BSOD :(

[veinal]

System:

Microsoft Windows XP SP2
Dell Dimension DM051
Intel Pentium D CPU 2.80 GHz
1.00 GB RAM

Alright, so, a month ago, I started getting the BSOD. I ran memory tests, checked new configurations, and uninstalled new software. It started coming up more and more frequently, and eventually, I couldn't even boot up into my OS; the BSOD would come up right after I saw the Windows XP Logo.

I reformatted, and everything seemed to be good. Just a week ago, I started getting the BSOD again. It mentioned "portcls.sys", which apparently indicates an audio driver conflict? I uninstalled a recording program that installed a new audio driver. I still get the BSOD but without the "portcls.sys." Now i get the following stop error:

0x000000D1 (0xDDDDDDDD, 0x00000002, 0x00000008, 0x0000000D)

I've used McAfee Virus Scan and AOL Active Shield regularly, (switched from the former to the latter after the reformat), and I am using Spybot S&D and Ad-Aware regularly.

Any suggestions?

 

[oynaz]

Run a HDD diagnostic. You can get one from your HDD manufacturer's website.

 

[Nocturnal]

Is there an updated/newer driver available from the manufacturer's website?

 

[veinal]

I have run an HDD diagnostic from the manufacturer's website, but I do not think I've looked for an updated driver. My hard drive is a 160 GB Seagate ST3160812AS. Currently looking for a driver...

 

[veinal]

One of the major changes I made before getting the BSOD was purchasing an eSata 500 GB Cavalry Hard Drive. I mount and unmount it quite frequently; could this possibly lead to system instability and the blue screen?

 

[Old Hippie]

I mount and unmount it quite frequently; could this possibly lead to system instability and the blue screen?

I hope not. If it does, many of us are doomed!

 

[veinal]

No drivers.

Any Ideas?

 

[ch33zw1z]

Uninstall the sound device, disable in BIOS (I'm assuming it's onboard), then purchase a different sound device and install.

 

[veinal]

Well I disconnected my speakers (Altec Lansing from the early 90s) and uninstalled the drivers and I haven't been blue screened all day! Thanks for your help!

 

[veinal]

It wasn't the speakers. I'm getting blue screened again. I followed the advice from
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/810093/en-us

but I'm not sure if it will help. I've been looking up my stop error, but I'm not getting anywhere.

 

[veinal]

I continued to get this error repeatedly. I flashed my BIOS, checked my computer for loose components, did a memtest, did a hard drive diagnostic, checked the temps on my hard drive (around 48 degrees Celsius).

Everytime I bluescreen I get the following two errors in Event Viewer:

Error code 100000d1, parameter1 f000a8ea, parameter2 00000002, parameter3 00000008, parameter4 f000a8ea.

Error code 100000d1, parameter1 00000025, parameter2 00000002, parameter3 00000001, parameter4 dddddddd.

Reformat didn't help, so I don't really know what to do.

 

[montag451]

What psu do you use?

 

[veinal]

I use the power supply that came with my Dell Dimension 5100:

305 W

90 to 135 V and 180 to 265 V at 50/60 Hz


I was also thinking this may be a power supply issue... I was going to test my voltages if I got bluescreened again.

 

[montag451]

You could try and test the voltage, but it will only tell you if the power is very bad.

If it flickers, your meter most likely won't register the flicker, but your components would.

No harm in trying though - but definitely worth upgrading the psu as an easy troubleshoot.
But, cheaper than that,
download a live cd of Knoppix - it won't write anything to your hard drive unless you specifically tell it to.
If Knoppix crashes out, then change your psu for starters.

 

[veinal]

Thanks for all your help, I really appreciate it.

I have one question:

In my System Information(Msinfo32.exe), it shows two devices on IRQ 16:

Radeon X1650 Series (purchased graphics card a month or two before the BSODs)
Microsoft UAA Bus Driver for High Definition Audio

Is this a problem?

 

[SilthDraeth]

Originally posted by: veinal
Thanks for all your help, I really appreciate it.

I have one question:

In my System Information(Msinfo32.exe), it shows two devices on IRQ 16:

Radeon X1650 Series (purchased graphics card a month or two before the BSODs)
Microsoft UAA Bus Driver for High Definition Audio

Is this a problem?

That could be a conflict.

Does the motherboard have onboard video? If so, try the onboard video with your vid card removed.

Also, since you have reformatted a lot, how does your machine run, if you don't install any drivers? or just network drivers?

 

[dclive]

Originally posted by: veinal
I continued to get this error repeatedly. I flashed my BIOS, checked my computer for loose components, did a memtest, did a hard drive diagnostic, checked the temps on my hard drive (around 48 degrees Celsius).

Everytime I bluescreen I get the following two errors in Event Viewer:

Error code 100000d1, parameter1 f000a8ea, parameter2 00000002, parameter3 00000008, parameter4 f000a8ea.

Error code 100000d1, parameter1 00000025, parameter2 00000002, parameter3 00000001, parameter4 dddddddd.

Reformat didn't help, so I don't really know what to do.

1. Download and run MPSReports. Give me the resulting .cab file.
2. Give me the minidumps found in c:\windows\minidump.

I'll see what I can find with them.

 

[veinal]

Alright, I just sent you the files, dclive. Hopefully this thing can be diagnosed.

 

[dclive]

Replace or upgrade your sigmatel drivers:
Module[ 65] [C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\STHDA.SYS]
Company Name: SigmaTel, Inc.
File Description: NDRC
Product Version: (1.0:4779.3)
File Version: (5.10:4823.0)
File Size (bytes): 1047816
File Date: Wed Nov 16 15:36:00 2005


....with current/newest release.

That was the cause of the most recent crash.

 

[dclive]

...and the cause for the third most recent, and probably the second most recent.

..and crash #2 on 8-5.

After that I stopped.

PS: Until you've looked at the dumps or at least googled the error codes, guessing on why a box bluescreens is frequently a waste of time. The way to figure out why a box bluescreened is to google the error codes or, much, much better, read the memory dumps. I can't tell you how many people have reinstalled, put the same bad driver back in place, and have the exact same problem...

 

[dclive]

Originally posted by: SilthDraeth

Originally posted by: veinal
Thanks for all your help, I really appreciate it.

I have one question:

In my System Information(Msinfo32.exe), it shows two devices on IRQ 16:

Radeon X1650 Series (purchased graphics card a month or two before the BSODs)
Microsoft UAA Bus Driver for High Definition Audio

Is this a problem?

That could be a conflict.

Does the motherboard have onboard video? If so, try the onboard video with your vid card removed.

Also, since you have reformatted a lot, how does your machine run, if you don't install any drivers? or just network drivers?

Sharing IRQs is not a problem on a (in 2007, even *remotely* modern) ACPI machine. That's the entire purpose of the ACPI HAL.

 

[dclive]

Originally posted by: veinal
I use the power supply that came with my Dell Dimension 5100:

305 W

90 to 135 V and 180 to 265 V at 50/60 Hz


I was also thinking this may be a power supply issue... I was going to test my voltages if I got bluescreened again.

Bad hardware typically causes a range of (completely different) bluescreens, or, more typically, no bluescreen at all.

Remember - a bluescreen is the *OS* catching a problem and throwing up an error. If a problem happens in hardware, typically the *OS* cannot catch it and the hardware kills the OS prior to the OS ever knowing about it. There are a few exceptions (CPU bitflips, bad CPU microcode from the first generation P4 boxes, etc.) but by and large, that's typical.

 

[veinal]

Thanks a lot for the trouble, dclive.

The portcls.sys I was getting before made me think that I had a problem with my Sigmatel driver, but I don't think I actually got the proper update for it.

Now I'm using the newest drivers, and hopefully this will work out.

 

[dclive]

Working well now, and without issues? Problem fixed?

 

[veinal]

Yes, I haven't been BSOD'd in nearly a week. I also think I've identified the culprit. Steinberg Cubase SX rolls back my drivers when I install it. I just have to make sure to update them after installation.

Thanks for all your help,

veinal.