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How to analyze a crash dump file in Windows:

• Create folder c:\symbols 
•  Download and install the debugger from http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/devtools/debugging/installx86.mspx
• Locate your latest memory.dmp file- %windir%\Minidump\Mini011005-01.dmp or where ever the OS is saving the file to
•  open a CMD prompt and browse to program files\debugging tools for windows\ 

Type the following:

> -z %windir%\Minidump\Mini011005-01.dmp 
> .logopen c:\debuglog.txt 
> .sympath srv*c:\symbols*http://msdl.microsoft.com/download/symbols 
> .reload;!analyze -v;r;kv;lmnt;.logclose;q

Debugger should have created a file named debuglog.txt under C: which sould provide you with a human readible details on what’s causing the crash. I’ve used this method to figure out the source of OS crashes, which led to a bad NIC card as well as other poorly written software running on the OS.