STOP error code (0x000000f4 (0x0000003....) Memory dump & BSOD

W

woof!

Stuck with a random errror message and would appreciate any help/ advice.
The error is as follows:-
STOP 0x000000f4 (0x00000003,0x89b179e0,0x89b17b54,0x805d2970)

I have an acer aspire 5101 laptop. The error occurs randomly and would not
appear to be linked to any particular activity. Immediately after, it loads
up fine and can work for a few days or as little as a few minutes before
doing it again. I have used memory diagnostics (memtest86 & windows memory
diagnostic test) which initially detected a whole host of errors which i
fixed with a bios update. I have changed the processor, the RAM and the hard
drive. The hard drive has been tested with the seagate diagnostic tool and
everything passed. I have looked at the event log and found a few events such
as error code 51 which i fxed by clearing the page file in the registry and
then resetting. Using the recovery disk i created on day 1 of having the
laptop I have reinstalled the opearting system. In fact I found the STOP code
was generated within 30 minutes of finally reloading the system and before
completing the windows updates. It seems such a shame to let this laptop go
when apart from this annoying memory dump it works perfectly fine. Acer bios
is very limited and I can only change the boot order or change the size of
the integrated video RAM. I have also downloaded all the latest drivers and
can only think that I am left with a motherboard problem. Oh sometimes after
the memory dump it would appear to not recognize the hard drive as it reports
0200: failure fixed drive 0. when restarting ot can then show PXE-E61 media
test failure: check cable., PXE-M0F: exiting PXE ROM. Please can anyone shine
some light on this matter. I don't really feel like changing the motherboard
(cost and pain involved) so any help is greatly appreciated.

many thanks for all your experience

KD
 
G

Gerry

The Stop Error report for this error is less helpful than most:
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms797140.aspx

You may get an answer by running the Windows Debugger on the memory dump
but it ids a challenging task for a typical user:
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/devtools/debugging/default.mspx

Another way to investigate your hard drive is to use HD Tune.

Try HD Tune only gives information and does not fix any
problems.

Download and run it and see what it turns up. You want HD Tune
(freeware) version 2.55 not HD Tune Pro (not Freeware) version 3.00.
http://www.hdtune.com/

Select the Info tabs and place the cursor on the drive under Drive
letter and then double click the two page icon ( copy to Clipboard )
and copy into a further message.

Select the Health tab and then double click the two page icon ( copy to
Clipboard ) and copy into a further message. Make sure you do a full
surface scan with HD Tune.

--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
W

woof!

Thanks for reply. Will give the debugger a go next but the output from HD
Tune is as follows:-

HD Tune: ST9160821A Information

Firmware version : 3.ALE
Serial number : 5RN0M45R
Capacity : 149.1 GB (~160.0 GB)
Buffer size : 8192 KB
Standard : ATA/ATAPI-6
Supported mode : UDMA Mode 5 (Ultra ATA/100)
Current mode : UDMA Mode 5 (Ultra ATA/100)

S.M.A.R.T : yes
48-bit Address : yes
Read Look-Ahead : yes
Write Cache : yes
Host Protected Area : yes
Device Configuration Overlay : yes
Automatic Acoustic Management: no
Power Management : yes
Advanced Power Management : yes
Power-up in Standby : no
Security Mode : yes
Firmware Upgradable : yes

Partition : 1
Drive letter : C:\
Label : ACER
Capacity : 152625 MB
Usage : 10.25%
Type : NTFS
Bootable : Yes

HD Tune: ST9160821A Health

ID Current Worst Threshold Data
Status
(01) Raw Read Error Rate 100 253 6 0
Ok
(03) Spin Up Time 99 99 0 0
Ok
(04) Start/Stop Count 100 100 20 197
Ok
(05) Reallocated Sector Count 100 100 36 0
Ok
(07) Seek Error Rate 61 55 30 9225005
Ok
(09) Power On Hours Count 100 100 0 136
Ok
(0A) Spin Retry Count 100 100 34 0
Ok
(0C) Power Cycle Count 100 100 20 137
Ok
(BB) (unknown attribute) 100 100 0 0
Ok
(BD) (unknown attribute) 100 100 0 0
Ok
(BE) Airflow Temperature 58 46 45 773390378 Ok

(C0) Power Off Retract Count 100 100 0 113
Ok
(C1) Load Cycle Count 100 100 0 1962
Ok
(C2) Temperature 42 54 0 42
Ok
(C3) Hardware ECC Recovered 62 60 0 217219677 Ok

(C5) Current Pending Sector 100 100 0 0
Ok
(C6) Offline Uncorrectable 100 100 0 0
Ok
(C7) Ultra DMA CRC Error Count 200 199 0 60
Ok
(C8) Write Error Rate 100 253 0 0
Ok
(CA) TA Counter Increased 100 253 0 0
Ok

Power On Time : 136
Health Status : Ok

If I am able to make any progress with debugger i will report it next. Once
again - many thanks!
 
W

woof!

Working on the debugger option but I do not have any minidump files under the
windows/minidump folder??? I have also had another physical dump since whilst
downloading symbols package. This error message was different (almost an
excitingly new lead!! sad as i am getting). The error message is as follows:-
KERNEL_STACK_INPAGE_ERROR
STOP 0x00000077 (0x0000185,0x00000000,0x06111000). IT seems to lead me again
to debgugging. I will investigate a little more tonight thanks for your help

Plato: thanks for the link
 
G

Gerry

Background information on Stop Error message:
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms794027.aspx

0x00000077: KERNEL_STACK_INPAGE_ERROR
A page of kernel data requested from the pagefile could not be found or
read into memory. This message also can indicate disk hardware failure,
disk data corruption, or possible virus infection.
Source: http://aumha.org/a/stop.htm

The return of 0x0000185 on parameter 1 might be a good pointer to the
cause of the problem.

0xC0000185, or STATUS_IO_DEVICE_ERROR, indicates improper termination or
defective cabling on SCSI devices or that two devices are trying to use
the same IRQ.

Resolving a defective hardware problem: If the I/O status is 0xC0000185
and the paging file is on an SCSI disk, check the disk cabling and SCSI
termination for problems.

--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
W

woof!

Not sure how to play this now. The information pages lead to cabling or
termination issues. With it being a laptop I can not check cabling etc but
can only see to check the motherboard 'hard wiring'?? Am i missing a step
here? (please advise if it sounds like it)
The debugging tool I am eager to pursue but do not have any minidump files
to work with it appears so not sure why and have checked the paging settings
under virtual memory and the start up and recovery sectoin under system
information. My interpretation of HD Tune results page is that it confirms
hard drive is ok and by virtue of obtaining a new drive and reinstalling
windows I feel the possibility of a virus is remote (AVG has not detected
anything!)
Open to ideas - thanks!
 
W

woof!

Thanks. I will give them a ring, however the laptop is 22months old and out
of its 12 month warranty.
Worth seeing what they say

thanks for your help
KD
 

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