Blue Screen Error in Windows Vista

Did you perfrom a full disk format? Have you run a test on the actual hard drive?

A complete format was performed on the HDD installed within the Notebook, i'm using two external ones for my data & backup but they shouldn't be the cause as the OS is installed on the internal one?

I would start by doing a complete memory scan. Sometimes ram can cause these types of issues and it will have absolutely nothing to do with the HD.

Download and run a scan with this. ( It is free)
http://www.memtest86.com/

If that comes out clean then let me know, if it fails replace your ram.

Ok, so its a notebook. You are right, the external have nothing to do with this problem. Try and do a drive fitness test on the laptop hard drive so we can rule out a bad hard drive.

Make sure too...that your system isn't overheating...memory...hard drive...which might cause a BSOD message.

did you find anything?

Memory & HDD were tested extensively under guidance from DELL tech guys using their utilities & no problems were found. Do I still need to do more tests?

No issues if more tests are required I just thought I should Imention it.

One of the messages before the re-installation was performed -
Bad_Pool_Caller

do NOT use the doc extension; instead use the txt extension, and repost your dmp file

ok nobus

have also added another dmp file from today

Mini062609-01.txt
Mini062709-01.txt

Both:  VISTA_DRIVER_FAULT  Pool_Corruption  they suspect a driver fault here (update them)
they reference also  DkService.exe, which is a Diskeeper proces - do you have it installed? - uninstall it and test

hi nobus

Diskeeper being uninstalled, but couldn't understand the other one -
"VISTA_DRIVER_FAULT  Pool_Corruption",

What do i need to do for this? This being a Dell Notebook, does it have to do with the System Drivers provided by Dell or is it a Vista (Microsoft) problem?

Could you also kindly help me with the exact "DkService" error so that I can ask the Diskeeper company for a solution?

you can always update your drivers from the Dell site, to the latest ones

nobus:
the drivers installed currently were downloaded from Dell site just a week ago.

my earlier query -
Diskeeper uninstalled, but couldn't understand the other one -
"VISTA_DRIVER_FAULT  Pool_Corruption",

What do i need to do for this? This being a Dell Notebook, does it have to do with the System Drivers provided by Dell or is it a Vista (Microsoft) problem?

Could you also kindly help me with the exact "DkService" error so that I can ask the Diskeeper company for a solution?

for diskeeper, the only things you can do is uninstall or reinstall it.
when uninstalled, you can look if the uninstall is complete (Many are far from a complete uninstall) :
-look in program files for folfders referencing to Diskeeper, and dlete them
-run regseeker, and search for diskeeper, and remove the remnants in the registry :
http://www.hoverdesk.net/freeware.htm

for the Vista....problem, it can be an IRQ problem
can you see anything in event viewer? or in device manager?
you can also have bad hardware, remove all devices you don't need : extra disks, cd drives, cards.... and test
you cana also disable devices in the BIOS for testing : sound, Lan, USB, etc...

if the crash happens directly, you can check your hardware by running from a knoppix cd ; if that keeps running ok, the hard is probably fine.  ftp://ftp.kernel.org/pub/dist/knoppix/KNOPPIX_V6.0.1CD-2009-02-08-EN.iso

diskeeper uninstalled completely
is regseeker safe for Vista? the page doesn't mention Vista

device manager - everything appears normal excepting that since no driver was installed for Biometric Coprocessor it's being shown as disabled, but i think that should'nt be causing any conflicts as it isn't even active, but pl correct me if i am wrong on this

opened Event Viewer but couldn't understand what & where to look

today no crash as yet, will check for at least another day & update

hi nobus

could you kindly check this & suggest - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/967776 

if regseeker is not Vista compatible, it won't run. So you can use it.
in event viewer, look for problems (in red) right click them to see the info

hi nobus

1. Regseeker found some Diskeeper entries in Registry, now removed.

2. Event viewer - couldn't find anything significant around the last date/time of crash

3. could you kindly check this & suggest - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/967776 

i checked it - what do you want me to suggest ?  
if it is EXACTLY what you have, you may use it; otherwise don't.

did you try the knoppix cd?
you can also run a ram test :   www.memtest.org

hi nobus
am not very confident about using the knoppix cd & also couldn't figure out which option of the memtest i should opt for, there seems to be none for windows

i wouldn't want to further goofe up due to ignorence :)

can you guide &  help with the above?

why are you not confident on using the knoppix cd?  it does not harm; in fact it does not touch your installation, just runs from CD
what options of memtest do you mean?  you boot it, and runs, and keeps running till you stop.
you don't have to configure it (you can if you wish)

so i don't understand any of those2 comments really - can you explain?

nobus:
what i meant is -
memtest - which of the versions - bootable iso/bootable binary/exe usb key - do i download & how do i use it?

knoppix - have now downloaded the file but have no idea what to do with the iso file

you download the version you want to use, and boot from it; that's all
if you have a floppy, use the "precompiled package for floppy- DOS"
if you want more diags, download ubcd, it also contains memtest - and is bootable too.
http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/
an ISO file is an image of a CD or DVD. You copy it to a CD or DVD with an image Burning tool
in Nero, you find that in the backup section
then you boot from it, and it installs all software and drivers in your RAM from the booting up.
if that runs fine (it should NOT stop for longer than a minute or 2 without activity) it means your hardware that it uses (with different drivers) is ok.
if it stops with errors, you know something is wrong, hardwarewise, and the errors may provide more info.

dear nobus

have downloaded the knoppix as well as the ubcd4win files but couldn't get the time today, will start the process on monday

after removing diskeeper a crash hasn't occurred for the last 5-6 days, wondering if that was the main culprit & hoping for the best

i hope so too; but dont' forget that knoppix and ubcd are 2 very valuable FREE testing tools !

hi nobus
tried to use UBCD & received a trojan warning from my antivirus, screen shot attached

UBCD-Trojan-warning.jpg

just went through the FAQs for UBCD & they claim antivirus warnings to be ignored, would you recommend i should disable my antivirus (QuickHeal Total Security) for installing UBCD?
As I have downloaded the file from a link provided on the page
http://www.ubcd4win.com/downloads.htm &  not any 3rd party site, can i presume safely that it's not infected

first - that is not ubcd; its ubcd4win
i don't use it, so i don't comment either

created boot cd of knoppix, ubcd & memtest, ran all 3 one by one & went through tests,couldn't find any error

good - what tests did you run, other than memtest ?

cpu, hdd & a few others i saw listed, though to be honest i didn't understand what they were :)

how long did you run the disk test ? normally  a full pass min
the knoppix cd booted without problems?  and you could access the disk ?

yes i could access the disk when i booted with knoppix

so - if knoppix worked as expected; your hardware seems ok.
are you running Agnitum firewall ? then look here :  http://dllinfo.dll-free-download.org/a/12208-Afwcore.sys.html

lets review from start :
-you installed Vista from the DVD - no repair , yes?
-what else did you install ?

my firewall is Quick Heal Firewall Pro ver 3.0
Vista clean installed from original licensed DVD after complete formatting internal hdd
Other installed programs -
Diskeeper (now un-installed)
AI Roboform (password handling)
AVS4YOU (video convertor etc)
EMC Retrospect (backup)
Applian FLV Player
Google Earth
Internet Download Manager
iTunes
MS Office 2003
Mozilla Firefox
Nokia PC Suite
Norton Commander (for schedular)
Quick Heal  Total Security (Antivirus & Firewall)
Quick Time
Real
Roxio Creator (cd/dvd writing)
TuneUp Utilities
VLC Media Player
Win Zip
Adobe reader

canb you disable all those programs from startup  for a test?
in the run box, type msconfig >startup tab

msconfig tab list also shows -
NVIDIA entries for my graphic card
Creative entry for my external USB Sound card
Windows Defender
Logitech Setpoint
nwiz (this one i have no clue) the command column shows - nwiz.exe/install
Alps Pointing Device - Dell TouchPad Driver
Java Platform
IDT Audio - most probably onboard audio - SigmaTel
Quick Heal Antivirus - 4 entries
Quick Heal Firewall
InstallShield Update Service
QuickSet - Dell

any of these to be left untouched i.e. let remain selected or disable all

hi nobus, have to leave urgently for some time; kindly leave instructions & i'll get back sometime early tomorrow

Disable all - it''s only for testing.
from your question, i assumed you would not have anything installed, other than drivers....

ok, once i disable all what's to be done next?

nothing -just watch out if the BSOD reappears

but the BSOD may or may not appear for a few days,which is what usually happens :)

is that the only way? can't we find precisely from the dump file, i've another one now (latest) dated 8th of Jul, this is after the Diskeeper was un-installed

kindly understand that i'm not questioning your suggestions, it's just that i've become very frustrated with this issue so please bear with me :)

& just to re-confirm - do i disable my graphic card & Keyboard/mouse entries too from the Msconfig startup tab?

hi nobus

could installing Vista Service Pack2 help?

post the latest, i'll peek at it
i  understand perfectly frustration - i've got lots of it myself !
>>  could installing Vista Service Pack2 help?   <<   it can, depending on the actual problem - which we don't know yet exactly !

Did the problem start to happen after SP2 was installed?

JeremySBrown:
SP2 hasn't been installed yet

nobus
here's the latest dump that happened after removing Diskeeper

Mini070909-01.doc

disabled Quick Heal Firewall; but this afw is linked with Outpost where as the firewall on my system is Quick Heal Firewall; i've never installed outpost

would it be safe enough to disable the Quick Heal Firewall & enable the Windows Firewall

just now read that afw causes BSODs?!?

all this getting too confusing :)

just solved the mystery of Agnitum/Outpost -
Found this line on the Quick Heal website -
Quick Heal Firewall Professional                                            is powered by Agnitum, Russia.

nobus
i disabled my firewall in the msconfig startup tab but on re-booting it gets loaded again, should it be un-installed?

you disable it from programs> add/remove programs select firewall and disable it
you can uninstall it for a test too !

uninstalled Quick Heal Firewall

What happens if you go into Safe Mode...does the problem still occur? Most of the time...not always though...if it BSOD in normal mode it could be driver related...now if it BSOD in Safe Mode...most likely it's a hardware issue...

nobus
I'd removed the firewall on Friday evening but didn't work on the system on Saturday & Sunday. I think I'll keep a watch for at least two days of normal working before reaching any conclusion. Will get back to you with any feedback in between if required

JeremySBrown:
we've run quite a number of tests & it's almost certain that hardware isn't the cause but thanks anyway for the suggestion; will keep in mind if our current diagnosis/test doesn't work out; in any case the BSOD doesn't appear right away, sometimes it appears after i have been working for almost 5-6 hrs & sometimes there may be two or more occurences within an hour or so

hi nobus
the system has been behaving for the last few days; would you feel it's now safe to assume that we've isolated the problem?
if so -
1. Should I try re-installing Diskeeper, as it's quite a necessity for me?
2. Should I try re-installing the Quick Heal Firewall or go for some other Firewall? Any recommendations?

>>  1. Should I try re-installing Diskeeper, as it's quite a necessity for me?    <<   why ? what 's the use ?
  >>  2. Should I try re-installing the Quick Heal Firewall     <<   you can try it again; if the problem comes back, you know what to do...
and yes, it seems we've got the problem

nobus

Diskeeper is a program which defragments the disk automatically in the background & does it very effectively. As per the company web-site it's even certified for Windows Vista.

As per the web-site
"Diskeeper with real-time defrag, eliminates performance-robbing fragmentation as it occurs, without hogging system resources or scheduling a defrag."

If I get a problem again with the Quick Heal Firewall would you recommend any other Firewall.

i never use ANY firewall; but i do use a hardware one  (smc)
i also never use defragging, and certainly ot daily - you simply don't need it anymore with the big disks nowadays.
and if needed, i run it once.

hi nobus
all was well till the time i re-installed Quick Heal Firewall & then it was back to BSOD so I've finally un-installed it & now I've to look for a Firewall that works with Vista; any idea how good is the Windows Firewall?

thanks a ton for all the help;

well  i did not see much problems on the net, related to it, so i suppose it's ok