Blue Screen of Death Survival Guide: Every Error Explained
Posted 05/01/09 at 11:30:00 AM by Paul Lilly
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Other Notable BSoDs
PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA
Faulty hardware, including RAM (system, video, or L2 cache).
INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE
Caused by improperly configured jumpers on PATA hard drives, a boot sector virus, or incorrect IDE controller drives, which can also occur when installing the wrong chipset drivers.
VIDEO_DRIVER_INIT_FAILURE
Caused by installing the wrong drivers for a videocard or rebooting before driver installation could complete.
BAD_POOL_CALLER
Caused by a faulty or incompatible hardware driver, particularly when upgrading Windows XP instead of performing a clean install.
PFN_LIST_CORRUPT
Caused by faulty RAM.
MACHINE_CHECK_EXCEPTION
A bad CPU -- or one that is too aggressively overclocked, or an underpowered or faluty power supply.
An End Run Around the BSoD
Reading blue screens of death is fun and all, but there's another, easier way to discover what your PC's problem is: the Event Viewer. When an error occurs in Windows, the OS adds a note to the system's log files. These logs are accessible through Windows's Event Viewer, and they contain all the information we need to know what ails our poor computer.
In XP, go the Start menu and open the Control Panel. Click Administrative Tools, then double-click the Event Viewer icon. Altternately, select Run from the Start menu and type eventvwr.msc, which will bring you right into the Event Viewer. In Vista, just type Event Viewer in the Start Search box.
On the left-hand pane, highlight the applicaton or system icon (under Windows Logs in Vista). On the right-hand pane, you'll see up to three different events labled Information, Warning, and Error. These are sorted by the time in which they occured. Scroll to the approximate time of the last system restart and double-click the events.
This brings up a Properties window detailing information that should clue you in on any problem. For example, if one of the events contains a bugcheck message with 0x0000002E, we know this is a DATA_BUS_ERROR, and is usually indicative of faulty RAM. On the other hand, there might be several events pointing to a specific driver, such as nv4_disp.dll. This tells us we should focus on the videocard and any recent changes related to the display hardware.
Armed with this information, we're ready to beging the troubleshooting steps outlined previously. If typing the event ID into Google and Microsoft's Knowledge Base (http://support.microsoft.com) doesn't help, head over to www.eventid.net. This site contains a repository of comments and errors from other users, as well as the steps they took to alleviate their problems.
We recommend you familiarize yourself with the event viewer, even if your system is healthy. Rooting out minor problems before they progress will ensure your Windows install keeps humming along uneventfully.
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Submitted by Herrmann on Wed, 07/22/2009 - 10:15am
As a conclusion:
I upgraded Realtek driver for onboard
audio from Gigabyte support page
(http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Support/Motherboard/Driver_Model.aspx?ProductID=3005&ost=xp#anchor_os)
and then re-enabled onboard audio.The PC runs OK and sound is OK too.
So, for GA-MA790FXT UD5P owners
encountering BSOD at login (XP SP3), I recommend the upgrade of
Realtek driver, in the case onboard sound is enabled.Thanks for the valuable information I
found here.Other valuable information found there:
http://icrontic.com/articles/fix-the-0x0000008e-bsod-once-and-for-all
Submitted by Herrmann on Sun, 07/19/2009 - 11:34am
Thanks for this guide.
I encountered a BSOD issue on a AMD/Gigabyte newly assembled PC running XP SP3.
Not every time, but often, BSOD occurred when attempting logging in when asked to. After a RAM verification by MemTest86, and a cleaning with HighjackThis and SmitfraudFix, issue appeared fixed but some days later, BSOD was there again.
As a file was often indicated (portcls.sys), I disabled onboard sound and now, the issue seems to be fixed.
Nevertheless, I'll try to upgrade mobo sound drivers and try then to enable onboard sound again, knowing that there is a backup solution.
Mobo: GA-MA790FXT-UD5P
Proc.: Phenom II 955 x4, no oc
RAM: 2x1 Gb OCZ Platinum DDR3 12800
Submitted by nick78 on Thu, 06/25/2009 - 9:31am
I work in a computer repair store and we see this BSOD as often or more than all the others listed. Usually this is a result of a failing HDD or an interuption while the drive is being written to. A free utility call MHDD will scan the drive and tell you if there are slow or unreadable errors on the drive. If the scan passes, then run a chkdsk /r on the drive and usually it will fix the BSOD. If there are errors on the drive, it still may be able to be backed up depending on the amount of failed sectors. Don't use Ghost on a failing drive though, as Ghost will quit when it hits the unreadable sectors. Unstoppable Copier should be able to copy the data from that drive if its hooked up to another machine.
Ernest's BSoD
Submitted by Ernest on Tue, 06/23/2009 - 3:34am
This is what i get....... CONFID_LIST_FAILED ** STOP: (0x00000073) (0x00000001,0xC000017D,0x00000002,0xF90C0BB8) Im getting frusturated. I got DBAN and put the cd in on start up but the DBAN menu did not come up. Did i install DBAN correctly? im not sure, please help.
I need a signature. -__-
Submitted by Rayychh on Fri, 06/05/2009 - 4:15pm
So I have had my Webcam downloaded since the day I got my laptop. about 4 months ago. And just the other day I started to get the BSOD, every time i plug in my cam. I deleted the last thing that I downloaded to my computer. And that worked fine for about 3 hours. now its back. And when it comes up the number thing is like 0x0000008 or something.
Submitted by carmody on Fri, 05/29/2009 - 6:18am
DIV P {
MARGIN: 0px
}
Hi. I'm new here.... I just have an unsolvable problem wonedered if anyone would have some advice....has anyone ever had the situation where the BSOD on a laptop running windows xp does not freeze, it just flashes very briefly and then immediately tries to reboot, but it can't reboot and simply goes to that screen that gives you multiple choice start up questions like: start windows normally, use last known good confiuguration etc.
whatever I choose it still can't boot up. tried to boot from windows cd to repair installation, but won't allow it only allows new installation. Would love to not lose data. Any one have any ideas?
Thanks.
Submitted by linux_dork on Tue, 05/12/2009 - 11:22am
You made a mistake on BAD_POOL_CALLER
The solution is to remove current lifeguard, and replace with a new version.
... get it get it?
Submitted by Ernest on Sun, 05/10/2009 - 7:41pm
Well hi!, im new to MaximumPC and what do ya' know, i have this problem on my other computer that has been down for almost a year and a half. This is the first thing i saw on this site and im really happy i came across this. Ive read the BSoD page briefly and learned what is it and why, but i need help getting past the BSoD so i can fix my problem..can someone help me with this? thank you :D
Submitted by vvtunes on Fri, 05/08/2009 - 5:45am
This guide is an excelent starting point if you are trying to track down the origin of apparently random errors. I used to have occasional BSODs before discovering that my board's memory controller did not like certain high frequency ddr2 sticks.
Submitted by philsaun on Thu, 05/07/2009 - 5:53am
How does one screen-save a BSoD?
Since there is a screen-save at the top of this article there must be a way to do it - or is it a photograph of the BSoD taken with a digital camera. Thanks, Phil
WOW
Submitted by FenixSS on Sun, 05/03/2009 - 8:01pm
Finally, the BSOD no longer be a puzzling thing to me
Can I get this guide in PDF?
Submitted by MAXPCreader07 on Sat, 05/02/2009 - 9:50pm
Can I get this guide in PDF? It would be nice to have offline or even in print.
Submitted by yammy24 on Sun, 05/03/2009 - 4:19am
I uploaded a PDF Guide here:
http://www.filedropper.com/bluescreenofdeathsurvivalguideeveryerrorexplainedmaximumpc
Enjoy!
Submitted by srhinesmith on Sat, 05/02/2009 - 7:47pm
UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME is one I run into a lot as a tech... can mean bad sectors on a HDD (chkdsk if you're lucky), file system/partition/boot problems (OS config crapped out, recover data & reimage), but usually means a dead HDD.
Submitted by raquelha on Sat, 05/02/2009 - 7:10pm
Thx 4 allowing me 2 vent in subject line! I now have the BSoD problem I've never had b4 thx 2 a well dick thinking with same so what I desperately need help with is MY problem! Selfish? I don't care. I receive the error msg KERNEL_DATA_INPAGE_ERROR my 1st code being 0x0000007A of course I am unable to follow the advise 2 check if any new software is the cause I update my drivers and actually take good bloody care of my PC but I have no new hardware nor have I had a single problem until I left her alone with an obvious addict to porn and he exposed her to that seedy underside of PC's with a webcam then exposed himself to her as well! I've had it many yrs but bought out of box and whomever returned it made the system restore set of disks as I was unable tho created the system recovery disk. My computer no longer will go to Windows at all not even using my favorite option with F8-safe mode with command prompt. I LOVE DOS but it will NOT start at all except 2 perform the restore using that partitioned part of the hard drive I never got around 2 removing. 2 bad the system restore runs the course just 2 still not work then trying 2 start the restore again! Ive had 2 use recovery disks on HIS PC's several times 2 often but with success as it seemed 2 be as simple as when 1 has 2 fix the sndvol32.ex_ problem. But now Im clueless and unfortunately also on a very VERY low fixed income thx 2 too many surgeries on my rt shoulder so I simply do NOT have a single cent 2 spare and I have NO bils either. I do have what seems an unlimited amount of thieves who learned I am a sports fanatic somehow deciding 2 steal everything I own or die trying! Where did they come from? Someone ALMOST got my Mickey Mantle autographed baseball but did not. But 2nite some1 somehow stole every single CD I had left plus cases and damn it they also stole my vibrator! So getting another PC is not an option and I do EVERYTHING online since, well, since I invented the internet! Fine I just helped. PLEASE PLEASE help me and that is me hoping U can! Thx so much!
Submitted by NAYRhyno on Sat, 05/02/2009 - 6:33pm
Great article guys. Well written and informative as usual. I'll keep this bookmarked, sure to save a lot of googling.
___________________________
Game-Central.org
Submitted by leenyx on Sat, 05/02/2009 - 2:02pm
But there is definitely something far worse than linux and mac whiners...I tell you what:
A pc whiner posting in a website talking about how to fix windows BSOD...
Please have a look at the windows website and then look at mac os x website, you will be able to tell which one was done in a PC. Apple's website show the users how to use their system and what cool things they can do with it. The windows website suggest you buy and antivirus for your system.
Now troll me if you want, I will be playing games in Mac and probably I won't answer.
BTW Apple OS X have a dictionary and a spell/grammar checking tool integrated in the OS so you could type safe in a website (Firefox also has a spelling plug-in but that's another story), trolls!!
Submitted by gibsurfer84 on Sat, 05/02/2009 - 6:33am
Great article! I fancy the program called WhoCrashed. It does all the work for me in looking up codes and what app or dll or driver was the issue. It isn't a end all, but it gets me to right google search faster I think...
I've been getting the
Submitted by GrimResistance on Fri, 05/01/2009 - 11:42pm
I've been getting the UNEXPECTED_KERNEL_MODE_TRAP (0x0000007F) error when my computer wakes from sleep mode. Any Ideas?
Page 3 of the article.
Submitted by DBsantos77 on Sat, 05/02/2009 - 12:43am
Page 3 of the article.
Submitted by DBsantos77 on Fri, 05/01/2009 - 10:49am
Funny thing is that after reading this guide my computer got *TWO* BSoD. the irq_not_equal one and the non_paged_area, respectively. BOO
Great guide!
Submitted by B. Tetreault on Fri, 05/01/2009 - 10:44am
Excellent resource to have on hand. I can think of several people I can give this too.
- still there, but we're here to tell
On page 1, paragraph 7; should be "still there, we're here to tell".
- the most overclocked, but they can
On page 3, paragraph 2; pretty sure it should be "overlooked" not overclocked.
- you have a space cable lying around
Also on page 3, paragraph 2; pretty sure it should be "spare" not space.
- then look for an mark any bad sectors
On page 3, paragraph 3; should be "and".
- hard drives are connect to, so you'll
On page 3, paragraph 4; should be "connected"
- This utility stressed your rig's CPU
On page 3, paragraph 6; should be "stresses"
Submitted by shutout5591 on Fri, 05/01/2009 - 12:58pm
OK grammer police
I found this a great article for me personally, as well as my friends who are also into computers.
Submitted by spammeifyoumust on Sat, 05/02/2009 - 1:21pm
Grammar? Sure looked like he was correcting spelling errors (that happened to slip by the spell checker AND EDITOR).
Considering how poorly most web posters write, I think we need as many articles with proper grammar, spelling and syntax, as possible. Frankly, if people who write for a living can't get it write [sic] and the editor misses it as well, then maybe the publication needs a new editor and writer.
Not quite complete...
Submitted by Raptor007 on Fri, 05/01/2009 - 10:12am
Good guide, but it's missing a few common scenarios:
IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL can also be caused by memory errors. This is especially common if you've overclocked the RAM or tightened the timings too far.
PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA will almost certainly come up if you turn off all swap files. Sadly, some programs and drivers just can't handle it if there's no swap file.
Submitted by RTTECH82 on Fri, 05/01/2009 - 8:58am
I bet that book is about as thick as a NY phone book! LOL
RT
www.anonymity.ru.tc
Submitted by MeTo on Fri, 05/01/2009 - 6:14am
This is just another reason I enjoy Linux. You should "NOT" have to go through all this crap!
Submitted by spammeifyoumust on Sat, 05/02/2009 - 1:26pm
I've just watched 1 very smart person waste the better part of a week getting Linux wireless to work on our network (never mind the peripheral players who spent hours of their time trying to help him).
In the end, he got it working, but he's not sure why it now works.
Until linux is truly plug and play, it's only for IT types, and as this week illustrated, even then it's not easy to set up....and several of those involved run Linux at home.
Submitted by methuselah on Fri, 05/01/2009 - 7:15am
hmmmm let's see, 4 weeks of tweaking my system and pouring over Linux forums to get my system up and running only to be limited to running a handful of software - "Hey look at that cool new game I'm gonna go buy it and.... OH!, nm it won't run on Linux". Sure you can run X-Windows, but then, you're back to running Windows and put into the same possibiility of troubleshooting a BSOD. Besides, why run an emulator and suck up unnecessry resources in an emulator? Might as well just run Windows. Go troll elsewhere dude.....
Besides this article is long winded. Want to know how to REALLY troubleshoot a BSOD? Type the Hex code into Google, you'll have your answer and beging to be able to repair the problem from there.
Submitted by AchilleTalon on Fri, 05/01/2009 - 2:13pm
Well, your comment is pretty clear about the fact you don't know a bit what you are talking about.
First of all, X-Window (notice, no s) isn't having anything to do with Windows. Just take a look at Wikipedia.
X-Window came to like in 1983 from the Carnegie-Mellon Andrew project while Windows 3.1 came to life in 1985, two years later. X-Window is built from start as a client-server graphical system on top of an OS, while Windows is an OS and not client-server at all.
Second, gaming is not all in life, most useful usage of a graphical system and a computer is not gaming, so, saying Linux is a piece of shit because your favorite game doesn't run natively on it is a very narrow biased evaluation of an OS as a whole.
--------
Achille Talon
BUT gaming is relevent. And
Submitted by nekollx on Fri, 05/01/2009 - 2:29pm
BUT gaming is relevent. And Linux is not very game friendly, a person has every right to dig a os because it is missing 20% of the equasion weart its gaming, interface, networking, etc...
There is...
Submitted by Devo85x on Sat, 05/02/2009 - 7:58am
There is wine...
Submitted by nekollx on Sat, 05/02/2009 - 9:34am
which emulates Windows and isnt nativly linux, destroying your "pure 'nix is the best"
Submitted by MvanA on Fri, 05/01/2009 - 8:25am
The only people MORE annoying than Mac Fanboys are Linux Fanboys. You would think that by now people would realize that free is great, but it's not necessarily better. M$ has a lot of issues, but I'll take a half ass informative BSoD in Windows over a zero informative screen/computer freeze in Linux any day. Linux might be free, and yes it's come a long way over the years, but it's no better than Windows.
Submitted by MeTo on Fri, 05/01/2009 - 9:52am
In your opinion. My opinion is Linux is better. I have run Windows since DOS,Win 3.1 till vista,Mac OSx. I still duel boot Vista/Linux mint and Linux mint doe's not crash on me and my CPU/HDD do not constantly run in the background. I'll keep Linux mint over Vista. I duel boot so my Kid can use Vista.
Linux Mint,AMD Athlon+ x2 5600,3 Gig ram,500 Gig HDD,ATI 1300 Video.
Submitted by MeTo on Fri, 05/01/2009 - 7:40am
kinda hard to type in google from a BSoD you are not on the internet you computer is basicly dead. Do a reboot and it "Might" startup normaly might not. Nvidia is the biggest reason for crashes in Vista proven fact.
Linux Mint,AMD Athlon+ x2 5600,3 Gig ram,500 Gig HDD,ATI 1300 Video.
Submitted by UpsideDownPants on Sat, 05/02/2009 - 12:56pm
Ever heard of WRITING IT DOWN!?
Submitted by MeTo on Fri, 05/01/2009 - 7:32am
Games are for Kids. By the way you can play games with linux if you do your research and have Linux friendley hardware. Everything does not revolve around Microsoft.
Linux Mint,AMD Athlon+ x2 5600,3 Gig ram,500 Gig HDD,ATI 1300 Video.
Submitted by spammeifyoumust on Sat, 05/02/2009 - 1:33pm
1. Games are not for kids. Most PC gamers are in their 30's or older.
2. They want to play a game, not spend hours on research and configuration of an emulator.
Why do fanboys (of all the various OSs) seem to feel that EVERYONE should use their OS. I like windows, but if you're developing for *nix servers, *nix is probably a better OS to work with.
If you're doing music or video production, Macs are probably your best choice, in most cases.
If you're a general user who likes to play games, Windows is hands down the best platform. It makes no sense to use a Mac or Linux and Wine to play games.
Hammer for a nail and screwdriver for a screw.
For god's sake, it's an OS....a platform to run the things you actually bought the computer for.
Submitted by MvanA on Fri, 05/01/2009 - 6:59am
Because Linux freezing without giving you ANY information or giving you a black screen with a Kernel Fault error is SOOO much more helpful? BSoD's may be the most annoying part of Windows, but at least they can help you get to the root of most serious problems.
Submitted by MeTo on Fri, 05/01/2009 - 7:16am
It's Great becuse you computer "DON'T" crash in the first place. Also I know of nobody (average person) that knows what the hell the BSoD is telling them.
Linux Mint,AMD Athlon+ x2 5600,3 Gig ram,500 Gig HDD,ATI 1300 Video.
Submitted by spammeifyoumust on Sat, 05/02/2009 - 1:43pm
I've seen Ubuntu crash more than once, so quit acting like it's this invincible OS that doesn't crash. Likewise, I rarely see windows crash. Which crashes more? Hard to say, because I'm on windows far more than Linux, so I'd expect to see windows crash more....the reality is that I might see windows become unstable once or 2x/year on my machines. I've seen linux (Ubuntu) crash once (maybe 2x) in the past year.
They're both good operating systems that serve very different markets and very different purposes.
Submitted by methuselah on Fri, 05/01/2009 - 9:37am
Then you better be prepared to differentiate. Average user isn't going to read this article and troubleshoot a BSOD. They will give their PC to me, I'll google the answer and fix it for them. To add to that they won't be running Linux either, just not ready for end user prime time. In my case, I have no problems with Blue screens in Vista on my rig. Why? cuz I know what I'm doing just like you do with Linux. If I do get a blue screen, it would be a 0x07b (failing hard drive) or a 0x05a (faulty RAM). In other words a hardware failure and last time I checked that wasn't an MS Programmign problem.
Games aren't just for kids. Saying that is shortsighted. I'm 34, been playing since Atari and don't plan on stopping anytime soon.
If MPC writes an article and calls it "Linux Kernel Faults and Hard Locks: Every Error Explained" I should post a comment to and say "what a bunch of crap, NOBODY should have to go through this hassle. This is the reason I run Vista! I never have these problems!"
Win Vista, Antec 900, PC Power and Cooling 860watt, Asus Rampage II Extreme, Intel Core i7 920 (oc'd to 3.66), Prolimatech Megahalems, 2 velociraptors in RAID 0, 1TB WD storage, 6GB Corsair Dominator, PCI-e SB X-Fi, 2 Nvidia GTX 285's in SLI
Booted up first time, Vista installed in 10 minutes (no exaggeration) and drivers installed. I was up and running in 30-45 minutes before I began putting data back and installing programs.
Good luck doing that on Linux
Submitted by MeTo on Fri, 05/01/2009 - 10:30am
Put a Linux live CD in your drive reboot Win PC and in Two minutes you are running Linux mint. No kidding. If you like what you see install it. You can duel boot for the times you have to have windows.
Linux Mint,AMD Athlon+ x2 5600,3 Gig ram,500 Gig HDD,ATI 1300 Video.
Submitted by MvanA on Fri, 05/01/2009 - 10:34am
Amen and Hallelujah to that methuselah!
I got the BS just before I
Submitted by sandman722 on Fri, 05/01/2009 - 5:36am
I got the BS just before I finished a 10 page paper once...
Submitted by Devo85x on Fri, 05/01/2009 - 4:02am
In January, I upgraded from one GTX260 to 2, after upgrading, every 15 min to as long as 8 hrs I would bluescreen, (yes, before the 2nd card was installed this never happened) I reinstalled Nvidia drivers (after compleatly uninstalling) and reinstalled chipset driver, in the end I had to disable SLI to get it to work, but i got the cards for gaming, so that wouldnt do, so I ended up reinstalling windows compleatly (I had vista business, changed to XP Pro./Vista Premium/Ubuntu Linux trippleboot). The bad thing is that when it BSODed, the screen went off for most of it and restarted with me only occationally seeing blue, WHOCRASHED would never tell me what the heck happened, and I only got the popup you mentioned for vista once. Any ideas?
Disable Automatically Restart
Submitted by One4yu2c on Fri, 05/01/2009 - 5:17am
As outlined on page 1:
"Alternately, if you'd prefer to see the actual blue screen rather than automatically rebooting, right-click the My Computer icon on your desktop, select Properties, and click on Advanced System Settings. In the System Properties window that appears, select the Advanced tab, click Settings under Startup and Recovery, and uncheck the box that says 'Automatically Restart.' The same steps also apply to XP."
-Paul Lilly
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