Computer Possessed - Need Help (or an Exorcist)

[Dave]

My computer suddenly began to crash and reboot on a regular basis. Then it
began to crash, reboot, begin windows boot process, re-crash and re-boot -
never completing a windows bootup.



Attempted to reformat drive and reinstall WinXP Home directly from disk,
which only got me a PFN_LIST_CORRUPT error repeatedly. After a dozen or so
attempts of reformatting, the partition is supposedly reformatted (used
complete NTFS format).



Next attempted to re-install WinXP, which brought a variety of different
error messages, as soon as WinXP setup started (and at different stages of
setup process):


SESSION3_INITIALIZATION_FAILED

STOP: 0x0000006f (0xc0000020, 0x00000000, 0x00000000, 0x00000000)



PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA

STOP: 0X00000050 (0x8001A91F, 0x00000000, 0x8001A91F, 0x00000000)



This one happens most often: PFN_LIST_CORRUPT

STOP: 0x0000004E (0x0000008f, 0x0000E8AB, Ox0000E8A3, 0x00000000)



I have disconnected everything except 1 W/D hard drive; 1 CD drive;
installed a different nVidia GeForce FX5200 video card, tried different DDR
memory (PC2700 & PC3200). Processor is 6 month old AMD XP 2.6 ghz. and the
M/B is 1 month old Albatron KX18D Pro II. Win XP SP2 was loaded from CD at
the same time new motherboard was setup. Tried resetting BIOS to Default
and Optimized - same error messages with each. Tried disabling BIOS cache.
CPU running at 60C. Standard setup with no over-clocking.



The only things not changed are the processor and motherboard. I know the
STOP numbers mean something and could possibly identify the fault- but what
they mean is the question.



Any help would be appreciated - as I'm about ready to call in an
exorcist!!!!!!!!



Thanks

Dave

 

[JK]

What power supply do you have? It might be a power problem.

 

[Dave]

JK,
I didn't think of that. I have the original 350w supply that came with the
case (about 1 year old).
I can try replacing it, but would that cause all the different type of
errors and prevent me from reinstalling WinXP?
Dave

 

[JK]

It might. Is it a high quality brand?

JK,
I didn't think of that. I have the original 350w supply that came with the
case (about 1 year old).
I can try replacing it, but would that cause all the different type of
errors and prevent me from reinstalling WinXP?
Dave

 

[kony]

My computer suddenly began to crash and reboot on a regular basis. Then it
began to crash, reboot, begin windows boot process, re-crash and re-boot -
never completing a windows bootup.

Had the system configuration remained unchanged prior to
these problems or had you changed something, moved the
system, had a change in ambient temp, or ???

If nothing else has changed it's more likely to be
software/OS, failed fan, failed motherboard, or power
supply. That's a large list though, more detail of the
situation and past history of the system might sway the odds
a bit.

Attempted to reformat drive and reinstall WinXP Home directly from disk,
which only got me a PFN_LIST_CORRUPT error repeatedly. After a dozen or so
attempts of reformatting, the partition is supposedly reformatted (used
complete NTFS format).

Here's what MS has to say about it:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;291806
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/d..._6c89b2a4-d5a9-4585-a3d1-87bc7fc39c82.xml.asp

You might check your memory with http://www.memtest86.com

Next attempted to re-install WinXP, which brought a variety of different
error messages, as soon as WinXP setup started (and at different stages of
setup process):

Where you doing ANYTHING differently inbetween the prior
installation attempts and the latter attempts?
If so it is curious that different errors appears, that the
random nature of it would tend to implicate the physical
memory (errors). One suggestion might be trying to
underclock the system and disable motherboard-integral
features by jumper or bios setting then try reinstalling
Windows (after testing memory with memtest86).

SESSION3_INITIALIZATION_FAILED

STOP: 0x0000006f (0xc0000020, 0x00000000, 0x00000000, 0x00000000)



PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA

STOP: 0X00000050 (0x8001A91F, 0x00000000, 0x8001A91F, 0x00000000)



This one happens most often: PFN_LIST_CORRUPT

STOP: 0x0000004E (0x0000008f, 0x0000E8AB, Ox0000E8A3, 0x00000000)

Microsoft's website can find these topics pretty easily,
using the string like "PFN_LIST_CORRUPT" and the stop value
"0x0000004E", though often they list stop values shortened
like "0x4E".

I have disconnected everything except 1 W/D hard drive; 1 CD drive;
installed a different nVidia GeForce FX5200 video card, tried different DDR
memory (PC2700 & PC3200). Processor is 6 month old AMD XP 2.6 ghz. and the
M/B is 1 month old Albatron KX18D Pro II. Win XP SP2 was loaded from CD at
the same time new motherboard was setup. Tried resetting BIOS to Default
and Optimized - same error messages with each. Tried disabling BIOS cache.
CPU running at 60C. Standard setup with no over-clocking.

Set AGP 8x to disabled if bios allows it, or similar setting
if labeled differently. Basically it's towards the end of
disabling and slowing everything down as much as possible
then if it helps, later re-enabling features to see what was
causing the problem.

There might be someone over at http://forums.amdmb.com that
has experience with that particular board and can offer
assistance.

The only things not changed are the processor and motherboard. I know the
STOP numbers mean something and could possibly identify the fault- but what
they mean is the question.

Odds are the processor works fine but you could check the
heatsink interface, and that all fans are working of course
but I doubt that's it.


If you can check voltages of power supply with a multimeter
than might be good to do, too.

 

[Dave]

No -- butdget case and power supply. I think you're right. Doing a little
more research, I found my processor is running hotter (60C)than most of the
posts I came across. I just ordered a new power supply -- I'll see if that
works.
Thanks.
Dave

 

[Dave]

kony,
Thanks for the input, I'll give each suggestion a try as I'm waiting for my
new power supply to be delivered (to see if that helps).

I have run a memory tester and tried different memory with the same results.

Random error messages received within minutes of each other --with no other
changes.

All fans working, -- got an RMA on the motherboard just in case everything
else checks out.

Thanks
Dave

 

[JK]

I hope you ordered a high quality one that is at least 300 watts. The brand
I prefer is Antec.

 

[Clob]

It is possible that you have a bad ram chip. Take one out and test, then
flipflop and test again. Try a BIOS upgrade too.

 

[Dave]

SUCCESS !!!! I had parts from another system I was putting together -- so I
swapped out each item in question and the winner was.... the AMD chip had
gone bad -- possibly because of the CPU fan. Once replaced, everything
reinstalled nicely -- with no error messages.

Thanks to all for the advice.
Dave

 

[Gareth Tuckwell]

My computer suddenly began to crash and reboot on a regular basis. Then
it began to crash, reboot, begin windows boot process, re-crash and
re-boot - never completing a windows bootup.
[snip]

CPU running at 60C. Standard setup with no over-clocking.

Sounds a bit warm - is that under load or idle temperature? If that is the
idle temperature, then loaded temperatures are probably 65+ which is too
hot. Clean the CPU heatsink - maybe its clogged with dust. Try turning the
fan the other way round - can sometimes help. What is the case temperature -
you can't cool a hot CPU with hot air!! Take the case off and run without a
cover and see if it is any cooler, if it is cooler, then you need a case fan
or two.

 

[Gareth Tuckwell]

My computer suddenly began to crash and reboot on a regular basis. Then
it began to crash, reboot, begin windows boot process, re-crash and
re-boot - never completing a windows bootup.
[snip]

CPU running at 60C. Standard setup with no over-clocking.

Sounds a bit warm - is that under load or idle temperature? If that is the
idle temperature, then loaded temperatures are probably 65+ which is too
hot. Clean the CPU heatsink - maybe its clogged with dust. Try turning the
fan the other way round - can sometimes help. What is the case
temperature - you can't cool a hot CPU with hot air!! Take the case off
and run without a cover and see if it is any cooler, if it is cooler, then
you need a case fan or two.

I just noticed that you have solved the problem! The solution was nested
further down the message tree than I had read. Make sure the new processor
doesn't get too hot or you might hit the same problem!