X61s - Vista x64 and a LOT of BSODs - Why? (UPDATED)

[iamdmc]

Hi,
I have an X61s with the configuration shown in my signature (with BIOS 2.13 - because you can't update to 2.16 in Vista x64 and the computer wouldn't recognize the bootable ISO for BIOS 2.16). I recently bought a 250GB Seagate HDD and installed Vista Ultimate x64 onto it. I have the legal copy, but I hate downloading all of the updates (incl SP1) and restarting my computer a few hundred times so I downloaded an ISO of Vista Ultimate x64 with SP1 integrated (a file new for October) and installed it using my key. For the first week I had no problems. I installed all the software (Thinkvantage included, through System Update 3.14). Then about a week later, I started getting a LOT of blue screens. Most referred to the following:

-BUGCODE_USB_DRIVER (new one)
-INTERNAL_POWER_ERROR
-BAD_POOL_HEADER
-INTERRUPT_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED
-SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION
-usbhub.sys
-hdaudbus.sys
-netio.sys
-nwifi.sys
-athrx.sys (most common)
-ndis.sys
and others that were random like 0x00000000 with an F in there sometimes. I thought this has something to do with the memory.

I get the BSODs most often when I am using the internet, but it can happen even more often when I use Facebook or my torrent downloading client (Vuze). Sometimes the BSODs seem entirely random (ie. I'm not using the internet and am just writing something up)

Then "Sleep" stopped working - I would put the computer to sleep but it would just freeze after the screen turned off.

So I ran a memory test using Windows "Memory Diagnostic Tools" - which came up with no errors.
I ran the Lenovo HDD diagnostics which found an error and "stopped". Then I ran the Windows Hard Disk check, which found and repaired 1 error. I ran Seatools (Seagate HDD diagnostics) for DOS which also found an error and repaired it.

I removed all new software (ie. since the BSODs began) and uninstalled all Thinkvantage software/drivers, then reinstalled Thinkvantage software/drivers.

Can anyone tell me:
Is my RAM bad? I had BSODs on my old HDD with Vista Ultimate x64, but not nearly so many (ie. once every 3 weeks before)
Is my HDD bad? If so, how do I check?
Is my installation of Vista bad?
Is my Mobo okay?

Thanks in advance!

UPDATE: Reinstalled Windows Vista with the same disc and just got my first BSOD: "INTERNAL_POWER_ERROR". Is this a software problem or what?
AND... minutes later, I got my second BSOD: "ndis.sys"

Still more BSODS... what do I do? I have a feeling it has to do with the wireless driver from Lenovo...

[erik]

I have the legal copy, but I hate downloading all of the updates (incl SP1) and restarting my computer a few hundred times so I downloaded an ISO of Vista Ultimate x64 with SP1 integrated (a file new for October) and installed it using my key.

<snip>

Can anyone tell me:
Is my RAM bad?

where did you get the ISO?   torrent?   did you verify its MD5 hash to make sure it's legitimate?

have you ever tested your memory?   if not, memtest86+ is worth a shot.

[iamdmc]

Torrent, yes. How do I check the MD5?

I have memtest, but I have yet to run that. Needed a CD and just got one - to put Memtest onto.

[iamdmc]

Just reinstalled windows...

Let's see what happens

[iamdmc]

No BSODs since last update

[iamdmc]

I'M ALMOST CERTAIN IT WAS THE WIRELESS CARD DRIVER (atheros)

Here's the fix (I posted it in another thread)

Possible fix (do both):
-Uninstall Access Connections
-Replace the file "athrx.sys" in C:\Windows\SysWOW64\ with the Lenovo-provided copy of it

TO DO THIS...
1. Download the WLAN package from the Lenovo site, to your desktop.
2. Extract it - by default to C:\DRIVERS\Vista\WLLANATH. Install the executable file "setup.exe" and restart the computer.
3. Rename the file in C:\Windows\SysWOW64\ to "athrx.sys.old"
4. Copy the ATHRX.SYS file from C:\DRIVERS\Vista\WLLANATH to the C:\Windows\SysWOW64\ folder.
5. Click START and type "Dev man" into the search box. This will bring up the device manager. Find your wireless card under "Network Devices" and double-click it. Then go to the "Driver" tab and click "Update Driver" - and specify the folder where it should be located (when I did this, I chose C:\DRIVERS\Vista\WLLANATH\DRIVER\VISTA_64 ) and click OK. It should tell you you already have the best driver available.

This should be it. Hopefully no more BSODs. If you do get more BSODs, try to uninstall the driver for the wireless card through the Device Manager (as simple as clicking the "delete" key), restarting your computer, then redoing step 3-4 and then step 2 and 5 again.

If you really need Access Connections, find an older version. I'm looking for one myself (as well as an older version of the battery manager). I hate the new versions - too slow and reduced functionality. If you find the old versions, please PM me.

Cheers
-D