My Windows 2000 machine has recently started giving me random STOP errors with a blue screen. The accompanying message varies - usually "IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL", but sometimes "BAD_POOL_CALLER" and once "KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDL
Evesham technical support had me use the recovery CD to try to repair Windows, but sfc /scannow kept asking me to put the correct CD in the drive even though the correct CD was already in there. Tech support then decided that my only option was to reformat and reload Windows. However, I am not convinced that it is a software error. Could a hardware problem be causing this? Is there any way to prove whether it is a software or hardware problem? The last thing I want to do is reformat and then discover that it was hardware all along.
My PC has an AMD Athlon 1.4GH processor and 512MB DDR Ram. It originally had a Geforce Pro video card, but since a problem with that card it now has an ATI Radeon card. These errors have started since the ATI card was installed, but didn't start immediately but after about 2/3 months.
Another thing that may be relevant is that when Zone Alarm updated recently, it was rebooting the computer and my daughter didn't have time for it to restart. She pressed CTRL-ALT-DEL during the shutdown process and the computer hung and needed to be reset. The STOP errors started a week or so later.
I accept that I do need to reinstall Windows as Add/Remove programs doesn't work (and I'm not sure it ever has). Also, there is a problem with Outlook Express which sometimes closes itself when you click on a particular folder and more recently has been "losing" messages which were there when you first click on the folder, but if you go back later they are gone. (I do wonder if this has anything to do with AVG antivirus which is installed?)
Will reformating and reinstalling Windows fix these problems or could it be something more serious?
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Just to add some general information about those BSOD's
STOP MESSAGES
http://www.aumha.org/win5/
0x0000000A: IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL
http://www.aumha.org/win5/
0x000000C2: BAD_POOL_CALLER
http://www.aumha.org/win5/
0x0000001E: KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLE
http://www.aumha.org/win5/
All of those indicate RAM problems, one way or another.
LucF
Thanks. I will check out the RAM.
I have just had a new error:
STOP 0xC5
A device driver has corrupted the executive memory pool
Would this tie in with the bad RAM theory? I am getting a little depressed that I won't be able to get new RAM without first reloading Windows because of stupid Evesham tech support... unless I tell them that I have done it?!
If I reformat, and I have bad RAM, I assume there is a chance that the RAM could throw a wobbly during the reformat? If that happened could it wreck anything permanently?
Thanks
Sally
0x000000C5: DRIVER_CORRUPTED_EXPOOL
http://www.aumha.org/win5/
>>Would this tie in with the bad RAM theory?<<
Yep, normally this error is caused by a bad driver, but in combination with the other errors, it's still most likely bad RAM.
>>If that happened could it wreck anything permanently?<<
Thankfully nothing another format can't fix, bad RAM normally won't corrupt other hardware.
Please just run the memmory test I posted above (leave it running during the night as it'll take a long time to finish, several hours) and if it gives errors and Evesham still doesn't believe you then, let me know and I'll give them a message :)
LucF
I left the memory test running overnight. It went through all tests 19 times and it didn't report any errors at all!
I guess my options are:
1. Phone Evesham and try and persuade them to send an engineer to replace the RAM
2. Buy some RAM and see if it fixes the problem, but I wouldn't have a clue how to fit it and it may invalidate the warranty
3. Reformat and reload and hope nothing b*ggers up and it fixes the error, fully expecting having to get an engineer later...
Do you still think that RAM is the most likely problem?
Thanks
Sally
Business Accounts
Answer for Membership
by: LucFPosted on 2004-06-28 at 05:54:09ID: 11415130
Hi Sal_Laz,
> "IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL", but sometimes "BAD_POOL_CALLER" and once
> "KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDL
Ok, your biggest chance is that you have bad RAM.
Here is a tool to test it: http://www.memtest86.com let it run for a few hours, if it doesn't give errors doesn't mean your memmory is good, the only way to really be sure is to replace it. But if it finds problems, you can be 99% sure your RAM is bad.
Greetings,
LucF