Corrupted BIOS and BSOD

[Sirke25]

Hi everyone. I have a problem with my laptop (HP Pavilion dv6-2110sm). Recently my laptop freezed and caps lock and num lock started blinking two times... This never happend before so I googled it. It seems that my BIOS is corrupted. I don't know much about computers so I searched what does "corrupted BIOS" mean. There were a lot of solutions and I tried most of them but none of them worked.

I tried the trick with holding the windows key and B and then power button but nothing happens. It restarts automatically and nothing happens. I tried pulling out RAM slots and returning them back but that didn't work either... So I'm out of options. Also I forgot to say that I can't work on my laptop because after I reboot, it freezes and I can't do anything. Caps and num lock just blink and I have to force shut down.

Another thing, sometimes blue screen of death appears and it looks like this:

A problem has been detected and Windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer.

BAD_POOL_HEADER

Error 0x00000019

That's all, please reply soon. Thank you in advance!

 

[x BlueRobot]

[COLOR="red"]PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA (50)[/COLOR]

Could not read faulting driver name
Probably caused by : memory_corruption ( nt!MiDispatchFault+de )

STOP 0x00000050: PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA

[COLOR="red"]ATTEMPTED_WRITE_TO_READONLY_MEMORY (be)[/COLOR]

BugCheck BE, {fffff88002145c50, 800000000497c121, fffff8800371af00, a}

*** WARNING: Unable to verify timestamp for [COLOR="red"]athrx.sys[/COLOR]
*** ERROR: Module load completed but symbols could not be loaded for athrx.sys
Probably caused by : [COLOR="Red"]nwifi.sys [/COLOR]( nwifi!Pt6Receive+296 )

STOP 0x000000BE: ATTEMPTED_WRITE_TO_READONLY_MEMORY

Update: Atheros Network Adapter Driver

Image path: athrx.sys
    Image name: athrx.sys
    Timestamp:       [COLOR="red"] Tue Sep 22 03:47:11 2009[/COLOR] (4AB83AAF)

NativeWiFi Miniport Driver

Mapped memory image file: c:\symbols\nwifi.sys\4A5BCC3B53000\nwifi.sys
    Image path: [COLOR="red"]nwifi.sys[/COLOR]
    Image name: nwifi.sys
    Timestamp:        [COLOR="red"]Tue Jul 14 01:07:23 2009[/COLOR] (4A5BCC3B)

Uninstall: avast! File System Access Blocking Driver:

Loaded symbol image file: aswFsBlk.SYS
    Image path: [COLOR="red"]aswFsBlk.SYS[/COLOR]
    Image name: aswFsBlk.SYS
    Timestamp:        [COLOR="red"]Mon Nov 28 17:51:52 2011[/COLOR] (4ED3CA38)

Could you please upload a .NFO file:

Start rb: > Type: msinfo32 > File, Save

It will provide lots of useful information about your hardware and software configurations, and also will allow me to point you to the correct drivers which need updating.

How often do you get this corrupted BIOS message? You may need to get a new motherboard.

 

[gregrocker]

Test your RAM - Test with Memtest86+ for 5-6 passes. Test sticks and slots following tutorial.

Try resetting CMOS: Clear CMOS - 3 Ways to Clear the CMOS - Reset BIOS.
Take note of the SATA controller setting first.

Check your PC Support Downloads webpage for a BIOS update. If none you may need to reflash your BIOS chip with the latest if the problem isn't resolved working with Harry on the suspect drivers or by the memtest. You should wait for our help to do this however.

 

[Sirke25]

Thanks for the prompt replies. EDIT: Nevermind, I've found the drivers, will install them now.

I can't seem to upload the .nfo file because it has a size limit of 500kb and the file is ~1.2MB. I can't find the DAMN NFO viewer file in regedit for some reason. Can't find the HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareDAMNDAMN NFO ViewerMaxFileSizeKb to 0.


I didn't get the BIOS message until today, it just started happening. The computer freezes after some time, and caps/num lock start to blink slowly. Sometimes it would happen as I started Firefox. Thanks for your help!

 

[Sirke25]

I can't extract the zip with the drivers in C, it says access denied. It's my brother's laptop and I don't know what's the thing with administrator privileges on it, but his account is administrator. It's all messed up, it froze again after maybe 20 minutes after last reboot.

 

[x BlueRobot]

Why are going into registry? DO NOT change any settings or delete any keys within the registry, as it will only cause further problems and can result in a unbootable computer.

Use:

• http://www.sevenforums.com/crashes-debugging/96879-blue-screen-death-bsod-posting-instructions.html

Use the "Grab All" button, you can delete the dump files from the folder it creates as you have already uploaded them to the thread.

Where are you downloading the drivers from? Are you sure you downloading the correct driver for your OS and for the model of the required hardware component?

Upload your .NFO file, as explained above, and then we can look at providing you with other instructions.

 

[Sirke25]

Because, as I've said, the nfo viewer has a 500kb limit and I can't upload the file (1.2MB) without removing the limit in the registry. It says invalid file on the forums as I try to attach it. The line is at the end of this page:

DAMN NFO Viewer

And this is where I found the drivers:

Drivers for Atheros AR9285 and Windows 7

I'm supposed to extract them in C but it says "access denied" for some reason. There's no .exe file for them, they're self extracting I guess.

I'm downloading the SF Diagnostic Tool now btw. Thanks.

 

[gregrocker]

Go to Control Panel>User Accounts and set up a new Admin-level User account to see if you can perform these functions. If so your User Account is corrupted. One way to resolve this is to move everything over to the new Account and delete the old one.

Otherwise try running SFC -SCANNOW Command

If problems persist run a Repair Install as a last resort before running Factory Recovery, or better yet get a Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 which is what most tech enthusiasts do to avoid the HP preinstalled crapware that throttles and corrupts Win7.

If you have it, uninstall Avast and replace with Microsoft Security Essentials,
run a full scan.

 

[Sirke25]

Here it is.

 

[x BlueRobot]

Uninstall Avast:

Start Menu\Programs\avast! Free Antivirus

You can install Microsoft Security Essentials and TDSSKiller:

• Microsoft Security Essentials - Microsoft Windows
• Anti-rootkit utility TDSSKiller

I see that you have Malwarebytes already installed; run full scans with both these programs, however not at the same time.

Uninstall RegCure Pro:

Start Menu\Programs\ParetoLogic\RegCure Pro

These third-party programs usually cause problems for your system, and many are usually hidden malware or spyware programs.

Uninstall IObit Malware Fighter:

Start Menu\Programs\IObit Malware Fighter

This provides real-time protection like Avast, and therefore having both running will cause conflicts and produce problems in your system.

What is this program?

Start Menu\Programs\TELL ME MORE SI PLUS

There is many entries for this program within your .NFO file, are you aware of this program? What does it do?

Have you followed Greg's suggestion, and please post back your results.

The driver link is not working for some reason, have you installed all the Important and Optional updates for Windows 7?

I don't think you have installed Service Pack 1, why is this?

OS Name:                   Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 
OS Version:                6.1.7600 N/A Build 7600

• Learn How To Install Service Pack 1
• Windows 7 | Service Pack 1 Download

Update Atheros AR9285 802.11b/g/n WiFi Adapter:

Image path: [COLOR="red"]athrx.sys[/COLOR]
    Image name: athrx.sys
    Timestamp:        [COLOR="Red"]Tue Sep 22 03:47:11 2009[/COLOR] (4AB83AAF)

Download Site - Atheros Driver Download Site

 

[gregrocker]

If you used the Registry crapware then I'd reinstall with the latest official installer with SP1 provided in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7.

Registry Cleaners are horrible, deadly decisions best remedied by starting over sticking with only the tools and methods which guarantee a perfect install.

 

[Sirke25]

I uninstalled Avast, RegCure Pro, IObit Malware Fighter and Tell me more. Tell me more is a program for learning Italian, but I uninstalled it anyway. I updated Atheros, but I can't install Service Pack 1... I don't know why, but when Windows Update starts installing Service Pack 1 it says that it failed. It says that there are errors and it shows me this: Code 800B0100 and code 80004004. I did everything you said except for the Service Pack 1 update and it still doesn't work, the laptop still freezes after some time.

 

[x BlueRobot]

Try Greg's great tutorial about doing a clean install, the .ISO within the tutorial provides a Windows 7 installation (remember to select the .ISO which matches your current Windows 7) which contains Service Pack 1; the registry cleaners most probably have also developed some hidden damage to your system.