[HELP] Windows 7: Blue Screen of Death

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lazygarfield

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Hello,

I have an original copy of Windows 7 Ultimate, 32-bit. I was using this since more than half a year, without any problems. But from last week, this computer has showed many, many errors.

I don't know how it started. I haven't updated any driver recently. I have updated a few softwares, but most of those changes, I've made on my laptop too and that hasn't shown any error so far. In all, this present config worked smoothly for a long time and has started giving problems only recently.

I ran the Reliability Monitor in the Action Center and it showed a drastic decrease in reliability recently, with the score dipping below 4. It lists "Windows Shut Down Unexpectedly" as the most common cause behind this BSOD and also "Application Failures" a couple of times.

Here are a links to a few screenshots I grabbed...

Post Crash Message 1

bsod1.jpg


Post Crash Message 2

bsod2.jpg


Post Crash Message 3

bsod3.jpg


BSOD 1

This was the one that started it all. This comes up the most frequently.

screenjej.jpg


BSOD 2 (Atapi)

I also received this one a couple of times, that pointed out "atapi.sys". I also received one that pointed to "ataport.sys" but I couldn't get a grab of that.

screen2ata.jpg


HW Monitor Results

These are the temperatures of my rig. Bear in mind that the HD temps are normally in the range of 52-54 C (while I'm playing games/watching movies) and the cores also stay in the ~60s if the PC has been on for a long time (which happens frequently)

hwmonitor.jpg


Here are some minidumps, that might help you analyse the problem -

Code: 
http://www.multiupload.com/6E8OX8BN93

I removed my hard disks and optical drives, cleaned them and put them back with new cables. Still, no improvement.

I ran Memory Test on both my Hard Disks (Thorough test on the the primary one and Quick Test on the secondary One), and they passed, showing no errors.

I ran Drive Fitness Test on both my Hard Disks (Full test on Primary, Quick Test on Secondary) and none of them showed any errors.

I ran the "Chkdsk /f" command on the partition with Windows, and even that showed no error.

I cannot view my update history, apply any hotfix, or run a Windows-based scan or checkup tool as my computer barely stays up for a minute before giving me a BSOD. This applies even to the Safe Mode. Doesn't stay up.

Tired of all this, I tried to reinstall Windows.

I tried to install Windows 7 x64 from my original DVD, the computer refused to boot from that.

So, I transferred the setup to a USB Pen drive and tried to install via that.

On the 1st try, the setup files were loaded and after that, I got this BSOD -

2609201002.jpg


I restarted and tried to boot from the USB again. On the 2nd and 3rd try, the files loaded, the 4-coloured logo appeared but after that I get a blank, black screen. Not the welcome message or anything related to the setup.

Phew, that is all. I know it's a long post, but do read it carefully. I have been tying to combat this problem since a week and therefore have plenty of stuff to show you.

And please, please help me out here. What do I do?
 
Hmm, how do I interpret the data given in the Event Viewer?

And I tried to scan my HDDs (using TuneUp Utilities' Drive Defrag) but ironically, got the BSOD while that was happening.

I have attached the BSOD I got. Does that give you any info?

[attachment=6382:11752.attach]

Please help! Thanks in advance.
 

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Hi,

Follow the proceedure and guess that should solve it for you.

Step 1: To display the hidden files and folders, follow these steps:

1. Click Start and select Control Panel.

2. Click Appearance and Themes.

3. Click Folder Options and select the View tab.

4. Select the "Show hidden files and folders" option.

5. Deselect the "Hide operating system files" option.

6. Click Apply and click OK.

You can now view all hidden files and folders.

Step 2: Deleting the Minidump file and Sysdata.xml file:

1. Click Start and select My Computer.

2. Double-click the Local Drive (C:).

3. Double-click the Windows folder

4. Double-click Minidump folders under Windows.

5. From Edit menu, click "Select All".

6. From File menu, click Delete. Click OK to the warning message.

7. Close the Minidump window.

8. Browse to the C:\Documents and Settings folder.

9. Delete all instances of the sysdata.xml file.

NOTE: You may find more than one instance of the sysdata.xml file.

10. Click the Start button, click Turn off the computer, and then click estart.

After deleting the Minidump file and Sysdata.xml file, you need to reset the Pagefile.sys file. The paging file is an area on the hard disk that Windows uses as if it were random access memory (RAM). This is sometimes known as "virtual memory."

To reset the Pagefile.sys file, follow these steps:

1. Click Start and select Control Panel.

NOTE: In the classic view, click Start, select Settings, and choose control Panel.

2. Click Performance and Maintenance and then click the System icon.

NOTE: In the classic View, double-click System.

3. Click the Advanced tab and then click Settings under Performance.

4. Click the Advanced tab and then click Change under Virtual memory.

5. Note down the Initial size (MB) and the Maximum size (MB)

parameters.

6. Click the "No paging file" option.

7. Click Set and then click OK.

8. Click OK in the System Control Panel Applet dialog box.

9. Click OK in the Performance Options dialog box.

10. Click OK in the System Properties dialog box.

11. Restart the computer.

When the computer restarts, perform the following steps:

1. Click Start and select Control Panel.

2. Click Performance and Maintenance and then click the System icon.

3. Click the Advanced tab and then click Settings under Performance.

4. Click the Advanced tab and then click Change under Virtual memory.

5. In the Virtual Memory dialog box, type the Initial size (MB) and the

Maximum size(MB) that was written down in step 5.

6. Click Set and then click OK.

7. Click OK in the System Control Panel Applet dialog box.

8. Click OK in the Performance Options dialog box.

9. Click OK in the System Properties dialog box.

10. Restart the computer.

You should no longer get the Serious error message.
 
Thank you so much for this! Thanks for outlining the steps in such detail! I have tried this and am crossing my fingers that it works :-)

Also, in the size of the Paging file, I didn't notice any Initial Size and Maximum Size parameters. I saw

1. Minimum allowed - 16MB

2. Recommended - 3070MB

3. Currently allocated - 2040MB

I set the "No Paging File" option and restarted my PC. After that, I selected "Custom Size" for the Paging File and entered 2040MB as minimum size and 3070MB as maximum size. Was this equivalent to what you wanted?

Or should I do something else?

--- Updated Post - Automerged ---

It is not working. I still get the BSOD. I tried scanning my HDDs again (using Tune Up Utilities Disk Doctor), but I always get the BSOD while that is happening. I opened the Event Viewer and tried to take a screencap of what was being shown, but even then I got a BSOD.

Can anyone tell me what to do now?
 
Okay, here is my take on it:-

"Irql_Not_Less_or_Equal" BSOD error mostly occur due to buggy device driver or a hardware problem(conflict in registry which act as the communication link between the drivers and the hardware).

1. It can also be caused if your computer is too much overheated. Fix it and your problem will likely go away.

2. If not, then it can be due to buggy drivers. Sometimes the name of the driver is displayed on the screen after the error information, if so then uninstall that driver.

3. Remove any unnecessary hardware from the computer(like USB devices/printers/network adapter etc.) for some time, once your PC boots normally, insert these again one by one.

4. Even if this fails, then try replacing RAM. If it stabilizes after that, then replace the memory permanently.

5. The last option is to flash the BIOS.
 
Overheating could be a viable reason. Could you tell me what would be the ideal temperatures for my CPU's 2 cores, my 2 Hard Disks and my Graphics Card?
 
Can you post screenshot of HWMonitor's result?

It is a hardware monitoring program that reads PC systems main health sensors : voltages, temperatures, fans speed.
 
The PC's switched off right now. Even if I post screenshots right now, they'll be inaccurate since the PC has hardly been in use over the last 3-4 days due to the BSOD error. If you could tell me what the ideal and maximum allowed temperatures are, I could keep the PC switched on for some time and compare the temperatures and report back later (since normally, my Pc is on 24x7, hence overheating is viable).
 
next time you get a bsod, please zip or rar the minidump file and post it on rapidshare or other file hosting place and give the link here. those files are important to know the culprit. people here who know to read those will help you.
 
Ideal temperature for:

Graphic Card's - Around 70°C

Hard Disk's - Around 40°C

Core's - Around 40°C
 
My hard disks regularly reach the 52-53 C mark, when the computer's been on for a LONG time. My cores even reach 63-65 C, when I'm playing a game or seeing a HD movie. The Graphics card never crosses 52 C, tho.

--- Updated Post - Automerged ---
6pack said:
if you are the only person using the computer then, copy it to desktop and then zip it.
Click to expand...

Here are the minidump files. Someone suggested that I should check my Update History and see if there is any recent upgrade to my drivers that might be causing the problem. Well, every time I open the "Update History" tab of Windows Update, I get a BSOD. Every time. What do I do?

Code: 
http://www.multiupload.com/6E8OX8BN93

--- Updated Post - Automerged ---

UPDATE - Now, my PC gives me the BSOd as soon as I start it up. The desktop loads. I cannot even open the Start Menu before the BSOd comes up. Happened for the 3rd time in as many startups. What do I do now?

Also, how could RAM be at fault here? Can someone elaborate? I got the same suggestion from somewhere else too.
 
I downloaded this fix on my laptop, transferred it to the pendrive and started the PC. Not only did it take an abnormally long time to start up (thrice more than normal), it gave me the BSOD as soon as it started. Not once not twice not thrice but 4 times.

How do I even run the file now?
 
I am not expert in solving this problem but I am feeling that some of h/w is failing in the system...

First thing when you trying to solve such problem you need to give detailed H/w conf of your system, ram, cpu , HDD speed, graphics card etc everything...

If you can not boot anyway open the box remove HDD Ram and Graphics card, remove dust and reseat them...

BSOD is very generic problem and it can come because of any device in the system....

Go to device Manager > IDE ATA /ATAPI Controller > ATA Channel 0 > Advanced setting and check which is cureent mode you are using, if you are using anything below ULTRA DMA Mode 5 - this is the cause of slowness and most probably reason of BSOD.

BTW First thing i need to check is Harddisk because you telling that now your system is running extremely slow..

Do one thing (if you can boot normal or safe)
 
For a quick solution first check HDD for bad sectors / virus threats, Reinstall data / power SATA cables, RAM for errors, SMPS for +12V +5V -12V on load. Finally make an attempt of fresh Windows installation with a backup of important data. After these, motherboard and GPU would need to be checked.
 
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