Solved Random & frequent BSOD from IASTOR.SYS

[AnnaIrving]

Hello all,

For a month now my Dell Inspiron laptop's been randomly freezing. Now it's progressed to random BSOD - sometimes every 5 minutes, sometimes every few hours. No real pattern to what I'm doing with it when it goes blue. Originally I thought it was a problem with my fan (I think it's louder recently) but with some research I'm sure it's iastor.sys.

I have NOT made any hardware changes lately. I haven't run TDSSkiller.

I tried System Restore. I also tried rolling back the iastor.sys driver to the previous version. It originally was from 08/01/2013, I rolled it back to previous version from 05/2012. I'm still getting BSOD. I've tried the automated driver scanner/updater at Dell and Intel but both programs seems to install but not run. I'm confused by Intel's names (Matrix? Rapid Start? Rapid Storage?) so I quit trying to look it up myself.

I'm crossing my fingers that someone can tell me it's an easy software fix rather than a hardware problem but I'll take what I can get. Any help would be really appreciated.

Anna

 

[Northernsoul55]

Hi AnnaIrving,

As you rightly summised iastor drivers are contributing to your BSOD'S.

I see you have multiple instances of the iastor driver installed:

[COLOR=red]iastor.sys[/COLOR]
[COLOR=red]iastora.sys[/COLOR]
[COLOR=red]iastorf.sys[/COLOR]
[COLOR=red]iastorv.sys[/COLOR]

I would suggest Uninstalling Intel Rapid Storage in Control Panel>Programs and Features.

Then, uninstall it in Device Manager:

1. Click Start and type in search box> manage
2. Click Computer management
3. Select Device Manager in the left pane, It will list all the existing devices.
4. Expand>IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers by clicking on the triangle in front of it.
5. Select one intel device under it, right click> uninstall.
6. Continue the process for all intel items under IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers

Restart the computer. At restart, windows should auto configure the appropriate system drivers.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I would also advise to remove McAfee as it causes a lot of BSOD issues lately:

:ar: http://service.mcafee.com/FAQDocument.aspx?id=TS101331

As an alternative please download and install:
:ar: Microsoft Security Essentials.
Recommended from a strict BSOD perspective, compatibility & stability
compared to other antiviruses/internet security software.

   Note

Once downloaded, update and run a full system scan

Cheers

Dave

 

[AnnaIrving]

Dave,

Thanks for your help. I uninstalled from Control Panel - Uninstall Programs.

I then went to Device Manager, but I don't see a IDE ADA/ATAPI controller option. I know I've seen it before on my other computer, but it's missing in this computer. Is it the same as Storage Controller - Intel Sata Raid Controller? I tried to attach a screenshot of my Device Manager.

Also, thanks for the MSE tip. McAfee was packaged into my Dell laptop (and price) so I just thought I'd use it. I'll switch over.

Anna

 

[Northernsoul55]

Hi,

That's odd!

Can you enter the BIOS and change the storage controller mode settings from SATA to IDE mode.

Also can you please upload your msinfo32.nfo file. To get this:

Start Menu -> Type msinfo32 into the Search programs and files box
-> When it opens, go to File, Save -> Save as msinfo32.nfo and save in a place you will remember
-> Let it finish the process of gathering and saving the system info
-> Right click the .nfo file, click send to compressed (zipped) folder -> Upload the .zip file here.

cheers

Dave

 

[AnnaIrving]

Hi Dave,

Um, I don't know anything about how to change the BIOS. Would you possibly post directions or point me to a step by step guide?

Msinfo32 is attached as requested.

Thanks,
Anna

 

[Northernsoul55]

Hi,
No problem

1. Turn on (or restart) your computer.
2. When the DELL logo is displayed, wait for the prompt to appear and then press <F2> immediately.

That will get you into the BIOS.

I am a tad blind now, but you need to look under SATA settings/storage controller
and change to IDE mode, F10 and exit. The computer will reboot.

Also you could use the Dell PC diagnostic to see if that will suggest any remedies:

:ar: http://www.dell.com/support/Diagnostics/us/en/04/

cheers

Dave

 

[AnnaIrving]

Hello again, Well I tried the BIOS under SATA controller(I think?) and the options were: -ATA -AHCI -Intel Rapid Tech I didn't see an IDE option. Anna

 

[Northernsoul55]

Hi,

What was the present setting of the SATA Controller?

 

[AnnaIrving]

Hi Dave,

It's currently set to Intel Rapid Tech. I tried to set it to AHCI and see if it boots. The screen freezes during the windows logo screen, flashes a BSOD (it disappears too fast to confirm if it's the same BSOD error message), and starts rebooting. Repeat to infinity. Switched it back to Intel Rapid Tech and it works as before with the random BSOD.

I also tried to update the Intel raid controller driver from Dell's website - then it gave me more frequent BSODs with an iastorA.sys error. Updated the driver from Intel - now it's back to normal iastor.sys errors. The most recent Intel Rapid Storage driver folder has multiple iastor driver versions, like you mentioned earlier.

Anna

 

[Northernsoul55]

Thanks for the feedback. I will post back tomorrow as it's pretty late here

Is Mcafee still installed btw?

cheers

Dave

 

[AnnaIrving]

Sorry, I totally forgot about McAfee. I'll go do that now. I really appreciate your time and effort!
Anna

EDIT:
So I uninstalled McAfee & installed MSE. Still BSOD but I like MSE so far.

Also attached are the screenshots of the BIOS when I tried to change the sata controller, plus the most recent system info.

 

[Arc]

Hello AnnaIrving.

It is a continuous series of BSODs caused by Intel RST driver. From the screenshots it is visible that you have RST (Intel Rapid Storage Technology) enabled. Disable it. As far as it is enabled, it will bounce back automatically.

Then come to Sata Operations. Set it to AHCI. Save, exit form setup. Can you boot to windows normally, hassles free? If so, upload your MSINFO32.nfo file after booting.

1. Click on the start button
2. Type "msinfo32" (without quotes) in the search bar of the start menu, click the resulting link. It will open the System Information window.
3. File>Save. In the "File Name" filed, put "MSINFO32" (without Quote), give the save location to desktop, and click the "save" button.
4. Give the time for processing, it will save a .nfo file on your desktop.
5. Zip it, and upload it following the instruction.

If not, Go back to BIOS setup. Set the SATA to ATA (IDE mode) .... and again try to boot. If it boots, then upload your MSINFO32.nfo file after booting, following the same instructions given earlier.

If still failed, Set the Intel RST back to active and SATA operator at its place and report us back. Then we have to take some steps to get rid of those lot of factory installed bloatwares present in your system.

 

[gregrocker]

To change to the preferred AHCI mode follow these steps for AHCI : Enable in Windows 7 / Vista - Windows 7 Forums

Part of the problem could be inferior Factory Preinstalled Win7 with all of the bloatware and duplicate utiltiies which have better versions built into Win7. These throttle Win7 from its native performance and can cause problems.

That's why most tech enthusiasts will not run such an install but instead Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7. Everything is provided in the blue link tutorial.

At the minimum I'd Clean Up Factory Bloatware.

If this doesn't resolve performance problems, work through these Troubleshooting Steps for Windows 7. Be sure to run the Dell PC Diagnostics as suggested: Dell Diagnostics Utility - How to Run the

 

[AnnaIrving]

Hi Arc & gregrocker,

Thanks for your time. I am not 100% I followed your directions so I'll describe what I did. I went to Msconfig-Services and disabled Intel Rapid Storage Tech. I rebooted, went to BIOS and set Sata Operations to AHCI, saved. The windows logo froze during the "fireflies coming together" stage, flashed BSOD for a second, and started rebooting again, repeat from beginning. I entered BIOS again, set Sata to ATA, and the same pattern happened. I then set Sata back to Intel RST, windows booted normally, and enabled (delayed auto start) the service again.

Anna

 

[gregrocker]

Hi Anna -

Please try the steps in http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/61869-ahci-enable-windows-7-vista.html.

Be sure to set a System Restore Point - Create and have a System Repair Disk or bootable installer media in case restore is needed.

If you decide to do the superior Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 then first reset the BIOS to defaults and set the SATA controller to AHCI.

 

[Arc]

Hello Anna. As far as you will use the RST setup, the same BSOD will continue to occur.

The best you can do is to set the SATA mode to ATA and go for a Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7.
It will remove all the bloatwares applied by Dell in a single go.

Then, after teh installation, if you want to use AHCI (it assumed to work faster), follow the suggestion that Greg already supplied: AHCI : Enable in Windows 7

Hope it will go nice.

If any confusion is there, or anything is not clear, ask us before you start.

 

[AnnaIrving]

I'm sorry I didn't realize I was supposed to follow the AHCI page instructions.

Right now I can't do a clean reinstall because I can't back up my 200+GB files (I am temporarily in a low tech country without my external HD). If I enable AHCI, will that stop the BSOD until I can get home in a few months and do a clean reinstall?

EDIT: just to confirm: when I do a clean reinstall, do I set the BIOS to ATA, reinstall, then set to AHCI? Or do I set to AHCI before install?

Anna

 

[gregrocker]

It's worked in the past consistently, which is why it was made into a tutorial. But Arc has more experience with IRST so will know for sure if there are complications to be avoided, and how.

You always want to try install first in AHCI which is most modern.

Anna, you should always have your files backed up because at any minute you can have a HD failure. So your files are valued only as much as you are willing to back them up.

Here is a modern method to Sync, Backup and Store your Files to the Cloud with Skydrive - Windows 7 Forums

 

[AnnaIrving]

You're absolutely right. My mistake was leaving my external HD (with my backed up files!) at home because electronic items tend to "disappear" in this country. I see your point that I should have my files backed up AND close at hand. I went into regedit, made the changes, rebooted, and set the Sata to AHCI. Unfortunately windows is not booting up, it's still freezing at the windows logo and restarting. When I set the Sata back to Intel RST, it boots normally. I've confirmed the regedit changes are correct and saved. Am I doing something wrong? Anna

 

[gregrocker]

There are special changes required in the BIOS for your SCSI configuration, as just explained to me by Arc. These may complicate the tutorial's application here. I will defer to Archie because he has more experience with IRST and the BSOD's it causes. He feels it requires a Clean Reinstall which is always a good thing.

If you have no storage for awhile then one idea to consider is shrinking C to do a booted reinstall to a new partition in AHCI with the BIOS changes Arc says you need pertaining to SCSI. You still should have access to your files on the old partition even if it will not boot.

Later we could help you remove the old install correctly by deleting its partition, then moving/resizing into the preferred left side of HD, or even temporarily deleting the old windows folder. You could always go back to the old install by resetting the BIOS to make it boot.

Let's see what Arc says about this.