How to Fix Blue Screen Errors

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874 Responses

  1. @Rene Celibataire of course they exist. Im with XP , blue screens appear often.
    Ive heard that you can see blue screens on Vista too , is it true ?

    Yes it seems that Anthony have missed some errors , but anyway really useful post.

  2. kunal says:

    it`s SATA
    actually it started getting error after 2-3 months
    and thanks for help

  3. Anthony says:

    @kunal – From the fact that you only started having problems with the new disk, it is more likely that this new disk is causing some kind of problem. Is it a IDE or SATA disk?
    One possible solution for stop error 0x00000003 is a Microsoft hotfix: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/841005
    This is assuming you are running XP of course.
    And also make sure you Windows updates are all installed, so all possible patches applicable to the system are present.

    Regarding the disk, a disk check should tell you if it is still okay. To make sure, do a full format (not quick), so all bad areas are marked and excluded for data storage.

    Anthony

  4. kunal says:

    hi anthony
    i recently added a new hdd to my pc , it worked well for months then the pc started getting hanged every now and then , then it would ask for : to repair windows , it worked for days then again it woud`nt even repair i reinstalled windows several times but same problem , so thinking that the old hdd might be the problem (since during chkdsk errors wer found) i reinstalled th windo in the nu hdd (making it master) just after i reinstalled all my softwares it showed BSOD giving
    0*00000003 , 89c62150 ,0*89c622c4 ,0*805d1142 error
    plzz help!! also is the old hdd realy useless(any way 2 know that)
    thanks

  5. Do Blue Screen errors still exist? i haven’s seen one since Windows ’98!!!

  6. Anthony says:

    The vetefile.sys file is part of Antivirus software by Computer Associates, so maybe that is causing your problems. You can try uninstalling and then reinstalling that, or maybe try switching to AVG ( http://free.avg.com/ ) to see if that help.

    Stop error 0x07E really indicates a driver problem, so this is related to the VETEFILE.SYS you indicate. This driver file is part of the Vet File Scan Engine, which listed in the Device Manager under Non-Plug and Play Drivers (make sure to select the ‘View hidden devices’ option in the View menu).

    Anthony

  7. Nicki says:

    Anthony,

    I successfully ran the disk check a few days ago, but today when I booted up my computer, I received a STOP 0x07E blue screen error. It also read:

    VETEFILE.SYS Address AA2DB30E base at AA2D8000 DateStamp 482a3efc.

    I reloaded optimal BIOS settings, but what else can I do to to try to fix this? Please help!

    Thanks so much!

  8. Anthony says:

    @Nicki – the stop error you list is actually a disk or file system error. Quite often you can fix that by running a “chkdsk /f” at the command prompt (with admin rights). This will check the disk and file system and correct any error found.
    Some more on this: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/228888

    So I do not think the .NET framework nor the AV software has to be the cause, it could be that .NET update is using a part of the disk that has errors.

    Anthony

  9. Nicki says:

    Anthony,

    I recently booted my computer with normal startup (I had it on selective with the anti-virus turned off). I received a new BSOD moments after an update was successfully installed: Update to.NET Framewok 3.5 Service Pack 1 for the .NET Framework Assistant 1.0×86(KB963707).

    I received the blue screen error:
    STOP 0x00000024
    Ntfs.sys address F84DE886 base at F84B9000, DateStamp 4800be5

    Is the cause the anti-virus software or could it be the update? If it’s the update, how can I re-install it?

    Any help would be appreciated.

  10. Anthony says:

    @Rose – You can configure Windows not to automatically reboot on a BSOD error.
    In the Control Panel go to System. Select the Advanced tab, and under Startup and Recovery select the Settings button. Now you see a checkbox called Automatic restart under System failure. Make sure that is cleared and click OK (this is Windows XP, Vista has the same option).

    Next time a blue screen error occurs, the screen will stay and Windows will not automatically reboot.

    Anthony

  11. Rose says:

    What do you do if the BSOD flashes too fast for you to see and then automatically reboots again and again and again (does the same for safe mode)

  12. Anthony says:

    @Janice – I’d recommend you run a memory test, because that could explain the erratic symptoms. Another option is a temperature problem. Try cleaning the system inside and make sure there is sufficient airflow around it.

    Hope it helps!

    Anthony

  13. Janice says:

    I have had so much trouble with BSOD, tried several diff things, reinst WIN XP SP 3, remove SP 3, change antiV software, each time comp – Media Centre AMD Emachine would run fine then months later would BSOD with diff codes reappears. Last code was 0*000000C5, before that just shutdowns, before that o…8E, before that – 0…7F. Any ideas before I start buying new mem, MoBd, & HD? Thanx, Jan

  14. Nicki says:

    Anthony,
    Thanks SOOO much for your help! So far the BIOS settings worked! The memory test came up negative, but I plan on running the extended one soon.

    Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

  15. Anthony says:

    @Nicki – The SFC command will automatically replace corrupted system files with the original ones, so there should not be any follow up report.
    The Bios default selection is indeed correct.

    The best is really to use memtest86, but you can also try the Windows Memory Diagnostic from http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp

    Anthony

  16. Nicki says:

    Anthony,

    I ran “sfc/scannow” in the command prompt, and after the protected files were scanned, the window closed. Should I have received a positive or negative follow-up report? I also pressed F2 during boot and selected “Load Optimal Default” in the BIOS. Is that correct? The BIOS boot version is EV91510A.15A.0123.

    Lastly, is there another memory test available? I appreciate all your help.

  17. Anthony says:

    @Nicki – Your system seems unstable overall. The common causes for this type of BSOD errors is memory and a corrupt Windows installation.

    I suggest you check your memory with something like memtest86. Also try loading the default bios settings (in most cases F2 during boot will bring you in the bios). This will reset all memory timing to default.

    Another thing I’d suggest is to run “sfc /scannow” in the command prompt. This will verify and correct your Windows system files.

    I do not expect it is the antivirus software.

    Anthony

  18. Nicki says:

    I forgot to mention that the first is the most common, and the only applicable file/program mentioned is win32k.sys. I’ve scanned for viruses several times and they’re all negative, and I’m wondering if it’s the anti-virus software. I really need some help before I decide to just get a new computer.

    By the way, I have a 4 year-old Gateway with Windows XP.

  19. Nicki says:

    Hey there! Major problem: I receive an array of stop errors, varying from starting IE or MS Word to browsing the internet to turning on my computer. Some include:

    IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL
    PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA
    BAD_POOL_CALLER
    BAD_POOL_HEADER

  20. Anthony says:

    @Tim – The nv4_disp is related to the n4v_disp.dll file which is part of the Nvidia device drivers for your video card. The most common solution to that problem is to get the latest drivers from the Nvidia support site ( http://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx?lang=en-us ) and download your video card drivers.
    In the Control Panel, select System, select the Hardware tab and click the Device Manager button. Then open up Display Adapters, right click your video card and select Update Driver in the popup menu. Make sure to select the location for the drivers manually (not let Windows search), and pick the downloaded Nvidia drivers.

    Hope it helps.

    Anthony

  21. Tim says:

    Morgan,

    My BSOD says that there is a problem with file: nv4_disp

    It states that the device driver got stuck in an infinite loop. What do I do next?

    Thanks for your help!

    Tim

  22. Anthony says:

    @Morgan – The BSOD error you are describing is caused by a corrupt registry. Microsoft has a knowledge base article on recovering from a corrupt registry that pertains to the c0000218 error.
    http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545/en-us

    Did you try those steps?

    Anthony

  23. Morgan says:

    My blue screen of death isnt any of the ones you listed. It is a blue screen that says: STOP: c0000218 {Registry File Failure} The registry cannot load the hive (file): \SystemRoot\System32\Config\SOFTWARE or its log or its alternate. It is corrupt, absent, or not writeable. Please someone help me!

  1. May 18, 2009

    […] Blue Screen of Death, or simply BSOD, represents an error notoriously associated with Microsoft Windows operating […]

  2. May 27, 2009

    […] Microsoft further advices that you try to load the last known good configuration using the start menu (press F8 during boot). But you do need to make sure that the problem does not introduce itself again as a result of changes or updates. So the best way is to find the real cause of a blue screen error and fix it. […]

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