Win XP Pro (fully licensed)

Problem:

1. Windows update - 3 security updates on 3/13/09
2. During the night while idle, BSOD - IRQL_NOT_LESS _OR_EQUAL
3. Restarted manually after I woke in the morning
4. Computer idle and 2-3 hrs later BSOD again same error
5. Attempted system restore from apparent valid dates (bold) - System
Checkpoints

3/1/09 - all restore points to 3/14/09 - Restore Incomplete

What's the point of "System Restore" if it doesn't work? No clue as to
why it doesn't work.

Any ideas on both issues - the BSOD and the System Restore?

Thanks, Jay

Usually #2 is a hardware driver problem. Have you installed anything new
lately?

Have you run an antivirus/malware program lately (with updated definitions)?

Do you have a firewall running when trying to do a System Restore? If so,
pull your internet connection and shut down the firewall. Disable it until
the restore has finished, then re-enable it.

If system restore still doesn't run, you can boot into safe mode with
command prompt and run c:\windows\system32\restore\rstrui.exe. This has
worked for me in the past when all else failed.

SC Tom

"Jay" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
> Win XP Pro (fully licensed)
>
> Problem:
>
> 1. Windows update - 3 security updates on 3/13/09
> 2. During the night while idle, BSOD - IRQL_NOT_LESS _OR_EQUAL
> 3. Restarted manually after I woke in the morning
> 4. Computer idle and 2-3 hrs later BSOD again same error
> 5. Attempted system restore from apparent valid dates (bold) - System
> Checkpoints
>
> 3/1/09 - all restore points to 3/14/09 - Restore Incomplete
>
> What's the point of "System Restore" if it doesn't work? No clue as to why
> it doesn't work.
>
> Any ideas on both issues - the BSOD and the System Restore?
>
> Thanks, Jay

The date and time was Saturday, March 14, 2009 3:24:12 PM, and on a
whim, Jay pounded out on the keyboard:

> Win XP Pro (fully licensed)
>
> Problem:
>
> 1. Windows update - 3 security updates on 3/13/09
> 2. During the night while idle, BSOD - IRQL_NOT_LESS _OR_EQUAL
> 3. Restarted manually after I woke in the morning
> 4. Computer idle and 2-3 hrs later BSOD again same error
> 5. Attempted system restore from apparent valid dates (bold) - System
> Checkpoints
>
> 3/1/09 - all restore points to 3/14/09 - Restore Incomplete
>
> What's the point of "System Restore" if it doesn't work? No clue as to
> why it doesn't work.
>
> Any ideas on both issues - the BSOD and the System Restore?
>
> Thanks, Jay

Hi Jay,

I just had a long discussion in another thread regarding the uselessness
of SR. I have personally experienced its failure multiple times and
also have numerous client machines where it also has failed. The best
way to protect yourself is having a recent backup you can restore from.
Don't depend on SR.

There are things you can do to prevent it from happening, but my main
argument is, it's too late at that point.
http://bertk.mvps.org/html/srfail.html

The BSOD would require more info from the screen to interpret closer to
what may have happened.

Terry R.
--
Anti-spam measures are included in my email address.
Delete NOSPAM from the email address after clicking Reply.

On 14.03.2009 17:34, SC Tom wrote:

--- Original Message ---

> Usually #2 is a hardware driver problem. Have you installed anything new
> lately?

No, not in many months

> Have you run an antivirus/malware program lately (with updated
> definitions)?

Yes, and now that you mention it, when rebooting the first time after
the BSOD, Windows Alert popped up wanting to know if I wanted to
continue blocking Kaspersky AV or unblock it. Well, it never was
"blocked" to begin with.

But KAV didn't find any problems if that's where you're going with this.

> Do you have a firewall running when trying to do a System Restore? If
> so, pull your internet connection and shut down the firewall. Disable it
> until the restore has finished, then re-enable it.

No firewall other than the router.

> If system restore still doesn't run, you can boot into safe mode with
> command prompt and run c:\windows\system32\restore\rstrui.exe. This has
> worked for me in the past when all else failed.

If problem persists, I'll give that a try ..

Cheers, Jay

On 14.03.2009 18:02, Terry R. wrote:

--- Original Message ---

> The date and time was Saturday, March 14, 2009 3:24:12 PM, and on a
> whim, Jay pounded out on the keyboard:
>
>> Win XP Pro (fully licensed)
>>
>> Problem:
>>
>> 1. Windows update - 3 security updates on 3/13/09
>> 2. During the night while idle, BSOD - IRQL_NOT_LESS _OR_EQUAL
>> 3. Restarted manually after I woke in the morning
>> 4. Computer idle and 2-3 hrs later BSOD again same error
>> 5. Attempted system restore from apparent valid dates (bold) - System
>> Checkpoints
>>
>> 3/1/09 - all restore points to 3/14/09 - Restore Incomplete
>>
>> What's the point of "System Restore" if it doesn't work? No clue as to
>> why it doesn't work.
>>
>> Any ideas on both issues - the BSOD and the System Restore?
>>
>> Thanks, Jay
>
> Hi Jay,
>
> I just had a long discussion in another thread regarding the uselessness
> of SR. I have personally experienced its failure multiple times and
> also have numerous client machines where it also has failed. The best
> way to protect yourself is having a recent backup you can restore from.
> Don't depend on SR.
>
> There are things you can do to prevent it from happening, but my main
> argument is, it's too late at that point.
> http://bertk.mvps.org/html/srfail.html
>
> The BSOD would require more info from the screen to interpret closer to
> what may have happened.
>
> Terry R.


This started right after the latest windows update - 3 security patches
on 3/13/09 mid-morning.

Jay

Terry R. wrote:
> The date and time was Saturday, March 14, 2009 3:24:12 PM, and on a
> whim, Jay pounded out on the keyboard:
>
>> Win XP Pro (fully licensed)
>>
>> Problem:
>>
>> 1. Windows update - 3 security updates on 3/13/09
>> 2. During the night while idle, BSOD - IRQL_NOT_LESS _OR_EQUAL
>> 3. Restarted manually after I woke in the morning
>> 4. Computer idle and 2-3 hrs later BSOD again same error
>> 5. Attempted system restore from apparent valid dates (bold) - System
>> Checkpoints
>>
>> 3/1/09 - all restore points to 3/14/09 - Restore Incomplete
>>
>> What's the point of "System Restore" if it doesn't work? No clue as to
>> why it doesn't work.
>>
>> Any ideas on both issues - the BSOD and the System Restore?
>>
>> Thanks, Jay
>
> Hi Jay,
>
> I just had a long discussion in another thread regarding the uselessness
> of SR.

It's not completely "useless". It can (and has) save/d the day in many
instances. Not all, but still enough that it's worth keeping, in addition
to an image backup of your system. (And you can also add ERUNT into the
mix, and then have 3 restoration tools to use and choose from, as you find
appropriate).

"Jay" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> On 14.03.2009 18:02, Terry R. wrote:
>
> --- Original Message ---
>
>> The date and time was Saturday, March 14, 2009 3:24:12 PM, and on a whim,
>> Jay pounded out on the keyboard:
>>
>>> Win XP Pro (fully licensed)
>>>
>>> Problem:
>>>
>>> 1. Windows update - 3 security updates on 3/13/09
>>> 2. During the night while idle, BSOD - IRQL_NOT_LESS _OR_EQUAL
>>> 3. Restarted manually after I woke in the morning
>>> 4. Computer idle and 2-3 hrs later BSOD again same error
>>> 5. Attempted system restore from apparent valid dates (bold) - System
>>> Checkpoints
>>>
>>> 3/1/09 - all restore points to 3/14/09 - Restore Incomplete
>>>
>>> What's the point of "System Restore" if it doesn't work? No clue as to
>>> why it doesn't work.
>>>
>>> Any ideas on both issues - the BSOD and the System Restore?
>>>
>>> Thanks, Jay
>>
>> Hi Jay,
>>
>> I just had a long discussion in another thread regarding the uselessness
>> of SR. I have personally experienced its failure multiple times and also
>> have numerous client machines where it also has failed. The best way to
>> protect yourself is having a recent backup you can restore from. Don't
>> depend on SR.
>>
>> There are things you can do to prevent it from happening, but my main
>> argument is, it's too late at that point.
>> http://bertk.mvps.org/html/srfail.html
>>
>> The BSOD would require more info from the screen to interpret closer to
>> what may have happened.
>>
>> Terry R.
>
>
> This started right after the latest windows update - 3 security patches on
> 3/13/09 mid-morning.
>
> Jay

You can try uninstalling the 3 updates from Control Panel and see if that
helps.

SC Tom

On 15.03.2009 06:53, SC Tom wrote:

--- Original Message ---

> "Jay" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> On 14.03.2009 18:02, Terry R. wrote:
>>
>> --- Original Message ---
>>
>>> The date and time was Saturday, March 14, 2009 3:24:12 PM, and on a whim,
>>> Jay pounded out on the keyboard:
>>>
>>>> Win XP Pro (fully licensed)
>>>>
>>>> Problem:
>>>>
>>>> 1. Windows update - 3 security updates on 3/13/09
>>>> 2. During the night while idle, BSOD - IRQL_NOT_LESS _OR_EQUAL
>>>> 3. Restarted manually after I woke in the morning
>>>> 4. Computer idle and 2-3 hrs later BSOD again same error
>>>> 5. Attempted system restore from apparent valid dates (bold) - System
>>>> Checkpoints
>>>>
>>>> 3/1/09 - all restore points to 3/14/09 - Restore Incomplete
>>>>
>>>> What's the point of "System Restore" if it doesn't work? No clue as to
>>>> why it doesn't work.
>>>>
>>>> Any ideas on both issues - the BSOD and the System Restore?
>>>>
>>>> Thanks, Jay
>>>
>>> Hi Jay,
>>>
>>> I just had a long discussion in another thread regarding the uselessness
>>> of SR. I have personally experienced its failure multiple times and also
>>> have numerous client machines where it also has failed. The best way to
>>> protect yourself is having a recent backup you can restore from. Don't
>>> depend on SR.
>>>
>>> There are things you can do to prevent it from happening, but my main
>>> argument is, it's too late at that point.
>>> http://bertk.mvps.org/html/srfail.html
>>>
>>> The BSOD would require more info from the screen to interpret closer to
>>> what may have happened.
>>>
>>> Terry R.
>>
>>
>> This started right after the latest windows update - 3 security patches on
>> 3/13/09 mid-morning.
>>
>> Jay
>
> You can try uninstalling the 3 updates from Control Panel and see if that
> helps.
>
> SC Tom
>
>

So that's where you uninstall 'em ...

At any rate, got faced with more blue screens this morning. Funny thing
is the keyboard (USB-wireless) works to hit ESC to get into BIOS and
hitting F8 works to get into the menu screen ... buttt .. the arrow keys
do NOT work to select safe-mode.

At any rate, I finally managed to boot into XP and looked at the device
drivers list and there was a big yellow ? next to an audio device driver
for High Definiion ATI which didn't make sense because it was never
installed in the first place. At any rate, I selected it and let XP
install the drivers, it's now enbabled - working properly - and no more
yellow ?

Will see what happens the rest of today ... thanks

Jay

On 14.03.2009 20:52, Bill in Co. wrote:

--- Original Message ---

> Terry R. wrote:
>> The date and time was Saturday, March 14, 2009 3:24:12 PM, and on a
>> whim, Jay pounded out on the keyboard:
>>
>>> Win XP Pro (fully licensed)
>>>
>>> Problem:
>>>
>>> 1. Windows update - 3 security updates on 3/13/09
>>> 2. During the night while idle, BSOD - IRQL_NOT_LESS _OR_EQUAL
>>> 3. Restarted manually after I woke in the morning
>>> 4. Computer idle and 2-3 hrs later BSOD again same error
>>> 5. Attempted system restore from apparent valid dates (bold) - System
>>> Checkpoints
>>>
>>> 3/1/09 - all restore points to 3/14/09 - Restore Incomplete
>>>
>>> What's the point of "System Restore" if it doesn't work? No clue as to
>>> why it doesn't work.
>>>
>>> Any ideas on both issues - the BSOD and the System Restore?
>>>
>>> Thanks, Jay
>>
>> Hi Jay,
>>
>> I just had a long discussion in another thread regarding the uselessness
>> of SR.
>
> It's not completely "useless". It can (and has) save/d the day in many
> instances. Not all, but still enough that it's worth keeping, in addition
> to an image backup of your system. (And you can also add ERUNT into the
> mix, and then have 3 restoration tools to use and choose from, as you find
> appropriate).
>
>

It's useless from the standpoint that you can't restore anything from
the valid checkpoints. Why should you have to go into safe-mode hoops,
etc. I can't even get to safe-mode because the arrow keys don't function
on startup ... bah :-(

Jay

On 15.03.2009 06:53, SC Tom wrote:

--- Original Message ---

> You can try uninstalling the 3 updates from Control Panel and see if that
> helps.

<embarrased>

Where ?? I don't see it.

</embarrased>

Jay