BSOD 0x0000003b when using MS Word and Firefox

JoostK said:

Hi,

My computer keeps crashing with BSOD's, alternating between "Page Fault in Paged Area" and "System Service Exception", soon after I start MS Word or Firefox, and at other times as well. I have no idea why.

I have attached the required diagnostics files and the Perfmon test output (both as zips).

Running MemTest86+ for 3 passes did not show RAM problems.
Windows, Flash and graphic drivers are fully up-to-date.

Here's the problem description of the latest crash as reported by Windows 7:

Problem: BlueScreen
OS Version:6.1.7601.2.1.0.256.48
Country-id: 1043

BCCode: 3b
BCP1: 00000000C0000005
BCP2: FFFFF80002FC8B05
BCP3: FFFFF88008423EE0
BCP4: 0000000000000000
OS Version: 6_1_7601
Service Pack: 1_0
Product: 256_1

Can anyone help me to find (and solve) the problem?

Thanks so much in advance!

Joost

No DMP files included in upload. Please try this method.

To enable us to assist you with your computer's BSOD symptoms, upload the contents of your "\Windows\Minidump" folder.

The procedure:

* Copy the contents of \Windows\Minidump to another (temporary) location somewhere on your machine.
* Zip up the copy.
* Attach the ZIP archive to your post using the "paperclip" (file attachments) button.
*If the files are too large please upload them to a file sharing service like "Rapidshare" and put a link to them in your reply.


To ensure minidumps are enabled:

Go to Start, in the Search Box type: sysdm.cpl, press Enter.
Under the Advanced tab, click on the Startup and Recovery Settings... button.
Ensure that Automatically restart is unchecked.
Under the Write Debugging Information header select Small memory dump (256 kB) in the dropdown box (the 256kb varies).
Ensure that the Small Dump Directory is listed as %systemroot%\Minidump.
OK your way out.
Reboot if changes have been made.

JoostK said:

Thank you for your reply. I have attached the minidump file (zipped) to the original post.

(Afterwards I checked the sysdm.cpl and the setting was (the Dutch translation of)) "Kernel memory dump", by the way, not Small memory dump, so I've changed that to Small memory dump. Or should I leave it at Kernel memory dump?)

(The Jcgriff2.zip file was created just before the latest crash by the way, whereas the minidump file was created during the latest crash. Is that ok?)

Thanks in advance for your trouble.

Joost

Hi Jooost

The single crash reported memory corruption, probably caused by a driver. Please run the following testsm



1-Memtest.

*Download a copy of Memtest86 and burn the ISO to a CD using Iso Recorder or another ISO burning program.

*Boot from the CD, and leave it running for at least 5 or 6 passes.

Just remember, any time Memtest reports errors, it can be either bad RAM or a bad motherboard slot.

Test the sticks individually, and if you find a good one, test it in all slots.

RAM - Test with Memtest86+



2-Driver verifier

I'd suggest that you first backup your data and then make sure you've got access to another computer so you can contact us if problems arise. Then make a System Restore point (so you can restore the system using the Vista/Win7 Startup Repair feature).

In Windows 7 you can make a Startup Repair disk by going to Start....All Programs...Maintenance...Create a System Repair Disc - with Windows Vista you'll have to use your installation disk or the "Repair your computer" option at the top of the Safe Mode menu .

Then, here's the procedure:
- Go to Start and type in "verifier" (without the quotes) and press Enter
- Select "Create custom settings (for code developers)" and click "Next"
- Select "Select individual settings from a full list" and click "Next"
- Select everything EXCEPT FOR "Low Resource Simulation" and click "Next"
- Select "Select driver names from a list" and click "Next"
Then select all drivers NOT provided by Microsoft and click "Next"
- Select "Finish" on the next page.

Reboot the system and wait for it to crash to the Blue Screen. Continue to use your system normally, and if you know what causes the crash, do that repeatedly. The objective here is to get the system to crash because Driver Verifier is stressing the drivers out. If it doesn't crash for you, then let it run for at least 36 hours of continuous operation (an estimate on my part).

If you can't get into Windows because it crashes too soon, try it in Safe Mode.
If you can't get into Safe Mode, try using System Restore from your installation DVD to set the system back to the previous restore point that you created.

Driver Verifier - Enable and Disable

Thank you for you suggestions. I will run the tests and probably come back here with a new dump file if it's a faulty driver and Driver verifier manages to crash the system.

Well, MemTest86+ does not show errors after 9 passes, so I guess it's not the RAM.

I have uploaded two more minidump files with this post of the most recent crashes. (Firefox crashes every time I start to play a YouTube video.) BlueScreenView identifies the culprits in these dumps as HIDPARSE.SYS (the Firefox/YouTube crash) and volmgr.sys. The driver from the first dump was ntoskrnl.exe. I guess that's to general to arrive at any conclusions?

I should try Driver Verifier next then.

JoostK said:

Well, MemTest86+ does not show errors after 9 passes, so I guess it's not the RAM.

I have uploaded two more minidump files with this post of the most recent crashes. (Firefox crashes every time I start to play a YouTube video.) BlueScreenView identifies the culprits in these dumps as HIDPARSE.SYS (the Firefox/YouTube crash) and volmgr.sys. The driver from the first dump was ntoskrnl.exe. I guess that's to general to arrive at any conclusions?

I should try Driver Verifier next then.

You should try verifier to identify the driver causing this. These point to "pool_corruption" (usually a driver). I am starting to think it may be your AVG.

OK, I'll try verifier. (Here's the latest minidump (this time ksthunk.sys is flagged), for a crash that again happened after trying to watch a youtube video.)

OK, so I ran Verifier and after a couple of minutes (while browsing in Firefox) a BSOD crash occurred. I have included the minidump (25303) with this post.

Can you get any information out of it or should I have the computer crash some more couple of times?

* UPDATE: I have added another minidump, the one with 15522 in the file name, which was generated when the system crashed shortly after I had disabled verifier, but I had not rebooted yet at that point. *

Cheers,

Joost

And here's a third minidump file created in a crash while running Verifier.

The system did not crash "by itself", though, only after trying to visit a website in Firefox. I can get the system to crash "at will" just by visiting certain websites in Firefox (e.g. CNN, YouTube movies), but is that the way to test this or should I just let Verifier run and not touch any program I know to be causing a crash?