same blue screen -- this time the error code was (0x50). I tried starting it in safe mode and it won't even do that -- this time it gives me an IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL blue screen. So the problem is I can't even make it to Windows!

I've read other threads that say it seems to point to a memory issue. They suggested running memtest -- but if I can't even get past the start screen how can I load it? As you can tell I'm not the most experienced person in the world. Can anyone help me out?