XP 0x00000050 Stop error, hardware and disk okay, stuck now after Windows repair/upgrade fails with the same STOP code

Hi,

Do you have an xp disk? and have you tried the repair install option from the xp disk? that normally works with fixing various stop errors.

When does the BSOD occur? During the Windows XP loading page, or before, or when you're finally in windows?

You could try a few things -

Clear the CMOS, and try starting up with default BIOS settings.

Run the system with no peripherals attached, and things like pci sound cards removed etc. The only thing you should have remaining is the primary drive, MB, Graphics Card (unless you use onboard graphics), CPU, RAM, DVD/CD drive. Everything else out. Try to boot then - if it works, it's a problem with one of the peripherals (most likely a driver issue). If not, then it'll be something else -

The error you're describing is a PAGE_FAULT_IN_NON_PAGE_AREA right?
This can be caused by faulty, or badly seated RAM. Try removing all the ram, then cleaning the contacts using compressed air (or blow on it if you are trusting). You could also use a static free cloth on the actual sticks.
Replace one at a time, swapping if you get a BSOD. If you don't get the BSOD, you know its a stick of RAM.

You've said you ran Diagnostics - what sorts?

Final try - get your hands on an Ubuntu bootable cd (linux running off the cd) and try to test out all the hardware from within the booted environment. You can also use a BartPE version of Windows XP (that can boot off a cd). If this all doesn't work, then it's probably your motherboard or something weird elsewhere.

Hiya lpxtech!

Yes, I tried the repair i.e. in-place upgrade and it fails with the same STOP codes after the initial installation and reboot where the install would continue in the GUI environment.

Hi Jbuzzard,

Yes on the PAGE_FAULT_IN_NON_PAGED_AREA error.  It happens on BOOT.  Before I tried the in-place upgrade I could actually get into Safe Mode okay and do stuff, now I am stuck mid-install and have shut myself out of Safe Mode and working on the install.

I have run the Dell diagnostics and also MEMTEST on the memory without error.  I have disabled everything I can in the BIOS - wireless, COM/LPT ports, the lot.  Still comes up with the boot message.  Hardware is ruled out I think as I have an exact match Latitude laptop and putting the disk in that machine reports the same error.  Also I have Ultimate Boot Disk for Windows and that boots fine so it seems like something in the install that is an issue.

I also looked for DMP files to try and see if I could find a clue with the DUMP analyser tool but nothing on the C Drive.

I am stumped!  I need to quit now but will be back on this first thing EST.

Thanks for your responses so far.

Chris

Using the Ultimate boot CD, try running Memtest86+ for a while.

Another problem could be that you're trying to install using an OEM Windows XP disc when you have a Retail disc CD Key. This has caused similar problems for me in the past. Try to make sure you use the same original XP disc that came with the key.
However, considering you're using a dell, it is unlikely that you have an actual XP disc.

You could try to source a relevant disc, but it is probably better to just reinstall using the discs that came with the machine.

just to explain a bit better - the OEM disc DOESN"T LIKE a retail key, and vice versa.

Using Dell CD which is used to rebuild the machine (slipstreamed in SP3 using N-Lite too as another attempt)

Memtest did not report anything after running it for several hours/passes.  Again same error appears in another machine too.

The slipstream needs to be run on an actual retail or OEM version of XP, not one of the ones that ships with dell (the reason for this is that n-lite looks for components that aren't neccessary, and removes them. If this occurs with a dell install cd, you are removing things that the dell needs to run properly).

best to run an SP3 upgrade from within windows using the network admin install file.

Unfortunately, at this point it appears that you will have to perform a full reinstall.

check your motherboard also for bad capacitors, as per www.badcaps.net
you can also bott from xp cd, and run chkdsk on the drive from recovery console

You won't necessarily have to run a full reinstall. Just try the above.
Nobus makes a good point about the capacitors - check them.

Try to boot into BIOS as well and have a look at the working temp of your various components...

This is a laptop so not easy to pull apart and check capacitors, as the error occurs when I move the hard drive to a 'like' machine it is something within the installation not hardware.

I think I am to the point of a reinstall as there is no more I can think of to do - I had hoped someone might understand the error codes and that the values in the brackets pointed to something specific.

Will backup and start from scratch, thanks for the suggestions, I appreciate your time and responses.

Chris

actually, if you post acouple of minidumps, i'll have a peep

There are no mini-dumps in the system folder, I had a look expecting some but nothing :-/

probably your system is not set to make them (Device manager>advanced tab )
they are in C:\windows\minidumps

this may help :  http://support.microsoft.com/kb/329293
http://ubcd4win.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=11245

I'll see if I can simply remove the video driver file(s) and see if it will boot back to VGA.  As I cannot get into Safe Mode though I am kinda screwed.

Will be a while though as I am now imaging the drive so I have all the data backed up as I am to the point of having to rebuild.

Had to rebuild no go on drivers.

Thanks again all for the support and help with this.

So the reinstall worked?

Yes indeed, fresh install working fast without any issues so I guess it was probably screwed registry or drivers.

Thanks for following up!

I object, since it appears that the problem was resolved. I beleive that the owner should distribute points.