XP BSOD Problem

[MannyL]

I’m ruinning XP Pro with Service Pack 2 on a home network. Something has gone terribly wrong and now the system is unusable.

If I boot normally I can log in then before the desktop appears I get a BSOD with the following error code

0x000000f4 (ox00000003, 0x856f9590, 0x856f9704, 0x805f9f88)

if I boot into safemode I can get to a desktop no worries but can’t use my system.

I don’t know if this is related but if I hit any key on the keyboard before all hard drive activity ends even though it has the press ctrl-altr-delete to log in message the system comes to a complete hard lock.

[ZipperJJ]

In safe mode did you try going to any restore points?
Start - programs - accessories - system tools - system restore.

[Dog80]

Sounds like hardware problem. Maybe a faulty memory module or something overheating. Also keep in mind that those error codes are meaningless. And what is BSOD?

[Blake]

@Dog80

And what is BSOD?

Blue Screen of Death

[MannyL]

@ZipperJJ

In safe mode did you try going to any restore points?
Start - programs - accessories - system tools - system restore.

I have disabled system restore and never re-enabled it

[MannyL]

12 hour bump

[Askance]

I agree it sounds like hardware, btu it’s worthwhile booting from your XP CD and trying to repair the installation.

How did it first occur? Was it just after some change (software or hardware) or update?

[Nanoda]

Dog80: Please don’t post when you have no idea what you’re posting about. Microsoft STOP error codes are quite useful, and > 95% of the time when typed in to the Microsoft Knowledge Base will at least point you in the right direction, if not exactly describe your issue.

MannyL: I’d check my HD configurations if I were you (pursuant to this KB article). Specifically, check the master/slave jumpers (if the drive is IDE), and make sure it’s set to Master. If it’s the only one on the cable, try changing which of the two connectors you use.

Is there any text on the line below that? (IRQL_NOT_LESS_THAN_OR_EQUAL or anything?) Many blue-screens have such text (though some don’t), and it would help to know it if it did.

[MannyL]

@Nanoda

Dog80: Please don’t post when you have no idea what you’re posting about. Microsoft STOP error codes are quite useful, and > 95% of the time when typed in to the Microsoft Knowledge Base will at least point you in the right direction, if not exactly describe your issue.

MannyL: I’d check my HD configurations if I were you (pursuant to this KB article). Specifically, check the master/slave jumpers (if the drive is IDE), and make sure it’s set to Master. If it’s the only one on the cable, try changing which of the two connectors you use.

Is there any text on the line below that? (IRQL_NOT_LESS_THAN_OR_EQUAL or anything?) Many blue-screens have such text (though some don’t), and it would help to know it if it did.

Nandoa

The HD is an SATA so no jumpers to check,
Also no text below the error

@Askance

I agree it sounds like hardware, btu it’s worthwhile booting from your XP CD and trying to repair the installation.

How did it first occur? Was it just after some change (software or hardware) or update?

It first occured after XP did a renoot when ome updates installed.

The System will not allow me to do a repair install. It hangs while checking the drive

[Nanoda]

Hmm. Did you verify that it’s on the master SATA connector? If it already is, I’d try switching it just for testing purposes.

The last bit of advice on the kb “Install Windows on a new hard disk because it is possible that your hard disk or your Windows installation may be corrupted.” is kind of annoying…

For retail and (IIRC) OEM XP, you should have two free calls to Microsoft tech support. They have access to a much more comprehensive KB than us regular people - it might be worth giving them a call. Link

[MannyL]

@Nanoda

Hmm. Did you verify that it’s on the master SATA connector? If it already is, I’d try switching it just for testing purposes.

The last bit of advice on the kb “Install Windows on a new hard disk because it is possible that your hard disk or your Windows installation may be corrupted.” is kind of annoying…

For retail and (IIRC) OEM XP, you should have two free calls to Microsoft tech support. They have access to a much more comprehensive KB than us regular people - it might be worth giving them a call. Link

Yes I verified it’s on the master SATA connector. I think it’s a SW issue related to an installed driver.

I can not call Microsoft because the installation is not an OEM. It was obtained in a totally legal way but it comes with no support.

[Askance]

@MannyL

It first occured after XP did a renoot when some updates installed.

The System will not allow me to do a repair install. It hangs while checking the drive

So clearly a hardware driver problem. You say you can boot into safe mode though, is there not a way of uninstalling recent updates in there? Just trying to recall what options they give you …

[MannyL]

@Askance

So clearly a hardware driver problem. You say you can boot into safe mode though, is there not a way of uninstalling recent updates in there? Just trying to recall what options they give you …

Yes good point I believe I can do it through add/remove programs if the update that installed can be uninstalled

[Askance]

Good, simply uninstalling the bad driver should be enough, then on reboot you will get to reinstall it, obviously install the older good version (from your XP CD I assume) not the updated problematic version.