With dell systems, it is pretty easy to reformat your system and start
everything all over again. The reason being you are most likely to have
a recovery partition and/or operating system DVD. I wouldn't waste time
trying to figure out which driver is corrupt because resetting the
system is the quickest way. I am, of course, assuming that your system
was working properly when it arrived from the factory. Also, make sure
you have back up of your documents, pictures, videos, music, emails etc
which you don't want to lose.



Roger Hunen wrote:
Greetings!

I have a friend's Dell Dimension 8400 on my desk throwing blue screens.
I have gone through a lot of steps (see below) to try and fix this to no
avail. I therefore need your help!

Symptoms:
- BSOD with PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA
STOP: 0x00000050 (0xFF99FFF8, 0x00000000, 0x80551211, 0x00000000)
Stop error parameters are identical every time
- No additional information is displayed about the component that
causes the BSOD
- Minidumps are enabled but not created

When does the problem happen:
- While running the Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool
(MRT.EXE). This happens
- when running the MSRT mannually
- when trying to install Internet Explorer 8 (this runs MRT.EXE)
Note: I managed to get IE8 installed by killing MRT.EXE manually
before the system crashes
- during automatic updates (which MRT.EXE runs every month)

System information:
- Dell Dimension 8400
- BIOS A09 (latest)
- Windows XP Home Edition SP3, fully patched
- 2GB Memory
- 80 GB primary SATA disk (WD Caviar WD800JD)
- 250 GB secondary SATA disk (....)
- ATI Radeon X300 display adapter

What I have tried so far:
- check for bad RAM with Memtest86: no errors after 9 passes
- replace RAM
- update all drivers (including iastor.sys and ATI display
drivers) to latest versions
- reinstall SP3
- uninstall patch KB977165 (MS10-015)
- remove end-of-life software (such as Nero 6.6)
- run full chkdsk.exe on all drives (no errors)
- check the system drive for viruses and other malware by
attaching the system drive to another system (so that root
kits cannot hide) using various tools
- clean the registry

So far all attempts have failed and I have run out of clues.

== Any pointers? Please help!!

Best regards & thanks,
-Roger