Help! T41--BSOD--IRQL_Not_Less_than_equal *_*

[cozybug]

Howdy, my little T41 (4 years old) recently got the BSOD message. Three days ago, it is IRQL not less than equal.

IRQL_Not_less_than_equal

The error message was like this:
BCCode : a BCP1 : F897D504 BCP2 : 00000002 BCP3 : 00000001
BCP4 : 805111E0 OSVer : 5_1_2600 SP : 1_0 Product : 256_1

C:\WINDOWS\Minidump\Mini060508-01.dmp
C:\DOCUME~1\ADMINI~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\WER1.tmp.dir00\sysdata.xml


When I tried to reinstall the whole operation system via the Access IBM button, it was interrupted by the BSOD again and when I formatted the HD and reinstall, it was able to get into the Win XP but all of the IBM software were not installed and most of the hardware drivers were not either.

The computer guy in my school helped to manually install most of the drivers and downloaded the service pack 1 and 2. He also asked me to download service pack 3.

We ran the harddrie test (full test) and it was all green.

I called IBM and they helped me to run the PC doc program and all green was the result too. Therefore, they said that it should not be hardware problem and most likely a software problem. But he suggested that I uninstall the service pack 3 and it was unstable. He suggested purchasing some diagnostic disk sets.

Then yesterday, my laptopn has BSOD FIFTEEN TIMES. Most are during my normal browsing with Firefox. Here are some of error messages I collected:

C:\DOCUME~1\rongrong\LOCALS~1\Temp\WER1e4b.dir00\Mini060608-02.dmp
C:\DOCUME~1\rongrong\LOCALS~1\Temp\WER1e4b.dir00\sysdata.xml


BCCode : 1000000a BCP1 : F8ADD500 BCP2 : 00000002 BCP3 : 00000001
BCP4 : 804D9B68 OSVer : 5_1_2600 SP : 3_0 Product : 256_1


C:\DOCUME~1\rongrong\LOCALS~1\Temp\WER4ef4.dir00\NMain.exe.mdmp
C:\DOCUME~1\rongrong\LOCALS~1\Temp\WER4ef4.dir00\appcompat.txt


szAppName : NMain.exe szAppVer : 103.0.2.10 szModName : hungapp
szModVer : 0.0.0.0 offset : 00000000


BCCode : 1000000a BCP1 : 01000409 BCP2 : 00000002 BCP3 : 00000000
BCP4 : 804E6945 OSVer : 5_1_2600 SP : 3_0 Product : 256_1

C:\DOCUME~1\rongrong\LOCALS~1\Temp\WERcc6f.dir00\Mini060708-07.dmp
C:\DOCUME~1\rongrong\LOCALS~1\Temp\WERcc6f.dir00\sysdata.xml

BCCode : 1000000a BCP1 : 01000409 BCP2 : 00000002 BCP3 : 00000000
BCP4 : 804E6945 OSVer : 5_1_2600 SP : 3_0 Product : 256_1

C:\DOCUME~1\rongrong\LOCALS~1\Temp\WER446d.dir00\Mini060708-08.dmp
C:\DOCUME~1\rongrong\LOCALS~1\Temp\WER446d.dir00\sysdata.xml


BCCode : 1000000a BCP1 : 01000409 BCP2 : 00000002 BCP3 : 00000000
BCP4 : 804E6945 OSVer : 5_1_2600 SP : 3_0 Product : 256_1

C:\DOCUME~1\rongrong\LOCALS~1\Temp\WER2eb5.dir00\Mini060708-12.dmp
C:\DOCUME~1\rongrong\LOCALS~1\Temp\WER2eb5.dir00\sysdata.xml

BCCode : 1000000a BCP1 : 01000409 BCP2 : 00000002 BCP3 : 00000000
BCP4 : 804E6945 OSVer : 5_1_2600 SP : 3_0 Product : 256_1

C:\DOCUME~1\rongrong\LOCALS~1\Temp\WERc896.dir00\Mini060708-14.dmp
C:\DOCUME~1\rongrong\LOCALS~1\Temp\WERc896.dir00\sysdata.xml

I got some answers from some other computer experts that it can be either a harddrive prob or RAM problem, But as they have passed the HD test, should I exclude the HD totally?

Today, the BSOD kept on going after I deleted the service pack 3. But this time it happens during windows startup. And I have to shut it down and restart several times (as the same BSOD--Not less than equal occurs times and again).

NOW, MY QUESTIONS:

1. How likely this is gonna be a hardware problem?
2. Does this mean that I should throw my T41 away and buy a new one? IBM wanna charge >600 for the fixation *_*

Thanks for your patience and belly belly appreciate your help!

[ARD]

If the HD is ok, then test the ram.
There is a prgram called memtest.
It will put your ram through the wringer
to see where it may fail.
Good luck.

http://www.memtest.org/

[cozybug]

so far, i have run harddrive fitness test and pc doctor and memtest (3.5 version--ran a long time till 1050%), all green.

[cozybug]

hmm, there is another interesting point i'd like to mention: whenever i am using it on campus these days (with freezing AC), it never goes BSOD. But whenever I use it at home (around 75~80), it very easily feels HOT and the BSOD comes up again--does this mean that there can be some temp issues too?

[ARD]

If the CPU is running at around 70-80 C, it is running within its normal parameters. Hot, but nothing catastrophic.
I think your problem may be the hard drive is overheating.
Download NHC and it will tell you the HD temp.
One time my HD started clicking every few seconds after I had been using my TP for about 5 hours. I checked the temp and it was around 70C if I remember correctly. Maybe more, maybe less.
But I shut it down for a while and the clicking was gone.
Check your HD temp.

[cozybug]

after moving the laptop to a cooler place, the BSOD reduced to once per day.

I ran the HD defragmentation yesterday and today (for the first time in 4 years!) and D:\ where i put most of the word files and stuff, is fine. C:\ where the thinkpad hidden partition is hidden has something that cannot be defragmented. The report is below--does that contribute to the BSOD?

Volume SYSTEM (C:)
Volume size = 23.23 GB
Cluster size = 16 KB
Used space = 13.30 GB
Free space = 9.93 GB
Percent free space = 42 %

Volume fragmentation
Total fragmentation = 4 %
File fragmentation = 9 %
Free space fragmentation = 0 %

File fragmentation
Total files = 61,134
Average file size = 196 KB
Total fragmented files = 2
Total excess fragments = 3,949
Average fragments per file = 1.06

Pagefile fragmentation
Pagefile size = 766 MB
Total fragments = 696

Folder fragmentation
Total folders = 4,229
Fragmented folders = 32
Excess folder fragments = 83

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fragments File Size Files that cannot be defragmented
303 6 MB \IBMTOOLS\APPS\NORTONAV\NAV\MSSHLIB\DATA1.CAB
36 58 MB \IBMTOOLS\APPS\UPDATER\DATA.CAB
17 54 MB \IBMTOOLS\APPS\IBM_JRE\SETUP.EXE
87 3 MB \IBMTOOLS\APPS\DLA\FIN\DLAFIN.MSI
18 2 MB \IBMTOOLS\APPS\RECNOW\DAN\INSNTMSI.EXE
6 2 MB \IBMTOOLS\APPS\DVDAUTH\3RDPARTY\MSI\INSTMSIW.EXE
406 29 MB \Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Symantec\Common Client\SETTINGS.BAK
153 5 MB \Documents and Settings\RONGRONG\Local Settings\Temp\Norton Personal Firewall 6-7-2008 0h14m13s.log
94 3 MB \Documents and Settings\RONGRONG\Local Settings\Temp\Norton Personal Firewall 6-7-2008 1h8m1s.log
113 80 MB \Documents and Settings\RONGRONG\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\R1H9V5XP\rn7321u[1].exe
19 295 KB \Documents and Settings\RONGRONG\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\fet0wsyr.default\bookmarks.html
11 7 MB \Documents and Settings\RONGRONG\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\fet0wsyr.default\urlclassifier2.sqlite
8 4 MB \Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CS2\Samples\Curve.dng
9 131 KB \System Volume Information\_restore{DAAD8284-5896-4B40-A753-8454BDC2E5A5}\RP19\change.log.1
430 8 MB \System Volume Information\_restore{DAAD8284-5896-4B40-A753-8454BDC2E5A5}\RP20\A0013322.MSI
233 5 MB \System Volume Information\_restore{DAAD8284-5896-4B40-A753-8454BDC2E5A5}\RP21\A0013324.MSI
17 319 KB \System Volume Information\_restore{DAAD8284-5896-4B40-A753-8454BDC2E5A5}\RP21\change.log.1
25 798 KB \System Volume Information\_restore{DAAD8284-5896-4B40-A753-8454BDC2E5A5}\RP21\A0013492.EXE
6 317 KB \System Volume Information\_restore{DAAD8284-5896-4B40-A753-8454BDC2E5A5}\RP21\A0013494.OCX
6 961 KB \System Volume Information\_restore{DAAD8284-5896-4B40-A753-8454BDC2E5A5}\RP21\A0013502.MFL
16 256 KB \System Volume Information\_restore{DAAD8284-5896-4B40-A753-8454BDC2E5A5}\RP21\SNAPSHOT\_REGISTRY_USER_USRCLASS_S-1-5-18
75 1 MB \System Volume Information\_restore{DAAD8284-5896-4B40-A753-8454BDC2E5A5}\RP21\SNAPSHOT\_REGISTRY_USER_NTUSER_S-1-5-21-4130224810-2010852840-4003307128-1004
10 691 KB \System Volume Information\_restore{DAAD8284-5896-4B40-A753-8454BDC2E5A5}\RP22\A0018103.INI
60 1,024 KB \System Volume Information\_restore{DAAD8284-5896-4B40-A753-8454BDC2E5A5}\RP28\change.log.14
8 348 KB \System Volume Information\_restore{DAAD8284-5896-4B40-A753-8454BDC2E5A5}\RP29\A0040496.INI
27 3 MB \System Volume Information\_restore{DAAD8284-5896-4B40-A753-8454BDC2E5A5}\RP29\A0043506.MFL
23 6 MB \Recycled\Dc7.exe
11 4 MB \Recycled\Dc11.exe
38 18 MB \Recycled\Dc19.exe
57 54 MB \Recycled\Dc20.exe

[sjthinkpader]

If the PC is running too hot, remove the fan/heatsink and clean it out by blowing thru it. Then re-apply heatsink compound and reassembly the computer.