Frequent and Varied BSOD, unknown cause unknown solution

[avatar8481]

Hello,

For the last month or so I've been having frequent BSOD on a home built box and I haven't been able to amke any progress with eliminating them. I'm going to list my hardware and then the three most recent BSOD, they're pretty representative of the type I've been having.

Setup:

Althon 1400
MSI K7 Master Mainboard
IBM 75gb HD
512 MD DDR Ram
DVD drive
CDRW drive
Gladiac 920 (geforce3)
Soundblaster 5.1
Generic NIC
Generic Floppy
Win2kPro SP2
NVidia Reference driver v2.9.4.2


Just this morning I've had the following BSOD

DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL (memory addresses) portcls.sys

(while running a 3d program)


KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED (mem addresses) win32k.sys

(at the login screen)


NTFS_FILE_SYSTEM (mem addresses) ntfs.sys

(while running a 3d program)


about 85% of my BSOD are Driver_irql crashes and Kmode exceptions, but I've updated my drivers and the problem persists. Removing ad-ware seemed to help a little, but the crashes are back and as frequent and arbitrary as ever. I've had this computer since last fall and only had this problem the last 6-7 weeks. I don't remember a specific thing that I did before the problems started that might be the cause except maybe upgrading to directX 8.1, could that be the problem? I think I'll need to reinstall win2k, but if the problem persists I'd like any advice you can give.

Thank you very much and I look forward to hearing your suggestions.


Michael Pokorny

 

[CharlieJax]

Michael,

Try replacing the memory you have in your system... that is if you can get your hands on some for free... maybe from another machine or a friend.

Often Blue screens (or stop errors) are caused by memory issues.

Also, check the W2K compatiabilty list and make sure all your hardware is on there, uncomptabale (heh.. so much for spelling...) is the leading cause of blue screens.

Good luck! CJ
- Paper MCSE in training

 

[tlcscousin]

Here are two links, it sounds like the stop errors are linked to the DVD drive software.The only workaround I found was downloading updated drivers for that software.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/stream/hh/stream/pcdesign_0xpv.asp

http://support.microsoft.com/search/preview.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q289236

 

[jeremybarker]

http://support.microsoft.com/search/preview.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q294728

This explains your second error to the T. Unfortunatly, it explains that you have a virus, that would explain why you have only had these problems for the last couple months.

 

[avatar8481]

Thank you for your help, you mention that the problem might be memory related, is there a way to test the memory setup and compatability as well as test for bad sectors or chips? is it possible that improperly configured timing settings, I don't overclock but I've never felt confident of my configuration, or perhaps heat, I am in Baltimore and it is summer, are causing the problem? Thanks.

 

[avatar8481]

Here's a new one, just got this:

DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL (os running at idle) in tcpip.sys

Any ideas?

 

[tlcscousin]

The following suggests that SP2 has the fix for that error.

http://support.microsoft.com/search/preview.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q260956

 

[avatar8481]

Thanks for all your help, I re-upgraded to SP2, reinstalled all my drivers, audio and video, and I have new errors to report and a new theory.

PAGE_FAULT_IN_NON_PAGED_AREA ntoskrnl.exe

IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL ntoskrnl

NTFS_FILE_SYSTEM

KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED win32k.exe

(All on successive reboots in a 10 minute period)

is it possible that these errors are coming from general corruption of the file system and memory addressing subsystems in the OS? For the record I plan to upgrade to XP later today, hopefully that should clear this up. Thanks for your help.

 

[jeremybarker]

Have you tried to repair windows either through the repair console or just install on top of itself? With 9x, didn't have much luck w/ this at all, but 2000 and XP seem to work very well.