Frequent Bluescreens since installing Vista

[Siyko]

Hi. I recently installed vista, and although I do love it, I am getting frequent bluescreens. It seems to happen more when I'm playing a game, but that might be unrelated, or its just related to high CPU usage or something.

I get different messages for the bluescreens, the most frequent ones are BAD_POOL_HEADER and IRQL_LESS_OR_NOT_EQUAL. The former first made me think of hard drive error, but they have never had a problem in the past. I switched the power connectors to the hard drives on a hunch, but it solved nothing.

The second error makes me think something's wonky with the drivers.

I ran two diagnostics-
vista memtest (restarts into 16 bit app), no errors found
GRC Spinrite, ran twice, both times it gave an error and did not complete.

Specs:

Windows Vista (64 bit)
DFI Lanparty UT nforce 4
Athlon 64 3200+
Geforce 6800GT
SB Audigy 1
Logitech Mx518 mouse
Logitech G15 Keyboard

I am running latest manufacturer provided drivers for all hardware, including Setpoint and the keyboard software.

It MIGHT be worth noting that the keyboard profiling software has errored out a few times.

In device manager, everything looks fine except for three in 'other devices':

-Multimedia Controller
-Multimedia Video Controller
-Unknown Device

All 3 are disabled, and in driver details, it says "no files have been loaded for this device". I assume they can't cause a problem in this state, can they?

 

[Ultralight]

Siyko, it may not be a hardware driver issue at all. When I built my new 939 system back in May 2006 eveything went great. it booted up the first time, but it wasn't too long before I was getting BSoDs galore. Mind you, I have XP Pro but I can relate to your frustration.

I did tons of research because everything I was reading said it was a hardware driver issue. I thought I narrowed it down to either my M-Audio 5.1 Revolution sound card or my Logitech MX310 mouse (make sure your drivers for your mouse are the latest). The thing is this hardware is deemed compatible by Microsoft.

Came to finally discover is wasn't a hardware driver issue, it was a software diver conflict. Specifically my Sunbelt Kerio Firewall. Their Tech Support even confessed it was an issue in that particular version (and they continue to have issues two versions later; I speak from experience).

The way I learned this was someone read my Minidump file over at the TechSpot boards. I would still be pulling my hair out if it wasn't for the help I received. Perhaps someone can read it for you over there. I love the boards here, but I have also found valuable help over there as well.

Let me know how it goes. And I have one question for you: How well is your CPU handling Vista? The reason I ask is because I have the very same one.

Edit: It could be your harddrive is failing. Have you run a diagnostics test from your particular harddrive vendor?

 

[Siyko]

I will try some HD diagnostic, here are the .dmp files of the last 5 crashes.

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=VEWZ12JN

Sorry for using megaupload, but my FTP server is on fire or something.

Your problem sounds like one could easily go crazy without that lucky strike, I will run a HD diagnostic and see if it turns up anything. Vista has one built in, I hope it's good.

My cpu is running vista fine, it's rated "4" in vista's abritrary numerical hardware evaluation grade, and a 3 is enough to run all of Vista's features.

Most games run fine, I don't really notice a difference from XP, but I hear it is a bit slower. The CPU based stuff runs fine though.

 

[Tlkki]

Almost same build & problem as mine

Ive had this problem earlier as well, and now it struck me after 3 months again! Last time it was solved by using the computer with only one stick of ram. The other one worked, but the other didnt. I installed the broken stick on anoter computer, and boom, BSOD in 5 minutes while surfing. It was curious that memtest86 didnt show any errors on the memory at first, even though the BSODs had started.

 

[Ultralight]

The thing with Memtest, as good as it is, it doesn't always catch faulty RAM 100%. It also depends on how long you run the test. Usually 10 passes is the minimum for Tests 1-8 and then I do one test of #9.

Anytime I do a MemTest I start it late at night and then check it in the morning.

 

[sieistganzfett]

"Frequent Bluescreens since installing Vista" -i see you installed vista, thats the problem right there if your computer has been running fine for a very long time under xp.
your best off using windows debugger to find out what driver or software is causing all of the blue screens under vista.

http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/devtools/debugging/default.mspx

install Windows Debugger, and using it to check the dump file to find out windows crashed. after installing run !analyze -v and lmv commands to find out what did it.
**** after dbg_x86_6.6.07.5.exe installed, open windbg, set FILE|symbol file path to click "reload" box, then ok.
SRV*c:\local cache*http://msdl.microsoft.com/download/symbols

**** then file|open crash dump and run the commands

!analyze -v will tell you the error, click the link on the drive
under Debugging Details:
DEFAULT_BUCKET_ID -tells the general category of the failure
IMAGE_NAME -tells what driver is at fault, like if DRIVER_FAULT
click on the driver highlighted under MODULE_NAME it tells info like path to that module

lmv -tells loaded modules in detail, then click edit|find for that driver listed under IMAGE_NAME


****IF
*if driver at fault is ntoskrl.exe (windows core) or win32.sys (driver most responsible for the GUI layer on windows),it is PROBABLY NOT WINDOWS needing to be reinstalled, it is PROBABLY some third-party device driver that called it.
*if the driver at fault is an antivirus driver, it is PROBABLY NOT the anti virus needing to be reinstalled.
*

 

[Siyko]

Thanks sieistganzfett, the .dmp files were indeed calling ntoskrl.exe and cited.... drumroll...

nvlddmkm.sys!

I read abotu a lot of people having this error when installing vista RC1, but can't seem to find any info. I guess my next step is to try third party video drivers.

If this is nthing but a driver issue, I will be more than relieved.

 

[sieistganzfett]

i'm pretty sure thats nvidia drivers. are you are using the latest vista drivers from nvidia's website?

 

[Siyko]

yeah i am, they haven't updated in weeks but im definetly using the correct drivers from nvidia's site. I just changed to some beta drivers from Guru3d, maybe it will fix it.

 

[Siyko]

bah bluescreened again!

I'm beginning to wonder if this is a driver issue, my programs have been crashing a large amount lately as well. I would bet money it's either my RAM or HDD right now. I will run some hard diagnostics soon and report my findings.

 

[sieistganzfett]

if you run memtest86+ the newest version for a good 24 hour period, i would highly doubt ram is the problem. seagate has their own HD diag, if that says it's fine i would rule out the hard drive too. if you opened several dmp files and all point to the same exact thing, the nvidia drivers, i would say its the drivers. i thought the nvidia drivers under vista just didnt support dx10 or something mainly dealing with the 8800 series, i didnt really pay attention to the driver situation of nvidia under vista. but if you were willing, switch back to xp and see if the bsod are gone. if they do leave, its the drivers and you would have to hold off until newer drivers come out before you switch back to vista.