Blue Screen Stop - Driver IRQL not less or equal

[bdmallalieu]

H/W: Dell Inspiron 8600 with 1Gb RAM
S/W: XP Media Centre Edition 2002, SP3

My laptop has been operating more slowly for quite a time, on boot-up & during operation. I do not use it for games or watching films (except the occasional YouTube clip). In the last week or so I have been having Blue Screen Stop errors with Driver IRQL not less or equal, with the following error code/parameter reports:
0x000000D1(0x00000008, 0x00000002,0xooooooo1,0xF5E19D07 (or F6B09D07)
W7On51.sys - Address F5E19D07 base at F5DFC000, Datestamp 3EE71b51 (or F6B09D07 base at F6AEC000, Datestamp 3EE71b51)
Incidentally, I have not been trying to migrate to W7!

Examining the Event logs the preceding events seemed to be "The IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service service entered the start/stop states". (I was not trying to burn a CD at this time!) However, today there were three restarts whilst I was defragmenting the disc (after a clean up) when a save dump occurred each time during a bugcheck which was: 0x00000001(0x00000002,0x00000001,0xf5c27d07 or 0xf5dc0d07)

I ran an updated AVG Free computer scan prior to the bugchecks occurring, which resulted in no viruses or problems being found.

Prior to the scan I had also gone through my Device Manager drivers and deleted all 'washed-out' ones that were either duplicates or not currently being used by intermittently connected H/W.

I also endeavoured to manually update my Windows/MS to the latest but encountered problems each time as it asked me to install a 'Windows update' file (which I was under the impression that I previously done successfully on prior occasions) which reported an error each time. I therefore restored the Automatic Update facility in the Security centre, but it has reported since that it was unable to install a downloaded update! The reason I have had to disable the Auto facility before is that together with AVG, it virtually uses all the CPU available memory! So, I rely on regular periodic manual updates, prompted by the system tray ikon warning each time I boot up.

Not being a computer specialist, I took the above actions after reading through relevant forum guides (like yours) and MS knowledge base articles (that I could understand!) and noted the need to undertake a RAM test using Memtest86, which I tried to do but have not been successful. I successfully downloaded the Memtest86.v3.5.ISO Zip file and extracted it to obtain an ISO file OK but creating an image file on a CD with my Nero 6.6 (either using File/Open etc. or Recorder/Image file etc. menus) only resulted each time with the CD burning the two Zip files and the Readme file, even though each time I specifically selected the ISO file alone! When I tried subsequently to boot up via the CD (having selected it in F12 dialog screen) it merely went through the normal boot-up procedure! The same thing happened if I booted up via the Safe Mode to a command prompt, and even when I tried using my memory stick with the ISO file on it. I am obviously doing something wrong or missing something! Can you kindly suggest a correct approach, please?

Also, do you have an idea what the problem really is from all my long-winded description? Thanks in anticipation.

[caperjack]

memtest86 iso. you need to use nero burning rom not quick launch and chose burn iso image .or set nero to be the default iso ,and just double click on the iso ,
or as i do use image burn software .
http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail/ImgBurn/1128426215/1

[caperjack]

W7On51.sys - Address F5E19D07 base at F5DFC000, Datestamp 3EE71b51 (or F6B09D07 base at F6AEC000, Datestamp 3EE71b51).

this site a guy seems to think its network device like maybe your wireless adapter .so a uninstall and reinstall is suggested [update drivers ]
http://forums.devshed.com/computer-hardware-103/blue-screen-of-death-on-laptop-579769-2.html

[techsheaven]

I had a bit of trouble following your post, but what I took away was this (correct me if I am wrong):

Laptop Slow booting and running.
Blue Screen Stop errors.
Computer restarts while defragmenting.
Deleted drivers in Device Manager.
Problems running Windows update.
Automatic Updates on, but unable to install an update.
CPU usage high.
Memtest86.v3.5.ISO Zip file has been extracted to an uncompressed folder, but doesn't burn correctly.
Your laptop does not boot to CD.

First, let's step back a bit and look at the physical condition of the laptop. are vents free from obstructions: dust or your lap? You should always place a laptop on a hard, flat, surface to prevent the vents from being blocked. Fans pull dust into your laptop and should be cleaned out from time to time. If your laptop cannot cool itself, it will overheat and stop or shut down.

With that out of the way, start your machine. Hold down the windows key and press r. In the run dialog box, type MSCONFIG and press Enter.
In the System Configuration Utility, select the Services tab and check the "Hide all Microsoft Services" box. Click the "Disable All" button. Click the Startup tab and click the "Disable All" button. Click the "OK" button and follow the prompts leading you to restart.

When your computer starts, you will have a very stable machine, but some things may not work. Check the box on the System Configuration Dialog and click "OK." Note: To undo these changes, hold the windows key and press r. Type MSCONFIG in the run box. Press the Enter key. On the general tab select "Normal Startup."

Double-click My Computer, right-click the hard drive. Click Properties, and then click Tools. Under Error-checking, click Check Now. In the dialog box, select the Automatically fix file system errors check box, and then click Start. You will receive the message: "The disk check could not be performed because the disk check utility needs exclusive access to some Windows files on the disk. These files can be accessed by restarting Windows. Do you want to schedule the disk check to occur the next time you restart the computer?" Click Yes to schedule the disk check, and then restart your computer to start the disk check.

Once the computer boots, if you still want to check the memory, open Nero or another CD burning program (like InfraRecorder -- free from cnet) and burn the uncompressed ISO (if you need to unzip it, right-click on the folder and select "Extract All." Follow the prompts). I suspect that you simply saved the ISO files to a CD which is different than burning a CD "image." Once you burn the image correctly, restart your computer.

As your computer boots, try to watch for the option to enter the BIOS (usually "delete," F1, F2, or F10.) You must hit the correct key within a very narrow window of time. If the computer continues to boot, you will have to restart and try again. Once you are in the BIOS, follow the prompts to navigate since your mouse will generally not work in this environment. Find the Boot Order section and set the CDROM and the first boot device and the Hard Drive as the second boot device (this may be listed as IDE0 or SATA0. Follow the instructions to save changes and exit (usually press "Esc" until you get to the first screen, then F10 to save and exit). Your machine should boot to the CD drive now.

That should get you started. You don't need to re-enable any items in the System Configuration Utility except those that you need. If you are unsure about it, just uninstall anything that doesn't work (from Add/Remove Programs), and re-install it to re-enable it without using the System Configuration. Some programs (like AVG) will have more than one service and startup item.

You may consider (free) Microsoft Security Essentials in stead of AVG http://www.microsoft.com/Security_Essentials/default.aspx

Good Luck

[caperjack]

You may consider (free) Microsoft Security Essentials in stead of AVG http://www.microsoft.com/Security_Essentials/default.aspx

Good Luck

just a comment ,I used Avg for years ,and now install Essential on all my computers and think its heads over AVG !

[techsheaven]

There's a few things I look for in security software: It should recognize and stop threats without the user knowing it even happened. Comodo, for example, makes a great security suite but by default, it constantly asks the user to decide what action to take -- is slows productivity and blocks important features.

Microsoft's program stays in the background and even gets updates through Automatic Updates -- huge advantage because it is one less Stay Resident process running. Who knows better how to protect Windows?

I recommended Microsoft Security Essentials because it seems to be quick at responding to threats and bdmallalieu seems to have some malware running since his CPU is overwhelmed. . . and AVG isn't finding anything.

[bdmallalieu]

Thanks Caperjack for your rapid reply (especially on New Year's Eve!), and I downloaded Image Burn and created a CD twice with it (which I admit was easy & quick), but the result was exactly the same as previously with Nero (which I had not burnt with the Quick Launch option in any case)! The CD contains 3 files (SRC V35.Zip + SRC V35.TGZ + README.TXT) & 1 folder (ISOLINUX). I did the first file burn from the desktop, where I had extracted it from the downloaded Zip file which was also on the desktop, so I extracted the file again to the Temp folder on My Documents in case it was somehow interacting with the downloaded Zip file and then did the second burn. Same result! What am I doing wrong, please?

Incidentally, Image Burn does not seem willing to do a multisession and add another image (perhaps at the same time making the first one inaccessible to XP (which Nero permits)?

[abeada]

uninstall anti virus and then try again because many antiviruses are not compatible with the windows

[caperjack]

The CD contains 3 files (SRC V35.Zip + SRC V35.TGZ + README.TXT) & 1 folder (ISOLINUX)

I think you downloaded memtest for linux,not sure it madders but i never use multisession for my boot cd's
get windows memtest from link below should be only one file the iso

http://www.memtest86.com/memtest86-3.5.iso.zip

[bdmallalieu]

Thanks again, Caperjack, but the URL file link you gave me was exactly the same file as I had previously downloaded! I was pretty sure it was since I remember downloading the ISO Zip link for Windows from their website previously.

However to be fair to you, I proceeded to download, extract and burn it to CD and guess what ---- 4 files exactly the same as I obtained earlier today! Something is clearly wrong?

[techsheaven]

Try microsoft's version. http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/2008.09.utilityspotlight.aspx?pr=blog

[caperjack]

make sure that your laptop is set to first boot from cdrom ,or try the microsoft version in above post.

edit just burnt the iso and yes it contains the same files as you show ,will try later to bootto it .

[bdmallalieu]

I had a bit of trouble following your post, but what I took away was this (correct me if I am wrong):

Laptop Slow booting and running.
Blue Screen Stop errors.
Computer restarts while defragmenting.
Deleted drivers in Device Manager.
Problems running Windows update.
Automatic Updates on, but unable to install an update.
CPU usage high.
Memtest86.v3.5.ISO Zip file has been extracted to an uncompressed folder, but doesn't burn correctly.
Your laptop does not boot to CD.

First, let's step back a bit and look at the physical condition of the laptop. are vents free from obstructions: dust or your lap? You should always place a laptop on a hard, flat, surface to prevent the vents from being blocked. Fans pull dust into your laptop and should be cleaned out from time to time. If your laptop cannot cool itself, it will overheat and stop or shut down.

With that out of the way, start your machine. Hold down the windows key and press r. In the run dialog box, type MSCONFIG and press Enter.
In the System Configuration Utility, select the Services tab and check the "Hide all Microsoft Services" box. Click the "Disable All" button. Click the Startup tab and click the "Disable All" button. Click the "OK" button and follow the prompts leading you to restart.

When your computer starts, you will have a very stable machine, but some things may not work. Check the box on the System Configuration Dialog and click "OK." Note: To undo these changes, hold the windows key and press r. Type MSCONFIG in the run box. Press the Enter key. On the general tab select "Normal Startup."

Double-click My Computer, right-click the hard drive. Click Properties, and then click Tools. Under Error-checking, click Check Now. In the dialog box, select the Automatically fix file system errors check box, and then click Start. You will receive the message: "The disk check could not be performed because the disk check utility needs exclusive access to some Windows files on the disk. These files can be accessed by restarting Windows. Do you want to schedule the disk check to occur the next time you restart the computer?" Click Yes to schedule the disk check, and then restart your computer to start the disk check.

Once the computer boots, if you still want to check the memory, open Nero or another CD burning program (like InfraRecorder -- free from cnet) and burn the uncompressed ISO (if you need to unzip it, right-click on the folder and select "Extract All." Follow the prompts). I suspect that you simply saved the ISO files to a CD which is different than burning a CD "image." Once you burn the image correctly, restart your computer.

As your computer boots, try to watch for the option to enter the BIOS (usually "delete," F1, F2, or F10.) You must hit the correct key within a very narrow window of time. If the computer continues to boot, you will have to restart and try again. Once you are in the BIOS, follow the prompts to navigate since your mouse will generally not work in this environment. Find the Boot Order section and set the CDROM and the first boot device and the Hard Drive as the second boot device (this may be listed as IDE0 or SATA0. Follow the instructions to save changes and exit (usually press "Esc" until you get to the first screen, then F10 to save and exit). Your machine should boot to the CD drive now.

That should get you started. You don't need to re-enable any items in the System Configuration Utility except those that you need. If you are unsure about it, just uninstall anything that doesn't work (from Add/Remove Programs), and re-install it to re-enable it without using the System Configuration. Some programs (like AVG) will have more than one service and startup item.

You may consider (free) Microsoft Security Essentials in stead of AVG http://www.microsoft.com/Security_Essentials/default.aspx

Good Luck

===================================

Thank you, Techshaven, very much for your rapid response and detailed instructions for me to investigate my problems, which I am part way through. Sorry that my initial posting was not as clear as it could have been, but you seem to have interpreted it very well. Just one comment: I am pretty sure that my computer did try and boot up via the CD (after I had selected it to do so with the F12 options) when I was attempting to carry out a Memory test, but due to the incorrect downloaded & burnt ISO image file it failed to do so and booted up normally.

My computer spends nearly 100% of its time on my Dell dock, which as you will know lifts the back up about an 1" off my desk and provides a good space for ventilation underneath where the fan louvres are located.

As regards my progress on your disc testing instructions, I have progressed as far as your second paragraph having scheduled the disc check and restarted the laptop subsequently. It booted up normally and eventually the System Configuration dialog box was displayed on screen (which I OK'd), and was then followed by the System Configuration Utility box (which I again OK'd --- rightly or wrongly?), and that was followed by the System Configuation box requesting either a 'Restart' or 'Exit without a restart' (which I did not select, since it had only just restarted!). I had been expecting a dialog box to be displayed telling me that the requested disc check was in progress and eventually what results it had found, but nothing appeared and I did not know if I was meant to look elsewhere for the information? What should happen and how do I know if the check is in hand and what has been found, please?

As regards the memory test, you may have already seen and read my reply to Caperjack in which I have described what is happening if I try to burn an ISO image file either with Nero or ImageBurn software. I had already realised that it was not just a matter of copying the the ISO file to the CD, but rather to burn the image, which I have had no success at doing, even though I appear to be going the right way about it?

I await your further instructions to enable me to fully investigate what the problems are? By the way, my cursor has at times taken to wandering around the screen on its own for some odd reason, which may be connected with my problems? I have tried to address it in the Mouse properties, but without success so far!

[bdmallalieu]

Techshaven,

I downloaded the MS alternative version 'mtinst.exe' that you suggested & after extracting Windiag.iso OK I then burnt the image to a CD using both Nero & Imageburn, but in both cases it placed the file Windiag.iso inside a folder '1386'. When I booted up (having changed the order as you instructed (first the CD & secondly the HDD) it failed to see the Windiag file because it was inside the 1386 folder!!!! Even the MS Windows Memory Diagnostic (Online crash analysis) 8-page instruction article makes no mention of this happening, and seems to assume that the image burnt will just be the Windiag.iso file on its own?
How do I get round this further obstacle please?

[techsheaven]

You need to set your BIOS to boot from cd/dvd first. Do you know how to do that?

[techsheaven]

When troubleshooting, it is important to do one step at a time. Jumping between task will leave a lot of questions unanswered. We are looking at the hardware because it is the first step, but I don't expect this to be where we find the problem. I will expect to find the problem in device drivers. IRQL has to do with processor access priority levels. We need to check the hardware first for several reasons. Your processor and RAM must be working correctly or errors will lead us down the wrong path. It's like the game where something is whispered from person to person -- it only takes one communication error and the wrong message will arrive to the final destination.

Somewhere along the line the priority level of IRQs assigned to your device drivers got messed up, or the hardware is not passing info correctly. If I understand your original post, you get Stop Errors (Blue Screen) sometimes without a IRQL error -- that makes me raise an eyebrow. . . You need to run the hardware checks. Use someone elses computer to download and burn the ISO (disk Image) because the you can not depend on the hardware in question yet.

[bdmallalieu]

Hi Techshaven,
Thanks for your quick reply and to confirm that I had done what you said beforehand OK. This morning when I booted up the machine went straight into the Memory test! I don't think I did anything different than when I attempted it last night? Anyway, I ran 3 passes on the standard test and then one pass on the extended test and both tests returned 'No errors found'. So, we presumably can assume we have eliminated that possibility of error?

I will return to your earlier H/W disc test now, but could you kindly just answer the query on that in the 3rd paragraph of my reply a day or two ago to your lengthy instruction on how to do it, please?

With grateful thanks & regards

[techsheaven]

Fantastic! Usually, I would run CHKDSK just to be thorough, but I am convinced you have a bad driver. This may or may not be associated with hardware. Go to the device manager and, under the view menu, show hidden devices. Are there any yellow exclaimation marks, of red X's? If so, update those. If not, I would like you to post some log files from the event viewer. Filter for stop errors.
Here are some references what you will do and why you will do it.

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/win_xp_stop.htm

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/308427

[bdmallalieu]

Fantastic! Usually, I would run CHKDSK just to be thorough, but I am convinced you have a bad driver. This may or may not be associated with hardware. Go to the device manager and, under the view menu, show hidden devices. Are there any yellow exclaimation marks, of red X's? If so, update those. If not, I would like you to post some log files from the event viewer. Filter for stop errors.
Here are some references what you will do and why you will do it.

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/win_xp_stop.htm

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/308427

=========================================
Hi Techshaven & thanks again for your continuing assistance,

In between receiving it I ditched my AVG & 3 other Anti-Spyware programs and installed MS Security Essentials OK. In the initial Quick Scan it found no malware, but in the subsequent Full Scan I requested it found a copy of Real VNC which I have had for a number of years after installation and use by a close & trustworthy friend of mine who was helping me to overcome some teething problems and preferred the convenience of remotely interrogating and resolving my troubles of the time. I have duly Quarantined it and MS SE now declares me 'clean'!

In your reply you have not replied to my query about your hitherto requested 'disc check' which I was unable (I think?) to complete, and am therefore wondering if you now think it is unnecessary? I would however still appreciate knowing how I should have proceeded with it.

As regards you latest requests, I went into my Device Manager and found that the only Yellow ?'s were on the 'Other Devices', which when expanded included the following:
Ethernet Controller
eUSB Smart Media (with a duplicate i.e. x2)
Generic RNDIS
O2Micro SmartCardBus Reader
PCI Modem
USB Device
Video Controller (VGA Compatible)

My attempts to 'Update Driver' was unsuccessful for all of them, regardless of whether I specified 'Automatic' or 'Via the CD Rom with my 2 OS Media Center Edition installation discs'. With no apparent additional facility to search for a driver on the Net they remain presently as unloaded. Is there a way of doing this? All the ikons seem to be 'washed out'.

I await your further instructions, with gratitude for your patience,

[techsheaven]

I'm not sure why the scheduled scan did not run. If you want to run it, try this: Start -> Run, type cmd, click OK. In the command window type "chkdsk /f" (without the quotes). The command window will reply that the disk is in use and will ask if you want to run the scan on restart. type "y" (without the quotes), type "exit" (without the quotes), restart your machine. There is some logic to checking the disk since your drivers are stored there. Also, when the RAM is full, it moves low-priority tasks to a paging file on the hard disk.

Updating from the drivers properties (using the automatic option) will only check Windows Update. Since your Ethernet Controller is not working, that won't do anything. You will need to find the driver for the Ethernet controller or download it from the manufacturers website, or install it from a CD. (These devices are under Other Devices because windows does not understand what they are. Once the correct driver is applied, they will be moved to the appropriate category.) After the Ethernet Controller is up and running, you should have internet access to download the other missing drivers.

[bdmallalieu]

I'm not sure why the scheduled scan did not run. If you want to run it, try this: Start -> Run, type cmd, click OK. In the command window type "chkdsk /f" (without the quotes). The command window will reply that the disk is in use and will ask if you want to run the scan on restart. type "y" (without the quotes), type "exit" (without the quotes), restart your machine. There is some logic to checking the disk since your drivers are stored there. Also, when the RAM is full, it moves low-priority tasks to a paging file on the hard disk.

Updating from the drivers properties (using the automatic option) will only check Windows Update. Since your Ethernet Controller is not working, that won't do anything. You will need to find the driver for the Ethernet controller or download it from the manufacturers website, or install it from a CD. (These devices are under Other Devices because windows does not understand what they are. Once the correct driver is applied, they will be moved to the appropriate category.) After the Ethernet Controller is up and running, you should have internet access to download the other missing drivers.

==============================================
Hi Techshaven & thanks again for your support,

I decided to run the disc check, but before I did I thought I would just check the device manager which was already open on screen to find that the yellow question marks had disappeared altogether and there were none left! Perhaps my updating efforts had achieved something after all? I don't know!

I also decided to follow your original instructions for doing it (via MSCONFIG) and this time on restart it went into a checkdisk sequence on screen and proceeded though File verification, Indexes verification, Security descriptors and Usn Journal verification one after the other to completion, finishing with a summary report of its findings. (I must have done something wrong last time?) However, the results were only on screen for seconds before the machine restarted and I lost them infuriatingly! So I repeated the test once more, but this time using your latest instructions above (via start/run/cmd etc.) in the hope that this time I could use the 'Pause' button to freeze the screen so as I could copy down the results, but to no avail as the 'Pause' did not work and the same thing happened, again infuriatingly! Is there any way I can freeze them on screen (or request a report file) so as I can know if any errors exist?

As my Device Manager file is still showing NO yellow question marks and I have restored the System Configuration Utility to a Normal start + Drivers, it seems that the next thing you require is for me to send you the logs of some of the Event Viewer? Correct? In which case, which logs do you want & in what file formats please?
Am I also able to attach the log files to the posting here below via Attach Files/Manage Attachments, please?

Have you any other tests you wish me to do?

With many thanks again.
Brian

[bdmallalieu]

make sure that your laptop is set to first boot from cdrom ,or try the microsoft version in above post.

edit just burnt the iso and yes it contains the same files as you show ,will try later to bootto it .

==============================================

Hi Caperjack,

Thanks for the above reply. I am just wondering if you succeeded in booting up with your CD? If you have read my replies to Techshaven you will have seen that I finally succeeded with Windiag.iso in a memory test, even though it too was in a folder (1386) which it obviously recognised.

Thanks for your contributions.
Best wishes.

[bdmallalieu]

==============================================
Hi Techshaven & thanks again for your support,

I decided to run the disc check, but before I did I thought I would just check the device manager which was already open on screen to find that the yellow question marks had disappeared altogether and there were none left! Perhaps my updating efforts had achieved something after all? I don't know!

I also decided to follow your original instructions for doing it (via MSCONFIG) and this time on restart it went into a checkdisk sequence on screen and proceeded though File verification, Indexes verification, Security descriptors and Usn Journal verification one after the other to completion, finishing with a summary report of its findings. (I must have done something wrong last time?) However, the results were only on screen for seconds before the machine restarted and I lost them infuriatingly! So I repeated the test once more, but this time using your latest instructions above (via start/run/cmd etc.) in the hope that this time I could use the 'Pause' button to freeze the screen so as I could copy down the results, but to no avail as the 'Pause' did not work and the same thing happened, again infuriatingly! Is there any way I can freeze them on screen (or request a report file) so as I can know if any errors exist?

As my Device Manager file is still showing NO yellow question marks and I have restored the System Configuration Utility to a Normal start + Drivers, it seems that the next thing you require is for me to send you the logs of some of the Event Viewer? Correct? In which case, which logs do you want & in what file formats please?
Am I also able to attach the log files to the posting here below via Attach Files/Manage Attachments, please?

Have you any other tests you wish me to do?

With many thanks again.
Brian

==============================================
Techshaven,

Further to my earlier note above, I misled you about the Device Manager yellow ?'s having omitted to check the 'Show all hidden devices'! So I still have the other devices without drivers. I have just investigated my H/W & S/W data through the Dell Solution Centre to see if I could find out what Ethernet Controller is installed within my laptop (so as I could try and download a driver online) but I could not see which it could be. However, I have taken screen copies of all the onboard data it gave me and they are attached to this additional note for your information. I appear to have access to the Net OK via my wireless router, but I do not know how to try and find the drivers for these 'other devices' without knowing enough about them to search for them online. Can you please tell me how to go about it?

Thanks again for your patience!

[techsheaven]

If you are interested, I think this will show your chkdsk logs:
Start -> Run, type: eventvwr.msc
In the Application section of the event viewer, Application and select the most recent winlogon entry.
Codes are explained here:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/265533/EN-US/

[techsheaven]

Dell makes finding drivers a snap! Go to: http://support.dell.com/support/index.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs
Click on downloads and drivers.
Put in your service tag from the bottom of your computer.
In your case, I would download all available drivers to a folder.
Good Luck

[bdmallalieu]

==============================================
Hi Techshaven & thanks again for your support,

I decided to run the disc check, but before I did I thought I would just check the device manager which was already open on screen to find that the yellow question marks had disappeared altogether and there were none left! Perhaps my updating efforts had achieved something after all? I don't know!

I also decided to follow your original instructions for doing it (via MSCONFIG) and this time on restart it went into a checkdisk sequence on screen and proceeded though File verification, Indexes verification, Security descriptors and Usn Journal verification one after the other to completion, finishing with a summary report of its findings. (I must have done something wrong last time?) However, the results were only on screen for seconds before the machine restarted and I lost them infuriatingly! So I repeated the test once more, but this time using your latest instructions above (via start/run/cmd etc.) in the hope that this time I could use the 'Pause' button to freeze the screen so as I could copy down the results, but to no avail as the 'Pause' did not work and the same thing happened, again infuriatingly! Is there any way I can freeze them on screen (or request a report file) so as I can know if any errors exist?

As my Device Manager file is still showing NO yellow question marks and I have restored the System Configuration Utility to a Normal start + Drivers, it seems that the next thing you require is for me to send you the logs of some of the Event Viewer? Correct? In which case, which logs do you want & in what file formats please?
Am I also able to attach the log files to the posting here below via Attach Files/Manage Attachments, please?

Have you any other tests you wish me to do?

With many thanks again.
Brian

=========================================

[bdmallalieu]

If you are interested, I think this will show your chkdsk logs:
Start -> Run, type: eventvwr.msc
In the Application section of the event viewer, Application and select the most recent winlogon entry.
Codes are explained here:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/265533/EN-US/

============================================
Techshaven,

Thanks for your info how to locate CHKDSK logs. If you are interested, I have attached the 3 report files below.

With grateful thanks.