BSOD Loop when laptop unplugged

Question

I am getting a BSOD loop, but curiously only when my laptop is unplugged. It works fine when plugged in, but goes straight to BSOD loop if you unplug it. 

Yesterday the files on my C: drive weren't showing up. The green loading bar in top was slowly loading up, but nothing displayed. Files on the SD card and external hard drive were showing up fine. Turns out I was seriously low on storage, 250MB or so. I restarted and it went straight to BSOD. Which just looped and looped for about 30 mins. I gave up and turned it off. Which seemed to fix it, until I unplugged it to move and then got BSOD loop again. This happens now every time I try to run on battery power. 

I hadn't installed any new programmes or deleted anything for a few days before the BSOD loop error.

I'm getting the following error:

system_thread_exception_not_handled

iaStorAC.sys

What I have tried so far:

• Uninstalled the minor windows update that was installed 16/06/2020
• BIOS update from Dell - November 2019
• Uninstalled Intel Rapid Start
• Uninstalled Intel Rapid Storage
• Freed up 40GB of hard disk space
• Tried a soft re-install of Windows whilst keeping my files. Which failed due to "an error".
• All drivers are up to date.
• Tried to run chkdsk on C: through command prompt, but this didn't work on restart.
• Run an error checking on the C: drive which seems to just stop after a while
• I have no idea how to access the SSD drive though, as it doesn't show up on my computer etc. I assume it's just running in the background with the windows install on it.
• I'm running:

Dell XPS 15 (9530) 1TB hard drive and 250GB SSD - on which I believe windows is installed.

• Windows b4 bit with 1903 (No May 2020 update yet for me)
• No roll back option available

I would rather not have to do a full re-install of windows, but will do if necessary.

Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

Answer 1

Hi BiertjeBiertje,

Got it, thanks. Now, I'm done looking at your files. I see 2 source conflicts that enabled the BSOD errors.

1. The Microsoft Streaming Service Proxy encountered a memory access violation causing the Intel Rapid Storage Technology to enable the power policy manager to experience a fatal error. This could either be a corrupt/outdate driver or ACPI/BIOS firmware, BIOS memory caching/shadowing settings, and hardware incompatibility or defect.
2. The Realtek audio driver/device is in an inconsistent or invalid power state. This could either be a corrupt/outdate driver or ACPI/BIOS firmware, Windows power scheme settings, or hardware defect.

With that, kindly complete the steps below & let me know the results.

1. Let's first repair any corrupt system files, restore the default startup type of Microsoft Streaming Service Proxy, and reset your power scheme. Search/open Command Prompt run as Administrator > type the command below (one line at a time) & press Enter.

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Scanhealth

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

SFC /scannow

sc config MSKSSRV start= demand

powercfg -restoredefaultschemes

2. Then disable the power saving mode by following the steps below. Once all done, reboot your PC.

https://www.lifewire.com/turn-off-power-saving-...

3. Then, kindly download/install the following drivers & BIOS firmware below.

• Intel Rapid Storage Technology: https://dl.dell.com/FOLDER03153038M/2/9530_Seri...

• Realtek HD Audio: https://dl.dell.com/FOLDER03344647M/2/9530_Audi...

• Intel Dynamic Platform and Thermal Framework: https://dl.dell.com/FOLDER05981275M/1/Intel-Dyn...

• BIOS: https://dl.dell.com/FOLDER05945397M/1/9530A12.EXE

3. Once done, reboot your PC & repeatedly press F2 to access BIOS > select either System or Advanced tab & follow the steps in the link (Part 2) below to disable your PC's BIOS Memory Caching or Shadowing.

(Note: While you're in BIOS, might as well double-check if the "LITEONIT LMS-32L6M mSATA" is 8GB. If yes, then it is 8GB in physical size so check with your vendor.)

https://www.wikihow.com/Disable-BIOS-Memory-Opt...

Don't forget to save the settings & exit back to Windows.

4. Once done, ensure to stress tests your RAM module using the Memtest86 tool below to ensure it's healthy & replace any defective hardware detected. Once done, reboot your PC & check if the BSOD error persists.

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/for...

5. If all fails, I suggest getting in touch with Dell Support to further check your hardware.

https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-us

I hope this helps. Let me know how you go. Thank you!

Sincerely,

Paul A.

Independent Advisor

(Note: There are non-Microsoft websites above. The pages appear to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the site that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the site before you decide to download and install it.)

Answer 2

Hey,  im having almost the same troubles on my Dell XPS 15 L521X, i made the first steps in the CMD or power shell with administrator rights, unfortunatly the system didnt find any problem.

Im trying to re-install the following drivers you listed bellow at point 3, with blue screens during the process. Its annoying since my thesys is there.

In BIOS dont let me change the setings u recommend for it. Now i cant start windows... all time is blue screen.

Answer 3

Hi Paul

Well in short this seems to have fixed my issues, so thank you very much for all the tips above!

Slightly longer. I was able to do everything aside from number 3. I couldn't find those settings within the Dell BIOS. It seems to have fixed itself without the need to do that though. I checked the SSD and it states as 32GB, so not sure why it says only 8GB in speccy.

Either way it's all worked and I'm back to being able to move my laptop without turning it off again.

Thanks :)

Answer 4

Hi Paul. 

Thanks for the swift response. The link for all 3 steps is here.

I wasn't aware many people used speccy. Although one thing I have just noticed. I bought this laptop with 1TB hard drive and 32GB mSATA. Curious to see why it's only showing up as 8GB.

Answer 5

Hi BiertjeBiertje,

I'm Paul, a fellow customer like you & an Independent Advisor. Let me help you investigate this further. Kindly allow me to ask the following files below to start troubleshooting your issue. Thank you.

1. Mini Dump or Dump file

In File Explorer, go to C:\Windows\Minidump & copy/paste to your Desktop. If it's not there, you may copy/paste the C:\Windows\Memory.dmp instead. However, we recommend the minidumps first. If the dump file is missing in either location above, then kindly ensure to enable it first, let the PC crash again, and go back to check the dump files.

https://www.faqforge.com/windows/windows-10/how...

(Note: This is a non-Microsoft website. The page appears to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the site that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the site before you decide to download and install it.)

2. NFO file

Go to Start > search & open MSinfo32 > Click File > click Save (Do NOT Export) > save it to your Desktop

3. Export the Speccy file (.speccy not .xml) from this tool below to your Desktop.

After installing the tool, open it & click File > Save Snapshot. Do not Publish or Save as.

http://www.piriform.com/speccy

(Note: This is a non-Microsoft website. The page appears to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the site that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the site before you decide to download and install it.)

Then, compressed everything to OneDrive & send the link to us. Here's how to use OneDrive below.

https://www.wikihow.com/Use-OneDrive

(Note: This is a non-Microsoft website. The page appears to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the site that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the site before you decide to download and install it.)

Looking forward to your reply. Thank you!

Sincerely,

Paul A.

Independent Advisor