Blue Screen of Death help

[Christopher Vitek]

My computer has been getting the blue screen of death a lot recently. The
error message has mostly been "page fault in non paged area" and "irql not
less or equal to". Sometimes a file is mentioned - the last two times it
has been win32k.sys and ntfs.sys. Sometimes there is another bsod message
(something about a pool, I forgot to write it down) or other files listed.

It happens seemingly randomly. Sometimes in outlook express, internet
explorer, no program (just windows desktop), realone player, etc. No real
pattern I have been able to discern.

I don't recall having installed any hardware or software when it suddenly
started happening, but that may be either my faulty memory or a delay
between the installation and the onset of the problem.

I have run windows update for new drivers, as well as searching vendors for
updated drivers.

My questions are as follows

1) Is there some way to log or track what is causing the bsod? Maybe some
memory resident program or something I can have running? I would like to
know if it is a problem with the memory, some peripheral component, corrupt
software or drivers, etc.

2) Would a windows "repair" install help at all? I know it replaces files
on the hard disk with ones from the windows cd, but I don't know if that
would do anything productive or not.

The frequency of this varies from once every ten or fifteen minutes to once
a day. Any help is appreciated.

My system configuration is as follows
Athlon 2200+ XP processor
WD 120 GB hard drive
Asus A7N8X-X motherboard, bios 1007 revision
XFX nVidia 64MB MX440 graphics card
integrated sound and ethernet
1 PCI USB 2.0 card with 4 ports
1 PCI USB and Fireware (combo) card
512 MB 400Mhz DDR ram (running at 266 Mhz, same as processor) - generic
brand
CD RW drive (BTC)
DVD drive (Liteon)
DVD RW drive (NEC)

I seem to recall this starting (maybe) when I was trying to install some
processor tweaking/overclocking stuff, but I may be mistaken. I have
removed all those since then, althoug hthere is a message in the event log
about powertweak looking for a file that is can't find (netevent.dll) as a
service.

I will be happy to provide any more information that is needed.

Chris

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

TROUBLESHOOTING STOP ERROR MESSAGES
http://aumha.org/win5/kbestop.php

[Courtesy of James A. Eshelman, MS-MVP]

Troubleshooting Stop Errors
http://www2.cajun.net/~theriots/blk/win_xp_stop.htm

[Courtesy of Kelly Theriot, MS-MVP]

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


| My computer has been getting the blue screen of death a lot recently. The
| error message has mostly been "page fault in non paged area" and "irql not
| less or equal to". Sometimes a file is mentioned - the last two times it
| has been win32k.sys and ntfs.sys. Sometimes there is another bsod message
| (something about a pool, I forgot to write it down) or other files listed.
|
| It happens seemingly randomly. Sometimes in outlook express, internet
| explorer, no program (just windows desktop), realone player, etc. No real
| pattern I have been able to discern.
|
| I don't recall having installed any hardware or software when it suddenly
| started happening, but that may be either my faulty memory or a delay
| between the installation and the onset of the problem.
|
| I have run windows update for new drivers, as well as searching vendors for
| updated drivers.
|
| My questions are as follows
|
| 1) Is there some way to log or track what is causing the bsod? Maybe some
| memory resident program or something I can have running? I would like to
| know if it is a problem with the memory, some peripheral component, corrupt
| software or drivers, etc.
|
| 2) Would a windows "repair" install help at all? I know it replaces files
| on the hard disk with ones from the windows cd, but I don't know if that
| would do anything productive or not.
|
| The frequency of this varies from once every ten or fifteen minutes to once
| a day. Any help is appreciated.
|
| My system configuration is as follows
| Athlon 2200+ XP processor
| WD 120 GB hard drive
| Asus A7N8X-X motherboard, bios 1007 revision
| XFX nVidia 64MB MX440 graphics card
| integrated sound and ethernet
| 1 PCI USB 2.0 card with 4 ports
| 1 PCI USB and Fireware (combo) card
| 512 MB 400Mhz DDR ram (running at 266 Mhz, same as processor) - generic
| brand
| CD RW drive (BTC)
| DVD drive (Liteon)
| DVD RW drive (NEC)
|
| I seem to recall this starting (maybe) when I was trying to install some
| processor tweaking/overclocking stuff, but I may be mistaken. I have
| removed all those since then, althoug hthere is a message in the event log
| about powertweak looking for a file that is can't find (netevent.dll) as a
| service.
|
| I will be happy to provide any more information that is needed.
|
| Chris

 

[Jym]

When looking at the specification of your computer one thing jumps out at
me..... generic brand ram. Random problems has bad or poor performing system
ram written all over it. Jym

 

[Bee]

For random system failure as you have described, I would suspect hardware
cause. But first, you have not mentioned it: have you done all the usual
rituals ensuring there is no contagion of any sort?
As Jym said, memory diagnostics: http://www.memtest86.com/
Overheating and power supply. BIOS for temp readout, fan speeds.
HDD Health http://www.panterasoft.com/
Now, Check Disk
System File Check (This never works in my experience.)
Yes, you can look up the event log, but there will be tons of 'exhibits'
with failure of such frequency. It is impractical.

If hardware is OK, then.....Well, I would take out the butcher's knife and
....dare I say it...do a clean install, for your computer, as it is, that
machine is good as dead.


Bee.

 

[Bee]

Oh, I forgot. For your HDD, you should get a diagnostics origramme from the
manufacturer. Run the test overnight. Of course, then all your files and
data will be gone, so once again, we are back to the last ditch, a clean
install.

Bee.
--
[I have found my Shangri-La in ntlworld.]


--

For random system failure as you have described, I would suspect hardware
cause. But first, you have not mentioned it: have you done all the usual
rituals ensuring there is no contagion of any sort?
As Jym said, memory diagnostics: http://www.memtest86.com/
Overheating and power supply. BIOS for temp readout, fan speeds.
HDD Health http://www.panterasoft.com/
Now, Check Disk
System File Check (This never works in my experience.)
Yes, you can look up the event log, but there will be tons of 'exhibits'
with failure of such frequency. It is impractical.

If hardware is OK, then.....Well, I would take out the butcher's knife and
...dare I say it...do a clean install, for your computer, as it is, that
machine is good as dead.


Bee.
--
[I have found my Shangri-La in ntlworld.]


--

My computer has been getting the blue screen of death a lot recently. The
error message has mostly been "page fault in non paged area" and "irql not
less or equal to". Sometimes a file is mentioned - the last two times it
has been win32k.sys and ntfs.sys. Sometimes there is another bsod message
(something about a pool, I forgot to write it down) or other files listed.

It happens seemingly randomly. Sometimes in outlook express, internet
explorer, no program (just windows desktop), realone player, etc. No real
pattern I have been able to discern.

I don't recall having installed any hardware or software when it suddenly
started happening, but that may be either my faulty memory or a delay
between the installation and the onset of the problem.

I have run windows update for new drivers, as well as searching vendors for
updated drivers.

My questions are as follows

1) Is there some way to log or track what is causing the bsod? Maybe some
memory resident program or something I can have running? I would like to
know if it is a problem with the memory, some peripheral component, corrupt
software or drivers, etc.

2) Would a windows "repair" install help at all? I know it replaces files
on the hard disk with ones from the windows cd, but I don't know if that
would do anything productive or not.

The frequency of this varies from once every ten or fifteen minutes to once
a day. Any help is appreciated.

My system configuration is as follows
Athlon 2200+ XP processor
WD 120 GB hard drive
Asus A7N8X-X motherboard, bios 1007 revision
XFX nVidia 64MB MX440 graphics card
integrated sound and ethernet
1 PCI USB 2.0 card with 4 ports
1 PCI USB and Fireware (combo) card
512 MB 400Mhz DDR ram (running at 266 Mhz, same as processor) - generic
brand
CD RW drive (BTC)
DVD drive (Liteon)
DVD RW drive (NEC)

I seem to recall this starting (maybe) when I was trying to install some
processor tweaking/overclocking stuff, but I may be mistaken. I have
removed all those since then, althoug hthere is a message in the event log
about powertweak looking for a file that is can't find (netevent.dll) as a
service.

I will be happy to provide any more information that is needed.

Chris

 

[John K. Lunde]

My computer has been getting the blue screen of death a lot recently. The
error message has mostly been "page fault in non paged area" and "irql not
less or equal to". Sometimes a file is mentioned - the last two times it
has been win32k.sys and ntfs.sys. Sometimes there is another bsod message
(something about a pool, I forgot to write it down) or other files listed.

It happens seemingly randomly. Sometimes in outlook express, internet
explorer, no program (just windows desktop), realone player, etc. No real
pattern I have been able to discern.

I don't recall having installed any hardware or software when it suddenly
started happening, but that may be either my faulty memory or a delay
between the installation and the onset of the problem.

I have run windows update for new drivers, as well as searching vendors for
updated drivers.

My questions are as follows

1) Is there some way to log or track what is causing the bsod? Maybe some
memory resident program or something I can have running? I would like to
know if it is a problem with the memory, some peripheral component, corrupt
software or drivers, etc.

2) Would a windows "repair" install help at all? I know it replaces files
on the hard disk with ones from the windows cd, but I don't know if that
would do anything productive or not.

The frequency of this varies from once every ten or fifteen minutes to once
a day. Any help is appreciated.

My system configuration is as follows
Athlon 2200+ XP processor
WD 120 GB hard drive
Asus A7N8X-X motherboard, bios 1007 revision
XFX nVidia 64MB MX440 graphics card
integrated sound and ethernet
1 PCI USB 2.0 card with 4 ports
1 PCI USB and Fireware (combo) card
512 MB 400Mhz DDR ram (running at 266 Mhz, same as processor) - generic
brand
CD RW drive (BTC)
DVD drive (Liteon)
DVD RW drive (NEC)

I seem to recall this starting (maybe) when I was trying to install some
processor tweaking/overclocking stuff, but I may be mistaken. I have
removed all those since then, althoug hthere is a message in the event log
about powertweak looking for a file that is can't find (netevent.dll) as a
service.

I will be happy to provide any more information that is needed.

Chris

I had a similar problem trying to install a NEC 1300A DVD/RW in my W2K
system; things would work for a while, then the system would lock up
and the HDD would turn out to be badly corrupted... so much so that
CHKDSK would abort partway through.

After trying to install the DVD/RW three times and having the same
thing happen, my solution was to return the DVD/RW to the store, do a
low-level format of the HDD, reload it from my backup HDD (you do have
one, right?) and forget about installing a DVD/RW until the state of
the art is somewhat improved.