Solved BSOD - Dell XPS 17 (l702x) - W7 Ult 64-bit - Various bug check values

[FredeGail]

Thanks mate.

There's one Problem Device shown, it belongs to Norton. Do you pay for your Norton?

Norton Management Settings Manager	ROOT\LEGACY_CCSET_MCLIENT\0000	This device is not present, is not working properly, or does not have all its drivers installed.

Best Regards,
Frederik.

 

[Clickfinity]

Thanks Frederik,

I've removed it. It was only recently installed though when I upgraded to NIS 2013 so hasn't been present for most of the duration of the BSODs.

Cheers,
Shaun

 

[FredeGail]

To ensure the roots are gone as well, you can run the Norton Removal Tool.

Safely Remove Drivers: (sptd.sys example)
To remove this safely, please do the following:
- ensure that you have a bootable DVD to use to get into Startup Repair (the Win8 installation DVD will do). If you don't have one, then use this procedure to create a System Repair disk: System Repair Disc - Create in Windows 8
- set a System Restore point (to use with the System Repair disk if you can't get back into Windows).

- download this free program: Autoruns for Windows Use it to disable any entries that has the name, Sptd, or in general Daemon Tools (by removing the checkmark in the far left column)
- check for any services related to this driver and/or program (use services.msc) and disable them
- check in Device Manager (use devmgmt.msc) for any devices related to this driver and/or program. Make sure to enable the viewing of hidden devices. Uninstall any that you find. DO NOT rescan or reboot yet!
- search your system for the sptd.sys driver and rename it to sptd.BAD

Then reboot and see if it's removed.

Best Regards,
Frederik.

 

[Clickfinity]

Just to confirm - I need to run Norton Removal Tool (which will remove management software and NIS 2013) ?

Can I reinstall NIS 2013 afterwards?

And do I need to remove sptd.sys driver?

Thanks,
Shaun

 

[FredeGail]

Just let your system run right now without running the Removal Tool. Wait a bit on installing it once again, enable Windows Firewall meanwhile. The sptd.sys removal was just an illustration on how you remove a driver safely, and by that the sptd.sys was a random picked example.

Best Regards,
Frederik.

 

[Clickfinity]

Thanks Frederik,

Okay, I've run the Norton Removal Tool and removed the Management application and NIS 2013 and am now using Windows Firewall.

I've enclosed a new package so you can confirm that the services/applications are now not loading on boot.

I'll post again when/if I have a BSOD (they usually appear within a week anyway).

Cheers,
Shaun

 

[Clickfinity]

Well that didn't take long - another one a few minutes ago. File enclosed.

I take it I'm okay to reinstall NIS 2013 now?

Thanks,
Shaun

 

[FredeGail]

Nope, leave it uninstalled for the moment.

Did I ask you how your computer behaves in safe mode?
(Start, msconfig, Boot, Safe boot.)

Best Regards,
Frederik.

 

[Clickfinity]

Nope, leave it uninstalled for the moment.

Did I ask you how your computer behaves in safe mode?
(Start, msconfig, Boot, Safe boot.)

Best Regards,
Frederik.

Nope - do you want me to try running it in Safe Mode for a few days?

 

[FredeGail]

Just for an hour or two. Browse around your files, copy & paste stuff - etc.

Best Regards,
Frederik.

 

[Clickfinity]

Okay. I've had to select "network" mode as the "minimal" doesn't give me internet access - which I need.

I'll see how it goes (but I'm sure it'll annoy me as the resolution is so small ... lol).

I'll report back later.

Cheers,
Shaun

 

[Clickfinity]

Okay, Safe Mode done and no problems.

Cheers,
Shaun

 

[FredeGail]

Sounds great! Sort of proves that your hardware is healthy, for now.

You can return to the normal Windows, and enable verifier upon these circumstances.

Best Regards,
Frederik.

 

[Clickfinity]

Sounds great! Sort of proves that your hardware is healthy, for now.

You can return to the normal Windows, and enable verifier upon these circumstances.

Best Regards,
Frederik.

Okay, thanks, I followed the instructions in the linked document and on first reboot, as Windows was loading, got a BSOD - citing the driver: iastor.sys

After rebooting in Safe Mode with Networking I searched for the driver details and found that it was related to the Intel Matrix Storage Manager.

I searched Dell for the Matrix drivers and since they didn't exist on the Dell default list for my laptop model I removed the application via the Control Panel and rebooted.

Next it got a little further but then another BSOD citing the driver: fltsrv.sys

I booted in Safe Mode again and after researching found this Acronis page: Leftover Drivers? | Knowledge Base

I did have Acronis True Image Home 2012 installed and decided that if it could be the cause of the BSOD problems I would rather do without it, so I uninstalled it and then used the Acronis Cleanup Utility (Acronis True Image Home 2011 Cleanup Utility | Knowledge Base) to remove the offending fltsrv.sys driver.

I rebooted and this time, with Verifier enabled, it booted to Windows okay with no BSOD's - so that's where I'm at - Verifier is enabled and it's up and running again so we'll see how it goes.

Presumably I keep it running with Verifier on?

Cheers,
Shaun

 

[FredeGail]

Haha, you pretty much did it all yourself - congratulations. That's exactly what I'd have done. You can leave verifier enabled so we'll be able to flush away all the bad drivers.

If you experience further issues, just upload the dumps and we'll have a look.

Best Regards,
Frederik.

 

[Clickfinity]

Bonjour service uninstalled.

 

[Clickfinity]

IPv6 disabled on wireless adaptor (to stop DHCP errors and temporary drop-outs).

 

[FredeGail]

Great, and have you had any BSOD since?

 

[Clickfinity]

Great, and have you had any BSOD since?

I had one, the next day - but that was when I was trying to do a backup with Windows 7 backup - and I've not tried to do a backup since and it's been okay.

It is behaving a little strangely - in terms of video / screen / application UI - sort of sluggish response sometimes, but I've put that down to having the driver verifier enabled??

I'll keep you posted over the next week or two.

Cheers,
Shaun

 

[Clickfinity]

Managed to run a Windows 7 Backup last night with no problems.