Always include the PC model in your posts! ;)

 

Did you install the SATA drivers during installation of XP? And did you load the chipset driver after the XP installation was complete? And does this system require Dell's Desktop (or Laptop) System Software?

 

Ron

Do you have an XPS system ? . Do you have RAID on your computer ? Have you tried updating the BIOS and the Chipset Drivers ? . reply quick to get a solution.

OOOPS.

Thanks for reply people.

I actually did not expect any responses (I had similar issue in the past with almost no help here) - I opened this thread for another member who got .dmp file through email and promised to help.

 

But, any more help is appreciated, of course.

My Specs: XPS GEN3 (2004), XP Home, 3.4 GHz HT (I think 915 or 925 chipset) original 915 chipset firmware (from the disc), 2 GB RAM, 3 HDDs - 2 WD 500 GB Green Power SATA II and 1 WD 160 GB SATA I, 8800 GT (new addition, but long before BSODs) + the rest (nothing fresh new right before BSODS). All general firmware is original, no updates - I attempted one reinstall in the recent past with firmware updates and got into multiple BSODs, so this time everything is original and I intend to keep this way untill I know the problem for sure.

 

Thanks in advance for any help provided. 

But did you actually install the Desktop System Software and chipset driver, and in that order after installing XP? They're not installed automatically.

 

What setting do you have for the Drive Controller in BIOS setup? Try changing it to RAID Autodetect/ATA. Be sure to save the change before you exit BIOS setup.

 

Ron

Chipset driver was installed from Dell Resource CD, however Desktoop System software was not since I don't remember installing this in the past. Also, is DSS is for correct updating of my drivers? I never updated drivers in the past and system was working perfectly O.K.

 

Also, is there anyway to post my dmp file here? Maybe the problem is easy to see, but I don't know how and where to look.

 

Thanks for anyones time here. 

The Desktop (or Notebook) System Software is, basically, the Dell specific additions to teh Chipset Software, and is required for the operating system to properly see and talk to all of the included hardware.  If you leave off the Desktop System Software, some hardware will not be seen properly and may have problems or fail to work at all.

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@DELL-Larry R wrote:
The Desktop (or Notebook) System Software is, basically, the Dell specific additions to teh Chipset Software, and is required for the operating system to properly see and talk to all of the included hardware.  If you leave off the Desktop System Software, some hardware will not be seen properly and may have problems or fail to work at all.

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OOPS

So, do I need to reinstall OS again or I can just install DSS now?

 

 Thanks for quick repplies.

Download DSS from the link in my previous post onto your desktop. Reboot in Safe Mode (F8 before Windows starts to load). At the desktop, double-click on the DSS file. When it's installed, shut down and reboot normally.

 

Ron 

In addition to Ron's steps, I'd recommend reinstalling the Chipset software (also one of the links he provided) after installing the Dell Desktop System Software.  This is to make sure it is properly using the DSS.

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@DELL-Larry R wrote:
In addition to Ron's steps, I'd recommend reinstalling the Chipset software (also one of the links he provided) after installing the Dell Desktop System Software.  This is to make sure it is properly using the DSS.

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Also in Safe Mode...

Guys ,

The DSS ( Dell Desktop System Software) is primarily meant for running the optical drives in UDMA mode rather than making them run in PIO mode. In simple layman term PIO is when the processor controls the data transfer on the optical drive . UDMA frees the CPU from wasting time to control the data transfer on optical drive by using a seperate DMA controller. Frankly speaking , if you have not installed DSS on your XPS system but have installed the chipset drivers and the latest BIOS update and RAID controller drivers , your system is all set.

From my experience over the last 6 years of providing support for various different lines of notebook and desktop here at Dell, I can say with surety that the Desktop and Notebook System Software does more than just allow the system to use UDMA modes for drive communication.  I have seen installing it fix problems with PCMCIA and combo card readers, drives, USB ports and others.  What exactly it updates depends on the model in question (since not all systems use the update), but if you haven't loaded it then installing it is always a good thing.

Will do them both in safe mode. Short question. I left RAID drivers as it is (from Windows itself) since I am not using RAID. Do I have to install RAID as well?

 

Edit1:

 

Just got email back regarding my .dmp file. I hope this info will help in future suggestions:

 

The debug info shows it is the iastor.sys that is causing the bsod, this is the hard drive controller driver, but the real reason for the bsod is the hard drive info software you are using

Run BIOS setup and change the SATA controller from RAID to RAID Autodetect/ATA. Save the change and exit setup.

 

Ron