Solved BSOD while on internet, in Word, error 0x000000F4

[baj393]

I recently (August) purchased a XPS 8500 Windows 7 x64 desktop from Dell.

About twice a week now (for the past month, but getting more frequent), I get a BSOD while on the internet or working in Word. The computer freezes for about a minute and then the BSOD just randomly pops up. No USB drives are connected or CD's are in the drive. I don't play any games or work the system all that hard.

However, a dump file is NEVER created by Windows and the error code is always STOP: 0x000000F4. This error code refers to a hardware issue, I believe.

I've even tried multiple times to get the dump file created (unsuccessfully) following this thread and others it links to: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/174459-dump-files-configure-windows-create-bsod.html

The Event Viewer log is not helpful. All it tells me is that the "last shutdown was unexpected" with no other critical errors to be found.

Here is what I've done so far:
run full checkdisk (no errors or bad sectors found)
updated all drivers from Dell (including the BIOS, chipset, network, bluetooth, etc.) and run all Windows updates
updated NVIDIA graphics drivers and any other driver that I can find to update
done error recovery tool using Win 7 bootdisk that was shipped with the computer
run the System File Checker (no errors/problems found)
run the Dell diagnostics at boot (no errors/problems found)
run the FULL Dell PC Diagnostics on the Dell website (no errors found)
run memtest86+ with over 10 passes (about 17 hours) with no errors found

I do not overclock and have made no hardware modifications to the system since it arrived. This is a general purpose machine.

I have tried to swap video cards with one I know works fine in another PC, but the BSOD still happens.

The BSOD typically appears after the computer has been on for several hours and is random.

The XPS is known to have power supply issues, so that is a potential source of the problem. If I can't get anywhere here, I'll fight with Dell customer service.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Arc]

The zip you uploaded does not contain any crash dump.

Follow it: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/174459-dump-files-configure-windows-create-bsod.html
Go to Option Two, Point 2. Download the .reg file and merge it in registry by double clicking it.

Now wait for another BSOD. When it occurred, search the .dmp files manually in the default path: C:\Windows\Minidump or %SystemRoot%\Minidump. See if the crash dump is recorded or not (hopefully it will be recorded).Post it following the Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) Posting Instructions.

 

[baj393]

I have done Option Two, Point 2 once before with no dump file being created.

However, I'll do it again and post back after another BSOD.

Thanks.

 

[Arc]

Basically a stop 0xF4 is storage related.

Do some Disc checks.

1. Reseat the sata and power.
   
   
   
   
   Check the screws too. A loose screw also can do all of it.
2. Run chkdsk /f/r, following the option two of the tutorial Disk Check
3. Seatool for dos: SeaTools | Seagate download
   • Burn it in a blank cd. boot from the CD, click on "Accept", wait for it to finish detecting the drives, then in the upper left corner select "Basic Tests", then select "Long Test" and let it run.
   • * As your storage is set to AHCI mode, Seatools for DOS will not be able to detect the HDD. Boot into BIOS and change the storage controller to SATA/IDE and perform the test.
     ** After the test is done, boot into the BIOS again and set the storage controllers back to AHCI; otherwise windows will refuse to boot.
4. Post a screenshot of your 2 TB Seagate HDD using CrystalDiskInfo - Software - Crystal Dew World

Get rid of intel rapid storage. First uninstall it from Control Panel > Programs and Features. Then Uninstall the driver from device manager.

1. Right click on "my computer" icon and click "manage" on the context menu.
2. It will open the "computer management" window.
3. Select "Device Manager" in the left pane, It will list all the existing devices up.
4. Expand "IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers" by clicking on the triangle in front of it.
5. Select one Intel device item under it, right click, uninstall.
6. Continue the process for all Intel items under "IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers"
7. Now restart the computer. At restart, windows will auto configure the appropriate native system driver.

Now let us know how the computer is running.

 

[baj393]

Thanks for the post.

1. I have replaced the stata cable a few times with new ones, but it has not helped. I reseated them both just now again.
2. checkdisk is running now...
3. The only options in BIOS for storage controller are "RAID" and "AHCI". I do not see the IDA/SATA option, so can't get the Seatools to work.
4. I'll post the screenshot once the checkdisk is completed. I uninstalled the intel rapid storage and reset the driver as requested.

 

[Arc]

3. The only options in BIOS for storage controller are "RAID" and "AHCI". I do not see the IDA/SATA option, so can't get the Seatools to work.

Post a camera snap of the page of BIOS setup.

 

[baj393]

Checkdisk /f/r ran. No errors reported (clean disk).

Here are the 2 screenshots you requested.
Flash is in the way on the BIOS shot.

I looked through the entire BIOS and never found the IDE/SATA controller option.

 

[Arc]

The SMART data looks to be good; but it is really very strange that there is no option for IDE mode.

You try Seatools for Windows in that case, but it is not as efficient as the DOS version.

Also observe how the computer is working without Intel RST drivers. Let us know the situation.

 

[baj393]

What tests should I run in Seatools for Windows? Any specific ones you recommend?

There was no BSOD yesterday at all, but it is not uncommon for the PC to go a few days at a time without one.

 

[Arc]

Test the short generic. If it pass, then there is a less chance of a bad disc. Long generic does not work in this version as expected to work.

And, if it is at least 7 days without any BSOD in your situation, you can think that the issue is over. So you need to observe over a reasonable time.

 

[baj393]

I ran the short and long tests. Both were a pass.
Also ran SMART test and it passed.

I'll update with any developments.

 

[baj393]

Update: its been 7 days with no BSOD.

PC has gone this long before with no issues, so I'm not 100% confident that it is fixed, but this is a good sign.

 

[Arc]

Update: its been 7 days with no BSOD.

PC has gone this long before with no issues, so I'm not 100% confident that it is fixed, but this is a good sign.

Definitely it is a good sign.

Observe it for more time in that case ..... there is no problem with observing at all

 

[baj393]

It has been 15 days with no BSOD. This problem is likely solved.

Either the Intel Rapid Storage Driver or the resetting of the HDD driver was the key. These were the only changes I made.

Thanks so much for your help Arc!

 

[Arc]

Good news

Let us know for any further issue