Type verifier in Start Run, follow the wizard but choose All Drivers. This will slow down your computer and cause more blue screen crashes but will pinpoint what is causing the crash (if the original error message didn't). Once you fix it you rerun verifier and turn it off.
If you can't start after enabling verifier
choose Last Known Good Configuration at the Failed Boot menu (which will
start without verifier).
You will be creating a crash dump file in c:\windows\minidump every blue screen. Make sure you are set to record minidumps (Small Memory Dumps) - type it in Help to see how.
Then
If you have the XP SP2 Security Update CD (else see
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/Âdevtools/debugging/symbolpkg.mÂspx
)
Install symbols from <CD Drive Letter>:\SUPPORT\SYMBOLS
Download
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/devtools/debugging/installx86.mspx
Load the crash dump file into windbg
and read what it says. You may need to tell it where the symbols are. Read it.
Type
!Analyze -v
into Windbg's command line.
(this will hopefully tell you the faulty component)
If the above is too technical then email the crash dump files to davidc @ mvps.org. Don't send me lots of them. Just the one from your last crash after you turn verifier on. And only one per mail.
You can look up specific details here
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/d..._ea8b9fd0-2d81-4a04-a7ed-c1c6a80bd501.xml.asp
If it indicates faulty memory might be the cause you can get a memory tester
here
http://oca.microsoft.com/en/wiÂndiag.asp
If it mentions a core windows system file, meaning it a MS fix is required,
upload a minidump to
http://oca.microsoft.com
Also try typing the main error code in Help while online (ie,
Stop 0x50
and also try in the 8 digit form
stop 0x00000050)
and if there are too many hits use a filename if available. Generally memory
addresses are different for each computer (as each computer has a different
mix of drivers) so parameters that are memory addresses aren't that useful for searching, but NTStatus codes are (plus you can look them up here
http://cvs.sourceforge.net/viewcvs.py/mingw/w32api/include/ddk/ntstatus.h?rev=1.2).
Bug Check 0x50: PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA
The PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA bug check has a value of 0x00000050. This indicates that invalid system memory has been referenced.
Parameters
The following parameters are displayed on the blue screen.
Parameter Description
1 Memory address referenced
2 0: Read operation
1: Write operation
3 Address that referenced memory (if known)
4 Reserved
If the driver responsible for the error can be identified, its name is printed on the blue screen and stored in memory at the location (PUNICODE_STRING) KiBugCheckDriver.
Cause
Bug check 0x50 usually occurs after the installation of faulty hardware or in the event of failure of installed hardware (usually related to defective RAM, be it main memory, L2 RAM cache, or video RAM).
Another common cause is the installation of a faulty system service.
Antivirus software can also trigger this error, as can a corrupted NTFS volume.
Resolving the Problem
Resolving a faulty hardware problem: If hardware has been added to the system recently, remove it to see if the error recurs. If existing hardware has failed, remove or replace the faulty component. You should run hardware diagnostics supplied by the system manufacturer. For details on these procedures, see the owner’s manual for your computer.
Resolving a faulty system service problem: Disable the service and confirm that this resolves the error. If so, contact the manufacturer of the system service about a possible update. If the error occurs during system startup, restart your computer, and press F8 at the character-mode menu that displays the operating system choices. At the resulting Windows Advanced Options menu, choose the Last Known Good Configuration option. This option is most effective when only one driver or service is added at a time.
Resolving an antivirus software problem: Disable the program and confirm that this resolves the error. If it does, contact the manufacturer of the program about a possible update.
Resolving a corrupted NTFS volume problem: Run Chkdsk /f /r to detect and repair disk errors. You must restart the system before the disk scan begins on a system partition. If the hard disk is SCSI, check for problems between the SCSI controller and the disk.
Finally, check the System Log in Event Viewer for additional error messages that might help pinpoint the device or driver that is causing the error. Disabling memory caching of the BIOS might also resolve it.
Comments
Typically, this address is in freed memory or is simply invalid.
This cannot be protected by a try - except handler — it can only be protected by a probe.
