BSOD on startup -- "Page fault in nonpaged area"

[ivyheel]

Recently, upon booting into Windows XP on my T60, I encountered BSOD with "PAGE FAULT IN NON-PAGED AREA" message.

I was further unable to boot into safe mode (or safe mode w/ command prompt).

Not quite knowing what to do, I rebooted and accessed ThinkVantage diagnostics. I first ran a full memory test (passed) and then ran a quick system test. I noticed on the resulting testlog that the "parallel port interface" test had failed repeatedly before finally aborting.

I've not installed any new hardware or software on my T60 recently, and while I've found a few viruses in the past on this machine, I've not found any in a while.

Anyone have suggestions as to next steps? Is it possible that something has come unseated internally?

Thanks in advance for any help.

[GomJabbar]

Could be one of several things. Try disabling your parallel port in the BIOS and see if that makes a difference.

See also: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-gb/library/ms793437.aspx

http://www.google.com/search?client=ope ... 8&oe=utf-8

[ivyheel]

No luck. I disabled the parallel port, rebooted, and was still greeted by BSOD.

Any ideas as to next steps / diagnostic tests I might be able to run?

Thanks a ton for helping, BTW.....

[richk]

There is no parallel port on T60 (unless you have a dock). I ran the PC doctor parallel port test on another T60 (that works fine) and the test failed also. I don't think that is your problem. Your problem might be software or a bad memory chip.

[ivyheel]

Thanks -- that makes sense. I didn't see anything resembling a parallel port on the exterior of my T60, but didn't know enough about PC hardware to say definitively that the T60 was without one.

OK -- so what tests might I run (in PC Doctor or otherwise) to help track this down?

Note that I don't really have any software on my T60 that I couldn't bear losing (or otherwise being forced to reinstall). The only files I really care about on this machine are personal files that were sitting in a folder on the desktop. So, if there's an easier solution that wouldn't risk loss of these files, I'd be happy to go that route....

Thanks a bunch. I appreciate any help you can offer....

[richk]

Your disk may be sick. Run the diagnostics built into the BIOS. If that isn't a problem, try the PC doctor memory test

[ivyheel]

BIOS diagnostic test passed. I previously ran a full memory test in PC Doctor, and that passed as well, but I'll run it again to be sure.

In the meantime, are there any other diagnostic tests I should run, or any other devices I should try to disable in the BIOS setup? Also -- could recent entries in the system event log provide any hints as to what might be malfunctioning?

Thanks again for the help. Really appreciate your suggestions....

[RealBlackStuff]

Get yourself a USB enclosure for 2.5" SATA drives.
Remove the HD from the laptop, put it in the enclosure, connect that to another PC/laptop and copy your personal files off the HD before anything goes South.
Only then should you continue with further testing!

[ivyheel]

Thanks for the tip.

Lots of options -- any brand you might recommend? How much should I spend on one?

http://www.pricegrabber.com/usb+enclosu ... opcat_id=1

[RealBlackStuff]

As to the case, if you want to use it on a regular basis, get one that pleases your eye and your budget.
If it's a one-off use, I suggest this: $6.57 with free shipping from California!
http://cgi.ebay.com/USB-2-0-2-5-SATA-HA ... 0491332813

If you expect to check more hard disks from this or another laptop or PC, you could also consider this:
Universal ATA/SATA/USB 2.5" and 3.5" compatible unit.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6812161002
I use one of those with excellent results.

[djones18]

I had similar symptom on my T60 last week immediately after Microsoft's latest October security update downloaded and installed. Tried everything you tried and the hardware checked out okay. Must be a software conflict caused by the download. I could never get to the point when booting where I had the option of going into "Safe" mode to roll back to previous state before the download. On boot up, system always went to BSOD immediately after Windows splash screen appeared. So this must be a Windows software loading problem.

I opened a ticket with Microsoft under their support section. I was pleasently surprised when contacted within 24 hours and a technician assigned to my problem at no expense to me. We spent days troubleshooting, he doing far more than I could ever do on my own. I was required to send him logs of my system often so he could check results. This may seem invasive but it is the only way to fix a really broken Operating System under this scheme.

Unfortunately after four days of twice daily interactions with my technician, BSOD still occurred. I gave up and installed a backup hard disk drive I imaged (cloned) four months ago using Acronis software. The non-booting hard drive still contained my document files, so I connectied this drive via an external case w/USB cable and updated four months of missing data. This took some time but was not difficult. I should have backed up my entire system more frequently and now I will.

The technician worked through a long number of troubleshooting steps and was willing to continue as long as I could hang with him. I'm sure he would have stayed with this until we got it fixed but I needed to get my computer back up and operating. In the end, he sent me a complete new set of Windows XP Professional install disks for my trouble...something you don't get with your computer. I'm very impressed with Microsoft's assistance even though we never got to the point my operating system booted normally.

You might give Microsoft a chance to help.

[ivyheel]

Thanks for the replies, both of you. I will definitely look into getting one of those enclosures.

Also -- I will definitely hit up the Microsoft support. The onset of my problem was very similar to yours: immediately prior to the first BSOD, I had consented to a restart of my T60 following an update. Also, when I now try to boot into safe mode with networking, the T60 hangs upon reaching "Mup.sys" -- and then BSOD appears a few moments thereafter. So, I suppose it's entirely possible that the update had something to do with the issues I've encountered.

Though it may not help you, djones18, I will reply back to this thread if I am able to resolve the issue with MS support.

In the meantime, if the above info triggers any ideas, or if anyone has anything else to add, feel free to reply....

Thanks again!!

[RealBlackStuff]

mup.sys:
see the second post in this thread: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=81263

[ivyheel]

Quick update on this issue, in case anyone is dealing with the same thing:

After stepping through the issue with Microsoft support, they are sending me (gratis) a copy of Windows XP Pro (as my T60 did not ship with a reinstallation disk) so to step me through some possible fixes. The copy is due to arive within 3-10 business days, after which I'll be getting back in touch with the support staff. I'll post again once I have another update to report.

Incidentally, it seems many others have experienced the same problems as I have following a recent Windows Update:

http://social.answers.microsoft.com/For ... 0ff8d9facb

[funenuf]

After applying updates on of my users began receiving the BSOD. We were unable to get into Safe Mode or Last Known Good. It was solved by going into BIOS and changing the SATA setting from AHCI to Compatibility. After this we were able to boot into XP with no issue. It completed applying updates and then required a restart. I hope this helps.

Jeff

[ivyheel]

Thanks for the tip, funenuf -- and forgive my ignorance, but what does changing that setting actually do? Are there any potential disadvantages to compatibility mode (versus AHCI)?

Just wondering if I should give this a shot before I give Microsoft tech support a callback.....

[djones18]

Please let us know how this works out for you and if it got fixed, what was done. I haven't yet allowed any Microsoft updates to download since the incident I describe in my previous post.

[ivyheel]

Well, I'd like to be able to report that, with Microsoft Tech Support's help, I was able to definitively track down this issue. Unfortunately, I ultimately resolved the issue the same way that funenuf did -- i.e. by changing the the SATA setting (in BIOS) from AHCI to Compatibility.

I had gone to the trouble of attempting to work through the problem with Microsoft Tech Support -- speaking with various persons, ordering a Windows XP install disc (since my ThinkPad did not ship with one) so to access recovery tools (MS provided this to me, gratis), and stepping through things. After a few rounds of troubleshooting, I decided to give funenuf's suggestion a try. It worked.

I can't say that I have a solid understanding of what actually happened -- it might be the case that the Windows update that auto-installed in mid-October switched my SATA setting, and it was merely the case that I needed to manually switch it back (as I did) -- OR it could be something entirely different. I just don't know enough to say what the problem was. When I explained to the MS technician what I had done to "resolve" the issue, he too was dumbfounded as to what might have gone wrong, as well as why this particular "fix" worked.

So -- I guess I'm in the same boat as some of you -- somewhat leery about automatic updates and still curious as to what actually happened. Don't know that I'll ever really know....

Apologies to anyone who was waiting on an answer here. If anyone has any ideas, or anything to add, I'd be grateful for your input.

[richk]

At one point I did some simple testing and found no significant performance improvement from running in ACHI mode, although I do use that option on my machines. ACHI should work unless something got trashed in your windows installation. Is it possible that you used to be running in compatibility mode and did a BIOS update or hit F9 to load defaults or had your CMOS battery die to get the defaults in the BIOS? (ACHI is the default)

My suggestion is that if it is working now, leave it alone

[GomJabbar]

My guess is that you need to reinstall the Intel Matrix Storage Manager for ACHI to work again. Not sure how it got trashed to begin with.

Intel Matrix Storage Manager Driver for Windows 7 (32bit), Vista (32bit) and XP - ThinkPad

Here is how to install it (from the link above).

NOTE: If you select AHCI for Serial ATA (SATA) in the BIOS Setup Utility before installing Intel Matrix Storage Manager Driver, your computer will not respond; it will only display a blue screen.

1. Power off the computer.
2. Power on the computer.
3. Press the F1 key to enter the BIOS Setup Utility when the ThinkPad logo is seen on the screen. The BIOS Setup Utility menu will be displayed. If a password prompt appears, type the correct password.
4. Select Config.
5. Select Serial ATA (SATA).
6. Select Compatibility.
7. Press the F10 key to save the new setup, and then select Yes.
8. Restart the computer.
9. Install Windows XP and Service Pack 2.
10. Download Intel Matrix Storage Manager Driver from the Web site and extract the driver to C:\DRIVERS\WIN\IMSM.
11. Go to C:\DRIVERS\WIN\IMSM\PREPARE, and double-click install.cmd.
12. Power off and on the computer.
13. Press the F1 key to enter the BIOS Setup Utility when the ThinkPad logo is seen on the screen. The BIOS Setup Utility menu will be displayed. If a password prompt appears, type the correct password.
14. Select Config.
15. Select Serial ATA (SATA).
16. Select AHCI.
17. Press the F10 key to save the new setup, and then select Yes. The computer will reboot and Windows XP will start.
18. The Welcome to the Found New Hardware Wizard appears. Click No, not this time, and then click Next.
19. Select Install from a list or specific location (Advanced), and then click Next.
20. Select Search for the best driver in these locations. Then select Include this location in the search:, specify the path, C:\DRIVERS\WIN\IMSM, and click Next. The Completing the Found New Hardware Wizard appears.
21. Click Finish.
22. When the System Settings Change window appears, click Yes. The computer restarts.