Random & frequent BSOD from IASTOR.SYS

AnnaIrving · 13 Aug 2013

Hello all,

For a month now my Dell Inspiron laptop's been randomly freezing. Now it's progressed to random BSOD - sometimes every 5 minutes, sometimes every few hours. No real pattern to what I'm doing with it when it goes blue. Originally I thought it was a problem with my fan (I think it's louder recently) but with some research I'm sure it's iastor.sys.

I have NOT made any hardware changes lately. I haven't run TDSSkiller.

I tried System Restore. I also tried rolling back the iastor.sys driver to the previous version. It originally was from 08/01/2013, I rolled it back to previous version from 05/2012. I'm still getting BSOD. I've tried the automated driver scanner/updater at Dell and Intel but both programs seems to install but not run. I'm confused by Intel's names (Matrix? Rapid Start? Rapid Storage?) so I quit trying to look it up myself.

I'm crossing my fingers that someone can tell me it's an easy software fix rather than a hardware problem but I'll take what I can get. Any help would be really appreciated.

Anna

Northernsoul55 · 13 Aug 2013

Hi AnnaIrving,

As you rightly summised iastor drivers are contributing to your BSOD'S.

I see you have multiple instances of the iastor driver installed:

Code:

 
iastor.sys
iastora.sys
iastorf.sys
iastorv.sys

I would suggest Uninstalling Intel Rapid Storage in Control Panel>Programs and Features.

Then, uninstall it in Device Manager:

1. Click Start and type in search box> manage
2. Click Computer management
3. Select Device Manager in the left pane, It will list all the existing devices.
4. Expand>IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers by clicking on the triangle in front of it.
5. Select one intel device under it, right click> uninstall.
6. Continue the process for all intel items under IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers

Restart the computer. At restart, windows should auto configure the appropriate system drivers.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I would also advise to remove McAfee as it causes a lot of BSOD issues lately:

http://service.mcafee.com/FAQDocument.aspx?id=TS101331

As an alternative please download and install:

Microsoft Security Essentials.
Recommended from a strict BSOD perspective, compatibility & stability
compared to other antiviruses/internet security software.

Note

Once downloaded, update and run a full system scan

Cheers

Dave

AnnaIrving · 14 Aug 2013

Dave,

Thanks for your help. I uninstalled from Control Panel - Uninstall Programs.

I then went to Device Manager, but I don't see a IDE ADA/ATAPI controller option. I know I've seen it before on my other computer, but it's missing in this computer. Is it the same as Storage Controller - Intel Sata Raid Controller? I tried to attach a screenshot of my Device Manager.

Also, thanks for the MSE tip. McAfee was packaged into my Dell laptop (and price) so I just thought I'd use it. I'll switch over.

Anna

Northernsoul55 · 14 Aug 2013

Hi,

That's odd!

Can you enter the BIOS and change the storage controller mode settings from SATA to IDE mode.

Also can you please upload your msinfo32.nfo file. To get this:

Start Menu -> Type msinfo32 into the Search programs and files box
-> When it opens, go to File, Save -> Save as msinfo32.nfo and save in a place you will remember
-> Let it finish the process of gathering and saving the system info
-> Right click the .nfo file, click send to compressed (zipped) folder -> Upload the .zip file here.

cheers

Dave

AnnaIrving · 14 Aug 2013

Hi Dave,

Um, I don't know anything about how to change the BIOS. Would you possibly post directions or point me to a step by step guide?

Msinfo32 is attached as requested.

Thanks,
Anna

Northernsoul55 · 14 Aug 2013

Hi,
No problem :)

1. Turn on (or restart) your computer.
2. When the DELL logo is displayed, wait for the prompt to appear and then press <F2> immediately.

That will get you into the BIOS.

I am a tad blind now, but you need to look under SATA settings/storage controller
and change to IDE mode, F10 and exit. The computer will reboot.

Also you could use the Dell PC diagnostic to see if that will suggest any remedies:

http://www.dell.com/support/Diagnostics/us/en/04/

cheers

Dave

AnnaIrving · 14 Aug 2013

Hello again, Well I tried the BIOS under SATA controller(I think?) and the options were: -ATA -AHCI -Intel Rapid Tech I didn't see an IDE option. Anna

Northernsoul55 · 14 Aug 2013

Hi,

What was the present setting of the SATA Controller?

AnnaIrving · 14 Aug 2013

Hi Dave,

It's currently set to Intel Rapid Tech. I tried to set it to AHCI and see if it boots. The screen freezes during the windows logo screen, flashes a BSOD (it disappears too fast to confirm if it's the same BSOD error message), and starts rebooting. Repeat to infinity. Switched it back to Intel Rapid Tech and it works as before with the random BSOD.

I also tried to update the Intel raid controller driver from Dell's website - then it gave me more frequent BSODs with an iastorA.sys error. Updated the driver from Intel - now it's back to normal iastor.sys errors. The most recent Intel Rapid Storage driver folder has multiple iastor driver versions, like you mentioned earlier.

Anna

Northernsoul55 · 14 Aug 2013

Thanks for the feedback. I will post back tomorrow as it's pretty late here :)

Is Mcafee still installed btw?

cheers

Dave