Blue Screen Errors: ntoskrnl.exe, mostly 0x109, and once 0x3b

I ran memtest through 1 pass and it found no errors.  I'll run again over night tonight.

Hi Michael,

CRITICAL_STRUCTURE_CORRUPTION (109) - This bugcheck is generated when the kernel detects that critical kernel code or

data have been corrupted. There are generally three causes for a corruption:

3) A hardware corruption occurred, e.g. failing RAM holding kernel code or data.

Arguments:

Arg1: a3a039d8999fa4f1, Reserved

Arg2: b3b7465eec1c76e7, Reserved

Arg3: fffff800032c19a0, Failure type dependent information

Arg4: 0000000000000001, Type of corrupted region = Modification of a function or .pdata

BUCKET_ID:  BAD_STACK

This is hardware issue. Please download memtest86+ [1], burn a new bootable CD (use a CD-RW if possible) from the ISO (download and use ImgBurn [2] to do this), reboot your PC and scan your RAM 4-5hours for errors. If it detects errors, replace the faulty RAM.

André

[1] http://www.memtest.org/download/4.10/memtest86+-4.10.iso.zip

[2] http://www.imgburn.com/index.php?act=download

---

"A programmer is just a tool which converts caffeine into code" CLIP- Stellvertreter http://www.winvistaside.de/

Hi,

References to Vista also apply to Windows 7.

This is my generic how to for proper driver updates :

This utility makes it easy to see which versions are loaded :

DriverView - Free - utility displays the list of all device drivers currently loaded on your system.

For each driver in the list, additional useful information is displayed: load address of the driver,

description, version, product name, company that created the driver, and more.

http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/driverview.html

For Drivers check System Maker as fallbacks and Device Maker's which are the most current.

Control Panel - Device Manager - Display Adapter - write down the make and complete model

of your video adapter - double click - Driver's tab - write down the version info. Now click UPdate

Driver (this may not do anything as MS is far behind certifying drivers) - then Right Click -

Uninstall - REBOOT this will refresh the driver stack.

Repeat that for Network - Network Card (NIC), Wifi, Sound, Mouse and Keyboard if 3rd party

with their own software and drivers and any other major device drivers you have.

Now go to System Maker's site (Dell, HP, Toshiba as examples) (as rollback) and then Device

Maker's site (Realtek, Intel, Nvidia, ATI as examples) and get their latest versions. (Look for

BIOS, Chipset and software updates at System Maker's site while there.)

Download - SAVE - go to where you put them - Right Click - RUN AD ADMIN - REBOOT after

each installation.

Always check in Device Manager - Drivers tab to be sure the version you are installing actually

shows up. This is because some drivers rollback before the latest is installed (sound drivers

particularly do this) so install a driver - reboot - check to be sure it is installed and repeat as

needed.

Repeat at Device Makers - BTW at Device Makers DO NOT RUN THEIR SCANNER - check

manually by model.

Manually look at manufacturer's sites for drivers - and Device Maker's sites.

http://pcsupport.about.com/od/driverssupport/ht/driverdlmfgr.htm

Installing and updating drivers in Windows 7 (updating drivers manually using the methods above

is preferred to ensure the latest drivers from System maker and Device makers are found)

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/43216-installing-updating-drivers-7-a.html

If you update drivers manually then it is a good idea to disable Driver Installations in Windows

Updates, this leaves Windows Updates ON however it will not install drivers which will usually

be older and cause issues. If Updates suggests a new driver then HIDE it (Right Click on it)

and then go look for new ones manually if you wish.

How To Disable Automatic Driver Installation In Windows Vista - Drivers

http://www.addictivetips.com/windows-tips/how-to-disable-automatic-driver-installation-in-windows-vista/

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc730606(WS.10).aspx

==========================================

Memory tests do not catch all errors such as mismatched memory (possible even for sticks

that appear to be identical) and when faster memory is placed in system behind slower memory.

So it is best to also swap sticks in and out to check for those even if all memory tests fail to show

a problem.

To test RAM check here - let it run 4+ hours or so.

www.memtest.org

For the Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool.

Start - type in Search box ->  Memory - find Memory Diagnostics tool at top of list - Right Click -

RUN AS ADMIN follow the instructions

Windows Vista: How to Scan / Test your RAM or Memory with Windows Vista Memory Diagnostic

Tool

http://www.shivaranjan.com/2007/11/01/windows-vista-how-to-scan-test-your-ram-or-memory-with-windows-vista-memory-diagnostic-tool/

How to Run the Memory Diagnostics Tool in Windows 7

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/715-memory-diagnostics-tool.html

Test Your Computer’s Memory Using Windows Vista Memory Diagnostic Tool

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/test-your-computers-memory-using-windows-vista-memory-diagnostic-tool/

Hope this helps.

---

Rob Brown - MS MVP - Windows Desktop Experience : Bicycle - Mark Twain said it right.

Hi,

The 2 most likely causes of both Bug_Checks are the video drivers and memory issues.

To see how to use BlueScreenView and MyEventViewer to troubleshoot Bluescreens see the methods

indicated in this thread - top 3 answers.

http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7repair/thread/c675b7b8-795f-474d-a1c4-6b77b3fcd990

---

Try removing and reseating all cards, memory, and cables (both ends when possible) - actually

remove and replace - do not just snug (on a PC) and clean out the dust bunnies and vents. On

a laptop about all that can be done is reseat the memory and clean the vents.

3b is usually a graphic's driver (display adapter/video driver), other possibilities includebut are not limited to antivirus/antispyware/security programs and even memory (mapping).BCCode: 3b    0x0000003bCause

This error has been linked to excessive paged pool usage and may occur due to user-mode graphics drivers crossing over and passing bad data to the kernel code.

BCCode: 3b    0x0000003b  <-- read this linkhttp://www.faultwire.com/solutions-fatal\_error/SYSTEM-SERVICE-EXCEPTION-0x0000003B-\*1074.html

---

References to Vista also apply to Windows 7.

Have you added any hardware lately? Have you updated any driver just before these started? (Check

Control Panel - Windows Updates to see if any drivers were updated there about the time this started)

Main likely culprits are Video driver, other major drivers, memory, and antivirus/antispyware/security

products could be at fault as well as drive issues.

Use the troubleshooter below and refer to the next message for drivers and memory when you get to

those sections and then return back to the troubleshooter as needed.

---

BCCode: 109  0x00000109

Bug Check 0x109: CRITICAL_STRUCTURE_CORRUPTION

The CRITICAL_STRUCTURE_CORRUPTION bug check has a value of 0x00000109. This indicates that the kernel has detected critical kernel code or data corruption.

Important Information If You Have Received a STOP Code

If you have received a blue screen error, or stop code, the computer has shut down abruptly to protect itself from data loss. A hardware device, its driver, or related software might have caused this error. If your copy of Windows came with your computer, call the manufacturer of your computer. If you purchased Windows separately from your computer, Microsoft provides support. To find contact information for Microsoft or your computer manufacturer,Contact Support.

If you have experience with computers and want to try to recover from this error, follow the steps provided in the Microsoft articleResolving STOP (Blue Screen) Errors in Windows.

The following actions might prevent an error like this from happening again:

1. Download and install updates and device drivers for your computer from Windows Update.
2. Scan your computer for computer viruses.
3. Check your hard disk for errors.

Cause

There are generally three different causes for this bug check:

1. A driver has inadvertently, or deliberately, modified critical kernel code or data. Microsoft Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 1 (SP1) and later versions of Windows for x64-based computers do not allow the kernel to be patched except through authorized Microsoft-originated hot patches. For more information, see Patching Policy for x64-based Systems.
2. A developer attempted to set a normal kernel breakpoint using a kernel debugger that was not attached when the system was started. Normal breakpoints (**bp**) can only be set if the debugger is attached at start time. Processor breakpoints (**ba**) can be set at any time.
3. A hardware corruption occurred. For example, the kernel code or data could have been stored in memory that failed.

BCCode: 109  0x00000109  <-- read this linkhttp://www.faultwire.com/solutions-fatal\_error/Modification-of-system-code-or-a-critical-data-0x00000109-\*1262.html

---

Crash List - Created by using **BlueScreenView**

Dump File	Crash Time	Bug Check String	Bug Check Code	Parameter 1	Parameter 2	Parameter 3	Parameter 4	Caused By Driver	Caused By Address	File Description	Product Name	Company	File Version	Processor	Computer Name	Full Path	Processors Count	Major Version	Minor Version
102010-10748-01.dmp	10/21/2010 12:03:53 PM	SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION	0x0000003b	00000000c0000005 | fffff80002e74cd8	fffff8800a08a120 | 0000000000000000	ntoskrnl.exe	ntoskrnl.exe+70740	NT Kernel & System	Microsoft® Windows® Operating System	Microsoft Corporation	6.0.6002.18267 (vistasp2_gdr.100608-0458)	x64		C:\Windows\Minidump\102010-10748-01.dmp	8	15	7600
101610-9656-01.dmp	10/21/2010 12:03:42 PM		0x00000109	a3a039d8999fa4f1 | b3b7465eec1c76e7	fffff800032c19a0 | 0000000000000001	ntoskrnl.exe	ntoskrnl.exe+70740	NT Kernel & System	Microsoft® Windows® Operating System	Microsoft Corporation	6.0.6002.18267 (vistasp2_gdr.100608-0458)	x64		C:\Windows\Minidump\101610-9656-01.dmp	8	15	7600
101410-9796-01.dmp	10/21/2010 12:03:33 PM		0x00000109	a3a039d8985b74f7 | 0000000000000000	693caa871d4cf45a | 0000000000000101	ntoskrnl.exe	ntoskrnl.exe+70740	NT Kernel & System	Microsoft® Windows® Operating System	Microsoft Corporation	6.0.6002.18267 (vistasp2_gdr.100608-0458)	x64		C:\Windows\Minidump\101410-9796-01.dmp	8	15	7600

The cause is shown as a Windows 7 component which means something else drove it into fault.

---

Look in the Event Viewer to see if anything is reported about those.

http://www.computerperformance.co.uk/vista/vista\_event\_viewer.htm

MyEventViewer - Free - a simple alternative to the standard event viewer of Windows.TIP - Options - Advanced Filter allows you to see a time frame instead of the whole file.

http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/my\_event\_viewer.html

---

Here are some methods to possibly fix the blue screen issue. If you could give the Blue Screen

info that would help. Such as the BCC and the other 4 entries on the lower left. And any other

error information such as STOP codes and info such as IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL or PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA and similar messages.

As examples :

BCCode: 116

BCP1: 87BC9510

BCP2: 8C013D80

BCP3: 00000000

BCP4: 00000002

or in this format :

Stop: 0x00000000 (oxoooooooo oxoooooooo oxooooooooo oxoooooooo)

tcpip.sys - Address 0x00000000 base at 0x000000000 DateStamp 0x000000000

This is an excellent tool for posting Blue Screen Error InformationBlueScreenView scans all your minidump files created during 'blue screen of death'crashes, and displays the information about all crashes in one table - Free

http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/blue\_screen\_view.html

Many BlueScreens are caused by old or corrupted drivers, especially video drivers however

there are other causes.

You can do these in Safe Mode if needed or from Command Prompt from Vista DVD or

Recovery Options if your system has that installed by the maker.

How to Boot to the System Recovery Options in Windows 7

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/668-system-recovery-options.html

You can try a System Restore back to a point before the problem started if there is one.

How to Do a System Restore in Windows 7

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/700-system-restore.html

---

Start - type this in Search Box ->  COMMAND   find at top and RIGHT CLICK  -  RUN AS ADMIN

Enter this at the prompt - sfc /scannow

How to Repair Windows 7 System Files with System File Checker

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html

How to analyze the log file entries that the Microsoft Windows Resource Checker (SFC.exe) program

generates in Windows Vista cbs.log (and Windows 7)

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/928228

The log might give you the answer if there was a corrupted driver. (Does not tell all the possible

driver issues).

Also run CheckDisk so we can rule out corruption as much as possible.

How to Run Check Disk at Startup in Windows 7

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/433-disk-check.html

---

Often updating drivers will help, usually Video, Sound, Network Card  (NIC), WiFi, 3rd party

keyboard and mouse, as well as other major device drivers.

Manually look at manufacturer's sites for drivers - and Device Maker's sites.

http://pcsupport.about.com/od/driverssupport/ht/driverdlmfgr.htm

Installing and updating drivers in Windows 7 (updating drivers manually using the methods above

is preferred to ensure the latest drivers from System maker and Device makers are found)

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/43216-installing-updating-drivers-7-a.html

How To Disable Automatic Driver Installation In Windows Vista - Drivers

http://www.addictivetips.com/windows-tips/how-to-disable-automatic-driver-installation-in-windows-vista/

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc730606(WS.10).aspx

---

How to fix BlueScreen (STOP) errors that cause Windows Vista to shut down or restart

unexpectedly

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/958233

Troubleshooting Vista Blue Screen, STOP Errors (and Windows 7)

http://www.chicagotech.net/vista/vistabluescreen.htm

Understanding and Decoding BSOD (blue screen of death) Messages

http://www.taranfx.com/blog/?p=692

Windows - Troubleshooting Blue Screen Errors

http://kb.wisc.edu/page.php?id=7033

---

In some cases this might be required.

StartUp Repair from Recovery Options or Windows 7 disk

How to Run a Startup Repair in Windows 7

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/681-startup-repair.html

How to Boot to the System Recovery Options in Windows 7

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/668-system-recovery-options.html

How to Create a Windows 7 System Repair Disc

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2083-system-repair-disc-create.html

How to Do a Repair Install to Fix Windows 7

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html

Hope this helps.

---

Rob Brown - MS MVP - Windows Desktop Experience : Bicycle - Mark Twain said it right.

I've uploaded the 3 dump files to my SkyDrive: http://cid-a3c8f63e7bc5ed81.office.live.com/browse.aspx/.Public

Can someone capable please tell me what is wrong?  I've tried using WinDbg to analyze the files and all I get is a multitude of errors.

Michael