I got a B.S.O.D. with the message about an "ad_pool_caller" screwing
up the system and it halted it. I have not installed any new hardware,
as the message warned, but I was having trouble with my router at the
time (since fixed.) Can't go in with safe mode either. I attemped
to repair it with the install disk, but it would not allow it. I
installed 2nd version of XP on a new partition just to access the
drive but to no avail.
How can I restore my original configuration of Windows?I have a Dell
P4 with a gig RAM 40 gig HD running XP Home w/SP2. Email
glazer@mindspring.com |
Request for Question Clarification by
inquisitive-ga
on
09 Sep 2004 09:38 PDT
There are a number of ways to roll back your system or figure out the
problem, but I'm confused as to whether you can restart your system.
When you say you "can't go in with safe mode either" does that mean
that you can't restart Windows at all? If not, what is the exact error
message that you receive when you try to restart Windows?
Also, did the error message mention a specific diriver by name or
mention a specific type of hardware that was causing the problem?
Did you installed new firmware or a new driver for your router prior
to this problem?
Thanks,
--inquisitive-ga
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Clarification of Question by
caribeguy-ga
on
09 Sep 2004 10:03 PDT
There was very little specific info - just that what I gave you. I had
reset my router due to connectivity issues. It's a Lynksys BEFSR41
ver2 wired router. When I try to boot to the original config, I get
the BSOD and it just cycles. Safe modes just doesn't work. I can't get
in. I am only able to start Windows due to the secondary installation,
but would really like the original back. Surely there is a way thru
DOS or something to fix it.
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Clarification of Question by
caribeguy-ga
on
09 Sep 2004 10:04 PDT
Should have mentioned ---Sys restore did nothing as well.
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Clarification of Question by
caribeguy-ga
on
09 Sep 2004 10:24 PDT
Let me clarify...my mind is cheese. I've been doing this for almost 2
days. The BSOD just flashes for a fraction of a second. I actually had
to take a photo with my digital to be able to read it. The 'pause'
button did nothing. All it does is keep recycling, trying to
boot...and not. There is no other message. The blue screen just goes
on about additions that may have been made and to go in with safe mode
F8 on and on. But nothing works. AD_POOL_CALLER is the culprit!
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Request for Question Clarification by
inquisitive-ga
on
09 Sep 2004 10:47 PDT
BAD_POOL_CALLER isn't the culprit, it just means that a kernel process
or driver is making a bad memory call. That's why I was asking the
questions about new drivers or firmware.
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/resources/documentation/Windows/XP/all/reskit/en-us/prmd_stp_czgw.asp
What happens when you try to reboot in Safe Mode? Are you using F8 on
startup to select Safe Mode? If you can get in in Safe Mode (which you
should be able to) then you need to go into the Control Panel and
disable 'Automatic Restart' under 'System Failure' in the 'Startup and
Recovery' section of the 'Advanced' Tab in 'System Properties.'
Also, how recently did you install Service Pack 2 for your Windows XP?
This SP has been known to cause a lot of conflicts with various
drivers that cause the computer to restart continuously. If you think
that could possibly be the problem, let me know.
--inquisitive-ga
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Request for Question Clarification by
inquisitive-ga
on
09 Sep 2004 10:55 PDT
You probably already know this, but just in case...
You need to use F8 on startup to get into Safe Mode, not after the BSOD comes up:
When you first restart the computer, the computer begins loading the
BIOS instructions. You may see a progress bar or a brief message that
indicates this is happening. Or you may not. As soon as the BIOS is
loaded start tapping the F8 key. Continue to do so until the Windows
Advanced Options menu appears. If you begin tapping the F8 key too
soon, some computers display a "keyboard error" message. If this
happens, just restart the computer and try again. If you're too late
you'll get your BSOD. Restart and start tapping the F8 key earlier.
Alternatively, you may be able to set your computer to restart in Safe
Mode from the System Configuration panel via your working partition
(I've never used multiple partitions so I'm not as sure about this).
Click Start, and then click Run. Then type 'msconfig' in the run
dialog box and then click OK. The System Configuration Utility then
appears. Check the "/SAFEBOOT" option, and then click OK. Restart your
computer.
--inquisitive-ga
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Clarification of Question by
caribeguy-ga
on
09 Sep 2004 15:30 PDT
No I was able to get into safe mode at all. It just keeps rebooting,
cycling overe and over - nothing happens. I tried every way to get in.
All I get is the BSOD and it goes on and on.Editing the boot menu
from the partition I'm in does no goes as the registry is different.I
tried it. Nothing. I would need to in the partition I need to change
to change it. F8 didn't do it.
Serice Pack 2 was installed via Automatic Updates. I ran into other
trouble with it with Nero, but they had a patch already. I wish I had
disabled the update now.
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Clarification of Question by
caribeguy-ga
on
09 Sep 2004 15:32 PDT
To add---I don't think it is cycling due to SP2 as I've had it for a
week or more. Nothing has happened before. And it is not rebootong
with out my encouraging it. It doesn't get into XP so tries again.
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Clarification of Question by
caribeguy-ga
on
09 Sep 2004 15:33 PDT
Sorry - that should have read that I am NOT able to get into Safe Mode.
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Request for Question Clarification by
inquisitive-ga
on
09 Sep 2004 18:32 PDT
A couple more things:
1) If you haven't already, disconnect all hardware (including your
router) prior to rebooting. See if that keeps your system from hanging
on boot.
2) Bad Pool Caller is a specific stop message that relates to a driver
error...so you've got a bad driver somewhere. You may want to try
Driver Verifier
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=244617
3) You mentioned trying to repair with the hard disk and it was
unsuccessful, but since you didn't specify what you did I thought I'd
mention it again. You should be able to boot the Windows Recovery
Console from CD and use it to either repair your windows, copy files,
undo a recent installation, or fix the master boot record, should that
have become corrupt. You can also use it to do a clean reinstall of
Windows while still retaining your original applications and settings.
This might be your best option in this case.
Windows XP Crashed? Here's Help
http://www.digitalwebcast.com/2002/03_mar/tutorials/cw_boot_toot2.htm
4) If you can't boot into safe mode can you at least get the boot
prompt when you hit F8? If so, select "Safe Mode with Command Prompt"
When the dos command window comes up, you can then type
%systemroot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe to activate System Restore
and restore your computer to a point prior to the start of your
problems.
5) Have you actually shut down and restarted your computer since
installing SP2? If not, then here's something else you should look at:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=885626&product=windowsxpsp2
--inquisitive-ga
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Clarification of Question by
caribeguy-ga
on
10 Sep 2004 10:22 PDT
Well the links didn't help either. They specifically that that OEM
version should NOT use the fixes and the recovery article sounds great
- but like I mentioned - I can't get in. It claims I have a password
and I don't. Now what?
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Request for Question Clarification by
inquisitive-ga
on
10 Sep 2004 11:02 PDT
The two links that I suggested don't warn against the OEM version of
Windows that I can tell. That only applies to the link posted as a
user comment. Did you try using Driver Verifier to figure out which
driver is causing the problems? Did you check the issue I mentioned in
option #4?
The Recovery Console asking for an admin password can be a problem I
understand. Try leaving the password blank and just hitting enter.
This should take you to the recovery console dos prompt.
Microsoft provides full instructions on its Web site for using the
Recovery Console. Here are the basics from their knowledge base, and
below I include the link for the rest of the page with even more
detailed instructions:
"To run the Recovery Console from the Windows XP startup disks or the
Windows XP CD-ROM, follow these steps:
Insert the Windows XP startup disk into the floppy disk drive, or
insert the Windows XP CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive, and then restart
the computer.
Click to select any options that are required to start the computer
from the CD-ROM drive if you are prompted.
When the "Welcome to Setup" screen appears, press R to start the Recovery Console.
If you have a dual-boot or multiple-boot computer, select the
installation that you must access from the Recovery Console.
When you are prompted, type the Administrator password. If the
administrator password is blank, just press ENTER.
At the command prompt, type the appropriate commands to diagnose and
repair your Windows XP installation.
For a list of commands that are available in Recovery Console, type
recovery console commands or help at the command prompt, and then
press ENTER.
For information about a specific command, type help commandname at the
command prompt, and then press ENTER.
To exit the Recovery Console and restart the computer, type exit at
the command prompt, and then press ENTER."
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q307654&sd=tech
Good luck!
--inquisitive-ga
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Request for Question Clarification by
inquisitive-ga
on
10 Sep 2004 15:36 PDT
Since you're talking about some pretty complicated fixes here I'd
actually recommend that you get someone who can help you in person or
via the phone with this issue. Since you can't even boot to a dos
prompt in safe mode your computer is hanging very early in the process
and it's going to be a bit tricky to fix without a reinstall (which
you're trying to avoid). If you want, I can post as an answer the
steps you need to take to restore your system to an earlier point
through your Windows Recovery Console. To do this, however, you'll
first need to be able to get past the password problem.
I don't know why hitting "Enter" isn't working for the admin password,
however. Are you sure you don't have an admin password set anywhere?
If you do figure out how to access the Windows Recovery Console, and
want me to post the steps I mentioned above as an answer, let me know.
It will include a number of DOS commands, but I'll tell you step by
step what to do. You'll have to understand, however, that I can't
guarantee that it will work.
Your other best option, as I mentioned above, is to take your computer
in to a professional or contact Dell support to see if they can help
you via the phone. This is what I would suggest since the answers I'm
giving you obviously aren't helping and you aren't comfortable with
DOS.
Good luck!
--inquisitive-ga
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Clarification of Question by
caribeguy-ga
on
10 Sep 2004 17:34 PDT
I appreciate the input. Really, there has been no reason for me to
create a password for the machine. At boot, it it goes right into the
GUI, no filling in of anything. I realize if I could get past that
password thing, I'd be home-free. Even the article said hitting enter
should work - but it doesn't. Not being able to get into a safe mode
is killing me too. And it's not that I'm uncomfortable with DOS, it's
just there are so many links there and I don't know what I'm looking
for. I could do a step-by-step as well as anyone if I knew what I was
doing, but I don't. What I would really like to do at this point is
overwrite XP and save my files if you could walk me through that. I
have not found that to be a choice anywhere yet. I don't mind
reinstalling the OS all the drivers and all. I have all the disks or
at least the URLs if I don't. It's my apps and files I'd like to save.
At least most of my jpgs are on a CD already. If all is lost
eventually, at least the photos won't be. I have found it impossible
to access some info across registries. Some, like the jpgs, I can
access no problem. But the apps just don't work. And mail...is it
possible to get to my inbox from Outlook Express from one config to
the next?(I log on to J:/ and need it from the other config on C:/)
There is some mail I really need still. So if you could just answer
these 2 questions, we'll leave it as done. Otherwise I'll have to
bring the box in , as you said. 1) To reinstall the OS and save files.
2) To access mail. Thanks again.
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Clarification of Question by
caribeguy-ga
on
12 Sep 2004 10:14 PDT
Well I hadn't heard from you so I thought you gave up -- as did I. I
threw in the towel. I copied what I could to CD and reformatted and
reinstalled. Still in the process..... Finally everything is as it
should be. What I did - and what Windows should do automatically in my
opinion is to have the OS on its own partition. Everything else is an
another 'drive' and it is safer that way should a crash occur. I'm
still loading programs, but it works. I lost a lot of work I couldn't
save but time is money. And time is time. thanks for yours even tought
it didn't pan out.
Arthur
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