sfufan...
Okay, first, thumbs.db is a Windows database file which
is inserted into every folder in which you have enabled
a thumbnail view in Windows Explorer. It's a harmless
file, but if all folders have this view enabled, it will
result in a large number of these files on your computer -
one for every folder.
To disable this view, and eliminate the .db file on your
Desktop, open Windows Explorer and select the folder
C:\Documents and Settings\WindowsLogonName\Desktop
Then go to the menu at the top and select View -> Details,
or some view other than thumbnails. This will eliminate
the thumbs.db file on your Desktop.
If you want to eliminate the thumbnail view from all your
folders, keep the Desktop folder highlighted, and go to
the menu up top, and select Tools -> Folder Options ->
View, and under 'You can set all of your folders to the
same view', click the button that says 'Like current folder'.
This is unrelated to your problem.
Next, your 'Stop' message is faulty and incomplete, and an
exact duplication is necessary to troubleshoot it effectively.
A complete message would be something like the following:
"STOP 0x00000044 (0x822ad2a0, 0x00000d60, 0x00000000, 0x00000000)
MULTIPLE_IRP_COMPLETE_REQUESTS"
Notice the 4 parenthesized entries following the main entry.
All Windows bluescreen error messages follow this format,
and are much more easily diagnosed with exact reproduction.
If you can provide an exact reproduction of the message, I
can research it more effectively.
Regardless, IdeChnDr.sys is a driver for the Intel Application
Accelerator, and it may help to install the latest driver.
There's some indication that this this file begins to cause
problems subsequent to the installation of Windows XP Service
Pack 2 (SP2). Have you recently installed SP2? The latest
download for the Intel Application Accelerator driver for
Windows XP (you'll have to pick Home or Professional Edition)
is available here:
http://downloadfinder.intel.com/scripts-df-external/Product_Filter.aspx?ProductID=663
As for the BIOS, you're not being asked to disable the BIOS
but to disable certain options within the BIOS. The BIOS is
the Basic Input/Output System, and is a tiny Operating System
built into your motherboard which allows the motherboard to
access the hard drives, CD-ROM and floppy drive in order to
boot into your normal Operating System. It also provides many
other options related to memory, video and so on.
You can enter many BIOSs by pressing the F2 key after the
initial black screen lists your hard drive(s) and CD-ROMs
and before Windows begins to load. It's not recommended
that you change your BIOS settings unless you really know
your way around, and unless your system has *never* worked
with the settings as they are. It seems likely that you're
leaving out important words in the message you say you're
getting, to disable caching and shadowing. It may be telling
you to disable video BIOS shadowing, which is an option in
most BIOSs. It may also have said to disable video BIOS
caching, which is another common option.
If F2 works for you, you could at least familiarize yourself
with the BIOS and look around for where you might disable
caching and shadowing, but it's probably not necessary. If
F2 doesn't work for you, you'll need to notice your BIOS's
brand and version when your computer first starts, and I
can look up the key you need to press to enter it.
Finally, you may be able to forestall the blue screens and
automatic reboots (though this may prevent you from seeing
the informative error messages needed to adequately trouble-
shoot the problem - then again, you may get a useful error
message, anyway). I use Windows 2000, which is very similar
to XP, so the process should be very similar to the following:
Right-click on My Computer, and select Properties. Go to the
Advanced tab and click the Startup and Recovery button.
Uncheck "Automatically Reboot" under the System Failure
section. Again, you may have to navigate in a slightly
different way to find this option in Windows XP, but it's
there.
Also, if you're unable to complete a virus scan using the
antivirus program installed on your hard drive, there are
some excellent online scanners you can use to assure that
a virus is not an issue in what you're experiencing.
Trend Micro has an online scan that is better than many
resident programs:
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/
Given the uncertainties in our original question, it's
quite possible that the information I've provided will
not constitute a final solution to your concerns. Just
post back here to clarify anything I've suggested, or
to ask for further information with regard to what you
discover in applying it.
Please do not rate this answer until you are satisfied that
the answer cannot be improved upon by way of a dialog
established through the "Request for Clarification" process.
A user's guide on this topic is on skermit-ga's site, here:
http://www.christopherwu.net/google_answers/answer_guide.html#how_clarify
sublime1-ga |
Request for Answer Clarification by
sfufan-ga
on
08 Aug 2005 05:10 PDT
Here was the STOP code:
***STOP: 0x000000D1 (0x00000014, 0x00000002, 0x00000000, 0xF97C90F8)
There was no other text after this other than what I had originally
given you which was the IdeChnDr.sys - Address F97C90F8 ...
Yes, I have installed Windows XP SP2. I don't know why it is saying I
have not but will attempt again.
Also, one of the virus scan I have attempted was TrendMicro's online
scan. My computer gave me this blue screen in the middle of the online
scan.
In regards to the BIOS, the blue screen stated:
If problems continue, disable or remove any newly installed hardware
or software. Disable BIOS memory options such as caching or shadowing.
If you need to use safe mode to remove or disalbe components, restart
your computer, press F8...
The screen did not say anything about video BIOS. I have not attempted
to disable BIOS yet. I agree that this will probably not necessary to
change these settings.
|
Clarification of Answer by
sublime1-ga
on
08 Aug 2005 13:42 PDT
sfufan...
Thanks very much for the detailed error codes.
From what I can find, my first thought is that your system
has a problem with IdeChnDr.sys - a driver for the Intel
Application Accelerator program.
The posts I found aren't saying you haven't installed the
Windows XP Service Pack 2. What I said was:
"There's some indication that this this file begins to cause
problems subsequent to the installation of Windows XP Service
Pack 2 (SP2)."
In the following post, for example, the writer is receiving
an error message regarding IdeChnDr.sys, and, in looking for
recent changes made to his system, which is an excellent way
to begin troubleshooting, he notes that the only change he
made recently was to install Service Pack 2:
http://www.alegsa.com.ar/Visitas/i49/Blue%20screen.php
This suggests that some changes made to Windows in SP2
have made the IdeChnDr.sys incompatible with the upgraded
version of Windows. The solution to this is often to go
find an upgraded version of this driver, assuming they
have heard about this error message from their users and
updated it.
The latest version of this driver for the Intel Application
Accelerator driver for Windows XP Home Edition is here:
http://downloadfinder.intel.com/scripts-df-external/filter_results.aspx?strTypes=all&ProductID=663&OSFullName=Windows*+XP+Home+Edition&lang=eng&strOSs=45&submit=Go%21
If you have the Professional edition, you should go to
the first link I gave you and select for that:
http://downloadfinder.intel.com/scripts-df-external/Product_Filter.aspx?ProductID=663
Here's an informative online copy of the Readme.txt for
the Intel Application Accelerator, which explains many
things, such as how to check which version you currently
have, how to verify that your system has the required
hardware for the program (one of the following processors
and IDE controllers):
Intel(R) Pentium(R) III or Pentium(R) 4 processor
and
Intel(R) 82801AA, 82801AB, 82801BA or 82801DB IDE
ATA/ATAPI Controllers
...and how to uninstall the program if you don't
have one of these processor/controller combinations.
It also explains how to install the program, if you
download an upgraded version of it from the page I
referred you to. The Readme.txt is here:
http://64.143.3.64/downloads/drivers/845/perform/Win/readme.txt
If you have any difficulty with the instructions on
that page, let me know, and I can walk you through them.
I would first check in the Windows Device Manager, using
the instructions in Section 7 of the Readme.txt for Windows
XP, and see which IDE Controller you have on your system,
and check to see what version the current drivers are.
If your IDE Controller isn't listed as one of those that
are supported by the program, you need to uninstall the
program.
If the drivers are older than the latest version (2.3) on
the Intel download page, I would update them. However, this
may still not solve the problem. Windows XP Service Pack
2 was released on August 25, 2004, and the latest drivers
for the Intel Application Accelerator are listed as being
released on 11/13/2002. This means they haven't been
updated since the release of XP SP2, and may no longer be
compatible with Windows XP.
Your options in that case would be to uninstall XP SP2,
which is probably not a good idea, unless you're willing
to risk having to completely re-install Windows from scratch,
or you could uninstall the Intel Application Accelerator.
The instructions for doing so are located in Section 8 of
the Readme.txt page, referenced above.
Note this post by cableguy on a daniweb forum, that says he
had the same problem, and resolved it by uninstalling the
Intel drivers and using the standard Windows XP drivers:
http://www.daniweb.com/techtalkforums/thread1217.html
As always, let me know where this takes you, and what else
you need...
sublime1-ga
Searches done, via Google:
0x000000D1 IdeChnDr.sys
://www.google.com/search?q=0x000000D1+IdeChnDr.sys
IdeChnDr.sys "Windows XP" SP2
://www.google.com/search?q=IdeChnDr.sys+%22Windows+XP%22+SP2
STOP: 0x000000D1 "Windows XP" site:support.microsoft.com
://www.google.com/search?q=STOP%3A+0x000000D1+%22Windows+XP%22+site%3Asupport.microsoft.com
"Windows XP" "Service Pack 2" release date
://www.google.com/search?q=%22Windows+XP%22+%22Service+Pack+2%22+release+date
|
Request for Answer Clarification by
sfufan-ga
on
10 Aug 2005 07:33 PDT
Hello sublime1...
Sorry I didn't get back with you earlier, I was gone for a few days.
I had some "interesting" results with the recommendations given in the
last set messages from you, but I believe all is well now. Here is a
rundown of the details.
I downloaded the driver (Intel version 2.3) from the website you had
given me for Windows XP Home edition and installed. My computer was
still giving me the blue screen when running a virus scan.
I checked which version of drivers were installed on my computer with
the link you provided (the readme.txt from the Intel Application
Accelerator) and found that I had version 2.2.0.2126. (By the way, my
processor is Intel Pentium 4 and my Controller is 82801BA ATA). At
that point I updated my driver to a new version. When I did this I
received a warning message stating that the new software "has not
passed Windows Logo testing to verify its compatibility with Windows
XP. Continuing your installation of this hardware may impair or
destabalize the correct operation of your system either immediately or
in the future. Microsoft strongly recommends that you stop this
installation now and contact the hardware vendor for software that has
passed Windows Logo testing."
There were two options given as buttons in the warning dialog box
(Continue Anyway OR Stop installation). I clicked Continue Anyway
thinking I could remove the program later my uninstalling. At that
point a system restore point was created and I had to reboot. I came
back up and found that my driver was updated to version 2.3.
I attempted then to run a virus scan believing that now everything was
fine since the driver download from the Intel website and the actual
driver were a match and that may have been the problem to begin with
(driver being version 2.2 and the update software from Intel based in
version 2.3 somehow causing problems giving me the blue screens).
While running the virus scan my system had crashed again.
When I got my system back up, I went to the "daniweb" link you
provided. The last post in that page mentioned something regarding a
bad sector on a hard drive causing the problem with the computer since
the description of the problem those people were having were almost
identical to mine. I went into "My computer", right clicked on my hard
drive, brought up the "Properties" option, and then attempted to have
the computer scan and fix bad sectors it found. I believed I could
have a bad sector thinking that since the driver was updated the
problem maybe due to a bad sector.
It went through this and when completed the system shut down. When it
was brought back up, I saw it perform a chkdsk operation. It went to
the third of five stages and quit. The system shut down and came back
up again on its own only to perform another chkdsk operation. On the
third cycle, I stopped it by hitting F8, and brought up the safe mode.
At this point, I went into Add and Remove Programs and removed the
Intel Application Accelerator successfully.
I checked my driver version after the removal, it is now Windows
Microsoft version 5.1 (released on 7/1/2001).
I now can run a virus scan SUCCESSFULLY AND COMPLETELY without THE
BLUE SCREEN. Therefore, I guess I don't have a bad sector and the
problem was due to the presence of the Intel Application Accelerator.
It appears my system is "back to normal".
Do you believe my computer system can perform optimally while running
this older driver version? Do you recommend updating the driver to a
new version for faster and/or better performance or leave things the
way they are now? What recommendations can you make to keep my
computer stable?
You would think that as much as Microsoft and Intel are seemingly
"one", they could do a better job than this on compatibility.
Thank you for your help!
|
Clarification of Answer by
sublime1-ga
on
10 Aug 2005 14:13 PDT
sfufan...
Thanks for the detailed description of your process. You did
and excellent job of utilizing the information I gave you in
a progressive and productive fashion.
I can't really say how the loss of the Intel Application
Accelerator will affect system performance, since I'm not
aware of how effective this program was to begin with, but
given that the latest driver update was on 11/13/2002, they
don't seem to be supporting the changes made in Windows by
SP2, and that may mean that the program's effectiveness is
not worth it for them to continue supporting it.
You were right to bypass the message about the driver not
having passed the Windows Logo testing, especially when
installing a driver from a reputable company like Intel,
but the message is yet another indication that the authors
of the software are not submitting their work for approval
by Microsoft. This is consistent with their failure to
update the driver following the release of SP2. If I were
you, I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for an updated
driver, but if they do release one, it will likely be
functional under SP2. They may do so if they hear from
enough users like you who have had similar problems.
In the meantime, I would have no concerns at all about
using the MS driver, and I doubt very much that doing
so will have a noticeable impact on your system's
performance. I would recommend dropping by the Windows
Update site. If there is a newer driver, it will be
installed, but drivers with older dates of issue are
not, by definition, outdated. Some are just so reliable
that there's been no need to update them.
I'm also under the impression that Microsoft and Intel
are separate entities, though I would agree that they
should certainly be collaborating more closely than
they appear to be.
One thing I would do is to run a chkdsk to completion,
since it never completed a full run. I expect it will
have no problem doing so now, in the absence of the
Application Accelerator's driver, and other critical
Windows functions, such as Windows Defrag, may not
run until chkdsk is run to completion.
Congratulations on your success!
Best regards...
sublime1-ga
|
Request for Answer Clarification by
sfufan-ga
on
10 Aug 2005 21:07 PDT
Hello again sublime1,
I wanted to give you an update. I ran through the suggestions you gave
me and had my computer scan and fix the problems it found in clusters
and sectors by right clicking on the hard drive icon and selecting
properties. It performed all four phases successfully. I also
performed a disk defragmentation successfully. I then performed a
chkdsk and all 5 phases were completed and were successful. A few bad
clusters were fixed.
It looks as if everything is running smoothly and back to normal. I
will leave the current driver version where it is now since the
performance of the computer is about the same. I have Windows Update
automatically turned on so if this is a big issue I'm sure I will be
notified of an update to the driver.
Thank you again for everything! I can now relax and bid my farewell to
you and the Fishers.....
|
Clarification of Answer by
sublime1-ga
on
10 Aug 2005 21:27 PDT
sfufan...
Being that your last update was posted as a Request for Answer
Clarification, I have to respond to it to clear my board of
notice. I'm very happy to hear that chkdsk and defrag were
able to run successfully, and that all is well with your
system once again
Thanks very much for the rating!
Best regards...
sublime1-ga
|
