Grrr BSOD grrr SP2 grrr

[James Hopper]

Well grrr! I've recently finally updated XP to SP2 because of constant nags
from my virus program about XP security holes. Everything ran fine for a
while, then BAM! BSOD!

Regedit, msconfig and other Windows programs will not run unless I put the
extension after it (regedit will not run in either case, but I can start
regedt32.exe). Then the BSOD's started)

One MS report said it happened because of my video driver (upgraded it) the
next was because of Active Disk (I uninstalled iomegaware, but it did not
uninstall Active Disk - which refuses to go away... and I've followed
Iomega's instructions... go figure). Everytime I try to apply Iomega's
patch, BAM... BSOD (getting the idea I'm pasting a lot? Sorry.). The other
14 times (in 2 days) I get no suggestion or file name.

Sometime the machine is up for 5 minutes, sometimes it's up for 30 minutes.
I cannot search in regedt32, even in Safe Mode without BAM... BSOD. Try to
run a virus scan, BAM... BSoD. Anything that's going to run a while, it
WILL crash! Did a simple replace in a rather large HTML document (in a
reliable, steady HTML editor) and it froze and BAM... BSOD! Downloading
drivers for my devices... BAM... BSOD!

I'm downloading all my new drivers at work, and will try to install them
all. I wouldn't mind so much it didn't take BSOD so long to do a dump (is
that what BSOD stands for... Big Stinkin' Ol' Dump? Yuck, yuck.)

I apologize if this sounds more rant than request. I just needed to vent.
Thank you. But if you have any suggestions, I'm open.

 

[Kerry Brown]

Well grrr! I've recently finally updated XP to SP2 because of constant
nags
from my virus program about XP security holes. Everything ran fine for a
while, then BAM! BSOD!

Regedit, msconfig and other Windows programs will not run unless I put the
extension after it (regedit will not run in either case, but I can start
regedt32.exe). Then the BSOD's started)

One MS report said it happened because of my video driver (upgraded it)
the
next was because of Active Disk (I uninstalled iomegaware, but it did not
uninstall Active Disk - which refuses to go away... and I've followed
Iomega's instructions... go figure). Everytime I try to apply Iomega's
patch, BAM... BSOD (getting the idea I'm pasting a lot? Sorry.). The other
14 times (in 2 days) I get no suggestion or file name.

Sometime the machine is up for 5 minutes, sometimes it's up for 30
minutes.
I cannot search in regedt32, even in Safe Mode without BAM... BSOD. Try to
run a virus scan, BAM... BSoD. Anything that's going to run a while, it
WILL crash! Did a simple replace in a rather large HTML document (in a
reliable, steady HTML editor) and it froze and BAM... BSOD! Downloading
drivers for my devices... BAM... BSOD!

I'm downloading all my new drivers at work, and will try to install them
all. I wouldn't mind so much it didn't take BSOD so long to do a dump (is
that what BSOD stands for... Big Stinkin' Ol' Dump? Yuck, yuck.)

I apologize if this sounds more rant than request. I just needed to vent.
Thank you. But if you have any suggestions, I'm open.

What is the error reported on the BSOD? Please post the error number with
the parameters and text. This will help us diagnose the problem.

Kerry

 

[James Hopper]

What is the error reported on the BSOD? Please post the error number with
the parameters and text. This will help us diagnose the problem.

Kerry

Okay, sorry, I knew someone would need that. One error:
IRQ_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL
blah,blah,blah
STOP - 0X0000000A (0X521F4C82, 0X00000002, 0X00000001, 0X804DC0AA)

Then 10 minutes later after rebooting:

STOP - 0X0000008E (0XC000001D, 0XDB5AFD16, 0XF803FB98, 0X00000000)

Does that help? I'm trying to upgrade my ATI Radeon 9200 drivers, but it
won't update and an installation requires the display to be just VGA, which
the system won't do because it detects the ATI and installs it (the old
drivers). Working with ATI on it.

I'm about this close (visual: forefinger and thumb touching) to hook my
drive to another computer, back up what I can, and format and reinstall XP.
Like I've never done THAT before!

Thanx,

James

 

[Kerry Brown]

Okay, sorry, I knew someone would need that. One error:
IRQ_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL
blah,blah,blah
STOP - 0X0000000A (0X521F4C82, 0X00000002, 0X00000001, 0X804DC0AA)

Then 10 minutes later after rebooting:

STOP - 0X0000008E (0XC000001D, 0XDB5AFD16, 0XF803FB98, 0X00000000)

Does that help? I'm trying to upgrade my ATI Radeon 9200 drivers, but it
won't update and an installation requires the display to be just VGA,
which
the system won't do because it detects the ATI and installs it (the old
drivers). Working with ATI on it.

I'm about this close (visual: forefinger and thumb touching) to hook my
drive to another computer, back up what I can, and format and reinstall
XP.
Like I've never done THAT before!

Thanx,

James

It has the symptoms of a driver or hardware problem but the fact that some
programs don't work is troubling. I would make sure the computer is malware
free before going any farther. You may have two problems. The BSOD may be
caused by a driver or failing hardware. The programs not working may be
malware. Download Adaware, Spybot, or your favourite antispyware programs.
Install them and get the latest updates. Boot into safe mode and run some
scans to make sure you are spyware free. Then boot into safe mode with
networking and do some online antivirus scans. Make sure you run in safe
mode long enough that the BSOD will happen. This will help to troubleshoot
that as well. If the BSOD happens in safe mode you probably have some
hardware that is failing. It may be heat related. Once you are sure the
computer is malware free and runs without a BSOD in safe mode it's time to
start troubleshooting drivers. Post back here for more help at that time.

Good luck

Kerry

 

[James Hopper]

It has the symptoms of a driver or hardware problem but the fact that some
programs don't work is troubling. I would make sure the computer is malware
free before going any farther. You may have two problems. The BSOD may be
caused by a driver or failing hardware. The programs not working may be
malware. Download Adaware, Spybot, or your favourite antispyware programs.
Install them and get the latest updates. Boot into safe mode and run some
scans to make sure you are spyware free. Then boot into safe mode with
networking and do some online antivirus scans. Make sure you run in safe
mode long enough that the BSOD will happen. This will help to troubleshoot
that as well. If the BSOD happens in safe mode you probably have some
hardware that is failing. It may be heat related. Once you are sure the
computer is malware free and runs without a BSOD in safe mode it's time to
start troubleshooting drivers. Post back here for more help at that time.

Good luck

Kerry

Did that. Alledgely spy/ad/malware free. This could also be indicative of a
virus, but can't complete a virus scan (even any accessed from the web).
Safe mode isn't anymore stable than normal mode. And it's unusual that safe
mode would crash let alone get a BSOD. That's what's got me worried. I
thought it may be heat related or memory speed (I don't overclock CPU's).
I've reduced the memory speed and my CPU (AMD Athlon 1.3GHz) temp is around
135 - 158 degrees F (57 - 70 degrees C)... detected in BIOS. I have one
huge Tornado fan on the CPU and an intake fan (bottom front of case) and an
exit fan (back of case) and the flow of air crosses the CPU.

At work I have a program (Tune Up Utilities 2004) and it's done a good job
of cleaning my registry and file garbage. I'll install and run it tonight,
and if that's unsuccessful, it's reinstallation time, baby!

Thanks,

James

 

[Kerry Brown]

Did that. Alledgely spy/ad/malware free. This could also be indicative of
a
virus, but can't complete a virus scan (even any accessed from the web).
Safe mode isn't anymore stable than normal mode. And it's unusual that
safe
mode would crash let alone get a BSOD. That's what's got me worried. I
thought it may be heat related or memory speed (I don't overclock CPU's).
I've reduced the memory speed and my CPU (AMD Athlon 1.3GHz) temp is
around
135 - 158 degrees F (57 - 70 degrees C)... detected in BIOS. I have one
huge Tornado fan on the CPU and an intake fan (bottom front of case) and
an
exit fan (back of case) and the flow of air crosses the CPU.

At work I have a program (Tune Up Utilities 2004) and it's done a good job
of cleaning my registry and file garbage. I'll install and run it tonight,
and if that's unsuccessful, it's reinstallation time, baby!

Thanks,

James

It sounds like failing hardware. "Cleaning up" the registry is likely to
cause more problems than it solves with XP. The registry works very
differently from win9x which needed regular maintenance. If it still
malfunctions immediately after reinstallation it's almost 100% it's a
hardware failure problem. I'd go slow on the reinstall doing a lot of
testing. If your XP CD is pre-SP2 make sure you don't connect to the
internet without a firewall of some kind. Install XP, then a firewall (or
better yet use a router to connect to the internet), then SP2, then drivers,
then any remaining Windows critical updates, then programs with an antivirus
first on the list. If you do it in that order testing it at every stage
it'll become obvious where the problem lies.

Kerry

 

[Joshua Smith [MSFT]]

To determine what driver is causing the problem I need you to enable driver
verifier.
Steps:
1) Windows Key + R
2) Type in 'verifier' and hit enter
3) Make sure 'Create Standard Setting' is selected and hit next
4) Click on 'Select all drivers installed on this computer' and hit Finish
5) Reboot

There is a possibility that your computer will crash on reboot. If this
occurs hit F8 when rebooting just before the windows logo screen and select
the safe mode boot option. Follow the same steps above but on step 4 choose
'Select driver names from a list'; hit next; check the box next to any
driver where the provider is not Microsoft; hit Finish; reboot.

This will slow the performance of you computer a little while enabled but
will hopefully catch the driver causing corruption. Next time you crash
the blue screen will hopefully say something like
"DRIVER_VERIFIER_DETECTED_VIOLATION". If this occurs please send the
corresponding minidump (by default it is at c:\windows\Minidump ) my way.
If you have any questions or I didn't explain something well enough don't
hesitate to e-mail me (remove "online") back. Good Luck,


Joshua Smith
OpenGL Test Lab
Microsoft

 

[James Hopper]

To determine what driver is causing the problem I need you to enable driver
verifier.
Steps:
1) Windows Key + R
2) Type in 'verifier' and hit enter
3) Make sure 'Create Standard Setting' is selected and hit next
4) Click on 'Select all drivers installed on this computer' and hit Finish
5) Reboot

There is a possibility that your computer will crash on reboot. If this
occurs hit F8 when rebooting just before the windows logo screen and select
the safe mode boot option. Follow the same steps above but on step 4 choose
'Select driver names from a list'; hit next; check the box next to any
driver where the provider is not Microsoft; hit Finish; reboot.

This will slow the performance of you computer a little while enabled but
will hopefully catch the driver causing corruption. Next time you crash
the blue screen will hopefully say something like
"DRIVER_VERIFIER_DETECTED_VIOLATION". If this occurs please send the
corresponding minidump (by default it is at c:\windows\Minidump ) my way.
If you have any questions or I didn't explain something well enough don't
hesitate to e-mail me (remove "online") back. Good Luck,


Joshua Smith
OpenGL Test Lab
Microsoft
-----

Get Secure! www.microsoft.com/security

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights

Did the verifier and it rebooted as you said it might, so I got into safe
mode and selected the drivers from a list. My computer kept rebooting. I
had to deactivate verifier (you didn't mention how to turn it off - I had
to look it up). Anyway, something else... I tried to install first one then
several programs and none would install. I would get Cannot Install This
Software... problem installing... an error occurred during installation...
the system cannot find the file specified.

Reinstallation is inevitable. Thank you for all your assistance.

JWH

 

[James Hopper]

Did the verifier and it rebooted as you said it might, so I got into safe
mode and selected the drivers from a list. My computer kept rebooting. I
had to deactivate verifier (you didn't mention how to turn it off - I had
to look it up). Anyway, something else... I tried to install first one then
several programs and none would install. I would get Cannot Install This
Software... problem installing... an error occurred during installation...
the system cannot find the file specified.

Reinstallation is inevitable. Thank you for all your assistance.

JWH

Appreciate the help, and I've found out what the problem was. I took the PC
to work Saturday and did a complete hardware diagnostics on it. Ran every
spy/ad/malware program I have and did a full, deep virus scan, defragged
the drives and after six hours my system checked out A-OK. So the problem?
Squirrels. Squirrels chewing through the electrical lines. Our power
suddenly went out and it wasn't breaker related. The power company came out
and found LOTS of chewed on/through wires on the poles and to homes.

Go figure. Works like a charm.

James

 

[Kerry Brown]

Appreciate the help, and I've found out what the problem was. I took the
PC
to work Saturday and did a complete hardware diagnostics on it. Ran every
spy/ad/malware program I have and did a full, deep virus scan, defragged
the drives and after six hours my system checked out A-OK. So the problem?
Squirrels. Squirrels chewing through the electrical lines. Our power
suddenly went out and it wasn't breaker related. The power company came
out
and found LOTS of chewed on/through wires on the poles and to homes.

Go figure. Works like a charm.

James

Glad you got it figured out. That's just about the weirdest one I've heard
yet. You should invest in a UPS.

Kerry