Vista Ultimate/SP1 - Repeated BSODs driving me nuts!

kostrom · Jun 3, 2008

Hi everybody!

Figured it would be worth trying this forum (have also posted in DELL forums). I've got a DELL XPS 630i with Vista some weeks ago and have been plagued with BSODs. I have tried numerous things, including restoring the factory image. My SB X-Fi sounds card has been a headache (breaking/lost sound in CS:S+++) all along and I ended up uninstalling all Creative drivers and software. Sound seems to be ok now with the drivers provided by Vista.

To the problem: I get BSODs when the computer is idle! Typically this happens if I start a disk clean, defrag or just leave the computer after locking it (Winkey+L). When I return I see the startup screen and when logging in Vista tells me it has recovered from a severe error etc. This is now driving me nuts and I hope somebody here can help me! I have pasted in the error details at the end of the message. I have also attached the minidump file(s) zipped. Hope somebody can get some helpful info out of the dminidump files!

Regards,
kostrom
Knut Ostrom - Oslo, Norway

XPS 630i w/Vista Ultimate 32
CPU Q6850 @ 3.00 MHz - 4 Gb RAM
Nvidia 8800 Gt x2 SLI Enabled
Creative SB X-Fi

Problem signature:
Problem Event Name: BlueScreen
OS Version: 6.0.6001.2.1.0.256.1
Locale ID: 1044
Additional information about the problem:
BCCode: 50
BCP1: F2974AC0
BCP2: 00000000
BCP3: 8202A52B
BCP4: 00000002
OS Version: 6_0_6001
Service Pack: 1_0
Product: 256_1
Files that help describe the problem:
C:\Windows\Minidump\Mini060308-01.dmp
C:\Users\Knut\AppData\Local\Temp\WER-2334289-0.sysdata.xml
C:\Users\Knut\AppData\Local\Temp\WERB950.tmp.version.txt

Dzomlija · Jun 3, 2008

kostrom said:
Hi everybody!

Figured it would be worth trying this forum (have also posted in DELL forums). I've got a DELL XPS 630i with Vista some weeks ago and have been plagued with BSODs. I have tried numerous things, including restoring the factory image. My SB X-Fi sounds card has been a headache (breaking/lost sound in CS:S+++) all along and I ended up uninstalling all Creative drivers and software. Sound seems to be ok now with the drivers provided by Vista.

To the problem: I get BSODs when the computer is idle! Typically this happens if I start a disk clean, defrag or just leave the computer after locking it (Winkey+L). When I return I see the startup screen and when logging in Vista tells me it has recovered from a severe error etc. This is now driving me nuts and I hope somebody here can help me! I have pasted in the error details at the end of the message. I have also attached the minidump file(s) zipped. Hope somebody can get some helpful info out of the dminidump files!

Regards,
kostrom
Knut Ostrom - Oslo, Norway

XPS 630i w/Vista Ultimate 32
CPU Q6850 @ 3.00 MHz - 4 Gb RAM
Nvidia 8800 Gt x2 SLI Enabled
Creative SB X-Fi

<snipped for clarity>

The Stop 0x50 message indicates that requested data was not in memory. The system generates an exception error when using a reference to an invalid system memory address. Defective memory (including main memory, L2 RAM cache, video RAM) or incompatible software (including remote control and antivirus software) might cause Stop 0x50 messages.

If you added new hardware recently, remove and replace the hardware to determine if it is causing or contributing to the problem. Run diagnostics software supplied by the hardware manufacturer to determine if the component has failed.

kostrom · Jun 3, 2008

Dzomlija,

Thanks for your reply! My system is just a few weeks old, I have run memory tests and I have not added any hardware myself. I've been through a few cycles of error checking...

Your reply is very generic, though. I'm hoping for somebody to get some information out of the minidump files I provided, e.g. that a specific device driver made the invalid memory reference.

Dzomlija · Jun 3, 2008

kostrom said:
Dzomlija,

Thanks for your reply! My system is just a few weeks old, I have run memory tests and I have not added any hardware myself. I've been through a few cycles of error checking...

Your reply is very generic, though. I'm hoping for somebody to get some information out of the minidump files I provided, e.g. that a specific device driver made the invalid memory reference.

It actually from the information you provided that I determined you're had a STOP 0x50 error. And in all honesty, the minidump are pretty much useless to everyone except Microsoft, and I have not yet seen any kind of utilities that make then easier to "read".

To figure out which driver is causing the problem, if in fact it is a driver, do the following:

Click "Start"
Right-click on "Computer" then selected "Properties"
Click "Advanced System Settings" (you'll need to respond to a UAC prompt)
Under "Startup and Recovery", click "Settings"
Remove the check from the "Automatically restart" box. This will keep any BSOD onscreen untill you press the reset button, thus allowing you to see if a drive file is mentioned.

If you do get a driver filename shown in the BSOD, let me know what that filename is, and we'll take it from there.

dmex · Jun 3, 2008

IN addition to Dzomlija`s post here is some more infomation you might find useful about that BSOD...

The PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA bug check has a value of 0x00000050. This indicates that invalid system memory has been referenced.

If the driver responsible for the error can be identified, its name is printed on the blue screen

Cause

Bug check 0x50 usually occurs after the installation of faulty hardware or in the event of failure of installed hardware (usually related to defective RAM, be it main memory, L2 RAM cache, or video RAM).
Another common cause is the installation of a faulty system service.
Antivirus software can also trigger this error, as can a corrupted NTFS volume.
Resolving the Problem

Resolving a faulty hardware problem: If hardware has been added to the system recently, remove it to see if the error recurs. If existing hardware has failed, remove or replace the faulty component. You should run hardware diagnostics supplied by the system manufacturer. For details on these procedures, see the owner's manual for your computer.
Resolving a faulty system service problem: Disable the service and confirm that this resolves the error. If so, contact the manufacturer of the system service about a possible update. If the error occurs during system startup, restart your computer, and press F8 at the character-mode menu that displays the operating system choices. At the resulting Windows Advanced Options menu, choose the Last Known Good Configuration option. This option is most effective when only one driver or service is added at a time.
Resolving an antivirus software problem: Disable the program and confirm that this resolves the error. If it does, contact the manufacturer of the program about a possible update.
Resolving a corrupted NTFS volume problem: Run Chkdsk /f /r to detect and repair disk errors. You must restart the system before the disk scan begins on a system partition. If the hard disk is SCSI, check for problems between the SCSI controller and the disk.
Finally, check the System Log in Event Viewer for additional error messages that might help pinpoint the device or driver that is causing the error. Disabling memory caching of the BIOS might also resolve it.

Steven

SCSIraidGURU · Jun 3, 2008

What is in the event viewer? Remove your sound card and see if the problem goes away. I have seen CL sound adapters cause this.

kostrom · Jun 3, 2008

First of all I want to thank those of you who replied and provided useful information!

I have actually seen another type of Vista stop message in addition to the one I posted here originally. This gives the following stop error: BSOD 0x7e and Netio.sys

A search for this took me to a post in the DELL forums' Vista section made by MoneyGuyBK. I followed a link he provided to a KB article and called Microsoft support to get the hotfix described. After applying this fix I haven't had one single crash. I know this may be too early, but my XPS 630i has never been running for this long (>6 hours) without a crash, so I cross my fingers

!

The title of MoneGuyBK's post is "BSOD 0x7e and Netio.sys error [HERE's The Fix] Attn. Dell Tech Support" and the link to the KB article/fix is here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950570

kostrom · Jun 3, 2008

Of course I was too optimistic! The BSOD with stop code 0x50 is back. So, I took the time to figure out how to install WinDgb with symbols etc. in order to analyze the memory.dmp file. This points to the following file:

\SystemRoot\system32\drivers\mfehidk.sys

This file is a core file of the McAfee Security Center that came preloaded on my XPS 630i system. I have seen indications taht there is a fix for this from McAfee, but I haven't been able to find it...

I will uninstall McAffe and install Norton Internet Security 2008 and see if it helps..

Dzomlija · Jun 3, 2008

kostrom said:
Of course I was too optimistic! The BSOD with stop code 0x50 is back. So, I took the time to figure out how to install WinDgb with symbols etc. in order to analyze the memory.dmp file. This points to the following file:

\SystemRoot\system32\drivers\mfehidk.sys

This file is a core file of the McAfee Security Center that came preloaded on my XPS 630i system. I have seen indications taht there is a fix for this from McAfee, but I haven't been able to find it...

I will uninstall McAffe and install Norton Internet Security 2008 and see if it helps..

Norton Internet Security is gonna slow your system down to a crawl, if it doesn't kill it first!

If all you want is Anti-Virus, then might I suggest the free Avast! Home Edition - http://www.avast.com/

Or, if you want the Internet Security features also, then perhaps Kaspersky? Antivirus Software: Kaspersky Lab - Protection Against Malware and Cybercrime

SCSIraidGURU · Jun 3, 2008

Kaspersky has a bad rep lately for bog downs and missing stuff. I would stay away from it.

joel406 · Jun 3, 2008

Uninstall Mcaffe and install Norton?

Out of the frying pan and into the fire!

Sorry to hear your system is headed for more trouble.

kostrom · Jun 3, 2008

I'm aware Norton doesn't have a good reputation in the pro league, but I have been using it for years and since 2007 I'm pretty much happy with.

The thing is I have another desktop computer (assembled and sold by a Norwegian provider of computer hardware/software) with similar specs to the Dell XPS 630i, also running Vista Ultimate and NIS 2008. This machine has been running like a rock since I got it a month ago. The main difference between the two, software wise, is McAfee / NIS.

kostrom · Jun 6, 2008

I have good news. After using WinDbg to identify the file mfehidk.sys as the cause of my random BSODs on Vista Ultimate, I uninstalled McAfee Security Center. After that I have not had any blue screens in 3 days (thank God)! Case closed...

Have a nice weekend!

acdcfan · Jun 6, 2008

kostrom said:
I will uninstall McAffe and install Norton Internet Security 2008 and see if it helps..

Whatever you decide to install please do not install Norton..... It is memory hungry process hogging piece of sh.....
Use something like Avast anitvirus which is free or AVG free too, Comodo firewall free, Spybot search and destroy (for spyware) free too...... and you can add windows own firewall which is not perfect but good enough....... rather then spending money on stupid Norton....

kostrom · Jun 8, 2008

I see everybody is advising me not to install Norton ;-). Maybe I should follow your advise... Anyway, I see you're running Ultimate 64. Just decided to move to 64-bit Ultimate myself. Anything I should be aware of before making the move?

Dzomlija · Jun 8, 2008

kostrom said:
I see everybody is advising me not to install Norton ;-). Maybe I should follow your advise... Anyway, I see you're running Ultimate 64. Just decided to move to 64-bit Ultimate myself. Anything I should be aware of before making the move?

The most important (as with any change in OS) is to first make sure that you have drivers for all your hardware. If your computer is fairly new (2 years or newer) then this shouldn't be a problem.

I'd go so far as to suggest if there are some hardware components for which you cannot get Vista x64 drivers, then replace those components with newer ones along with the switch to Vista x64.

acdcfan · Jun 8, 2008

kostrom said:
I see everybody is advising me not to install Norton ;-). Maybe I should follow your advise... Anyway, I see you're running Ultimate 64. Just decided to move to 64-bit Ultimate myself. Anything I should be aware of before making the move?

I built my systems in Feb this year and I haven't had any problems with drivers or their functionality. If you have drivers for all your hardware you will not have any problems....but please leave Norton alone. I personally use Avast as antivirus, Spybot search and destroy for spyware, Fortknox for firewall ( not free) but I got from my friend.....

CymruArgie · Jul 31, 2008

I had the same problems after installing SP1. I uninstalled it ***Removed*** no more BSOD. HOwever, all the other problems still persist: vista plus office 2007 = slow, freeze, stop working, restart program, lose your work, compatibility for office render files incompatible after install, and so on. I feel so much like deja vu, back to ME, long long ago, buit suddenly it is here again, resurrected under another name and with added make up.

JC

dmex · Jul 31, 2008

CymruArgie said:
I had the same problems after installing SP1. I uninstalled it ***Removed*** no more BSOD. HOwever, all the other problems still persist: vista plus office 2007 = slow, freeze, stop working, restart program, lose your work, compatibility for office render files incompatible after install, and so on. I feel so much like deja vu, back to ME, long long ago, buit suddenly it is here again, resurrected under another name and with added make up.

JC

SP1 comes with about 3000+ updates and thats nothing compared with amount of updates with XP-SP2 or SP3, you can expect more problems downgrading the usability of Vista by uninstalling SP1... If you can provide the BSOD code I can lookup the specific cause.

Steven

CymruArgie · Jul 31, 2008

I do not have the BSOD code as I did not write it down. I will have to install SP1 again and see if the behavior repeats.

I am wondering if this might be related. I downloaded SP1 from MS website because it was not showing in the updates, so I dwlded and install the version I found in the site.

Today my updates options are showing the SP1 ready to install autmatically. I wonder if these two versions are the same or there might be some different stuff in the one I downloaded.

Just curious. I will let updates install the automatic SP1 and then see if it BSOD or not.

Thanks
JC

Vista Ultimate/SP1 - Repeated BSODs driving me nuts!

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