Blue Screen in Windows XP Pro!

[MarkTwain]

I'm running under Win XP Pro, which I recently upgraded (not a clean install) to from W2K. For the past two weeks, I've been getting the dreaded Blue Screen (“error caused by a device or driver”) and my system stops running. A simple reboot usually gets the system running OK again.

I've run SpyBot, Avast & CheckDisk and turned up no hints of trouble. I suspect the blue screens are related a failed attempt last month to install XP Service Pack III, which I need to download to get that critical security update (of last month) for IE. The failed install gave me an "Access Denied" message, & told me my system might not function properly as a result of the failed SP III install.

A PC-Mech member did point me to some previous posts related to fixing the SP III Install dilemma, but I want to get my OS back to functioning properly before I tackle that again...

Checking recent messages in the OS Event Viewer, I find these:

a) Warning: Trace Level Parameters not located in Registry

b) Error: 0x10000007e System thread exception not handled

c) Error: Event service start failed...The %1 service failed to start due to the following error:%2...probably because the service is not configured correctly.

d) Error: Event boot system drivers failed...following boot-start or system-start driver(s) failed to load:%1...driver might not be in the expected location.

How can I get my system back in good shape? Will the Win XP Install CD-ROM be of any help?

Thanks for any feedback!

[shadowpr]

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/330182

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/953356

Have you updated all your motherboard drivers to xp drivers from the manufacturer?

What about video, and sound drivers?

[MarkTwain]

To update my Asus A7V880 Mobo BIOS, from the Asus web site I downloaded a utility called the Asus Update (v.7.09.02), dated 12/26/06.

I unpacked and installed it, but it didn't show up via the Start Menu. The installed program has no .exe file. A file in the Install part said, "Please install Network Card and TCP/IP network driver first, otherwise ASUS Update can not work properly."

I'm not sure where those items are, or where to get them; I didn't find them on the Asus Motherboard utility CDROM that came with the new Mobo (in 2004)....

[shadowpr]

You shouldn't need a utility to update the bios. It should just be a file, and done from within the bios. Double check your manual to be sure. (Older MB's may be different, and I just don't know.)

You can get the drivers from the Asus website. I see they have audio and lan. They also have something under other.

[MarkTwain]

Given that updating a Mobo BIOS can disastrous if not properly done, I'm finding out, Asus strongly recommends using its Asus Update utility to do it.

Now if they were only a bit more helpful on those other two items....

[shadowpr]

I wouldn't worry about the bios yet.

Have you updated the drivers?

[MarkTwain]

I will update the other drivers presently. Thanks.