vista ultimate and the BSOD ... help!!

M

Mick

This is my 100th attempt at installing Vista, first 64 bit and finally
settled on the 32 bit version with SP1. I continue to get the dreaded
BSOD.... What i've done.... fresh format, new install... updated ALL
drivers with the most current versions. Ran chckdsk, memtest86, and ran
system file checker.... all have checked out okay. Could someone take a look
at my last two minidump files and point me in the right direction? Any help
appreciated, thanks

Mick

OS: Vista Ultimate Sp1
CPU: Intel Core Duo E8400 3.0 GHz
MB: Gigabyte EP45-UD3P
GPU: Sapphire 100249L Radeon HD 3850 1 GB 256-bit GDDR2 PCI-e 2.0
TV Turner Card: Hauppauge WinTV HVR-1800
RAM: Corsair 4GB (2X2GB) 240-Pin DDR SDRAM 800 (PC2 6400)
Hard Drives: (2) WD Caviar Green 1 TB SATA Model: WD10EADS
Optical Drive: LG 6X Blu-Ray DVD-ROM SATA(GGC-H2OL)
Power Supply: SeaSonic OB-S12 550W ATX12v / EPS12v SLI
Case: Siverstone LC14B-MC ATX HTPC
 
M

Mark H

It would be easier if you would start with the BSOD code provided.

Next, I'd remove the TV Tuner Card and see if you still get the BSOD.
 
M

Mark H

PS. Did you try the suggestions from the posts you placed on TechArena?
(Which also did not include the minidumps and appears to be a copy of the
cross post from the vista.general newsgroup.)

Ah,... I found them. Posted under the VistaHeads.com forum (2 weeks ago)
where I answered you then with a rather lengthy diagnostic. Have you tried
all of those suggestions?

http://www.vistaheads.com/forums/mi...intenance/326438-vista-x64-bsod-question.html

Did you send the dump files to Rick Rodgers as he requested?
http://forums.techarena.in/vista-help/1112423.htm

Or, maybe the eggheadcafe.com
http://www.eggheadcafe.com/software/aspnet/33838410/bsod-vista-x64.aspx
or,
realgeek.com
http://www.realgeek.com/forums/bsod-vista-ultimate-x64-473887.html
, or
....
They all answered you as I did above. Remove the TV Tuner and try again.

If you don't want to provide feedback on how our suggestions have turned
out, I'm not sure how we can help you.
After 100 attempts, I would think you were at the point of performing a very
systematic approach to fixing the problem. But, it looks like your seeking a
silver bullet.
 
M

Mick

Hello Mark... i'll do as you advise and get back to you. Rick has suggested
i check the MB; "and look for leaky or bulging capacitors. If you find any,
even one, then
the motherboard needs to be replaced".

Also about the TV turner card, i haven't tried using the card...as in
running Media Center yet, trying to get everything fixed, and i'm only using
the drivers downloaded by Vista. The fact that the card is sitting idle,
would it still crash the system?

Thanks, Mick
 
M

Mick

Mark since those post, i've reformatted and install vista 32, having been
told that the 64 bit version might be the trouble, so those minidumps will
not work for my recent set-up.

Mick
 
M

Mark H

Okay, but...

1. The TV tuner card is a known issue with Vista. It works well for some
and not at all for others.
2. The minidumps you are referring to are still no where to be found.
 
M

Mark H

The errors in your prior minidump are related to driver issues. If the card
is installed, then the driver is installed and running. By removing the
card, the driver is disabled or removed. This is true for most any
component: video card, usb drive, etc.

You should be considering taking anything out of your computer not needed to
perform the install. Then, once complete, install components one at a time
until the BSODs start to show up.
 
M

Mark H

One more thing...

You mention only using the drivers that Vista downloads. These are not
always the best drivers. Microsoft drivers tend to be watered down providing
only the most critical functions of a device. You should download and
install drivers for components from the manufacturer of that component.
The list below is based on the specs you provided:

BIOS: Version F7 9/08
http://america.giga-byte.com/FileList/BIOS/motherboard_bios_ga-ep45-ud3p_f7.exe
Motherboard: 10/08
http://america.giga-byte.com/FileList/Driver/motherboard_driver_chipset_intel_x4x5_sereis.exe
Audio: Realtek (onboard) Version 2.07 1/09
http://america.giga-byte.com/FileList/Driver/motherboard_driver_audio_realtek_azalia.exe
LAN: Realtek (onboard) Version 6.213 1/09
http://america.giga-byte.com/FileList/Driver/motherboard_driver_lan_realtek_8111_vista.exe

Can't tell if you're setup for RAID configuration. But, this requires two
sets of drivers to install with Vista.

Video: Radeon 3850 Version 9.1 1/09
https://a248.e.akamai.net/f/674/9206/0/www2.ati.com/gamesite/9-1_vista32_dd_ccc_wdm_enu_74233.exe
TV Tuner: WinTV-HVR-1800 Version 4.6+ 10/08
http://hauppauge.lightpath.net/software/install_cd/cd_4.6a+.zip

Do you own a flat screen? (It has drivers also that are needed to work with
power management.)
Specialized mouse?
 
M

Mark H

Here's the gist of your minidump:
MEMORY_MANAGEMENT (1a)
# Any other values for parameter 1 must be individually examined.
Arguments:
Arg1: 00004000, The subtype of the bugcheck.
Arg2: 88d26da8
Arg3: 00020000
Arg4: 0026f829

The important number here is Arg1 and it is not classifed with MSDN. (It's
listed as "other.")
This particular error is notorious for not writing much information due to
the nature of the error.


While the above tends to point a little stronger to a hardware issue, I
wouldn't throw out the driver concept completely.
(Based on your prior issues with x64 installed.)
Things to do:

When you moved to x86 from x64, did you disable Memory Hole Remapping in the
BIOS?
If there was any third party software installed with the TV Tuner, try
uninstalling it while the card is removed.
Check the Event Viewer to see if a repeating error exists that may point to
specific software.

(You will restore all these later.)
Disconnect the Blue-Ray DVD player. Remove any third party software
installed for this DVD player.
If you are not setup as a RAID configuration, disconnect the hard drive
without Vista.
If you are set up as a RAID configuration, can you disable it for further
testing?
In Device Manager, disable the Realtek Audio device, or in the BIOS disable
it.
Temporarily disable your Anti-Virus.

If you still get a BSOD, what is the Stop Code and what exactly are you
doing when you get it. Does it occur predictably after turning your computer
on?
With the side of your computer off, are all fans running when you start the
computer?
 
M

Mick

Mark I've answered each individual question below, mick

Mark H said:
Here's the gist of your minidump:
MEMORY_MANAGEMENT (1a)
# Any other values for parameter 1 must be individually examined.
Arguments:
Arg1: 00004000, The subtype of the bugcheck.
Arg2: 88d26da8
Arg3: 00020000
Arg4: 0026f829

The important number here is Arg1 and it is not classifed with MSDN. (It's
listed as "other.")
This particular error is notorious for not writing much information due to
the nature of the error.


While the above tends to point a little stronger to a hardware issue, I
wouldn't throw out the driver concept completely.
(Based on your prior issues with x64 installed.)
Things to do:

When you moved to x86 from x64, did you disable Memory Hole Remapping in
the
BIOS?

No, should i do this for x86?
If there was any third party software installed with the TV Tuner, try
uninstalling it while the card is removed.

No software installed.
Check the Event Viewer to see if a repeating error exists that may point
to
specific software.

Two error messages: Source Ntfs: Event ID 55: Task Cat. (2) 12 events
Source Application Error: Event ID 1000:
Task Cat. (100) 12 events
(You will restore all these later.)
Disconnect the Blue-Ray DVD player. Remove any third party software
installed for this DVD player.
Done

If you are not setup as a RAID configuration, disconnect the hard drive
without Vista.
Done

If you are set up as a RAID configuration, can you disable it for further
testing?

No RAID
In Device Manager, disable the Realtek Audio device, or in the BIOS
disable
it.
Done

Temporarily disable your Anti-Virus.
Done


If you still get a BSOD, what is the Stop Code and what exactly are you
doing when you get it. Does it occur predictably after turning your
computer
on?

I'm running the computer now... no BSOD yet.

With the side of your computer off, are all fans running when you start
the
computer?

All fans running (4) core temps are normal
 
M

Mark H

Well, that's good news! It means it is most likely a driver (or incompatible
hardware.)

Now, you want to restore components disabled one at a time giving a reboot
between each and allow "adequate" time for the BSOD to occur before moving
to the next component.

I'd recommend reverse ordering the previous list:
Anti-Virus
Audio
2nd Hard Drive
Blue-ray DVD

The memory hole remap is something you would return to default if on x86. If
you did not change it for x64, don't worry about it. (It simply fit the idea
of a possible memory problem that is showing up in your mini-dump.)

Once the BSOD occurs, disconnect that device and continue with the list.
You can tackle the component once identified, but you've got to make sure
it's not two components.
 
M

Mick

Mark it seems to be the second hard drive... i've run chkdsk it it checks
out. I've hooked up everything else, and i only get the BSOD when the
second hd is powered up. What diagnostic test would you reccommend. Both
hd's are new and identical. thanks

mick
 
M

Mark H

2 TB is a lot of hard drive. I don't know what can actually be addressed,
but some things to check:

http://wdc.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/wdc.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=1679
Default pin configuration is No Jumper. This disables Spectrum Clocking.
Make sure the BIOS is set the same way, or install a jumper to correct.

http://support.wdc.com/product/download.asp?groupid=608&sid=3&lang=en
Western Digital makes a tool specifically for diagnosing the WD10EADS drive.
Not sure how strong it is.

Make sure the BIOS is identifying them as you want them: SATA, IDE,
whatever.

You could attempt plugging the drive into a second machine to see if it
responds well. If it does, the problem may simply be having two of these
guys together.

At this point, I'd be talking to the manufacturer:
http://wdc.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/wdc.cfg/php/enduser/ask.php
 
M

Mick

Mark i spoke too soon. I still get the BSOD even with the 2nd HD
disconnected. Seems it just takes longer to get the BSOD without the second
drive connected. I'll start over and run the computer for a day, before
attaching any hardware. Thanks for your help and i'll get back to you after
running each program for a day.

mick
 
M

Mark H

If it still seems "random" at this point. (Doesn't seem to be a particular
component.) Then, I'd start being concerned with the motherboard. (As if
something on it is overheating when it gets enough load.)
 
M

Mick

Mark... i can leave the computer running for hours with itunes or
mediacenter running and no BSOD, or i'll get the BSOD immediately after
turning on the computer... there's no consistent pattern. would a minidump
file offer any pertinent information? also before replacing the mb would
the power supply be worth replacing

mick
 

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