BSOD Restart Loop - Starts in SafeMode

[gregrocker]

My friend in OKC can't start his computer normally. Within a few seconds it blacks out then bluescreens with "Bad Pool Header."

Nothing in Event log besides single bugcheck at startup and then cascade failing services.

Edit: We were able to finally SysRestore to a month back by using DVD instead of Advanced Boot Tools WinRE. Now running Repair Install with Compatibility Check at 20 minutes and counting...

Would really appreciate knowing what is causing this to get rid of it.

 

[ttran]

Hi friend!

All of these seem to be caused by ATWPKT2.SYS, which when I search, it is belonged to The process ATW Protocol Driver belongs to the software AOL Connectivity Services or ATW Protocol Driver by America Online (AOL.com - Welcome to AOL).
Your friend might want to go to safe mode to uninstall the program or services of that to see if anything change.

This is an AOL problem. The computer reboots and reboots and reboots. The solution is to boot in safe mode by pressing F8 during the boot. Delete or rename the files ATWPKT2.SYS and ATWPKT2.VXD which are located in an AOL directory under \PROGRAM_FILES\COMMON_FILES . These are something to do with the AOL dialer. AOL still works if deleted.

BugCheck 19, {20, 87f089b0, 87f089c8, 8030004}

Probably caused by : ATWPKT2.SYS ( ATWPKT2+1613 )

Followup: MachineOwner
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[gregrocker]

Thanks. We deleted those files in AOL from desktop which was SysRestored from DVD.

Now AOL is causing the blackout then bluescreen when we start it. Installing AOL 9.5 after Revo'ing 9.0.

Blacks out then bluescreens upon completion of install of AOL 9.5.

Removing the two files from AOL 9.5.

 

[ttran]

Yeah, let's try to delete it completely and see how it goes. If your friend able to get to safe mode, let him turn off the service at startup (run-->msconfig). I think AOL is the only trouble here and we just need to get rid of it

 

[gregrocker]

AOL 9.5 blacks out desktop then bluescreens while trying to connect even with the two files deleted from it.

Finally after 10 years I might have gotten him to get rid of it and make AOL his IE8 homepage instead.

Spent some time trying to figure out how to excise the AOL connection service, but it seems impossible. AOL can't be happy just being a normal browser without its Frankensteinian connection appendages.