Blue screen

  • Thread starter Thread starter Danny
  • Start date Start date
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Danny

0x0000007e (0x80000004)

Every so often I get a bluescreen during the boot process - Vista
Enterprise. Sometimes, and not others.

I'm really hopeless at pinpointing the cause - can anyone help out?

Thanks.
 
Danny said:
0x0000007e (0x80000004)

Every so often I get a bluescreen during the boot process - Vista
Enterprise. Sometimes, and not others.

I'm really hopeless at pinpointing the cause - can anyone help out?
Click to expand...

When during the boot process? In any case, random events are usually caused
by failing hardware. In your case, I'd test the RAM with Memtest86+ from
www.memtest.org. I also see that when you boot with Ultimate (and I assume
Enterprise) there is an option on the first screen for the Microsoft RAM
tester. You might want to try that one, too.

Malke
 
Malke said:
When during the boot process?
Click to expand...

After the POST, and before the welcome screen. During the black screen with
scrolling bar thingy.
In any case, random events are usually caused
by failing hardware.
Click to expand...

It's not random though - it's always at the same point, it just doesn't
always happen. And it never happens in Windows.
In your case, I'd test the RAM with Memtest86+ from
www.memtest.org. I also see that when you boot with Ultimate (and I assume
Enterprise) there is an option on the first screen for the Microsoft RAM
tester. You might want to try that one, too.
Click to expand...

I'll scan the ram, but I won't find anything - XP would also have been
unstable, and it wasn't.
 
Danny said:
After the POST, and before the welcome screen. During the black screen
with scrolling bar thingy.


It's not random though - it's always at the same point, it just doesn't
always happen. And it never happens in Windows.
Click to expand...

Well, you said "every once in a while" and gave no further information.
I'll scan the ram, but I won't find anything - XP would also have been
unstable, and it wasn't.
Click to expand...

Actually, it's quite possible that Vista is accessing a different address of
the RAM than XP so your conclusion that "XP would also have been unstable"
is erroneous. There have been several posts in the Vista ng's recently
about this very topic.

In any case, since I can't see your computer from here and you supplied no
information about it, I gave you the logical next step in troubleshooting.
Something is failing and you need to find out what it is. The only way to
do this is by methodical troubleshooting. Here are general hardware
troubleshooting steps:

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Hardware_Tshoot

It could also be caused by flaky drivers, particularly in these early days
of Vista RTM. Look in Vista's Event Viewer for clues. And you should also
ask yourself The First Question Of Troubleshooting: what changed between
the time things worked and the time they didn't?

All of this is meant to help you narrow down the troubleshooting focus.

Malke
 
Malke:
I can't agree more, especially with the phrase "but it works fine
with XP". Starting with XP x64 and now with Vista ram is addressed
differently and can have a flaw. I had a random BSOD with XP x64 about once
a week or two, always in the middle of working. I was running dual channel
ram, found one bad sector on one chip with Memtest86. I called Crucial for
an RMA on the defective stick, to my surprise they sent me an RMA for both
sticks since I was running dual channel. I haven't had a BSOD on that
computer since and the problem occurred while XP x64 was still in beta. Have
a great day.
 
Dennis said:
Malke:
I can't agree more, especially with the phrase "but it works fine
with XP". Starting with XP x64 and now with Vista ram is addressed
differently and can have a flaw. I had a random BSOD with XP x64 about
once a week or two, always in the middle of working. I was running dual
channel ram, found one bad sector on one chip with Memtest86. I called
Crucial for an RMA on the defective stick, to my surprise they sent me an
RMA for both sticks since I was running dual channel. I haven't had a BSOD
on that computer since and the problem occurred while XP x64 was still in
beta. Have a great day.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that information, Dennis. We know that it was common for the same
RAM installed in older MS operating systems Win9x/ME to not work with XP
since XP was far fussier about marginal RAM. Your information indicates
that the same issues may arise with Vista. I appreciate the definitive
troubleshooting answer you provided.

You have a great day, too!

Malke
 
Malke said:
Well, you said "every once in a while" and gave no further information.
Click to expand...

I didn't say anything of the sort my friend, I said it always happened at
the same time when it occurred, but did not always happen.
Actually, it's quite possible that Vista is accessing a different address
of
the RAM than XP so your conclusion that "XP would also have been unstable"
is erroneous. There have been several posts in the Vista ng's recently
about this very topic.
Click to expand...

The thought occurs: if the RAM is flaky, and Vista's boot process accesses
an area of it causing BSOD's, is it realistic to suggest that XP has NEVER
accessed that same address? Under ANY circumstances? I find that extremely
difficult to believe.
In any case, since I can't see your computer from here and you supplied no
information about it, I gave you the logical next step in troubleshooting.
Something is failing and you need to find out what it is. The only way to
do this is by methodical troubleshooting. Here are general hardware
troubleshooting steps:

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Hardware_Tshoot

It could also be caused by flaky drivers, particularly in these early days
of Vista RTM. Look in Vista's Event Viewer for clues. And you should also
ask yourself The First Question Of Troubleshooting: what changed between
the time things worked and the time they didn't?
Click to expand...

The one change I specifically recall was that I installed a Samsung printer
driver and thereafter, I believe, the boot process became hit and miss. I
have removed it now and hope it helps.
All of this is meant to help you narrow down the troubleshooting focus.
Click to expand...

And I appreciate all help.
 
Dennis Pack said:
Malke:
I can't agree more, especially with the phrase "but it works fine
with XP". Starting with XP x64 and now with Vista ram is addressed
differently and can have a flaw. I had a random BSOD with XP x64 about
once a week or two, always in the middle of working. I was running dual
channel ram, found one bad sector on one chip with Memtest86. I called
Crucial for an RMA on the defective stick, to my surprise they sent me an
RMA for both sticks since I was running dual channel. I haven't had a BSOD
on that computer since and the problem occurred while XP x64 was still in
beta. Have a great day.
Click to expand...
I don't see how this helps. You're saying you had RAM causing instability in
XP x64 - then you got that RAM replaced and thereafter XP x64 was stable.

What difference does this make to Vista? Or to this thread?
 
Danny:
I used XP x64 as an example of how ram can cause oddities from
personal experience. Vista is the same as XP x64 as towards addressing ram
differently. As a side note that same computer is running Vista and other
test programs without any problems, the only change made since it was built
is the replacement of the defective ram over 2 years ago. The whole basis
for my answer is to not overlook ram as a possible cause since there are no
problems when running XP. Have a great day.
 
It would be nice if you could show a little civility to those trying to help
you. If you don't want the advice, just ignore it and/or just go away
quietly. If you can't relate to simple examples, well ...
 
John Barnes said:
It would be nice if you could show a little civility to those trying to
help you.
Click to expand...

Clearly people around here are thin skinned. If I'd known the notion of
questioning people's advice equalled abuse and lack of civility, I'd have
coated my replies in sugar.
If you don't want the advice, just ignore it and/or just go away quietly.
If you can't relate to simple examples, well ...
Click to expand...

Haha, you claim I'm not being civil then you try to insult me. Nice one!
 
Malke said:
Well, you said "every once in a while" and gave no further information.


Actually, it's quite possible that Vista is accessing a different address
of
the RAM than XP so your conclusion that "XP would also have been unstable"
is erroneous. There have been several posts in the Vista ng's recently
about this very topic.

In any case, since I can't see your computer from here and you supplied no
information about it, I gave you the logical next step in troubleshooting.
Something is failing and you need to find out what it is. The only way to
do this is by methodical troubleshooting. Here are general hardware
troubleshooting steps:

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Hardware_Tshoot

It could also be caused by flaky drivers, particularly in these early days
of Vista RTM. Look in Vista's Event Viewer for clues. And you should also
ask yourself The First Question Of Troubleshooting: what changed between
the time things worked and the time they didn't?

All of this is meant to help you narrow down the troubleshooting focus.
Click to expand...

I scanned the RAM and found no errors, and as I say elsewhere, I removed a
printer driver and the system just booted without complaint.

Here's hoping it lasts.

Thanks for your help.
 
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