Expert: Brian Benosky - 8/8/2009

Question
QUESTION: I have been getting a STOP: 0x0000000c (0x00000002, 0x00000000, 0x8054BFCB) BSOD.  I have XP Version 2002 Service Pack 3, Acer Aspire 5670, Genuine Intel CPU, T2300 @ 1.66GHz, 1.67 Gz, 2.00 GB of RAM.  FAT 32 (don't know why Acer didn't do NTFS).

It is hard to tell what driver perhaps is causing this.  So far I have read about uninstalling Avast via Safemode and their uninstall tool. So I have done this and will try Antivir. I have run Malware (I read your posts!) and installed HJackThis and generated a log file.  Unfortunately I did use Regcure - but after the BSOD started suddenly out of the 'blue', in an attempt to 'cure' the problem.  So I've uninstalled it and swear I will never use an auto registry editor again along with Driver update programs, etc.  
The BSOD seemed to occur when using IE BUT it also has happened while in Word or even Wordperfect.  But it happens more often when using IE7.5730.13.

This is my first time using this type of forum so I'm not sure how this all works. I hope you can help me trouble shoot this problem.  I'm hoping it's not the hard drive (Acer's answer to everything is to wipe and replace!) OR the thermal coupling (which was replaced).

Thanks for your attention.

Regards


Brenda A.

ANSWER: Hi Brenda

Thank you for providing so much information.  It really helps to figure things out.  I would like to look at the most recent .dmp file, which Windows creates in C:\WINDOWS\Minidump\.  If it is too much to paste here, you can send me the log attached to an email at numbersix6@yahoo.com.  Also, if you have the HJT log file, I would like to see that as well.  I'll do my best to troubleshoot this for you.

Brian

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: There's an email on the way with dmp files, Hjlog, etc.  Can't find a way to upload them here.

Brenda

ANSWER: Hi Brenda

Just following-up to see if the new drivers made an improvement.  Let me know how the computer is working when you get a chance.  

Brian

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi there,

Well - it's hard to say but the Fax driver I updated, Avast is toast, and I had problems with ATI driver.  That is because Acer puts up 'driver updates' that are bad - as in meant for Vista - but doesn't recognize the XP Pro system until mid-way through an install and hence trashes the driver totally!  (Particularly ATI).

I'm not getting BSOD's though I am getting some 'can't read memory address' messages... from the Indexing Service - which is also now toast.

What *really* seem to work was to completely disable the Fax as I do not need it at all.  So it's now updated but not loading, not a service, etc.

My Bios was up to date - but again Acer (they are so bad at this!) does not have a Bios detection 'version' built into their installer(s).  They say they do but they do not.  So it flashed just fine - the very same version!  

So that's where I'm at.  Hoping the BSOD's will SOD off!  Only time will tell.

Thanks for all your help.

Answer
Hi Brenda

I would suggest turning off the Indexing Service to stop the error messages.  XP indexing is junk anyway.  Try Google Desktop or Copernic Desktop if you want indexing.  Use the instructions to turn it off here:
http://www.liutilities.com/articles/turn-off-windows-xp-indexing-service/
Strange how Avast does not work, but I believe you mentioned switching to Antivir, which is a fine alternative.  The fax problem seems to confirm the bad driver for the modem which was causing the BSOD's.  Blame Acer for that one.  
Check the ATI website for better video drivers.  Not sure if they maintain notebook drivers, but it doesn't hurt to check your graphics hardware against the drivers they list on their support site.
If you have any further problems or questions, just let me know.  Cheers!

Brian