Solved Memory Management BSOD right after plugging in new external HDD

[stg07]

After I've finished upgrading to the latest version of Western Digital SmartWare, I plugged in my new external HDD. A memory management BSOD appeared immediately.

Technical Information from kernel memory dump:
 
*** STOP: 0x0000001a (0x0000000000041790, 0xfffffa80008fa0f0, 0x000000000000ffff, 
0x0000000000000000)
 
*** win32k.sys - Address 0xfffff96000089926 base at 0xfffff96000080000 DateStamp 
0x5202f253

Other than trying to pinpoint the exact cause of the BSOD, I'm also concerned about whether this will cause any damage to my new HDD (eg. bad sectors).

Any advice?

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Hello stg mate can you get into safe mode? If so then you could run these

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/433-disk-check.html

Maybe a system restore?

 

[stg07]

Hello stg mate can you get into safe mode? If so then you could run these

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/433-disk-check.html

Maybe a system restore?

I ran both scannow and disk check after I got into safe mode.

No errors showed up for Scannow and Chkdsk ('Automatically fix file system errors') fixed the following problems:

CHKDSK discovered free space marked as allocated in the
master file table (MFT) bitmap.
CHKDSK discovered free space marked as allocated in the volume bitmap.
Windows has made corrections to the file system.

 

[stg07]

Another memory management BSOD appeared today while I was playing a game and downloading a video file via a torrent client. I'm using wireless connection (wireless N USB adapter) by the way.

What do I do now?

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Hmm stg memory seems to keep popping up mate try reseating the RAM sticks and then if that doesn't do much I think we might have to go to a memtest if only to eliminate that possibility of the RAM going bad or perhaps one of the slots.

To do that -

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/105647-ram-test-memtest86.html this one you will need to make a bootable disk set the BIOSto optical (or USB if preferred) boot the machine and let it run for at LEAST 8passes unless the errors come up straight away. Takes fair time to complete andsome leave it running overnight.

 

[stg07]

Hmm stg memory seems to keep popping up mate try reseating the RAM sticks and then if that doesn't do much I think we might have to go to a memtest if only to eliminate that possibility of the RAM going bad or perhaps one of the slots.

To do that -

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/105647-ram-test-memtest86.html this one you will need to make a bootable disk set the BIOSto optical (or USB if preferred) boot the machine and let it run for at LEAST 8passes unless the errors come up straight away. Takes fair time to complete andsome leave it running overnight.

No errors are shown after 15 passes. What can I do next?

 

[ICIT2LOL]

I should have asked before stg mate have you run those tests with the new hard drive unplugged?

The memory is ok at 15 passes so it isn't a problem. Now the Smart Ware what exactly did you upgrade it for and was the drive functioning ok before that upgrade.

 

[stg07]

I should have asked before stg mate have you run those tests with the new hard drive unplugged?

The memory is ok at 15 passes so it isn't a problem. Now the Smart Ware what exactly did you upgrade it for and was the drive functioning ok before that upgrade.

The mem test was run with the new HDD unplugged.

SmartWare is pre-loaded with the new external HDD and I upgraded to a new version after being prompted to by its update function. The drive was somewhat ok before that upgrade.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Hmm stg then it is the Smartdrive stuff. Personally I do not like the software that some of these sorts of drives come with but that is just me.

If it is being used purely as backup drive then one shouldn't need any help from add on softwares like that. Now if it were mine I would uninstalling that SmartDrive stuff - format the drive and just use the Windows back up feature. But again that is just me.

I have scoured the WD site for a downland for the SmartDrive stuff but can only find the update WD Product Update

I don't know but maybe a system restore to before you added that update because it looks to me like a firmware update as well. Now I don't want you to do anything you don't want to do or that mucks up the drive I can only reiterate what I have said I would do but the choice has to be yours. As it is the drive software looks to be what is causing the machine to not function properly and I do not know what else I can advise you to do.

 

[stg07]

Hmm stg then it is the Smartdrive stuff. Personally I do not like the software that some of these sorts of drives come with but that is just me.

If it is being used purely as backup drive then one shouldn't need any help from add on softwares like that. Now if it were mine I would uninstalling that SmartDrive stuff - format the drive and just use the Windows back up feature. But again that is just me.

I have scoured the WD site for a downland for the SmartDrive stuff but can only find the update WD Product Update

I don't know but maybe a system restore to before you added that update because it looks to me like a firmware update as well. Now I don't want you to do anything you don't want to do or that mucks up the drive I can only reiterate what I have said I would do but the choice has to be yours. As it is the drive software looks to be what is causing the machine to not function properly and I do not know what else I can advise you to do.

ICit mate, I share your sentiments. I have not had good experiences with pre-loaded software like these most of the time. Diagnostic utilities from the drive manufacturers are usually alright though.

I have already uninstalled the SmartWare. Any reason why one needs to format the drive again (since it is already NTFS pre-formatted)? I have thought of using Windows 7 built-in backup. However, it seems there are other problems with full and incremental back-ups as mentioned in this thread Windows7 Backup not doing incremental. So I am now trying out different third-party backup programs.

After the mem test, I tried installing that SmartWare update after having first uninstalled the pre-loaded SmartWare. There was no error message that I needed the pre-loaded or any full/standalone version. Whether the description 'update' is misleading or not, I can't tell since I have not done any new backups with it. My thoughts are that the label 'update' was to some extent, confusing.

By telling me what you would have done in my situation, is already very helpful advice in my opinion.

It may be weird to ask this now, but here goes: have you already examined the mini-dumps in both my file attachments? I noticed that you didn't post any bug checks or go through stuff like driver verifier, so I'm just being curious here. If you have your reasons, can you share them with me? Would be nice to learn more about BSOD troubleshooting.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

stg mate to be absolutely honest some of the dump stuff might as well be in Klingon so anything above the absolutely obvious I am really at a disadvantage but if you like I can ask some who are far more informed than me.
Now the only reason I suggested reformatting was because I quite pedantic in what I do and that is would have wiped that drive clean by that I mean the entire disk which would include the partition which I am guessing that WD stuff is installed in and just reformatted it as a plain drive, with no extraneous software to be found. Because as I said before I find it (software) rather irritating and of little use to be honest a bit like bloat ware one gets with store bought machines.
Having said that I know most drives come with some form of control functions / features that take some space up but I take it as just that and not some performance enhancing ware.
Let me know if you want some more opinions mate it is no trouble.

 

[stg07]

stg mate to be absolutely honest some of the dump stuff might as well be in Klingon so anything above the absolutely obvious I am really at a disadvantage but if you like I can ask some who are far more informed than me.

I see. In that case, please ask on my behalf. Would like to understand in greater details the problems recorded in the 2 mini-dumps.

 

[Layback Bear]

I also don't believe in these add on programs with a new hard drive.
A new hard drive should for just fine with nothing on them form the start.
You never know what is on a new hard drive when you get it.
Any thing could of been installed on the hard drive in its travels from the manufacture to you.
Doing this would make sure your hard drive is clean and fresh before you start using it.

By Brink:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/52129-disk-clean-clean-all-diskpart-command.html

By Bare Foot Kid:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/172617-secure-erase-wipe-definition-methods.html

 

[ICIT2LOL]

I agree with Layback and another one yo can try if you want and it is a but quicker than the clean all stuff is the drive wipe in Partition Wizard http://www.partitionwizard.com/free-partition-manager.html

Pic is just for example make sure the disk is the one you want wiped

 

[stg07]

Thanks Layback and ICit for the links. Used to make use of the new portable HDD right out of the box. Will take note of what you guys have pointed out here.

According to Brink's tutorial, I should be going for 'clean' or 'clean all'? Don't quite understand. It sounds like I only need to 'clean' since the latter would take up a very long time for a 1TB hdd and I'm not giving or selling to anyone now.

 

[YoYo155]

Hey guys .
I think that the problem is a driver, the telltale signs are also in the dump.

After I've finished upgrading to the latest version of Western Digital SmartWare, I plugged in my new external HDD. A memory management BSOD appeared immediately.

MEMORY_MANAGEMENT (1a)
    # Any other values for parameter 1 must be individually examined.
Arguments:
Arg1: 00000000000[U][COLOR=MediumTurquoise][B]41790[/B][/COLOR][/U], A page table page has been corrupted. On a 64 bit OS, parameter 2
    contains the address of the PFN for the corrupted page table page.
    On a 32 bit OS, parameter 2 contains a pointer to the number of used
    PTEs, and parameter 3 contains the number of used PTEs.
Arg2: [COLOR=Blue][U][B]fffffa80008fa0f0[/B][/U][/COLOR]
Arg3: 000000000000[COLOR=MediumTurquoise][U][B]ffff[/B][/U][/COLOR]
Arg4: 0000000000000000

2: kd> dt nt!_MMPFN [COLOR=Blue][U][B]fffffa80008fa0f0[/B][/U][/COLOR]
   +0x000 u1               : <unnamed-tag>
   +0x008 u2               : <unnamed-tag>
   +0x010 PteAddress       : 0xfffff6fb`400002f0 _MMPTE
   +0x010 VolatilePteAddress : 0xfffff6fb`400002f0 Void
   +0x010 Lock             : 0n1073742576
   +0x010 PteLong          : 0xfffff6fb`400002f0
   +0x018 u3               : <unnamed-tag>
   +0x01c UsedPageTableEntries : 0x[COLOR=MediumTurquoise][U][B]ffff[/B][/U][/COLOR]
   +0x01e VaType           : 0 ''
   +0x01f ViewCount        : 0 ''
   +0x020 OriginalPte      : _MMPTE
   +0x020 AweReferenceCount : 0n128
   +0x028 u4               : <unnamed-tag>

I would suggest enabling Driver Verifier to help pinpoint the culprit.

Please enable driver verifier
following this TUTORIAL | But using these settings:

1. Go to Start and type in "verifier" (without the quotes) and press Enter
2. Select "Create custom settings (for code developers)" and click "Next"
3. Select "Select individual settings from a full list" and click "Next"
4. Select everything EXCEPT FOR "Low Resource Simulation", "Force Pending I/O Requests", "IRP Logging" and click "Next"
5. Select "Select driver names from a list" and click "Next"
6. Then select all drivers NOT provided by Microsoft, Unknown, or Macrovision and click "Next"
7. Select "Finish" on the next page.

Keep us posted .

 

[stg07]

Hi all

No BSODs so far after enabling driver verifier 2 days ago.

Some questions here (want to learn how to make better use of driver verifier):

1) Why Unknown, or Macrovision need not be selected under driver names?

2) This tutorial about enabling driver verifier http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/101379-driver-verifier-enable-disable.html mentioned about selecting "Force Pending I/O Requests", "IRP Logging". Any reason why these options are not suitable for diagnosing the culprit in the 2 dumps here?

 

[YoYo155]

Hi and thanks for the update seemingly removing the HDD software was the solution
as two days of normal usage with Verifier enabled didn't yield a crash .
You can disable verifier now, http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/101379-driver-verifier-enable-disable.html.

As for your question.

IRP logging and Force Pending I/O are "not suitable" for what we are doing and because it forces
drivers to behave in such a way they weren't developed or intended for.

IRP Logging, takes a great toll on the system and doesn't help us as we are dealing with post-mortem
dump files. IRP logging is a very useful option during a live debug that involves attaching
the said sick machine to an external PC.

Force pending I/O is as I briefly mentioned earlier, "because it forces
drivers to behave in such a way they weren't developed or intended for."
Which most often than not will flag false positives.

"Unknown" drivers are usually the the drivers related to ACPI and the crash dump itself.One example is dump_iaStor.sys.
ACPI = Advanced Configuration and Power Interface.

The Macrovision driver is secdrv.SYS, present in all Windows installations (I believe since Windows XP).
I'm not exactly what it's job is but I think it handles privileges and similar security concerns in Windows.

I hope this helps .

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Hmm YoYo I had it in the back of my mind too about that "software" these drive people put on I nearly always delete the rotten stuff unless one thinks it is something used for controlling the device . I don't like stuff like Bloggs drive utilities, performance enhancing stuff etc etc

 

[YoYo155]

You were right on it since the beginning , which is one reason I didn't interject myself to drive the ball home until you posted for more assistance .
I too very much dislike unnecessary software.