Blue Screen Startup (Iastor related)

sevenel

Hello,
I came home from work today to find a blue screen on my computer. After restarted, while loading up, it displays the blue screen again. I can't get past the Windows XP load screen. Even using the load up menu (Safe mode, etc), they all lead to the blue screen. It has at the top DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL and then at the bottom IASTOR.SYS.

I googled simply "Blue Screen iastor" and most links desribe the same problem I'm having, but no real solutions. One link recommended going into the boot menu and switch the SATA operation from ACHI to ATA. Doing that, i got a new blue screen with the error UNMOUNTABLE BOOT VOLUME.

..Help? Anyone?

My specs from what I know
DELL DXP051
Intel Pentium Duel Core
Windows XP

Thanks!

Thrax

You computer is probably running too hot (open it and clean out all the dust with compressed air), or the memory in your PC is faulty. This is the most common culprit for the blue screen you are describing.

sevenel

thanks for the suggestion' ill try it out! and happy thanksgiving!
well...from most of the articles I read about this, supposely this "iastor" error is something related to Dell computers, and Dell has created an update for it...but the problem is now getting TO that update, as I can't get past the BSOD, which is what I'm trying to get past and, alass, no solutions. the only thing ive seen people recommend was getting my harddrive out and getting any files i want to keep of it, and just completely wiping the drive, which of course i'm trying to make this as a last resort. but heck, i dont even know if this can be done without getting past the BSOD!

Thrax

IAStor is the Intel Storage driver. It's a piece of software that assists Windows in taking better advantage of your hard drive. It's common to any computer that has an Intel CPU.

You should read this article to understand why the error you're seeing isn't necessarily accurate or informative.

sevenel

So from reading your article, you suggest the reformat?

Thrax

No, don't reformat. I was just showing you how blue screens don't (typically) indicate the real problem. Take a look at your ram and clean your case, and we'll go from there.

Happy Thanksgiving!

sevenel

ok! i'll need to go purchase some air when i get a chance. what can i do to check the ram?

Thrax

This is the fastest/most accurate way: http://tech.icrontic.com/articles/diagnose_with_memtest86/

sevenel

Ok, I used my roommates air and that didn't help, just created a lot of nastiness on my desk and floor, haha. I burned the memtest and ran it, found no errors and 1 pass.

Whats next?

Thrax

I recommend running it over night. You'll have the time, obviously, and it's best to give it a few run-throughs. If that passes, we have to suspect your hard drive or your Windows installation itself.

sevenel

welp, ran it over night. pass wins the series 13-0.

sevenel

...thrax? anyone?

Thrax

Sorry! I saw your thread, but was without Internet access for a few days. I'll get back with you in the next 12 hours. Stay tuned.

Tushon

Have you tried booting into safe mode to see if it is some other driver causing your issue? Press F8 a few times after your BIOS screen, but before windows loads and see if you can do that. If not, you can also try using UBCD to run a HDD test (pick the one for your manufacturer if possible, if not, use DFT. Instructions for UBCD are on the site linked.

Thrax

Tushon provided the advice I was going to give. Follow what he said.

sevenel

thanks for the replies guys!
yeah, can't boot, BSOD with whichever option i choose. i'm having a bad feeling about this...i did some searching on my own and here's more info:
i figured out how to run the CD's (F12..doh!) so I tried that. First, I ran my Diagnostics CD that came with the comp. After running it (it scans EVERYTHING, from mouse test, to video, CD drives, etc.) everything passed except for a few things, which gave me the error code:
650F:0244
Msg: Block 97286: Uncorrectable data error or media write is protected.

I googled the 650F 0244 and the answers i found were not good news...so I tried one more thing and ran the Recovery disk and followed the Dell Online Support steps. after running it, i ran the CHKDSK and it only got to 25%, with the response "One or more unrecoverable problems". The next step Dell had was Backing Up and reformatting the drive, which of course I'm trying to make a last resort.

Am I screwed?

Tushon

You probably have a bad HDD. You should try offline backup (using a USB to SATA/IDE adapter kit, ~$15), then use the CD I linked to run HDD tests, because if you have a bad drive, reformatting is only delaying this happening again.

sevenel

went over to walmart but they didn't have the adapter. i'll try best buy tomorrow before i go the snail mail route. let me ask you guys this...
so lets assume the HDD is bad, and you're saying reformatting it is a waste, as it's inevitable to happen again. i've went through abouot 5 computers in my lifetime and have never had any expereience with a bad HDD. what route do you recommend going? buying a new HDD or a new computer all together? the computer is only maybe 4 years old. if i were to get a new HDD, is there still an equal chance of it going bad too, or are these kinda just "freak accidents"? is there any common cause to HDD's going bad?

Thrax

If this HD turns up bust (if you still want to test it), they're cheap to replace: $90 will land you a 2 terabyte hard drive these days. I think we can all agree that this is much cheaper than the cost of a new computer.

Like cars, toasters, refrigerators or any other device with complicated parts, sometimes hard drives just go bad. Is there a root cause? Meh, nothing with sufficient statistical significance to talk about it.

sevenel

Got the adapter today. I hooked my HD up to this laptop via USB. When i try to access the device, I get a "This device needs formatted to use. Format now?" and when I click cancel", it gives the error "Data error (cyclic redundancy check).

Im assuming i installed this thing wrong, just plug it in and go...is there no way to recover my data?

Thrax

Open a command prompt and type chkdsk x: /r where X: is the letter of that drive when hooked up to USB. This is the first of many steps we can attempt to potentially recover your data.

sevenel

im on it, could be a while though...its processing 1 file every 3 seconds, with a total of 127000 files!

sevenel

alright, after a grueling 19 hours of this program, and last noted percent check complete was 11% and Stage 2/5, i check the prompt box and there are many "Deleteing duplicate object id from file record segment xxxxx" lines and one final line saying "An unspecified error occured (696e647863686b2e 1362)." And back to command prompt.

Next?

EDIT Oh, and HD still saying "Must format now..."

Thrax

You can try a free program called Recuva that will scan your drive for recoverable files and allow you to export them to another drive. This presupposes that the drive is in good mechanical condition, however.

You need to be prepared for the fact that this drive may have one or more mechanical issues that have permanently destroyed some or all of your data. Or, at the very least, the issues have rendered your data inaccessible through conventional means.

Tushon

Thrax wrote:

You need to be prepared for the fact that this drive may have one or more mechanical issues that have permanently destroyed some or all of your data. Or, at the very least, the issues have rendered your data inaccessible through conventional means.

Cliff_Forster

It is a pain, but on an ailing unbootable drive I have managed to use a bootable linux live CD to recover some data from a corrupted windows. Of course, mechanically the drive can't be completely borked to do this.

Here is how it is done.

sevenel

Yeah, I understand. I've assumed the worst a few steps back, but have tried and stayed optimistic and taken any advice you guys have given, which I've much appreciated

I used the Recuva program, and tried searching for picture files. It DID find a lot of pictures, but they were like internet pictures all from an IE Content file mainly. Does this program only look for stuff thats been DELETED? Thats how the wording of the program sounds....which of course, i didnt delete any of my picture files.

Cliff, ill try that suggestion next!

Thrax

Recuva's disk recovery: http://www.piriform.com/recuva/features/recovery-from-damaged-or-formatted-disks

Let it scan the whole drive.

sevenel

HOLY SCHNIKEYS! I think i may have got it! I used Recuva to scan ALL files (even non deleted) and it seemingly found all of my files on my comp! I'm recovering the files I wanted to a CD as I type this...its going very slow (8 hours remaining) but its showing progress happening, so lets keep our fingers crossed! Thank you guys so much! Is there a donation tab on this site?

I can't help but wonder though...so it looks like all my files are good (songs, videos, pics...all are showing up), but I can't access the drive? So I guess I just need to toss this when I'm done and still purchase a new HDD?

Thrax

I would strongly recommend tossing it and buying new, yes. Because chkdsk didn't work, that leads me to believe that there is an unrecoverable mechanical defect that will damage any future data.

sevenel

The files went through and are working! Got a 640GB, 16MB Cache, 7200 RPM on the way! i looked up the specs on the one that failed and it was only 160GB, 8MB Cache. i looked up the 2TB that was talked about above, but the ones i found that were less on the wallet were only 5200RPM, and honestly, the 160GB drive wasn't even half way full, I can't imagine why I, or anyone, would need THAT much space!