Boerne
asked on
How to fix BSOD
Aug 16, 2015
I'm having BSODs on my XP machine every few weeks, typically when it has been sitting idle for a few hours, but not always.
It's an XP SP3 machine, self-built. AMD Phenom II x4 995 @3.20 GHz, 4GB Crucuial Ballistix RAM. MSI mobo, not overclocked but running "Super-Charger."
2 SSDs: An OCZ ARC100 SSD 240GB, which gets cloned to a Samsung EVO 250GB weekly as my backup.
"STOP: 0x000000F4 (0x00000003, 0x8A9A4780, 0x8A9A48F4, 0x805D22DA)" is what it said this time.
I have replaced almost everything, including mobo, memory sticks, and cables to the drives. I even disconnected a 2TB HDD to get it out of the equation. The BIOS is up-to-date as far as I can tell.
When it crashes, it messes up the directories on the main boot drive. So, I keep losing a lot of data. I can reboot from the backup drive, but I have had crashes that corrupted it as well. Then, I am really frustrated.
The original corporate-license install disk is long gone. I do have a new XP disk and COA, if needed, but I hate to go that route because I have so many useful programs installed on this business PC.
After the BSOD it says it is writing a data dump file. A search for *.dmp gives a lot of old dumps from Firedox and other programs, but nothing with a recent date.
I don't speak BDOD code language very well. Would someone kindly help me get this thing stabilized?
I'm having BSODs on my XP machine every few weeks, typically when it has been sitting idle for a few hours, but not always.
It's an XP SP3 machine, self-built. AMD Phenom II x4 995 @3.20 GHz, 4GB Crucuial Ballistix RAM. MSI mobo, not overclocked but running "Super-Charger."
2 SSDs: An OCZ ARC100 SSD 240GB, which gets cloned to a Samsung EVO 250GB weekly as my backup.
"STOP: 0x000000F4 (0x00000003, 0x8A9A4780, 0x8A9A48F4, 0x805D22DA)" is what it said this time.
I have replaced almost everything, including mobo, memory sticks, and cables to the drives. I even disconnected a 2TB HDD to get it out of the equation. The BIOS is up-to-date as far as I can tell.
When it crashes, it messes up the directories on the main boot drive. So, I keep losing a lot of data. I can reboot from the backup drive, but I have had crashes that corrupted it as well. Then, I am really frustrated.
The original corporate-license install disk is long gone. I do have a new XP disk and COA, if needed, but I hate to go that route because I have so many useful programs installed on this business PC.
After the BSOD it says it is writing a data dump file. A search for *.dmp gives a lot of old dumps from Firedox and other programs, but nothing with a recent date.
I don't speak BDOD code language very well. Would someone kindly help me get this thing stabilized?
Michael Fowler
This could be RAM. If you have more than one card try removing one card and see what happens and then test the other card(s) until you either identify the issue or confirm you RAM is not culprit.
Also, since there are no more security updates, it could also be a root kit virus which cause BSOD shutdowns. Try TDS Killer (Kapspersky) to look for root kit viruses.
ASKER
Thaanks, Michael. I have swapped out 3-4 memory cards
John, I will give that a try.
John, I will give that a try.
ASKER
John, it wouldn't let me boot. c:\windows\system32\config
I need to try to fix that before I can go ahead. It suggested using the Repair function from my windows CD.
I need to try to fix that before I can go ahead. It suggested using the Repair function from my windows CD.
If it won't let you boot, and you do not have the installation CD, then you may have to use the new CD to reinstall Windows (back up first). I am fairly sure you cannot use the new CD to repair the old installation. You can try, but be very sure to back up first.
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ASKER
First, I copied the Registry from the backup SSD (Samsung) to the primary drive (OCZ) using Hirens, but the primary drive would still not reboot. Thanks to Ravi for translating
Second, booting from the secondary drive, I manually copied all of the newer data files from the primary drive to the backup. What a PITA to do manual incremental backup!
Third. I cloned the backup drive to the primary using Partition Wizards "migrate OS to SSD/HD" utility.
Fouth, I tried booting from the primary drive and it was fine. So, I am up and running again.
However, I still don't know what caused the Registry to get corrupted in the first place. Probably a read/write error, but I don't know how to find it.
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There are no .dmp files in the directory.
How do I turn that on?
I see there are some new suggestions. I will try them this evening
Second, booting from the secondary drive, I manually copied all of the newer data files from the primary drive to the backup. What a PITA to do manual incremental backup!
Third. I cloned the backup drive to the primary using Partition Wizards "migrate OS to SSD/HD" utility.
Fouth, I tried booting from the primary drive and it was fine. So, I am up and running again.
However, I still don't know what caused the Registry to get corrupted in the first place. Probably a read/write error, but I don't know how to find it.
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There are no .dmp files in the directory.
How do I turn that on?
I see there are some new suggestions. I will try them this evening
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ASKER
It's set for "Kernel memory dump" so, I should change it to "Small memory dump (64 KB)," right?
yes - that's correct
Yes.
ASKER
Noxcho said: Have you updated the firmware of your SSD drives?
I checked and found that the OCZ drive had a "mandatory" firmwqare update as of Jan 2015.
I'm trying to download it, bit it seems the executable is for WIN 8/7. Grrr.
I checked and found that the OCZ drive had a "mandatory" firmwqare update as of Jan 2015.
I'm trying to download it, bit it seems the executable is for WIN 8/7. Grrr.
You need a machine which has Windows 7 on it. Neighbor or friends?
ASKER
I have a win 7 machine.
Will it not install itself on the wrong machine?
Will it not install itself on the wrong machine?
ASKER
I suppose I could temporarily attach the OCZ to the Win7 machine long enough to do the update
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Yes, you need to slave this drive to that Win 7 machine and perform the firmware upgrade there.
ASKER
Please pardon my absence here. I am traveling and haven't been near the problem computer.
I will be back next Wednesday.
I do appreciate the help I have received.
I need to get back to the computer to apply the suggestions.
Thank you.
I will be back next Wednesday.
I do appreciate the help I have received.
I need to get back to the computer to apply the suggestions.
Thank you.
ASKER
I'm defeated for the time being. I am going to replace the OCZ with another Samsung EVO 850 250GB SSD.
That will give two identical SSDs. then i"ll see if it stabilizes. I will try updating thte OCZ art another time on a Win7 machine. Thanks to all for their troubleshooting guidance.
I will close this thread now, but I will go on to check to see if the minidump has anything useful in it.
If it does, I'll be ba-a-ack.
Praises to Experts-Exchange as well just for being here as a source of help.
That will give two identical SSDs. then i"ll see if it stabilizes. I will try updating thte OCZ art another time on a Win7 machine. Thanks to all for their troubleshooting guidance.
I will close this thread now, but I will go on to check to see if the minidump has anything useful in it.
If it does, I'll be ba-a-ack.
Praises to Experts-Exchange as well just for being here as a source of help.