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View Full Version : Blue screen of death is killing me slowly.


sanctifyer
09-16-2006, 11:57 AM
All,

About a week ago, I plugged in a Kensington Notebook Dock which is done by plugging it in to the USB.
Windows found many items of new hardware and began installing the files needed to work with the dock. The dock consists of a network adapter, extra USB slots, Dolby audio outputs plus other simple things that a dock would have.

If I shutdown and power up with the dock connected, the following blue screen would appear about a minute after Windows arrives at the user selection screen:


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 make sure any new hardware or software is properly installed. If this is a new installation ask your hardware or software manufacturer for any Windows updates that it might need.

If problems continue, disable or remove any newly installed hardware or software. Disable BIOS memory options such as caching 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 [...with 4 other address references here, can't remember exactly what they are]

Beginning dump of physical memory.
Physical memory dump complete.
Contact you system administrator or technical support group for further assistance


I would resolve it by unplugging the dock and then rebooting. everything would be fine. I would then hot plug the dock in during a windows session and it would then work fine.

However, for some bizarre reason, the Stop screen is coming up all the time regardless of whether or not the dock is connected. everytime I boot up, its there.

This doesn't happen during Safe Mode.

But what is really worrying me is that even If I roll back to a System Restore point to before I even plugged in the dock for the first time, the blue screen is STILL coming up.

It is happening about 1 minute after the user selection screen comes up whether or not I click on a user.

I'm seriously running out of options here. The only way I can use this machine is in safe mode (with networking if I was web access)

PLEASE help me.

Thanks,
sanc

Sylvander
09-16-2006, 01:21 PM
A "STOP: 0x0000008E" error message occurs when you change the hardware acceleration setting. (http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=330187)

A temporary fix would be to hot plug the dock during a Windows session, then "Hibernate" rather than "Shut Down".

mjc
09-16-2006, 01:24 PM
I seem to be running into two recurrign themes when researching this...video drivers and bad RAM.

I would start by running MemTest (http://www.memtest86.com/) (floppy or CD).

If that comes up clean, then video card drivers...

sanctifyer
09-17-2006, 10:39 AM
Thanks guys.

- I did a RAM test and revealed nothing.
- I also set my hardware acceleration to the minimal setting and updated my video driver.
- Finally I updated the BIOS to the latest version.

The problem is still there.

BUT, I have narrowed it down as to what has been causing it this whole time.

Its Windows Update. before, it was set to automatic, so everytime I booted up it would try and do it in the background and I get the BSOD.
So I booted up once and quickly shut down.

The succesful shut down disabled automatic Windows Update installations and so no BSOD if I boot now. But in the system tray, the yellow exclamation is there asking me to install downloaded updates for Windows.

If I try to go and do it, BSOD with stop error of 0x0000008E.

There are 5 updates, and even if I try and install just one of the five (any of them) I get the BSOD. So I don't think its any particulay update.

Its just the act of trying to update Windows!
Its so bizarre.

I'm going to have a look on the Windows KB.

Any ideas/suggestions though?

Thanks,
sanc

sanctifyer
09-17-2006, 11:20 AM
Nothing on Windows KB site. :(

Sylvander
09-17-2006, 11:38 AM
Sounds like something amiss with the Windows installation.

Try XP's No-Reformat, Nondestructive Total-Rebuild Option (http://www.informationweek.com/windows/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=189400897) to see if that will make it "Straighten up and fly right".

Quantax
09-17-2006, 05:22 PM
Sounds like something amiss with the Windows installation.

Try XP's No-Reformat, Nondestructive Total-Rebuild Option (http://www.informationweek.com/windows/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=189400897) to see if that will make it "Straighten up and fly right".
This has the effect of undoing the updates so if they then install successfully later on without the BSOD's returning, then the problem is cured.

sanctifyer
09-17-2006, 08:11 PM
Problem is that my Dell laptop came with no setup CDs for Windows. They recommend to use Windows Restore .. I'll see if I can find a way of doing it by contacting Dell..

sanc

sanctifyer
09-17-2006, 09:32 PM
OK, one of the 5 pending Windows updates worked. it installed fine.

I tried again with the 4 remaining and it crashed out again.
I guess its specific to particular updates now..

sanc

keycrow
10-16-2006, 02:22 PM
I am having the same issue with the blue screen and the Kensington Dock but I'm sure it is not related to Windows Update. I believe this may be a seperate issue. I feel pretty confident it's one of the drivers for the dock. Are there any tools that help you find bad drivers?