Blue Screen in Windows VISTA

[Guest]

I have a general question on VISTA. My parents recently bought a new laptop
with Widnwos VISTA loaded. The computer worked fine, but recently has
started blue-screening after it starts. I know this may be a shortage of
information to help diagnose, but if anyone has thoughts, I would appreciate
any ideas. Here's some additional info.

Computer only blue-screens if they have an internet connection (wirless or
LAN connection).
There internet provider is a small local telephone company who set them up
with a static IP.
Only third-party software added was Norton AntiVirus and an Anti-Spyware
program.

 

[Michael Solomon]

I have a general question on VISTA. My parents recently bought a new
laptop with Widnwos VISTA loaded. The computer worked fine, but
recently has started blue-screening after it starts. I know this may
be a shortage of information to help diagnose, but if anyone has
thoughts, I would appreciate any ideas. Here's some additional info.

Computer only blue-screens if they have an internet connection
(wirless or LAN connection).
There internet provider is a small local telephone company who set
them up with a static IP.
Only third-party software added was Norton AntiVirus and an
Anti-Spyware program.

Did the system blue screen before adding Norton or the Anti-spyware
application. If no, I'd start by removing Norton Antivirus. You'll need to
check the Symantec website for complete removal instructions as this product
leaves a lot of remnants around if only uninstalled using the remove
programs option or the uninstall under Norton on the Start menu.

If this issue occured prior to those installations, check how your parents
are using the laptop as heat can be issue and if they place the laptop on a
soft surface, a bed for example, it can block proper ventilation.

If they only use it on a hard surface, you'll need to check to be sure all
their drivers are up to date. If they are up to date at the laptop
manufacturer's website, you might need to check the specifc manufacturer of
hardware on their system, graphics card and whatever else they have as the
manufacturer may have more up to date drivers for the specific device.

 

[Mr. Arnold]

Only third-party software added was Norton AntiVirus and an Anti-Spyware
program.

I would start there as the possible problem.

 

[Plato]

I have a general question on VISTA. My parents recently bought a new laptop
with Widnwos VISTA loaded. The computer worked fine, but recently has
started blue-screening after it starts. I know this may be a shortage of

Chances are its due to the install of some older software they had
laying around and figured they'd use it on their new laptop. Have them
remove/uninstall what they put on recently.

 

[Chad Harris]

Hi Luke==

1) Norton itself whatever version (you didn't say) shouldn't be causing
BSODs or any stop errors if it's a version of NAV that's compatible with
Vista. Ck. Norton's site for that.

2) You may want to ujninstall Norton and try a free version of Windows One
Care for 90 days, considerably better in my opinion--less space--less
resource consumption--has its own spyware.

See

http://onecare.live.com/standard/en-us/purchase/default.htm

That's one way to see if NAV is causing BSOD's but normally Luke it should
not. Again you ck. and see if Norton AV their version has any compatibility
problems with Vista. I wondered if your parents had an older version of
Norton pre-Vista.

3) It would help somewhat to know what's on the BSOD, and you can find out
by making sure the BSOD doesn't disappear when you make it happen.

This will allow the Blue Screen to stay on the screen until you decide to
restart so you can read it and copy the error. These errors aren't
absolutely essential and some are poorly written but they can be very
helpful and provide a clue in the direction of the problem.

Hit Windows Key on lower left keyboard+Pause Break Key on upper
right>Advanced System Settings (on left under tasks in blue)>click
"settings" button under Startup and Recovery at bottom>under system failure
on bottom of box take ck. mark out of box that says "Automatically Restart".

..Besides empirically uninstalling Norton and seeing if the Blue or other
color screens continue, you can keep Norton ( I much prefer One Care for
more reasons than I have time to type), you can try some very easy ways to
fix Vista on that box. The information is included below:

1) If you have a DVD (and the majority of pre-loaded PC buyers do not--much
to my regret and MSFT and the OEM's unadulterated greed that outweighs
giving their end users the tools they have developed to fix Vista) you can
use the Win RE (Recovery Environment tools including the few click Startup
Repair from the recovery link off the DVD's setup screen).

2) You have the panoply of options from F8 which includes the possibility of
four safe mode>>system restore options and LKG (Last Known Good)
configuration.

***Startup Repair and System Restore from the Win Recovery Environment on
the DVD***

You can run Startup Repair by putting your Vista DVD in after the
language screen in setup. You can also run System Restore from the same
location.

You run the startup repair tool this way (and system restore from here is
also sometimes effective):

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/925810/en-us

How To Run Startup Repair In Vista Ultimate (Multiple Screenshots)
http://www.windowsvista.windowsreinstall.com/vistaultimate/repairstartup/index.htm

Note The computer must be configured to start from a CD or from a DVD. For
information about how to configure the computer to start from a CD or from a
DVD, see the information that came with the computer.
2. Restart the computer. To do this, click Start, click the arrow next to
the Lock button, and then click Restart.

This usually means that you enter bios setup by whatever key or keys
(sometimes there is more than one key that will do it for your model--go to
pc manufacturer site) and configure CD to be first in the boot order (this
will allow you to boot from the Vista DVD as well):

See for ref:
Access/Enter Motherboard BIOS
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm

Boot Order in Bios (Set Boot from HD 1st)
http://www.short-media.com/images/mm/Articles/build_computer/bios/bios03.jpg

Note If you cannot restart the computer by using this method, use the power
button to turn off the computer. Then, turn the computer back on.

3. Set your language preference, and then click Next.

Note In most cases, the startup repair process starts automatically, and you
do not have the option to select it in the System Recovery Options menu.

4. Click Repair your computer.

5. In the System Recovery Options dialog box, click the operating system
that you want to repair, and then click Next.

6. In the System Recovery Options menu, click Startup Repair to start the
repair process.

7. When the repair process is complete, click Finish.

Additional References for Startup Repair With Screenshots:

How to Use Startup Repair:

***Accessing Windows RE (Repair Environment):***

1) Insert Media into PC (the DVD you burned)

2) ***You will see on the Vista logo setup screen after lang. options in the
lower left corner, a link called "System Recovery Options."***

Screenshot: System Recovery Options (Lower Left Link)
http://blogs.itecn.net/photos/liuhui/images/2014/500x375.aspx

Screenshot: (Click first option "Startup Repair"
http://www.leedesmond.com/images/img_vista02ctp-installSysRecOpt2.bmp

How To Run Startup Repair In Vista Ultimate (Multiple Screenshots)
http://www.windowsvista.windowsreinstall.com/vistaultimate/repairstartup/index.htm

3) Select your OS for repair.

4) Its been my experience that you can see some causes of the crash from
theWin RE feature:

You'll have a choice there of using:

1) Startup Repair
2) System Restore
3) Complete PC Restore
___________________

***Using the F8 Environment or a Repair Install from the DVD:***

See for ref:
Access/Enter Motherboard BIOS
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm

Boot Order in Bios (Set Boot from HD 1st)
http://www.short-media.com/images/mm/Articles/build_computer/bios/bios03.jpg

Repair Install
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/tips/doug92.mspx

Repair Install (Method 2):
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/315341

III Taking Full Advantage of the F8 Options (Windows Advanced Options Menu)
by startin gth ePC and tapping F8 once per second:

You could also:

Think: I have 4 different ways to get back my XP at F8 and try 'em in order.
1) Safe Mode 2) Safe Mode with Cmd to Sys Restore which is simply a cmd
prompt in safe mode 3) Safe Mode with Neworking 4) LKG or Last Known Good
Configuration


Try to F8 to the Windows Adv Options Menu>try 3 safe modes there (I don't
use WGA) and Last Known Good>then I go to Win RE in Vista. That gives you a
choice of Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking,and Safe Mode with Command
Prompt.

These methods are outlined in

A description of the Safe Mode Boot options in Windows XP/and Vista
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315222/

How to Use System Restore

http://bertk.mvps.org/

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding System Restore from MSFT:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/plan/faqsrwxp.mspx

Using System Restore

http://tinyurl.com/dvekb

System Restore for Windows XP

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_restore.htm

How to start the System Restore tool at a command prompt in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;304449


Repair Install: (This option has the best chance of succeeding and it
preserves everything in your OS--you do not lose anything with this option):

Make sure the DVD you have is a Vista DVD

Pitfalls: If the DVD came from friend or relative or P2P, you may have
problems. P2P besides being illlegal in many countries including the U.S.
can be corrupt. If CD came from friend or relative, they may have given
you the CD to use but if product key is in use, MSFT is not going to accept
it for activation. Make sure you clean the CD carefully using proper
cleaning fluid and strokes that radiate from center like spokes on a wheel.

Again a repair install has the most likely chance to succeed, but you need
to have an Vista DVD.
First, in order to do a Repair Install You must boot to the bios setup and
position booting from the "CD" first in the boot order--it probably will not
say DVD but might.

Booting to Bios Setup:

For 85% of PC's and all Dells you can tap the F2 key to reach bios setup.

How To Enable DVD/CD Rom Support (put CD boot first) in bios setup boot
order:

http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org/how_do_i_enable_cdrom_support_i.htm

Screen Shot of bios setup boot order:
http://www.poy.net/proxy/bios2.jpg

Repair Install Does Not Lose Anything; you may need to try 2-3 times but
that's rare.

How To Repair Install
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315341#XSLTH3127121122120121120120
Screen Shot Repair Install
http://www.windowsreinstall.com/winxppro/installxpcdrepair/indexfullpage.htm

Good luck,

CH

 

[Joe Guidera]

Unfortunately, without seeing what the message is that is produced when it
blue screens, we're all guessing at the cause.

Joe

 

[Bill Lewis]

<SNIP>
( I much prefer One Care for more reasons than I have time to type)
<SNIP>

And, I could type a page of reasons why I will avoid OneCare like a plague !

 

[Guest]

Thanks a bunch to all who responded!

Unfortunately, the laptop is 140 miles away from me so I can't post the blue
screen message. I will try to do so next time I visit them. I installed
Norton and the anti-spyware for them at my house when the purchased the
laptop and we used for several days on my internet connection and everything
worked fine. The problem started when they got their own DSL setup (as I
mentioned earlier with a static IP which is not the norm nowadays). So I
have a feeling it is not related to Norton or the Anti-Spyware. The only
other thing installed on the laptop was Google Updater. No other older
software was installed. The last time I visited, I uninstalled Google
Updater and it seemed to correct the problem. I used the laptop for a couple
of days without any Blue Screens. Now it seems the problem has re-appeared.
Was just hoping there was some known issue out there with Vista.

 

[sharpz]

ethernet controller driver, look for an updated one, most likely intel or
AMD