From COMPUABLE: Error on Boot Won't Go Away!

Apparently "Major Error" on Boot Won't Go Away!​

This afternoon I was updating a relatively 'minor' utility program called "PCBoost" in order to test the latest version. The screen just froze although I could "move the mouse" and I could not activate anything or use the mouse to click on anything. Also the keyboard was rendered useless as I could not use Ctrl+Alt+Delete to bring up the task manager or shut down the computer normally.

After about 1/2 hour I used the power button to shut down the PC. When I rebooted the following "stop error" message appeared:

Stop: 0x0000007E (0xC0000005, 0XAA5FA4D0, 0XF7A241C8, 0XF7A23EC4)

The PC will start in Safe Mode when using the F8 button and everything looks OK. But when I reboot the PC in "normal" mode the same exact stop error message appears again and again with each subsequent boot.

Things I have tried: Setting back to Several System Restore Points - to no avail - the same stop error reappears no matter what point I choose. I also tried SFC /scannow - however the tiny black screen (surrounded with the light gray frame) appears for only a millisecond and then disappears.

Two positive things (I guess) occur which I should mention: (1) It is ALWAYS the same exact stop error message and (2) the Safe Mode STILL works fine. I just cannot get the PC to start in "normal" boot mode.

Any help that anyone could offer I would certainly appreciate VERY much. This is my primary desktop machine and has dozens (maybe a hundreds or so) of programs installed. Even though I do have a full backup - being a geeky guy - I would rather try to learn how to solve the problem first before reformatting, reinstalling and restoring everything from backing up!

Thank you!

~~~COMP

 

Hey COMPUABLE so lets rule out the obvious it will be assumed you have googled the error codes to your hearts content, tons of info for 0x0000007E.

When in safe mode did you try to remove the potential Catalyst (app) but I am assuming it is a bit more than this. Try removing with CCleaner then scan for issues using the app and finally run Lexun RegScrubXP, hopefully this will indicate whether a corrupted registry.

Next try some of the obvious, pull off your side cover and reseat the RAM sticks.

Run memtest86 for 4-5 passes and see whether it indicates that a RAM module could be showing the first signs of failure:

http://majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=1247
or
http://majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=4226

See how you go with this lot.

 

Thinking its a driver that got installed ...have you looked in device manager for recent changes?

How can I do this Tim? (Not sure... I'm pretty much a software tester)

So far:

Method 1: Make sure that you have sufficient hard disk space – I have about 90 gigs left in a 145 Gig Hard Drive

Method 2: Update the computer BIOS
Make sure that your computer BIOS revision is current. Contact the computer manufacturer to obtain the latest BIOS update for the computer. (I have the latest update, I checked it with DELL last week).

You may have to temporarily disable BIOS memory options such as caching or shadowing. (How do I do this?)

Method 3: Disable or update device drivers. Not sure exactly how to do that either.

Anyway; that's how far I've gotten with the link that you have provided.

Thanks again for the prompt advice TimW and Bold Eagle!

~~COMP

 

I would go into safe mode and uninstall every program I installed that day and the day before, at least the ones I installed before a restart.......including "PCBoost".

Steve

 

Well you could boot into "Safe Mode" (not sure if this will work in this mode) and right click on "My Comp" select Properties > Hardware (tab) > Device Manager. Are there any indicated errors or exclamations?!?!?!?! If so you can double click on that particular device and it will give you several options. Have a look and post back.

Sorry TimW were posting simultaneously.

 

Hey COMPUABLE so lets rule out the obvious it will be assumed you have googled the error codes to your hearts content, tons of info for 0x0000007E.Bold Eagle

Yes, I could probably recite the entire "stop error" code in my sleep... <g>

When in safe mode did you try to remove the potential Catalyst (app) but I am assuming it is a bit more than this. Try removing with CCleaner then scan for issues using the app and finally run Lexun RegScrubXP, hopefully this will indicate whether a corrupted registry. Bold Eagle

Yes, I have removed PCBoost and the registry actually shows fewer errors than normally. I have several registry cleaning apps installed and have run them all (with surprisingly few errors to be fixed, I might add). These apps included CCLeaner, 1-Click Maintenance, Ace Utilities, Anti-Crash, Registry Booster and Registry Mechanic 5.0. Overkill, I know but I did this just to be sure...

Next try some of the obvious, pull off your side cover and reseat the RAM sticks. Run memtest86 for 4-5 passes and see whether it indicates that a RAM module could be showing the first signs of failure. Bold Eagle.

I'll do that right now... Thanks Bold Eagle!

~~COMP

 

Tip: Always be sure to back up your Windows registry or create a System Restore Point (when using Windows XP or Win ME operating systems) prior to modifying your system and/or installing or uninstalling programs. This step takes only a few seconds to do and can save you hours of frustration later on by restoring your system to its previous state. .....sorry, just had to do that!!

LOL - In my case (today) I did just that, however for some reason System Restore does not function as it usually does.

Tim; when you asked: Thinking its a driver that got installed ...have you looked in device manager for recent changes?

How exactly can I do this? (Step-by-Step, I mean)

Thanks! ~~COMP

TO BOLD EAGLE: The RAM tested fine (I have memtest installed). I acutally just got new RAM less than a month ago; so I thought perhaps you were right, however the memory tests passed with flying colors!

 

Just check device manager for any ! or X or? ....for now then try a reboot with safe mode and logging

Thanks Tim... I just checked it out.

Everything in the device manager (Control Panel > Admin Tools > Computer Mgmt > Device Mgr) checks out - no ! or X ; at least in safe mode, if that makes any difference. I'm usually lost w/regards to hardware.

 

If you run out of options or things to try, You might try different startup modes.

http://support.dell.com/support/top.../en/document?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&dn=1056006

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310560/

Steve

 

Have to go away for the night but COMPUABLE maybe you should consider a DL of the UBCD if you can. Many wonderful apps on there and maybe even a solution to your dillema, have a look at the link:

http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/

You can get it from MG.

 

Thanks to: "The Three Amigos!" - TimW, Bold Eagle and Matacumbie

I certainly thank the three of you (TimW, Bold Eagle and Matacumbie) for your efforts and for your help and suggestions regarding this problem. However, in the end I decided to reformat and reinstall everything from the bottom up.

It certainly would have been "geeky-keen" to have in actual fact figured out exactly what the root of the problem was; not to mention having the ability and time necessary to actually fix it. However, the truth of the matter is that after some diligent research through Google, etc. I actually found very few cases (read none) where such mysteriously persistent and nagging "blue screen" types of stop errors were fixed without butchering the machine in the process and most importantly without having to worry about any further problems.

Additionally I was amazed by the number of the tips suggested on the various help sites that I visited! While supportive and accommodating, the offered solutions such as "just remove all of your all third-party drivers and unsigned drivers, entirely alter the bios structure and use the System Configuration Utility" were too time-consuming and the "cure" seemed worse than the disease itself.

Many of the "potential cures" offered would more-than-likely cause numerous problems down the line with other installed software; particularly the just remove all of your all third-party drivers and unsigned drivers" advice. While I appreciated the fact that so many people on these websites took the time to post such advice; that process would actually take far more time, effort and potential aggravation than either a full reinstall or backup from a recent image.

The "Good" News: I’m actually kind of a "backup freak," so luckily I did not lose any important documents or vital other files and folders. I have everything not only backed up on CDs and DVDS but also with an exterior drive; the Western Digital Dual-Option Combo 250GB USB 2.0 Firewire External Hard Drive.

I also keep Acronis backup images of all of my computers configurations; but in this case, in the end I finally decided to reformat and reinstall everything from the bottom up. There is more good news here too: The affected computer is much leaner, and it is running much faster than before as well; so at least it appears not to be a $$$ hardware issue!

Anyway, thanks again to "The Three Amigos!" - here at Major Geeks TimW, Bold Eagle and Matacumbie who took the time to offer help and insight regarding this nagging "Error on Boot Won't Go Away!" post of mine!

Good Luck!

 

Good to hear you got it sorted and some say a re-install every couple of years will do just what you say, mean, lean surfing machine. It is a pity you couldn't resolve and it seems you ruled out the obvious hardware, i.e. RAM. So let's hope it is purely software and thus won't be recurring. Good Luck.

 

>> Good to hear you got it sorted and some say a re-install every couple of years will do just what you say, mean, lean surfing machine. It is a pity you couldn't resolve and it seems you ruled out the obvious hardware, i.e. RAM. So let's hope it is purely software and thus won't be recurring. Good Luck. Bold Eagle <<

As of this evening I probably have reinstalled about 75-80 percent of the entire machine that I want to have.

As you said in your last post; at the very least it "apparently" is not hardware related. I'm just really, really glad about that. If it had been a hardware issue; I’m sure that the evidence of this would have showed up immediately after the reinstall of the OS and the other programs I had on there. Also; another huge problem with unknown or unapparent individual hardware issues is that they can consequently affect other components. Therefore even if you are able to detect and fix that particular issue; the resulting damage to the other parts can linger and cause additional problems further down the road, so to speak.

One thing is for certain; Windows XP is far more resilient than any of its predecessors. When I used 95 and 98 - especially ME and SE - continual and repetitive blue screens and stop events were practically a monthly event! Also I probably was "forced" to reformat and reinstall the earlier versions at least twice a year; so I believe I’ve been very fortunate while using XP.

Additionally, I tend to beat the crap out of my "testing" computers; so all and all, considering all of the shareware and freeware programs that I install and then test (and finally uninstall) on a regular basis; I think I’ve actually been incredibly lucky. In fact this is the first time I’ve experienced such a persistent blue screen since I started using Windows XP. I mean I have had a few brief; almost unnoticeable ‘stop events’ as ‘lesser events’ like this which came and went once or twice. But this was the first one that came out of nowhere with absolutely no warning and just would not go away.

Side Note: For reinstallation purposes; I also use a tiny program called LS - File List Generator to periodically create and store lists of the files and folders and their preferred order and positions. Additionally, I have a .zip file on a CD which holds many empty (but named) folders that I install onto the newly reinstalled computer. These folders and their subfolders are useful to have as well as they are all setup and ready to use.

Good Luck!