The Blue Screen of Death!

Fluoresce · External Since: Oct 25, 2009 Posts: 1

I'm stuck in some kind of loop.

When I put my laptop on, it doesn't start properly. A blank screen
appears, which asks me to choose between:

* Safe Mode
* Safe Mode with Networking
* Safe Mode with Command Prompt
* Last Known Good Configuration
* Start Windows Normally

If I choose any of the Safe Mode options, this order of events takes
place:

1. A bunch of system file names quickly appear at the bottom of the
page.
2. The screen goes blank.
3. A page which shows the Advent brand name appears.
4. The screen returns to the page which asks me to choose between
Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking, etc.

If I choose Last Known Configuration, this order of events takes
place:

1. The Windows XP logo appears as if the system's going to start
normally.
2. The screen goes blank.
3. A blue screen appears, displaying an error message. I understand
that this page is known as the 'Blue Screen of Death'. The error message
says:

##########

-"A problem has been detected and Windows has been shut down to prevent
damage to your computer. If this is the

first time you've seen this stop error screen, restart your computer.
If this screen appears again, follow

these steps:

Check to be sure you have adequate disk space.
If a drive is identified in the stop message, disable the driver or
check with the manufacturer for driver

updates.
Try changing video adapters.
Check with your hardware vendor for any BIOS updates.
Disable BIOS memory options such as cacheing or shadowing.

If you need to use Safe Mode to remove or disable components, restart
your computer, press F8 to select

advanced startup options, and then select Safe Mode.

Technical Information:

*** Stop: 0x0000008E (0xC0000005, 0xBF803D23, 0xF5FC3C94, 0x00000000)

*** win32k.sys - address BF803023 Base at BF800000 Datestamp 49e57672

Beginning dump of physical memory

Physical memory dump complete

Contact your system administrator or technical support group for
further assistance."-

##########

4. A page which shows the Advent brand name appears.
5. The screen goes blank.
6. The screen returns to the page which asks me to choose between Safe
Mode, Safe Mode with Networking, etc.

If I choose Start Windows Normally, this order of events takes place:

1. The Windows XP logo appears as if the system's going to start
normally.
2. The blue screen of death appears, saying the same error message.
3. A blank screen appears.
4. A page which shows the Advent brand name appears.
5. A blank screen appears,
6. The screen returns to the page which asks me to choose between
Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking, etc.

Anyone know what I can do to fix this?

Fluoresce · External Since: Oct 25, 2009 Posts: 1

I should also mention that nothing new has been installed recently, and
nothing has been updated.

The problem started with a virus. My brother tried to restore a
previous configuration to get rid of the virus. Whether this can even be
achieved, I don't know.

After the attempted restoration, we were stuck in the loop described
above.

I think the system runs with SP 2, or possibly SP 3.

Patrick Palczewski · External Since: Oct 25, 2009 Posts: 4

The Stop: error code 0x0000008E indicated on the blue screen of death you
posted references your RAM. Here is the info from Microsoft's KB315335.

"This behavior may occur if one of the following conditions is true:
One or more of the random access memory (RAM) modules that are installed on
your computer are faulty.
The RAM configuration is incompatible with Windows XP."

I'd have your brother check BIOS to ensure the RAM is setup correctly
(correct bus speed is important) and check the RAM (physically remove one,
then try booting. If that doesn't work, then switch the RAM sticks. If all
the RAM sticks are removed, the PC will not boot, so need at least one
installed.)

If the problem persists, then you may need to do a complete reinstall of XP.

Patrick P.
www.boydcomputersvcs.com

"Fluoresce" <Fluoresce.40mzet.RemoveThis@no.email.invalid> wrote in message
news:Fluoresce.40mzet@no.email.invalid...
>
> I should also mention that nothing new has been installed recently, and
> nothing has been updated.
>
> The problem started with a virus. My brother tried to restore a
> previous configuration to get rid of the virus. Whether this can even be
> achieved, I don't know.
>
> After the attempted restoration, we were stuck in the loop described
> above.
>
> I think the system runs with SP 2, or possibly SP 3.
>
>

Mr doe · External Since: Oct 25, 2009 Posts: 1

Patrick Palczewski wrote:
> The Stop: error code 0x0000008E indicated on the blue screen of death
> you posted references your RAM. Here is the info from Microsoft's KB315335.
>
> "This behavior may occur if one of the following conditions is true:
> One or more of the random access memory (RAM) modules that are installed
> on your computer are faulty.
> The RAM configuration is incompatible with Windows XP."
>
> I'd have your brother check BIOS to ensure the RAM is setup correctly
> (correct bus speed is important) and check the RAM (physically remove
> one, then try booting. If that doesn't work, then switch the RAM sticks.
> If all the RAM sticks are removed, the PC will not boot, so need at
> least one installed.)
>
> If the problem persists, then you may need to do a complete reinstall of
> XP.

Dont you mean a Repair ? Do you have an xp disk? or a DVD drive ?

if so boot from the dvd drive .

Don't do the FIRST REPAIR you see ,, Follow the prompts and when it ask
you to Repair a damage window installation Do That one .
Have you Key ready .

you will have to do all the Windows updates all over .

>
> Patrick P.
> www.boydcomputersvcs.com
>
> "Fluoresce" <Fluoresce.40mzet RemoveThis @no.email.invalid> wrote in message
> news:Fluoresce.40mzet@no.email.invalid...
>>
>> I should also mention that nothing new has been installed recently, and
>> nothing has been updated.
>>
>> The problem started with a virus. My brother tried to restore a
>> previous configuration to get rid of the virus. Whether this can even be
>> achieved, I don't know.
>>
>> After the attempted restoration, we were stuck in the loop described
>> above.
>>
>> I think the system runs with SP 2, or possibly SP 3.
>>
>>

Patrick Palczewski · External Since: Oct 25, 2009 Posts: 4

Oops, sorry. I meant do a repair. Thanks for the catch. Smile

"Mr doe" <Mrdoe.DeleteThis@blowfish.net> wrote in message
news:XrmdnYDCNYBsjHjXnZ2dnUVZ_oydnZ2d@giganews.com...
> Patrick Palczewski wrote:
>> The Stop: error code 0x0000008E indicated on the blue screen of death you
>> posted references your RAM. Here is the info from Microsoft's KB315335.
>>
>> "This behavior may occur if one of the following conditions is true:
>> One or more of the random access memory (RAM) modules that are installed
>> on your computer are faulty.
>> The RAM configuration is incompatible with Windows XP."
>>
>> I'd have your brother check BIOS to ensure the RAM is setup correctly
>> (correct bus speed is important) and check the RAM (physically remove
>> one, then try booting. If that doesn't work, then switch the RAM sticks.
>> If all the RAM sticks are removed, the PC will not boot, so need at least
>> one installed.)
>>
>> If the problem persists, then you may need to do a complete reinstall of
>> XP.
>
>
> Dont you mean a Repair ? Do you have an xp disk? or a DVD drive ?
>
> if so boot from the dvd drive .
>
> Don't do the FIRST REPAIR you see ,, Follow the prompts and when it ask
> you to Repair a damage window installation Do That one .
> Have you Key ready .
>
> you will have to do all the Windows updates all over .
>
>
>
>>
>> Patrick P.
>> www.boydcomputersvcs.com
>>
>> "Fluoresce" <Fluoresce.40mzet.DeleteThis@no.email.invalid> wrote in message
>> news:Fluoresce.40mzet@no.email.invalid...
>>>
>>> I should also mention that nothing new has been installed recently, and
>>> nothing has been updated.
>>>
>>> The problem started with a virus. My brother tried to restore a
>>> previous configuration to get rid of the virus. Whether this can even be
>>> achieved, I don't know.
>>>
>>> After the attempted restoration, we were stuck in the loop described
>>> above.
>>>
>>> I think the system runs with SP 2, or possibly SP 3.
>>>
>>>

Richard Urban · External Since: Feb 28, 2004 Posts: 3846

"Mr doe" <Mrdoe.TakeThisOut@blowfish.net> wrote in message
news:XrmdnYDCNYBsjHjXnZ2dnUVZ_oydnZ2d@giganews.com...
> Patrick Palczewski wrote:
>> The Stop: error code 0x0000008E indicated on the blue screen of death you
>> posted references your RAM. Here is the info from Microsoft's KB315335.
>>
>> "This behavior may occur if one of the following conditions is true:
>> One or more of the random access memory (RAM) modules that are installed
>> on your computer are faulty.
>> The RAM configuration is incompatible with Windows XP."
>>
>> I'd have your brother check BIOS to ensure the RAM is setup correctly
>> (correct bus speed is important) and check the RAM (physically remove
>> one, then try booting. If that doesn't work, then switch the RAM sticks.
>> If all the RAM sticks are removed, the PC will not boot, so need at least
>> one installed.)
>>
>> If the problem persists, then you may need to do a complete reinstall of
>> XP.
>
>
> Dont you mean a Repair ? Do you have an xp disk? or a DVD drive ?
>
> if so boot from the dvd drive .
>
> Don't do the FIRST REPAIR you see ,, Follow the prompts and when it ask
> you to Repair a damage window installation Do That one .
> Have you Key ready .
>
> you will have to do all the Windows updates all over .
>
>
>
>>
>> Patrick P.
>> www.boydcomputersvcs.com
>>
>> "Fluoresce" <Fluoresce.40mzet.TakeThisOut@no.email.invalid> wrote in message
>> news:Fluoresce.40mzet@no.email.invalid...
>>>
>>> I should also mention that nothing new has been installed recently, and
>>> nothing has been updated.
>>>
>>> The problem started with a virus. My brother tried to restore a
>>> previous configuration to get rid of the virus. Whether this can even be
>>> achieved, I don't know.
>>>
>>> After the attempted restoration, we were stuck in the loop described
>>> above.
>>>
>>> I think the system runs with SP 2, or possibly SP 3.
>>>
>>>

It is not wise to do a repair install on a computer that has been
damaged/compromised during virus/malware cleansing.

Even if the repair install works you will never know for certain if the
machine is still compromised. A repair install will leave any remnants of
the malware untouched.

Wipe the system. Reformat the install partition. Then install the operating
system clean.

--

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP
Windows Desktop Experience & Security

Fluoresce · External Since: Oct 26, 2009 Posts: 1

Thanks, guys.

I've posted about this problem in other forums. Your responses are the
best I've received.

Unfortunately, we no longer have the installation CD. Either that or we
didn't get one in the first place.

What I don't understand is, if it's a RAM problem, what good would a
repair install do? :confused:

Patrick Palczewski · External Since: Oct 25, 2009 Posts: 4

Well, you posted that the problem with the BSOD came after a removal of a
virus. Sometimes virii cannot be deleted completely (and may cause the
computer to not boot), therefore it is recommended to perform a repair
install or a "clean install" (format the hard drive, then install Windows).

If it is your RAM and the computer boots up fine, then you should be all
right. If it doesn't, then Plan B is to reinstall Windows.

Patrick P.
www.boydcomputersvcs.com

"Fluoresce" <Fluoresce.40p5xw.DeleteThis@no.email.invalid> wrote in message
news:Fluoresce.40p5xw@no.email.invalid...
>
> Thanks, guys.
>
> I've posted about this problem in other forums. Your responses are the
> best I've received.
>
> Unfortunately, we no longer have the installation CD. Either that or we
> didn't get one in the first place.
>
> What I don't understand is, if it's a RAM problem, what good would a
> repair install do? :confused:
>
>

Fluoresce · External Since: Oct 27, 2009 Posts: 1

Well, I tried a repair installation after acquiring a disk and messed up
the computer even more! I am therefore forced to do a complete
reinstallation.

I thank you all for your assistance. I no longer need help on this
matter.