Hardware Malfunction Messages

Stop messages also take the form of hardware malfunction messages and, like all Stop messages, they are displayed in non-windowed text mode. These Stop messages occur after the processor detects a hardware malfunction, with the first one or two lines of the message containing a description. Depending on the HAL, the error text displayed can vary from one computer to another, even when similar components are involved. However, the error description typically points to a hardware problem, as shown in this example:

Hardware malfunction.
Call your hardware vendor for support.

The installed HAL determines the format and content of the message. Prior to proceeding with the recommendation provided by the message, it is best to contact the manufacturer for technical support. Record the information displayed after the first two lines of the message, as this might prove useful to the support technician.

Under certain circumstances, driver problems can generate Stop messages that appear to be related to a hardware malfunction. For example, if a driver writes to the wrong I/O port, the device at the destination port might respond by generating a hardware malfunction message. Errors of this kind, which are typically detected and debugged in advance of public release, underscore the need to periodically check for updated drivers.