BSOD - STOP Error Code 1000007e

Question

First post. Hello to all. :) I'm not sure I have a real problem, and at this point I'm not sure if I have a question, but this will either make people laugh or make them stop and think or possibly both. I've had this 600m since the end of January 2006, and I love it. It keeps my wrists nice and toasty, so I never have carpal tunnel symptoms. I understand that the heat issue is simply a 'feature,' and I'm going to have to live with it, but when the little thermometer hits 50C (or even as much as 55C), I get nervous. And it does slow things down. I'm going to try adding RAM (I currently have 512k), and maybe a few other things, but I'm reassured by the fact that not everyone has a toasted motherboard as a result. Still, since the beginning of April, I've had four blue screens, three with the same code and parameters. All four instances occurred while the CD-DVD player/burner was in use. (Belarc says it's a _NEC DVD+-RW ND-6650A, whatever that means.) The first time (with same code, different parameters), it appeared to be WMP plug-in (my daughter borrowed my laptop and played an audio CD while AOLing her heart out). I disabled it, and I've not see that particular error again. These last three, though, were two backups and the reinstallation of Microsoft Office (and that's a whole 'nother story for another day). Finally, after the one on the 30th, I sent an email to warranty support. And that's where this starts to get...bizarre. After I sent the initial email, I had some time on my hands, so I downloaded the Crash Analysis Tool. Its verdict was wanatw4.sys and tfsnifs.sys. (Note, however, that AOL was running only the first time--I don't use it at all.) Then the reply email came. Ashish asked me to run the diagnostic utility, but his directions were apparently obsolete. Still, it was a no brainer, and I passed both the PSA and the Express Test. He also asked me to update my bios, but forgot to send a link. I sent him back the 'pass' results, and advised him of the outcome from the Crash Analysis Tool. Not long after, I got an email from Sumeet, who advised me my HDD had gone bad, but not to worry, he'd take care of it for me. :smileysurprised: I wrote back to Sumeet and asked him how we got from 'my computer crashes when I use the CD player' to 'your hard drive is bad'? 28 hours later, I was still waiting for a reply, so I sent off another email expressing my displeasure, detailing the history and requesting (again) an explanation. Shortly thereafter, I was contacted by a supervisor. He asked me to re-run the diagnostics, which I had already done (using the Extended Test this time) about an hour before I received his email. Again, everything passed. I also downloaded Hitachi's Drive Fitness Test v. 4.06 http://www.hitachigst.com/hdd/support/download.htm#Optimize, which also passed. Belarc says my HDD is 'healthy.' HDDLife is happy. I checked my BIOS, and it is A17, which is the latest version. I sent the supervisor all this information, and he wrote back asking me for the STOP error codes. They were in the original email, but I sent them along. Then I got an email from Binu. Binu advised me that his plan of action would surely resolve my issue and put a stop to the blue screens. Skipping over the convoluted way he instructed me to do it, he wanted me first to go into Safe Mode and perform a system restore (he didn't tell me what date he wanted me to restore to--he just said, 'follow the prompts') and after I was done with this irreversible restore, he wanted me to open the recovery console and do a chkdsk /r. I wrote Binu back and...well, I'm a little ashamed of myself, but I told him he was insane. I told him exactly what his procedures would do to my computer and that it would be nothing good. I asked him to give the email back to the supervisor. Instead, he wrote me back and told me he was going to send me a box to pack my computer in so their repair facility can fix it. I told him no. Now, I had already mentioned those two drivers. And then I later advised support that there are several instances of Sonic DLA causing exactly this problem (google is my friend). I can't get onto the Sonic site--the support area is borked--but after a lot of searching, I found the DLA 5.2 update (I have 4.98) on the Dell site. Now, I've downloaded the update. But I've also seen a post where someone else downloaded the update and ended up with a hang at startup. But this file has a release date of 4/30/2006, and his post was from January, so I'm hoping that whatever the problem was has been fixed. I'm posting here because I want to hear suggestions before I install the update or do anything else. (Okay, I admit it--I needed to vent.) Except for this problem and the excessive warmth, my computer runs beautifully. That's not to say there haven't been a fair number of issues, but with the help of google, I've solved them all. I don't want to create a problem for myself, and if removing Sonic completely is the answer, then that's what I'll do. (I've already uninstalled most of the rest of the factory-installed software.) My kingdom for an answer. I'm sorry it's such a long post, but the humor would really get lost in a shorter version. Rhonda Lea Kirk Message Edited by RhondaLea on 05-03-200608:00 AM

BigBrother · Answer

RhondaLea,   If your problem is related to Sonic, you can uninstall the Sonic RecordNow software.  If this is truly the cause of your problems, then your problems should go away and you can reinstall it from one of the CD's that came with your computer later.    I suspect, however that your problem is more related to the temperature issues you mention.  Such overheating will cause the type of errors that you are experiencing including the slowing down of your computer.  The BSOD error codes are often different with each system crash.  As long as your system is not already hot, it will pass PSA diagnostics and the system express diagnostic tests.    If your system warranty is a mail-in warranty, you should send your system in for servicing.  The technician can correctly diagnose the problem and correct the cause of the overheating.  A common cause for overheating in a laptop is a build up of small dust bunnies in the cooling fins of the CPU cooler.  They can only be cleared out from inside the computer and this requires some disassembly of the system.  Let a qualified technician do it for you.   Steve

rhondalea · Answer

Dear Steve,

I was kinda looking forward to installing the update just to see what it does. If it doesn't work, then I'll uninstall Sonic from every nook and cranny. (I've noticed that the preinstalled software doesn't want to be deleted. I found a remnant of WildTangent just the other day.)

I started all the tests when the computer was running at about 50C. At least once it was 53C immediately after the test. I know that heat is an issue for the 1000007E error, but the only time I get the blue screen is when I'm running the optical drive. I can't say for sure about the night my daughter crashed, but the other three times, the temperature wasn't even 50C (more like 47 or 48). 55C is supposed to be the upper limit for the Hitachi's operation, and it has reached that temperature, but even at 55C, it hasn't crashed, as long as the optical drive wasn't running (it's now set to hibernate if it reaches 56C). As I said, three of the codes were identical. It was only the first one that was different.

If the computer really needs service, I'm really more inclined to go to a local technician. I am fond of this little computer, and I no longer trust Dell. But I have quite a bit of time left on the warranty, I want to see of another 512k of memory helps, and I maintain good backups, so I feel as if I have some leeway for experimentation.

I'm not a PC person, but I used to take my Mac(and some of the computers at work) apart, and I never did any harm. (Sometimes I even did some good. :)) But do you really think that in just three months I could have accumulated that much debris? I suppose it's possible--I have a cat--but wow! If that's the issue, then I'm going to have someone local teach me exactly what to do to get it clean, because I can't be taking it in (or mailing it in) every three months just to be vacuumed.

Thanks for the additional information. Every little bit helps. :)

rl

P.S. I just noticed that I dyslexed in the subject line--so I've fixed it in both posts. I was up all night, but I didn't realize I was that far gone.

Message Edited by RhondaLea on 05-03-200607:58 AM

BigBrother · Answer

RhondaLea,

It does not take a lot of dust to create a cooling problem in a laptop computer. Just a few very small dust bunnies can be enough to cause issues. Cleaning the cooling fins and the fan requires removal of the keyboard. You may also need to remove the CPU cooling assembly . You can find instructions on this process at this link:

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ins600m/en/sm/thermal.htm#1000001

A can of "dust off" will be very helpful in completing this process. When cleaning the fan, hold the fan blades still to avoid generating any electrical current back into the system board. Or you can disconnect the power connector to the cooling fan while you blow the dust out of it. If you disconnect the fan, be sure to re-connect it before re-assembling the computer.

Steve

BigBrother · Answer

RhondaLea, You are welcome.  Steve

rhondalea · Answer

You're my hero. :) I'll let you know how it all ends up. Thanks so much, Steve. rl

tonebalone · Answer

See if this helps: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/900485

DeedeeO · Answer

Hi newbie here, found this forum through a friend....

Just wanted to add a note....similar problem occured on my PC....was trying to burn a DVD with images using the Sonic software and when I tried to complete the process by making the DVD compatible, I got the Blue Screen of Death..... wasn't sure if it was system related or software, but after reading some posts, it really sounded like it could be the Sonic software. So, I duplicated my actions and got the same Blue screen and error codes. To make things safe, I did a reg clean, and the software is history.....

Denise

Message Edited by DeedeeO on 09-23-2007 04:06 PM

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