BSOD on Dell Inspiron Mini 1012, Windows 7 Starter

7B points to a faulty hard drive...tap F12 on boot-go to boot to utility partition and run a quick test on hard drive...if you get an error then replace the hard drive...contact dell.




Ded9

Extended Dell diagnostics run on HDD, no problems found, all tests passed.  Running HDD diagnostic from external HDD now, no errors found so far.

It could be a virus in the boot block so you will need to use a boot disk like avg live cd to remove it
see
http://www.avg.com/us-en/avg-rescue-cd-download

Would a virus exist in the boot block after a full system restore, in which everything was erased?

Disconnect external devices and then try full restore




Ded9

Full restore already completed.  BSOD persists after full restore.

All volumes scanned with AVG Rescue Disk, no viruses or malware found.

well is it still in warranty as it could be a hdd or the motherboard causing the BSOD
the hdd or motherboard could be the problem by stopping for a couple of seconds that will cause a bsod if the system is booting

No, it is not in warranty.

the hdd might be they usually have 3 years warranty

But the hdd shows no problems in diagnostic tests of any kind.

also, did you select a restore point BEFORE the problem happened?

Problem might be with display driver  ...after restore tap f8 to boot in low res mode ..if able to boot then install updated graphics driver



Ded9

Aren't all previous restore points cleared during system restore?  Unable to boot into low res mode or any safe mode.  I can access the C drive using the Knoppix disk.

if you can acess the disk -post the minidump to be found in windows\minidumps

I'm not seeing a minidump folder under Windows.

check for memory.dmp in windows zip it and upload


Ded9

did you disable "hide protected system files" ?  did you use Knoppix for it?

Didn't find memory.dmp in Windows.  Did not diable "hide protected system files" as I can't access drive in Windows.  I do have the capability of removing the hard drive and connecting it as an external drive via usb adapter to another computer.

yes-  but on THAT pc you have to disable it...otherwise you don't see minidumps

How can I disable it if the only access I have is by Knoppix or as an external drive?

with Knoppix no need to - with external yes   -  the knoppix starts ok - and you can copy your data with it ?
you should post a bit more info - cannot see from here what you did or meant

but if there is no minidump . none = 0

time to start testing - ram and disk first; best download UBCD to run them : http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/      

No mini dump.  Knoppix runs fine.  Ran extensive Dell diagnostics on Ram and drive, as well as additional drive diagnostic, no problems found.

knoppix ok - then the hardware is ok for 90%
did you run a startup repair yet ?  http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html            repair windows 7

Try connecting hard drive to another port or change the hard drive cable and check.



Ded9

Install windows 7 using another disc.




Ded9

Unable to do a startup repair as I don't have a Windows 7 disk.  This netbook only came with a recovery partition (Dell), which I used previously to do a complete system restore.  Unable to connect HDD to a different port or cable as it is a netbook and has no other port or cable.

Do get an option to install plain windows 7 when you tap F11 to do pc restore.



Ded9

I have no F11 access.  I can do a system restore using F8 to Repair Your Computer, then accessing the Dell DataSafe  Restore and Emergency Backup.  From there I can restore to the factory image, which I have done twice and am doing again now.

You said you have changed hard drive mode in bios..enable ahci and then do full restore...if not working then enable ide and then do full restore again.



Ded9

Changed HDD mode to IDE, did full restore, problem persists.  Changed HDD mode to ACHI, did full restore, problem persists.  Wow, this is really a bear!

Do you have the dell reinstallation disc that came with your computer....or do you have an option in dell data safe to create recovery disc.




Ded9

I have no Dell reinstallation disk nor is there an option in Dell data safe to create a recovery disk.

http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/kcs/document?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&docid=266282

What are the option available when u launch dell data safe...what happens when you tap F11 on boot..

Boot to command prompt(repair my computer option by tapping F8) and make sure C drive is set as active parititon.



Ded9

There is no option to create recovery disks in the Dell Data Safe recovery option under Repair My Computer.  There is only an option to restore from an image or to back up data files then restore from an image.  The first time I ran the Dell Data Safe I opted to back up the data files to an external HDD.  Each successive time I have just run it to restore from an image.
I have booted into Repair my computer, command prompt as you suggested.  I am now at x:\windows\system32

Use diskpart to set active paritition...make sure C drive is set as active partition.

http://www.geeksdo.com/set-active-partition.html



Ded9

you can run a chkdsk from there

I used Disk part to set active partition as C, and now when I boot, the BSOD is gone, but I get the message "BOOTMGR is missing."

I can't get to the DOS prompt.  If I try to use F8 it just keeps going to the BOOTMGR is missing message.

IT WORKED!  That did the trick.  What was wrong with it and how did it get that way?  Thanks so much, all, especially ded9!

If you are able to boot to desktop then first buy a good  blank dual layered dvd and create a recovery disc ...i mean operating system disc...

http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/kcs/document?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&docid=266282

Corrupt boot settings might be the problem.



Ded9

I made a system repair disk, but it won't let me make a recovery disk.  When I bring up Dell DataSafe Local Backup, I can restore the files I backed up, but when I go to make a recovery disk, there is a page to select the recovery media, either disk or USB drive, and it won't let me select either one or go any further.  Also, when I open Dell DataSafe, it says it is unable to detect the recovery partition  and that it may be missing or corrupted.

Post screenshot...did u enter a blank dvd...right click on dell datasafe-click run as administrator- then try creating recovery disc.



Ded9

i found this :   http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/software-os/f/3526/t/19304138.aspx
Dell Data Safe is an online backup subscription service that you have to pay for after the trial runs out. You don't use that to burn a system recovery disk. To make a system recovery disk, type Backup and Restore in the Start box, start Backup and then select Create a system repair disk. Follow the directions. This makes a bootable dvd for recovery.
 
It takes a week or 2 to see your service tag in the Dell database if you purchased directly from Dell. Contact Customer Service if you can't get recognized after that. Do not post it in the forums. Retail customers need to register their computers at the retail registration site.

more info :  http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/kcs/document?docid=DSN_353560&isLegacy=true

If you check above ..nobus post the first links ...(Nihor) steps willl resolve your problem to create recovery dvds.

Try those steps.




Ded9

not much for all my help here...  :(

You're right, you did help and I owe you some points.  Is there a way to reallocate?

yes - click request attention and ask the mod to reopen -then reallocatr