HELP! two blue screens of death!

Hello.

I've had this PC for about two years. The BSOD problems
started
occuring about 8 months ago, and slowly progressed to being
more frequent.

Before I describe the problem, here are the PC's system
specifics:

************************************************** *********
***
************************************************** *********
***
Operating system Microsoft Windows XP Professional
System Manufacturer VIA Techologies, Inc.
System Model VT8601
System Type X86-based PC
Processor x86 Family 6 Model 11 Stepping 1
GenuineIntel ~1097 Mhz
BIOS Version/Date Award Software International, Inc.
6.00 PG, 11/22/2001
SMBIOS Version 2.3
Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS
System Directory C:\WINDOWS\System32
Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume2
Total Physical Memory 384.00 MB
Available Physical Memory 252.96 MB
Total Virtual Memory 1.28 GB
Available Virtual Memory 1.05 GB
Page File Space 922.94 MB
Page File C:\pagefile.sys

Hardware components

Model WDC WD150AB-00BVA0
Bytes/Sector 512
Media Loaded Yes
Media Type Fixed hard disk
Partitions 3
SCSI Bus 0
SCSI Logical Unit 0
SCSI Port 1
SCSI Target ID 0
Sectors/Track 63
Size 13.99 GB (15,019,361,280 bytes)


ATAPI 48X CDROM
SAMSUNG CD-R/RW SW-248F

S3 Graphics Inc. Savage4
Adapter RAM 16.00 MB (16,777,216 bytes)
************************************************** *********
****
************************************************** *********
****



My IDE hard drive is divided into two partitions:
The C drive is about 3 GB and is for the
operating system only. The remaining 11 GB
are for my programs and files. I normally format
both partitions to be FAT32.


Immediately after a new installation, I configure the PC
for optimum performance, meaning that I disable graphic
and sound effects, screen saver, hibernation, pretty much
anything that will give me more memory and save processing
time.


Now for the problems:


Everything during boot up goes smoothly. Then the
loading Windows XP screen shows up, with the little blue
bar below the logo that slides for the loading process.
The screen then turns black and then, instead of the
blue "welcome"
screen, I get the BSOD that says the following:



STOP: c0000218 {Registry File Failure}
The registry cannot load the hive (file):
\SystemRoot\System32\Config\SOFTWARE
or its log or alternate.
It is corrupt, absent, or not writeable.

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

I located this "SOFTWARE" file, which appears
to be a text file, but it's file size fluxuates
as you view it in the window.



Let it be known that I've encountered this BSOD
quite often. 8 months ago I would get it every
three or so weeks. And as that time passed, I would
see it more frequently. Now, for the pass 3 months I see
this BSOD at least once a week (I know that's terrible).
And I don't do that "safe mode" "recovery" stuff. I
have everything on the D drive apart from the operating
system. So I simply reinstall Win XP. (It's getting to the
point where I'm starting to memorize the registration
number
that I have to input for the OS).


But just recently for the first time I got a new BSOD
upon startup which said the following:


A problem has been detected and Windows has been
shutdown to prevent damage to your computer.

UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME

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 you 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: 0x000000ED (0x823CF030, 0xC000009C, 0x00000000,
0x00000000)




The following "symptoms" are my own opinions of what I
think
is causing the BSOD, but I can't pinpoint the problem,
which
is why I'm asking for help:


1. Too many programs are installed. Since my C drive is a
3 GB
partition, I reserve it only for the operating system,
which
is close to 2 GB. However I install all my programs on
the
D drive. I usually install the same programs and I
never had
problems installing and running them in the past, but
more
recently, I noticed that everytime I installed a new
program,
the sooner I ended up with the BSOD, even if I remove
the program.

2. My hard drive or memory is getting old. Before I waste
money
on something that's probably not the problem, I need
some
insight as to whether they are the problem and why.


Basically, I'm NOT looking for info on how to "fix the
problem."
I normally "fix it" by reinstalling the operating system.
I'm looking for ways to avert getting these types of BSOD
in the
first place.


***************
* 2 questions *
***************

1. When I get the BSOD, and all the files I need are on
one drive
separate from the operating system, and all it takes is
a simple
installation of its programs, why should I worry
about "Safe Mode",
"recovery" and "editing the registry" when a simple
reinstallation
of the OS will do?

2. What can I do to minimize getting BSOD in the first
place?

Thank you.

PS If you're reading this, I'm probably reinstalling
Windows XP

Hi Brian,

Your question number 1 caught my eye, "why try a repair when a simple
reinstall will do".
With sp1 and all the security updates and patches, a reinstall insn;t that
simple, unless you build slipstreamded cd or have a RIS server handy.
When you say simple, does that mean you are not applying service pack 1 or
any of the other updates ?

The errors could be a hardware issue.

If the hard drive is ata66 or higher , you need to be using an 80 wire
cable, or you can get these types of errors.

What kind of processor does this system have, I see 1097Hz, is it an
overclocked PIII, a tualatin or something else ?
Overclocking can cause disk corruptions.

Memory can also cause similar corruptions, you could try a memory
diagnostic,

http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp

What motherboard is it, I see a via chipset, the v8601, but whats the make
and model of the motherboard.
There may be updated drivers and or bios needed.

You colud also try downloading the diags from the western digital site.

http://support.wdc.com/download/#diagutils

Paul




"Brian" wrote in message
...
Hello.

I've had this PC for about two years. The BSOD problems
started
occuring about 8 months ago, and slowly progressed to being
more frequent.

Before I describe the problem, here are the PC's system
specifics:

************************************************** *********
***
************************************************** *********
***
Operating system Microsoft Windows XP Professional
System Manufacturer VIA Techologies, Inc.
System Model VT8601
System Type X86-based PC
Processor x86 Family 6 Model 11 Stepping 1
GenuineIntel ~1097 Mhz
BIOS Version/Date Award Software International, Inc.
6.00 PG, 11/22/2001
SMBIOS Version 2.3
Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS
System Directory C:\WINDOWS\System32
Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume2
Total Physical Memory 384.00 MB
Available Physical Memory 252.96 MB
Total Virtual Memory 1.28 GB
Available Virtual Memory 1.05 GB
Page File Space 922.94 MB
Page File C:\pagefile.sys

Hardware components

Model WDC WD150AB-00BVA0
Bytes/Sector 512
Media Loaded Yes
Media Type Fixed hard disk
Partitions 3
SCSI Bus 0
SCSI Logical Unit 0
SCSI Port 1
SCSI Target ID 0
Sectors/Track 63
Size 13.99 GB (15,019,361,280 bytes)


ATAPI 48X CDROM
SAMSUNG CD-R/RW SW-248F

S3 Graphics Inc. Savage4
Adapter RAM 16.00 MB (16,777,216 bytes)
************************************************** *********
****
************************************************** *********
****



My IDE hard drive is divided into two partitions:
The C drive is about 3 GB and is for the
operating system only. The remaining 11 GB
are for my programs and files. I normally format
both partitions to be FAT32.


Immediately after a new installation, I configure the PC
for optimum performance, meaning that I disable graphic
and sound effects, screen saver, hibernation, pretty much
anything that will give me more memory and save processing
time.


Now for the problems:


Everything during boot up goes smoothly. Then the
loading Windows XP screen shows up, with the little blue
bar below the logo that slides for the loading process.
The screen then turns black and then, instead of the
blue "welcome"
screen, I get the BSOD that says the following:



STOP: c0000218 {Registry File Failure}
The registry cannot load the hive (file):
\SystemRoot\System32\Config\SOFTWARE
or its log or alternate.
It is corrupt, absent, or not writeable.

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

I located this "SOFTWARE" file, which appears
to be a text file, but it's file size fluxuates
as you view it in the window.



Let it be known that I've encountered this BSOD
quite often. 8 months ago I would get it every
three or so weeks. And as that time passed, I would
see it more frequently. Now, for the pass 3 months I see
this BSOD at least once a week (I know that's terrible).
And I don't do that "safe mode" "recovery" stuff. I
have everything on the D drive apart from the operating
system. So I simply reinstall Win XP. (It's getting to the
point where I'm starting to memorize the registration
number
that I have to input for the OS).


But just recently for the first time I got a new BSOD
upon startup which said the following:


A problem has been detected and Windows has been
shutdown to prevent damage to your computer.

UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME

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 you 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: 0x000000ED (0x823CF030, 0xC000009C, 0x00000000,
0x00000000)




The following "symptoms" are my own opinions of what I
think
is causing the BSOD, but I can't pinpoint the problem,
which
is why I'm asking for help:


1. Too many programs are installed. Since my C drive is a
3 GB
partition, I reserve it only for the operating system,
which
is close to 2 GB. However I install all my programs on
the
D drive. I usually install the same programs and I
never had
problems installing and running them in the past, but
more
recently, I noticed that everytime I installed a new
program,
the sooner I ended up with the BSOD, even if I remove
the program.

2. My hard drive or memory is getting old. Before I waste
money
on something that's probably not the problem, I need
some
insight as to whether they are the problem and why.


Basically, I'm NOT looking for info on how to "fix the
problem."
I normally "fix it" by reinstalling the operating system.
I'm looking for ways to avert getting these types of BSOD
in the
first place.


***************
* 2 questions *
***************

1. When I get the BSOD, and all the files I need are on
one drive
separate from the operating system, and all it takes is
a simple
installation of its programs, why should I worry
about "Safe Mode",
"recovery" and "editing the registry" when a simple
reinstallation
of the OS will do?

2. What can I do to minimize getting BSOD in the first
place?

Thank you.

PS If you're reading this, I'm probably reinstalling
Windows XP