BSOD upon restart after attempting to install firewall

[nikonmama]

This is my first post on this forum. I have been researching trying to figure out why I am having problems with a new desktop that I just bought a few days ago. It is a dell with windows 7 64bit loaded on it. I bought and set it up on Saturday (10/31/09) and on Sunday I began installing my software. I installed my regular software first and last I tried to install pc tools free firewall. Everything seemed to be going fine until I did the restart to complete installation. It appeared to be shutting down but all of a sudden I got a flash of the lovely blue screen of death. After that It came to the screen where you could start in safe mode or normally. I tried normally and it proceeded to flash to bsod and back to the startup options. I chose safe mode and did a system restore and then everything was back up and running. So, after that I tried to install comodo firewall and the SAME thing happened!!! Both of these products say they are compatible with windows 7. And I have read on some security forums that many people are running these with out a hitch.

I tried this again the next day in case it was a fluke but have the same bsod error cycle. I also tried to start in safe mode with networking and had the same problem as trying to start normally (bsod flash and back to startup options) Yesterday, I was looking through the event logs and found the report for critical errors all 3 times I tried to install one of the firewall software. I don't have any idea if it means anything or not. The error report is the same for each instance (except of course for the date/time)

Description: The system has rebooted without cleanly shutting down first. This error could be caused if the system stopped responding, crashed, or lost power unexpectedly.
Log Name: System
Source: Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-Power
Date: 11/3/2009 10:27:58 AM
Event ID: 41
Task Category: (63)
Level: Critical
Keywords: (2)
User: SYSTEM
Computer: Melissa-PC

Also I tried to do a zipped copy of the minidump folder per the instructions in the forum but when I tried to zip the copy it said it was empty!

Like I said I have had NO other problems with the computer at all so if I had never tried installing a firewall I wouldn't even know that there was an issue somewhere.....But I am wondering is this a software/driver issue? Or could there be a hardware problem. I feel like I need to look into this since it is a NEW desktop. Also, if I was to call for some technical support should I start with Dell or with Microsoft? I don't know enough about the technical aspects of computers to feel comfortable doing too much troubleshooting on my own.

Any information or advice is greatly appreciated!

 

[torrentg]

This is excellent:

https://www.zonealarm.com/security/...0day-1user&betaCode=ZAESFDE-BETA-60day-1user#

Copy the dump files to an alternate directory first, before raring or zipping. We can analyze but I highly recommend the above. There's nothing wrong with the cpu.

 

[nikonmama]

This is excellent:

https://www.zonealarm.com/security/...0day-1user&betaCode=ZAESFDE-BETA-60day-1user#

Copy the dump files to an alternate directory first, before raring or zipping. We can analyze but I highly recommend the above. There's nothing wrong with the cpu.

Thank you. I am sorry to sound dense but how do you copy the files to an alternate directory?

I thought about trying zone alarm but the free version does not support windows 7 yet. I am not interested in purchasing a firewall. PC tools firewall and Comodo firewall are both free and supposed to fully support windows 7 64bit.

 

[zigzag3143]

NM
could you try dragging the dump fle to the desktop and zipping it there

Thanks

Ken J

 

[nikonmama]

NM
could you try dragging the dump fle to the desktop and zipping it there

Thanks

Ken J

that is actually what I did and when i tried to zip it, a message popped up saying the specified directory is empty, so compressed (zipped) folders cannot add it to the archive

 

[zigzag3143]

NM
could you try dragging the dump fle to the desktop and zipping it there

Thanks

Ken J

that is actually what I did and when i tried to zip it, a message popped up saying the specified directory is empty, so compressed (zipped) folders cannot add it to the archive

Could you right click the dump file and get its properties

thanks

Ken

 

[nikonmama]

NM
could you try dragging the dump fle to the desktop and zipping it there

Thanks

Ken J

that is actually what I did and when i tried to zip it, a message popped up saying the specified directory is empty, so compressed (zipped) folders cannot add it to the archive

Could you right click the dump file and get its properties

thanks

Ken

It says 0 files 0 folders 0 bytes

 

[zigzag3143]

that is actually what I did and when i tried to zip it, a message popped up saying the specified directory is empty, so compressed (zipped) folders cannot add it to the archive

Could you right click the dump file and get its properties

thanks

Ken

It says 0 files 0 folders 0 bytes

That explain it. Just a file name

You can also check to see if the dumps are stored elsewhere by searching for *.dmp

Ken J

 

[nikonmama]

You can also check to see if the dumps are stored elsewhere by searching for *.dmp

Ken J

this is the only thing that comes up when I search for .dmp

 

[usasma]

Please go to Start and type in "msinfo32.exe" (without the quotes) and press Enter
Save the report as an .nfo file, then zip up the .nfo file and upload/attach the .zip file with your next post. That will have basic info on the crashes.

Then follow this guide to ensure that you are set to create minidumps: Set MiniDump
If it's set this way, then double check the directory at C:\Windows\Minidump to see if there is anything in there.

 

[nikonmama]

Please go to Start and type in "msinfo32.exe" (without the quotes) and press Enter
Save the report as an .nfo file, then zip up the .nfo file and upload/attach the .zip file with your next post. That will have basic info on the crashes.

Then follow this guide to ensure that you are set to create minidumps: Set MiniDump
If it's set this way, then double check the directory at C:\Windows\Minidump to see if there is anything in there.

I have attached the msinfo32 zip file. I did follow the directions to create minidumps per the instructions on that page. Mine was set slightly differently.

 

[nikonmama]

I tried again to install comodo firewall and actually had hope it was going to work b/c it shut down windows and was starting up and I even got to the welcome screen and then all of a sudden got the blue screen again. It stayed up and I did write down some of the info. the top part said

DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL
stop:0x000000D1

I don't know if that is any help. I was able to get back into safe mode and do a system restore. I checked the minidump folder and even though I changed the settings it is still empty.

Before I tried doing this I called Dell to see if I could get any technical support and the only support included in my warranty is hardware support. I was able to get it verified that all of my drivers and BIOS are up to date and they are. They recommended I proceed to contact Microsoft for advanced windows 7 support. So, I guess that will be my next step although I just checked and according to the Microsoft i would have to pay for support b/c it should be covered by the manufacturer.

I called dell back....again....and the person I talked to said it was likely a application driver error (with both firewalls) that is conflicting with some settings in windows causing the crash upon restart, but they won't help me solve it. A previous person I talked to at Dell said it was likely a faulty registry setting or something in the start files. I just don't know what to do at this point. I can take it to best buy and have their technicians look at it or I can just let it go and pretend I never tried to install a firewall in the first place.

 

[usasma]

Go to C:\Windows\Minidump
Zip up the contents of the directory, and the upload/attach the .zip file with your next post.

Have you been working the the Microsoft Virtual WiFi Adapter from Microsoft Research? There's an issue with it in your system. Please remove that device from your system before proceeding.

Quite a few errors in the MSINFO32 file - but I didn't see any BSOD's. Most of the errors are from crashes of applications that are .tmp files - usually (IME) an indication of a virus infection.

I'd suggest scanning for viruses as the first step

 

[nikonmama]

Go to C:\Windows\Minidump
Zip up the contents of the directory, and the upload/attach the .zip file with your next post.

Have you been working the the Microsoft Virtual WiFi Adapter from Microsoft Research? There's an issue with it in your system. Please remove that device from your system before proceeding.

Quite a few errors in the MSINFO32 file - but I didn't see any BSOD's. Most of the errors are from crashes of applications that are .tmp files - usually (IME) an indication of a virus infection.

I'd suggest scanning for viruses as the first step

This computer is brand new. I have only had for 6 days and have had an anti-virus on it since first connecting to the internet. It has a real time scanner and I have also run a full system scan and have found no infections. I attached the virus scan report from 2 days ago. ETA...I also just uploaded the virus scan report that I just ran this morning.

If you look down from 11/1 - 11/6 there are several bsod listed in that file. I bought and set up the computer on 10/31 and I see there are several errors reported for that day and since. I don't know why there are so many error reports on a new computer. But the bsod reports are there if you look further down. When I first was setting it up I had explorer.exe crash and restart several times but other than that and the bsod when trying to install a firewall i have had no errors pop up on screen despite all the ones listed in the error reporting.

I have not done anything with the microsoft virtual wifi adapter, but have been getting an error message from that since I first set up the computer. I do not know what it is, or how to remove it.

I have had about 6 bsod...all resulting on startup after trying to install a firewall. I have tried to copy the minidump files as stated above but it won't let me zip the folder b/c it says it is empty. I have followed the directions to make sure the computer is set to create minidumps and tried installing a firewall again to recreate the bsod but it is still empty.

 

[nikonmama]

I am following up on this thread. Other than the bsod when I try to install a 3rd party firewall everything is running smoothly with this new computer. I tried installing yet another one today and had the same problem.

Still no reports in the minidump file even though it is set to log them.

From what I have been reading I think I am having some kind of conflict with the 3rd party kernel drivers these firewalls are trying to install. Why I am having this problem.....I do not know....nor do I know how to fix it.

I have successfully been using windows 7 firewall control plus, which does not install any 3rd party kernel drivers, without any problems. So, I guess I will stick with that unless I can figure out why I am having conflicts with the 3rd party kernel drivers and how to resolve those problems.

 

[nikonmama]

I just wanted to check back one last time and see if anyone has any other ideas on what this problem could be, or where else I could seek support from. I am having zero issues with this computer except the inability to install a firewall with out getting a bsod. I have updated in the my replies above with the most recent info. Any info is appreciated.