blue screen of death

[sw]

I have a clone laptop which has been working well until this week. My
screen turns blue when the machine boots up. I have windows xp
installed. The boot-up shows the first horizontal windows status bar
but then revers to a blue screen error message saying that "windows
had to halt as continuing would damage the computer". It goes on to
say that my video display driver is damaged.

Im suspicious of this as I've been unable to start the thing in safe
mode. A week earlier.. I downloaded the microsoft malware software and
detected/fixed (Or so I thought) a malware item on my machine

I have been able to start it in safe mode with command prompt.. Can I
use this as a way in to fix the problem?

Do I need to set up a boot disk? I have Mcaffee anti-virus which works
well as you can tell.

 

[Leonard Grey]

Does the blue screen have the word STOP followed by a hexadecimal number
that begins with 0x000... and a message that looks LIKE_THIS?
---
Leonard Grey
Errare humanum est

"A Day in the Life of a Web 2.0 Hacker" - PC Magazine
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2330952,00.asp

 

[sw]

Does the blue screen have the word STOP followed by a hexadecimal number
that begins with 0x000... and a message that looks LIKE_THIS?
---
Leonard Grey
Errare humanum est

"A Day in the Life of a Web 2.0 Hacker" - PC Magazinehttp://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2330952,00.asp







- Show quoted text -

Yes it does.. there are at least 5 of these numbers. Im not at the
machine right now but can pass them on tomorrow if that is of issue.

 

[Leonard Grey]

We need to know (at least):

1- Your version of Windows (including the service pack)
2- the numbers/letters after 0x00...
3- The NAME_OF_THE_ERROR
4- The exact circumstances under which you see the error.
5- Any changes to the hardware or software made recently before the
error message started appearing.
---
Leonard Grey
Errare humanum est

"A Day in the Life of a Web 2.0 Hacker" - PC Magazine
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2330952,00.asp

 

[sw]

We need to know (at least):

1- Your version of Windows (including the service pack)
2- the numbers/letters after 0x00...
3- The NAME_OF_THE_ERROR
4- The exact circumstances under which you see the error.
5- Any changes to the hardware or software made recently before the
error message started appearing.
---
Leonard Grey
Errare humanum est

"A Day in the Life of a Web 2.0 Hacker" - PC Magazinehttp://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2330952,00.asp





- Show quoted text -

Windows XP Media Center with SP3.

Message is:
"a problem has been detected and windows has been shut down to prevent
damage to your computer
the video driver failed to initialize
if this is the first time you've seen this Stop error screen, restart
your computer
if this screen appears again, follow these steps
check to make sure any new hardware or software is properly installed.
If this is a new installation, ask your hardware or software
manufacturer for any windows updates you might need.
If problems continue, disable or remove any newly installed hardware
or software. Disable BIOS memory options such as caching or
shadowing. If you need to use Safe Mode to remove or disable
components, restart your computer, press F8 to select Advanced Startup
Options, and then select Safe Mode.

Technical Information:
*** Stop: 0x000000B4 (0x82A43008, 0x82A44000, 0x82A3E000, 0x00050000)
Beginning dump of physical memory
Dumping physical memory to disk: " (this counts from 1 to 100) then it
says to contact technical assistance and the computer tries to
restart.

Sequence:
Computer is turned on...boot extends to show the "Microsoft Windows
XP" with icon and horizontal progress bar.. screen is then blank for
15 seconds.. and the blue screen with note (text shown above) comes
up..

The only change I can think of is software related.. A program called
XP Antivirus installed itself on my computer while my son was using
it. I got Mcaffee to find it and kick it off. I A few days later I
installed SP 3. 1 week after that I installed the Malicious software
removal tool. Ran it and found an item which I then deleted.

2 days later I received this problem message.(text noted above)

My USB mouse has been acting errantly.

Thankyou in advance for your help on this matter

 

[Leonard Grey]

It's possible that your computer is still infected.

To resolve the video card issue: Start your computer in Safe Mode. Once
in Safe Mode go to Control Panel > Add or Remove Programs and uninstall
your video card software. Then go to Device Manager and uninstall the
video card itself. Let your computer restart normally. Windows will
detect your video card and will install its own driver. Then go to the
website of your video card maker and obtain the latest driver. Follow
the driver installation procedures to the letter.
---
Leonard Grey
Errare humanum est

"A Day in the Life of a Web 2.0 Hacker" - PC Magazine
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2330952,00.asp

 

[sw]

It's possible that your computer is still infected.

To resolve the video card issue: Start your computer in Safe Mode. Once
in Safe Mode go to Control Panel > Add or Remove Programs and uninstall
your video card software. Then go to Device Manager and uninstall the
video card itself. Let your computer restart normally. Windows will
detect your video card and will install its own driver. Then go to the
website of your video card maker and obtain the latest driver. Follow
the driver installation procedures to the letter.
---
Leonard Grey
Errare humanum est

"A Day in the Life of a Web 2.0 Hacker" - PC Magazinehttp://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2330952,00.asp












- Show quoted text -

Thankyou for your time on this matter, I really appreciate your help.
The only problem with the safe mode suggestion is that I have the same
blue screen when trying to go to safe mode. I get the F8 screen as
suggested with no problem and choose safe mode.. same sequence as for
normal startup with the blue message. This does prompt me to think a
virus as safe mode should get me past a bad video driver wouldn't you
think?

 

[Leonard Grey]

See below.
---
Leonard Grey
Errare humanum est

"A Day in the Life of a Web 2.0 Hacker" - PC Magazine
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2330952,00.asp

Thankyou for your time on this matter, I really appreciate your help.
The only problem with the safe mode suggestion is that I have the same
blue screen when trying to go to safe mode. I get the F8 screen as
suggested with no problem and choose safe mode.. same sequence as for
normal startup with the blue message. This does prompt me to think a
virus as safe mode should get me past a bad video driver wouldn't you
think?

Correct. When you start in Safe Mode, your video software is not loaded.
In its place, Windows uses its own plain vanilla VGA driver. It seems
your computer is still infected, I'm afraid.

Did you recently install a new video card? If so, open the case and
re-seat the card. Make sure it's in there snug and tight. Also make sure
the card is not physically damaged and that the gold contacts are not
bent. No need to ask how I know to mention it. ;-)

Otherwise, I think you're dealing with an infection.

 

[sw]

See below.
---
Leonard Grey
Errare humanum est

"A Day in the Life of a Web 2.0 Hacker" - PC Magazinehttp://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2330952,00.asp







Correct. When you start in Safe Mode, your video software is not loaded.
In its place, Windows uses its own plain vanilla VGA driver. It seems
your computer is still infected, I'm afraid.

Did you recently install a new video card? If so, open the case and
re-seat the card. Make sure it's in there snug and tight. Also make sure
the card is not physically damaged and that the gold contacts are not
bent. No need to ask how I know to mention it.  ;-)

Otherwise, I think you're dealing with an infection.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

OK. Im going to look for a rescue disc of some type that has an anti-
virus on it. Im guessing the virus has to be cleared at boot-up. Is
there such a thing as a bios virus which invects the flash bios?

 

[Leonard Grey]

I'll bottom post for you.
---
Leonard Grey
Errare humanum est

"A Day in the Life of a Web 2.0 Hacker" - PC Magazine
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2330952,00.asp

OK. Im going to look for a rescue disc of some type that has an anti-
virus on it. Im guessing the virus has to be cleared at boot-up. Is
there such a thing as a bios virus which invects the flash bios?

I do not know if the BIOS can be infected, but that is not the point
since the BIOS is not involved in your problem.

Rather than look for a CD with out-of-date malware signatures, remove
the hard disk from your computer and put it into a second computer with
a comprehensive, up to date malware scanner. Use the good computer to
scan your hard disk.

 

[sw]

I'll bottom post for you.
---
Leonard Grey
Errare humanum est

"A Day in the Life of a Web 2.0 Hacker" - PC Magazinehttp://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2330952,00.asp







I do not know if the BIOS can be infected, but that is not the point
since the BIOS is not involved in your problem.

Rather than look for a CD with out-of-date malware signatures, remove
the hard disk from your computer and put it into a second computer with
a comprehensive, up to date malware scanner. Use the good computer to
scan your hard disk.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

OK . Because it is a laptop harddrive.. can I take it out and run it
on a desktop? Is there an adapter that I can use or will the desktop
ribbon cable be able to connect into it?

 

[Leonard Grey]

See below.
---
Leonard Grey
Errare humanum est

"A Day in the Life of a Web 2.0 Hacker" - PC Magazine
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2330952,00.asp

OK . Because it is a laptop harddrive.. can I take it out and run it
on a desktop? Is there an adapter that I can use or will the desktop
ribbon cable be able to connect into it?

Yes, there is an adapter, but I have not used a laptop regularly in
years and so I am not familiar with the hardware. I /think/ you can put
your hard drive into an enclosure and connect it to another computer via
USB. But I am out of my depth here.

 

[sw]

See below.
---
Leonard Grey
Errare humanum est

"A Day in the Life of a Web 2.0 Hacker" - PC Magazinehttp://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2330952,00.asp







Yes, there is an adapter, but I have not used a laptop regularly in
years and so I am not familiar with the hardware. I /think/ you can put
your hard drive into an enclosure and connect it to another computer via
USB. But I am out of my depth here.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Im going to pop it out tonight and have a look. Thanks again for your
help.

 

[Jim]

See below

See below.
---
Leonard Grey
Errare humanum est

"A Day in the Life of a Web 2.0 Hacker" - PC
Magazinehttp://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2330952,00.asp







Yes, there is an adapter, but I have not used a laptop regularly in
years and so I am not familiar with the hardware. I /think/ you can put
your hard drive into an enclosure and connect it to another computer via
USB. But I am out of my depth here.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Im going to pop it out tonight and have a look. Thanks again for your
help.

Buy a USB enclosure for a 2.5 inch drive. Install the laptop drive in this
enclosure.
Jim

 

[sw]

One other thing Microsoft help says may cause the B4 STOP is a port
conflict. If your laptop has a parallel port, disable in BIOS or change I/O
address to 0378 from 03BC.

(When you hit F8 to go to Safe Mode, did you happen to try the option to
load last configuration that worked?)- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Yes, thankyou I did. but unfortunately... the blue screen appeared.

 

[sw]

Im going to pop it out tonight and have a look. Thanks again for your
help.

Buy a USB enclosure for a 2.5 inch drive.  Install the laptop drive in this
enclosure.
Jim- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Thanks for the idea. It sounds like an economical way to test it.
Does futureshop carry these things?

 

[sw]

One other thing Microsoft help says may cause the B4 STOP is a port
conflict. If your laptop has a parallel port, disable in BIOS or change I/O
address to 0378 from 03BC.

(When you hit F8 to go to Safe Mode, did you happen to try the option to
load last configuration that worked?)- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I'll try the parallel port thing this evening.. thanks again.

 

[Phydeaux]

See below


Im going to pop it out tonight and have a look. Thanks again for your
help.

Buy a USB enclosure for a 2.5 inch drive. Install the laptop drive
in this enclosure.
Jim

One other thing Microsoft help says may cause the B4 STOP is a port
conflict. If your laptop has a parallel port, disable in BIOS or change I/O
address to 0378 from 03BC.

(When you hit F8 to go to Safe Mode, did you happen to try the option to
load last configuration that worked?)

 

[sw]

...

read more »- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Status report.
I tried the last known configuration without luck.
I F2'ed to get my bios to show but it won't show me the periphals .
It's the strangest thing. I can't seem to disable the parallel port as
the bios doesn't show it. The only thing it shows is the infrared
port. I'm pretty sure that it has shown up before but I can't
remember. I used the repair console to disable VGA, and Mup.. VGA as
I thought it might be damaged.. and Mup as it was the last item to
load prior to the stop error. No effect.
I've enabled VGA and Mup but am wondering what the name of the
parallel port service is. If anyone knows I'll try to disable it in
recovery mode tonight

The microsoft knowledge base, when discussing solutions.. keeps
suggesting registry editing prior to restarting the computer. Sounds
like a good idea except I can't get windows to start. Is there a
failsafe way to do so through the repair console?

Although I appreciate the idea... I'd like to avoid buying the drive
enclosure as future shop wants $50.00. Can I get away wit the eSATA/
USB cable instead ($30.00.. a little cheaper).

Just hit me.. can I copy another windows vanilla vga driver to the
affected machine?

Thankyou again for your help.

 

[sw]

...

read more »- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

SUCCESS

I was able to install xp to a different folder without, I hope,,
damaging the old installation. Well, it really doesn't matter as I
have enought to remove my important files, wipe clean and start
again. Twas a learning experience in how to disable services.
Thanks again for your help.