[Gushwa]

Hello, I hope someone can help me. This is a fairly new computer, but out of Dell tech support, time. I did call them, and they wanted to charge me $40.00, to help me over the phone, but I cannot afford that right now.
Well, it's a Dell Dimension 8400, P4, 3.4 ghz, 1 gb. ram, not sure what make video card, but I think it's a 256mb., Windows XP Home w/SP2.
The problem is, it blue screened, with the stop message, BAD_POOL_CALLER, STOP: 0x000000c2 (0x00000043,0xc3d25000,0x00000000,0x00000000) whatever that means,
but I have tried to bring it back through system restore, safe mode, Last known good, repair the OS with the cd, and latest, tried a clean install of windows xp home w/sp2, not careing if I lose everything, which I would rather not, but i'm at wits end.
I get to the black background Win xp splash screen, then the next thing is the blue screen with the same STOP!
Every single attempt, has ended in failure. After every attempt, the blue screen, with the same message returns. I don't know what to do. How do I get through this? If anyone can be of any help, I would greatly appreciate it. Thank You

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Hello Gushwa...

This error is usually hardware related. Have you added any lately?

Try booting into Safe Mode. Start the machine and tap the F8 key during the boot. You should go to the Advanced Startup Options screen where you can use the arrow keys to select Safe Mode...then press "Enter". It will load a list of files and will likely stall for a minute or two on the last one. It should then start the Safe Mode version of Windows. Log into the Administrator account (the password should be left blank unless you have previously set one).

On some Dells, tapping the F8 key will bring up a boot menu...if that happens, close it and continue tapping F8.

Let me know if the machine will boot into Safe Mode.

wannabe1

[wannabe1]

Hello Gushwa...

This error is usually hardware related. Have you added any lately?

Try booting into Safe Mode. Start the machine and tap the F8 key during the boot. You should go to the Advanced Startup Options screen where you can use the arrow keys to select Safe Mode...then press "Enter". It will load a list of files and will likely stall for a minute or two on the last one. It should then start the Safe Mode version of Windows. Log into the Administrator account (the password should be left blank unless you have previously set one).

On some Dells, tapping the F8 key will bring up a boot menu...if that happens, close it and continue tapping F8.

Let me know if the machine will boot into Safe Mode.

wannabe1

[Gushwa]

Hi Wannabe, Thanks for the quick reply.
I know i've been able to get to the advanced options screen while trying to fix this, but every time I turn it off, then on, and hit the F8 continuously,
i'll hear the pc speaker beeping then I get "strike the F1 key to continue,
F2 to run the setup utility"
then I usually get a blue screen with options to press "R" for repair,
which goes through the motions of loading all drivers, which ends in the blue STOP screen again,
or to hit "enter"
which would install windows,
again going through the motions of loading drivers,
then the agreement page, asking to hit "F8" to install,
I hit F8, I see the black Windows splash screen, looks like it's going to boot,
then, blue STOP screen #$%$%#@!&^!!! again!!!

Just now, after you responded, I got to the advanced options screen by doing the same thing "F8",
I selected just safe mode, next thing, you guessed,
Blue Stop Screen, ahhhggg!!! help.

Edited by Gushwa, 15 January 2008 - 05:58 PM.

[anzenketh]

Gushwa,

Let's go ahead and run some diagnostic on your memory. Turn off your computer turn it back on and start tapping F12. Now you want to choose Diagnostic(Not Hard Drive Diagnostic just Diagnostics) or Boot to Utility partition. Let the tests run if you get a Menu Test Memory test System Select Test memory. If not select Custom test select memory increase the iterations to 10 and test. Report back if you get any error codes. Make Sure that that operating system is out of your cdrom. We do not want want to use it at this time.

[wannabe1]

Who invited you, tux?

You're in good hands, Gushwa...tuxmaster is pretty good at these errors.

[Gushwa]

Hi Tuxmaster, thanks for your quick reply.

After starting it hitting F12,
it went to "boot device menu"

the options are: Onboard or USB CD-ROM Drive,
Onboard SATA Hard Drive
System Setup
Hard Drive Diagnostics
Boot to Utility Partition

There is no, "Diagnostics" only.

Edited by Gushwa, 15 January 2008 - 06:25 PM.

[Gushwa]

I got ya,
Boot to utility partition, gives me:
Express test,
extended test,
custom test,
symptom tree,

Selected custom, raised to 10, currently running test.

I just learned something new, this is pretty cool.

Thanks Tuxmaster.

Edited by Gushwa, 15 January 2008 - 06:42 PM.

[Gushwa]

Hi Tuxmaster, The memory test is still running, it's at 65%,
so far all tests say pass, but I have to run to work.
I'll have to leave this till tomorrow.
I'll look you up, to see when you come back on, and let you know.
I appreciate all your help so far on this.
Thank You, Gushwa

[Gushwa]

Hi TuxMaster,
I'm back, I don't have to work tonight, and am commited to getting this resolved
hopefully with your help, if your time permits.
I know you are very busy, and are donateing your time.
This is very gracious of you.
I would understand if you could not help me tonight.
Just point me in the right direction.
I appreciate all your help thus far.

I ran the "System Memory" test, as you prescribed,
all tests passed with no errors.
I also ran a "Processor" test, a "System Board" test, and a "System Management" test,
all passed with no errors.
If you can, please let me know what I should do next.

Thank You, Gushwa

[Ztruker]

While waiting for TuxMaster, it would be a good idea to power off your computer then open the case. Touch bare metal to discharge any static electricity then remove and reseat any PCI cards, especially if you have a video card (PCI or AGP) instead of an onboard chipset.

Do the same with the IDE cables, both ends. Be careful plugging them back into the system board. Press firmly to seat them well but don't over-press.

Wouldn't hurt to do the same with the memory sticks (RAM). Remove them and then plug them back in again.

Close it up and power up and see what happens.

Have you added any new hardware recently?

[Gushwa]

Hi Ztruker, Thanks for the reply,
no I haven't added any new hardware.
Right now it is just keyboard, mouse, monitor,
and of course the video card.
I will do what you said, and report back.

Thank You, Gushwa

[Gushwa]

Hi Ztruker, I did what you said,
removed, and replaced:
video card,
both sticks ram,
sata cable both ends,
ide cables from dvd rom,
and dvd-rw both ends.
Powered up, went staight to advanced options,
it was moveing surprisingly fast,
I tried last known good,
got the black background windows splash screen like it was going to boot,
then blue stop screen.
Same tech info, 0x000000C2 (0x00000043, ect.

Thank You, Gushwa

[Ztruker]

One last thing to try. I know you have run memory diagnostics and they were clean but I've seen defective memory pass diags many times, so ... try this:

Remove 1 stick of memory, see what happens.
If it fails put it back and remove the other stick and try again.

If that doesn't help then disconnect all devices except boot drive, video, mouse and keyboard and try it. We're trying to isolate this to a specific piece of hardware and this is the best way I know of to do this.

[anzenketh]

Hello Gushwa,

To help us diagnose you said that you ran a reinstallation. Did you format? What type of format did you preform? Just to confirm you got a blue screen while it was trying to load the Graphical interface for installation. Does it happen at any other time. Do you have another video card that you could test with? If you remove the video card(or disable it if on board) do you hear the windows loading music? At this time I do not suspect memory I actually suspect your video card.


Quickly note I just remembered you have a dell you can run diagnostic on your video card. Same as you accessed these other diagnostics only this time choose video.

Edited by tuxmaster, 16 January 2008 - 09:49 PM.

[Gushwa]

Hello TuxMaster,
I just finished doing what Ztruker suggested.
Removed one stick at a time, and tried to boot,
both times same result, (blue screen).
Then went in and diconnected both dvd drives, (ide & power),
removed phone modem, (don't need that anyways),
disconnected adapter fan for video card,

left plugged in sata cable & power to hd,
video card, plugged in monitor, KB, mouse,
tried to boot both safe mode, and last known good,
same result, (blue screen).

When I tried to do a reinstall,
i just tried to boot from disk where it asks for repair,
or to install windows,
I tried both ways.
I don't know how to reformat.
And yes I have another video card I could try.

Thank You, Gushwa