Dell XPS L501x, BSOD 0x00000124

[usasma]

What hardware diagnostics have you run?
Please post the reports needed to start this thing over (from the pinned topic at the top of the BSOD forum).

 

[sine]

Okay, so I disabled AHCI in the BIOS. (Changed it to IDE) And everything started working again, I could install Windows... everything was dandy. I was working away in Visual Studio when all of a sudden I get the BSOD again. I have a MiniDump file and another XML file from my users temp data folder. Do these point anything out?

 

[sine]

Here's the info using the tool from the forum.

 

[sine]

So I re-enabled AHCI SATA operations in the BIOS and I get a BSOD at the "Starting Windows" screen. Changing SATA operations back to ATA allows Windows to boot and run for quite a while before blue screening. The default BIOS option on this machine is AHCI, and it should run with this option enabled.

Do you think the problem could be the HDD? It can't be the controller on the motherboard as a new motherboard didn't solve the problem.

 

[usasma]

I do not suggest messing with the AHCI/SATA settings. At work when we do this we end up with BSOD's because someone forgot to change the setting back to the correct value.

I believe in leaving the system at default values when we're troubleshooting (because that's how the makers intended it to run) - and I ask that you return it to default values in order to conduct the troubleshooting. Once the BSOD's are fixed, you can change anything that you durned well please.

These 2 devices aren't installed. Please install them:

Ethernet Controller PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_8168&SUBSYS_046E1028&REV_06\4&23EAC19&0&00E5 The drivers for this device are not installed.
PCI Simple Communications Controller PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_3B64&SUBSYS_046E1028&REV_06\3&11583659&0&B0 The drivers for this device are not installed.

Beyond that I don't see any problems - so it must be hardware.
Have you run the entire gamut of diagnostics that I suggested?
If not, here's the link again: Hardware Diagnostics

You know what pieces you've replaced and what pieces you haven't replaced.
Armed with the results of the hardware diagnostics, you can compare that to the parts that are left.
Disconnect them one at a time and see what happens.
In case you need it, here's a link for the Service Manual: Documentation

Good luck!

 

[sine]

Reset BIOS to defaults. Now I can't boot or install Windows. The disconnected devices just didn't have drivers installed.

 

[sine]

I don't know what to do on that Webpage? There's just a ton of links?

 

[usasma]

Which webpage? If it's the one with the hardware diagnostics - just read it and follow the links one at a time.
Here's an older version of the page which might help:

I suggest starting all troubleshooting with the following diagnostic tests (located at this link: Hardware Diagnostics ). They'll save you a lot of time and heartache if there is a hardware failure, and you'll have the disks on hand in case you need them in the future:

H/W Diagnostics:
Please start by running these bootable hardware diagnostics:
Memory Diagnostics (read the details at the link)
Hard Drive Diagnostic Procedure (read the details at the link) - Test ALL of the hard drives.

Also, please run one of these free, independent online malware scans to ensure that your current protection hasn't been compromised: Free Online AntiMalware Resources (read the details at the link)
There are also free, bootable antivirus disks at this link: Free Online AntiMalware Resources - Bootable Disks

Then, if the above tests pass, I'd try these free stress tests:

FurMark download site: FurMark: VGA Stress Test, Graphics Card and GPU Stability Test, Burn-in Test, OpenGL Benchmark and GPU Temperature | oZone3D.Net
FurMark Setup:
- If you have more than one GPU, select Multi-GPU during setup
- In the Run mode box, select "Stability Test" and "Log GPU Temperature"
Click "Go" to start the test (Looks like it's "BURN-IN test" now)
- Run the test until the GPU temperature maxes out - or until you start having problems (whichever comes first).
NOTE: Set the alarm to go off at 90ºC. Then watch the system from that point on. If the system doesn't display a temperature, watch it constantly and turn it off at the first sign of video problems. DO NOT leave it it unmonitored, it can DAMAGE your video card!!!
If the temperature gets above 100ºC, quit the test - the video card is overheating.
- Click "Quit" to exit

What you are looking for:
- excessive heat from the GPU (report back with anything over 90ºC)
- problems with the video display (picture is distorted or jumbled, picture turns black, etc)
- problems reported by the program (I haven't seen this, but "just in case")

Prime95 download site: Free Software - GIMPS
Prime95 Setup:
- extract the contents of the zip file to a location of your choice
- double click on the executable file
- select "Just stress testing"
- select the "Blend" test. If you've already run MemTest overnight please run the "Small FFTs" test instead. (run all 3 if you find a problem and note how long it takes to error out with each)
- "Number of torture test threads to run" should equal the number of CPU's times 2 (if you're using hyperthreading).
The easiest way to figure this out is to go to Task Manager...Performance tab - and see the number of boxes under CPU Usage History
Then run the test for 6 to 24 hours - or until you get errors (whichever comes first).
Monitor the CPU temperature and DON'T let it exceed 85ºC. If it does, then you probably have a CPU cooling problem.
- CPU temps exceeding 60ºC can cause errors in Prime95. Fix the cooling solution first, then run Prime95 again.
This won't necessarily crash the system - but check the output in the test window for errors.
The Test selection box and the stress.txt file describes what components that the program stresses.
More details on the use of this test: Torture test your CPU with Prime95

More Video Stress Tests:
1. Thanks to VirGnarus for finding this video memory test: https://simtk.org/home/memtest
Alternate download link (w/o registration) located here: Folding@home - DownloadUtils
2. Two other video stress tests (may be more stressful than FurMark):
NOTE: I have had reports that some ISP's will block this website
Video Memory stress Test - VMT
Artifact Locator - Artifact Locator
Sorry, but I don't read the language that this website is made in.
3. Another interesting test that came to my attention: Home
USE AT YOUR OWN RISK - the program doesn't have a whole bunch of safety features to protect you from yourself!

CPU Stress Tests:
Only need to run 1 or 2 of the tests under most circumstances. I haven't used any of the tests myself, so I listed all that I was able to find.
- Intel Processor Diagnostic Tool (works in Windows)
x64 - http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=19792&keyword=%22cpu+stress+test%22&DownloadType=Utilities%2c+Tools+and+Examples&lang=eng
x86 - http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Det...adType=Utilities,+Tools+and+Examples&lang=eng
Burn Test - download from Guru3D.com
- AMD OverDrive is the recommended solution from AMD - BUT I've seen issues with this program causing BSOD's. Use at your own risk!!! AMD OverDrive
- 7Byte : Hot CPU Tester Pro
- 7Byte : BurnIn64
- CPU Stress test
- Fossil Free Online CPU Load or Stress Test.
- Download Jouni Vuorio CPU Stability Test | PCWorld
- CPU Stress test
- |MG| CPU Stability Test 6.0 Download
- LinX - A simple Linpack interface
- the test(s) suggested at this link are bootable: Headless CPU Stress Testing - Tech Support Forum

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