Help me decode my BSOD

CB

I'm getting a periodic (about once every 2-3 days, and always when I'm not at the computer)

I had to switch to 'do not reboot on error in order to even see the screen, usually, I would just come back to the computer after sleeping or working, and find that all my open programs were closed, and any changed to the desktop had been forgotten.

Now, I find the BSOD instead. It's a memory dump screen, and the error at the top reads: 'BUGCODE_USB_DRIVER'

I assume of course that this then has something to do with a USB driver or device, but I don't know what.

Do I just need to reinstall my USB driver? Could it be caused by the addition of a new USB device? Could it have to do with the new external USB ports that are on my new case, but were not on my old case?

Has anyone seen this specific error before?

Hawk

Hey CB,
What's your OS? XP or Vista?
Also, What USB devices are you using on the pc? Keyboard, mouse, modem, etc?
Have you looked in the Device manager to see if the are any device errors? (Red or yellow exclamation marks next to any device.)
Do you have all the service packs installed if your running XP?
Have you installed or updated any programs, drivers, or bios lately?
New hardware installed?
These all could cause that particular problem.
Just have to weed out what's causing the issue.

Hawk

Also, In device manager you may want to check your USB Root Hub- Properties- Power management- Make sure the ( Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.) is unchecked.
XP senses that it's not being used and shuts it down.
Power saving feature. Ahhemm.
I had USB BSOD problems a while back and all I did was uninstall all 3 of my USB Root Hubs and let win xp reinstall them with USB 2.0 drivers.
Cured it for me.

CB

Wow! Look at me posting without PC specs, like a noob :P


I'm on XP. Fully updated.

I put my whole system into a new case a little while back, and about the same time, I added a USB bluetooth adapter and a USB camera (both unbranded (I got a package deal on Woot!)), which are both connected, but currently turned off (and have been since the day I installed them and made sure they worked). Otherwise, the only USB devices that stay connected to my computer at all times are my Zboard (which is also a USB hub), and my Saitek gaming mouse.

I included a screenshot of the USB portion of my DevMan. It looks like there is a lot of stuff in there... Should I just delete it all, and let XP play with it on reboot?

I turned off the power management on both of the root hubs... No way to tell if that helps until the PC has gone several days without BSOD, but it's not a feature I need anyway...

Hawk

I would not delete all there. Just uninstall the [USB Root Hubs].
Then restart and let win xp find new hardware and reinstall them.
See if that works first.
Many hardware/software installations will reinstall the USB 1.1 drivers over the USB 2.0 drivers.
Reinstalling the USB Root Hubs will reinstall the 2.0 drivers.
It may ask for the xp cd for drivers. So have it handy.
Service Pack 2 also has the USB 2.0 drivers in it too.

CB

Thanks. It will take several days, perhaps, to see if this worked... So I'll report back later.

CB

Did not work.

profdlp

What is the big-assed number on the BSOD?

CB

I didn't write that down, I only wrote down the bits that actually say something :P

So far I've had

BUGCODE_USB_DRIVER
DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL

profdlp

The numbers might help to narrow it down. Of the things I've discovered so far, one indicates a possible memory problem and the other shows it might be related to a removable USB drive.

See what Memtest-86 says.

CB

I got a BUGCODE_USB_DRIVER overnight last night.

This morning, I copied down the stop code:

0x000000FE (0x00000002, 0x852DE7E8, 0x856C8590, 0x86533F80)

profdlp

I would try this Hotfix available from Microsoft.

CB

Thanks. I don't see a link to download... Do I actually have to call them to get it?

CB

Also, I just got the other code 'DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL' this afternoon. So, I wrote down those numbers:

0x0000000A (0x00000016, 0x0000001C, 0x00000000, 0x804FA11E)

profdlp

From Microsoft regarding the last Stop error:

Stop error 0x0000000A (Stop 0x0A) indicates that there was an attempt in kernel mode to touch pageable memory at too high a process internal request level (IRQL). Typically, this error occurs when a driver uses an incorrect memory address. Other possible causes of this error are an incompatible device driver, a general hardware problem, and incompatible software.

I would search for a different driver for your USB controller. Newer if possible, older if not.

What did Memtest have to say?

CB

Memtest says 'A-okay'.

CB

Problem is getting worse... frequency of BSODs is up to about 1.5/day.

Still never while I'm actually at the computer.

profdlp

CB Droege wrote:

...Still never while I'm actually at the computer.

That could be a sign that something is trying to hibernate or otherwise turn off to save power and isn't handling it gracefully.

Turn off hibernation (if it's enabled), and make sure all your drives are set to never shut down. Since the error points toward a USB device or driver I would also check the settings for those devices. For instance, a USB printer might shut down automatically then cause a conflict somewhere. Try manually turning off devices like that and see if anything changes.

CB

I've gone thru all those settings now, and it's not that. I have hibernation completely disabled, and today, for the first time, it did it while I was working.

I'm getting pretty frustrated, and I think it's about time to reformat. I'm certain that a good reformatting will fix the issue, but I really hate loosing all my settings and stuff. It takes months to feel like it's my computer again after an overhaul like that...