BSoD

[McGuire]

I'm running XP.  I made some minor changes in BIOS.  When Windows was logging on, the bsod flashed and the system rebooted.  I went back into BIOS and set the defaults.  I get to the "safe mode" screen, select "safe ..." or "normal ..." or "last working config ..." (either of them) the bsod flashes and the system reboots.  The bsod flashes too fast to read.  Thoughts?

[dahlarbear]

1.  Blue Screen of Death (BSOD).  Disable the automatic restart on system failure so system will STOP at BSOD.  Post back with the "exact" error message text/numbers and any module name it fingers as probable culprit.

Use the F8 function key during system startup to access the Windows Advanced Options menu.  Tap the F8 key once or twice per second as you startup the computer (or immediately after POST completes and screen flashes black prior to displaying Windows XP logo with its processing bar display).

When the Windows Advanced Options menu comes up, select "Disable automatic restart on system failure".

2.  Point of Curiosity.  When you went back into the BIOS, did you simply "reverse" the minor changes made or did you "reset" BIOS back to factory defaults?

[alan2273]

Have you tried resetting the BIOS from the jumper on the motherboard, or take the battery out for a couple of minutes

[McGuire]

The bsod: STOP: 0x0000007B and then some hex
It asks about virus - I seriously doubt if there's a virus.
It asks about newly installed hard drives and there are none.
It suggests to run CHKDSK

When I went back into BIOS, I just loaded factory defaults.

Should I run CHKDSK (how)?

Should I reset the BIOS jumper on mb or remove battery?

[Allan]

So you screwed around in the bios and now you want to know why there are problems? Hmmmmm.

[JJ 3000]

Do you have your XP CD?

[McGuire]

I have an XP CD but it's not the same one installed by the guy who built the computer.

[patio]

Does it match the version you have installed and have shiny holograms all over it or is it the Sharpie version ? ?

[zonatedace]

Have you tried resetting the BIOS from the jumper on the motherboard, or take the battery out for a couple of minutes

yes this is what i would try first. do you know how to locate the battery and jumper?!?!

[dahlarbear]

1.  BSOD Error Message(s).  Was there an additional text string such as "INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE"?  It also would be nice to have the complete error string; STOP code plus four parameters "exactly" as they appear.

2.  BIOS Changes.  What area(s) of the BIOS did you modify?

3.  Chkdsk.  Hold off on that for now.  Perhaps we should know more about your hard drive setup and whether any drive overlay software is used for disk volume access.

4.  Computer Specs.
     a.  Desktop or laptop?
     b.  Make and model number of computer if brand name, otherwise motherboard make and model number.
     c.  Approximate year of manufacture (basically how old is the system)
     d.  Hard disk drive(s):
          (1)  Total capacity, approximately (in GigaBytes)
          (2)  Interface; e.g. Parallel ATA (PATA) or Serial ATA (SATA, SATA2)
          (3)  How connected to motherboard, if known; e.g. IDE Primary Master (PM), SATA port 1?
     e.  CD/DVD drive(s):
          (1)  Type of Interface
          (2)  How connected to motherboard, if known; e.g.  IDE Primary Slave (PS), IDE Secondary Master (SM)?

Basically I wonder whether motherboard is set up for straight IDE, SATA, or some kind of compatibility mode.  And whether any drive overlay software might be involved for large disk access.

5.  Windows XP.  Home Edition or Professional?  What service pack level was initially installed on system and what level is your system currently at (original, SP1, SP2, SP3)?

Is your Windows XP CD Home Edition or Professional and what service pack level is it at?

[McGuire]

Problem:
BSoD right when Windows start up screen begins.

Error message:
STOP: 0X0000007B (0XB84C3524, 0XC0000034, 0X00000000, 0X00000000) No additional string of text.

Original BIOS Changes:
In BIOS, I originally disabled the "logo display" (the mfg's logo that appears during boot) and changed the "soft-off by power button" to 4 sec delay instead of instant.  I have since changed it back by loading default settings.

I tried resetting the BIOS from the jumper but nothing changed, except I had to reset date and time.

Computer Specs:
PC Desktop, built 2009, running XP Pro (service pack?).  (I do have a legitimate copy of XP Pro (service pack 1), it's just not the one used by the guy who built the computer.)
Motherboard: ECS GF8200A Black Series
Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda 400G SATA port 2
DVD/CD: Sony Optiarc SATA port 1

Thanks all for your help so far ... any further thoughts are appreciated.

[Allan]

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/324103

[McGuire]

Well, I fixed the problem in BIOS by switching from AHCI to SATA in the integrated peripherals.  I'm don't totally understand it, and I'm not sure if this could create a different problem, but it works now...

[dahlarbear]

Hey...  We would have gotten there - eventually...    Nice job!

Just so you don't think I was just sitting on my *censored*...
    STOP 0x0000007B Error Resolution
    Wikipedia - Serial ATA

From the Wikipedia link:

Advanced Host Controller Interface

As their standard interface, SATA controllers use the AHCI (Advanced Host Controller Interface), allowing advanced features of SATA such as hotplug and native command queuing (NCQ). If AHCI is not enabled by the motherboard and chipset, SATA controllers typically operate in "IDE emulation" mode which does not allow features of devices to be accessed if the ATA/IDE standard does not support them.

Windows device drivers that are labeled as SATA are usually running in IDE emulation mode unless they explicitly state that they are AHCI. While the drivers included with Windows XP do not support AHCI, AHCI has been implemented by proprietary device drivers.[5] Windows Vista,[6] FreeBSD, Linux with kernel version 2.6.19 onward,[7] as well as Solaris and OpenSolaris have native support for AHCI.

I don't have the experience to say whether you can upgrade your support to AHCI.  Sounds like you'd need the lastest motherboard drivers.
   
Thank you for providing the requested information.  It's been a pleasure working with you.  Your communication skills are way above average.
--dahlarbear