Hi Jon,

Your system might have the manufacturer drivers for Wireless and Video adapters, which come through the Windows updates. The OEM versions available on Dell support site are customized for Dell systems. It is recommended that you install the Dell drivers.

Provide me with the complete Blue Screen Error code with the associated technical information. It would be great if you can send the dump files for the error. The files would be located in C:/Windows/Minidump folder.

Also, try the following steps to change the Wireless card power management properties:

1. Click on Start.
2. Type Device Manager in the search box and select ‘Device Manager’ from the search results.
3. Expand the ‘Network Adapters’ category.
4. Right click on the Wireless card driver listed there and then click on ‘Properties’.
5. On the properties window, go to the ‘Power Management’ tab.
6. Un-check the option ‘Allow the system to turn off this device to save power’.
7. Click on Apply and OK.

Restart the system and check. If you still face the issue, let me know.

You may also try scanning the system for virus/spyware. Also run the diagnostics to check the functionality of the hardware. The steps to run the tests are:

1. Restart the system and starting tapping the key once a second until the ‘One Time Boot’ menu appears (if the computer boots to Windows turn the  computer off and try again).
2. At the ‘One Time Boot’ menu, press the arrow key to highlight ‘Diagnostics’, ‘PSA+’ or ‘Enter ePSA’, then press to begin the diagnostics.
3. Note down any error codes and accompanying validation code that appear and let the tests continue.
4. Provide me with the error codes and validation codes so that I can analyze them and suggest further action.

You may refer to the following link for more information on running the diagnostics:

http://dell.to/OUGnqT

Let me know if you need more information or assistance. I will be glad to help.

Hi Gaurav

Thanks for responding, here is what I can tell you:

1. All drivers came from the Dell support site, I re-imaged from W7 x32 to x64 last February & built the driver set following the order recommended on the Dell support site & using Dell drivers.

2. The wireless power management in Device manager is turned off (unchecked)

3. I ran the extended version of the diagnostic test you recommended & got 100% pass

I have the latest Minidump file available, how can I send it to you?

I got the below info on the last crash by using Blue Screen View

Dump file 101912-29530-01.dmp

Crash time 19/10/2012 13:41:23

Bug check string DRIVER_POWER_STATE_FAILURE

Bug check code 0x0000009f

Parameter 1 00000000`00000003

Parameter 2 fffffa80`0d2696a0

Parameter 3 fffff800`00b9c3d8

Parameter 4 fffffa80`108d4440

Caused by driver ntoskrnl.exe

Caused by address ntoskrnl.exe+7f1c0

File description NT Kernel & System

Product Name Microsoft® Windows® Operating System

Company Microsoft Corporation

file version 6.1.7601.17944 (win7sp1_gdr.120830-0333)

processor x64

Crash address ntoskrnl.exe+7f1c0

full path C:\Windows\Minidump\101912-29530-01.dmp

processor count 4

major version 15

minor version 7601

dump file size 675,352

My system is a Dell E6320

Intel Core i7-2620M 2.7GHz

RAM 8Gb

Hard drive WDC WD2500BEKT-75PVMT0

Wifi Intel Ultimate N 6300

LAN Intel 82579LM Gigabit

Logitec KB & Mouse via Logitech USB Unifying dongle

External Monitor Via Mini HDMI Dell W1700

My network has a Wireless router (Asus RT-N66U) with a USB Printer attached & a Networked storage device

Thanks for your help

Jon

Thank you for providing the information.

Please try the following steps to fix the issue:

1. Perform a clean boot:

• Click on "Start" when your Windows 7 loads.
• Type "msconfig" on the search bar and hit "Enter".
• Go to the "Startup" tab and disable all the applications listed.
• Then go to the "Services" tab and check mark the "Hide all Microsoft Service".
• Click on "Disable all Services".
• Click on Apply and restart the computer.
• Test the computer and if no BSOD is shown, start re-enabling one by one each Service and each Startup application until you discover which one is causing the BSOD.

2. Go to Device Manager, under ‘Network Adapters’, right click on the wireless card and click on ‘Properties’. On the properties window, select the ‘Power Management’ tab and uncheck "Allow computer to turn off this device to save power".
3. Run Windows Updates.
4. Run the diagnostics to check the functionality of the hardware. The steps to run the tests are:

• Restart the system and starting tapping the key once a second until the ‘One Time Boot’ menu appears (if the computer boots to Windows turn the computer off and try again).
• At the ‘One Time Boot’ menu, press the arrow key to highlight ‘Diagnostics’, ‘PSA+’ or ‘Enter ePSA’, then press to begin the diagnostics.
• Note down any error codes and accompanying validation code that appear and let the tests continue.
• Provide me with the error codes and validation codes so that I can analyze them and suggest further action.

5. Update the BIOS of the system. You may download and install the latest version from the link below:

http://dell.to/QNWwJT

Note: While updating the BIOS, battery should be > 10% charged and AC adapter should be connected. Please disconnect any external peripherals connected to the system.

6. Update the Chipset, Wireless and Video Card Driver.
7. Change the Virtual Memory. The steps are:

• Open System by clicking the Start button, clicking Control Panel, clicking System and Maintenance, and then clicking System.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• In the left pane, click Advanced System Settings.
• On the Advanced tab, under Performance, click Settings.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Click the Advanced tab, and then, under Virtual memory, click Change.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Clear the ‘Automatically manage paging file size for all drives’ check box.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Under Drive [Volume Label], click the drive that contains the paging file you want to change.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Click Custom size, type a new size in megabytes in the Initial size (MB) or Maximum size (MB) box, click Set, and then click OK.
• We recommend setting the Virtual Memory with a Minimum of 4066MB and a Maximum of 12006MB.

Let me know if you need more information or assistance. I will be happy to help.

Hi Guarav,

1. The problem is intermittent, sometimes its ok for a week, other times it will happen 3 times in a day, (I have managed to suspend succesfully 4 times since opening this thread). It happens when away from my home network with no external devices attached, it also happens both on AC or battery power, I haven't been able to see a pattern. I  have done a full shut down, then rebooted, then with no applications running tried a suspend & got BSOD, but other times with several apps open it will suspend no problem.  So the disabling/re-enabling of services may/maynot give the answer as at for the last 4 days suspend has worked.

2.  the wireless card ‘Power Management’ tab is unchecked

3. Windows updates are complete (except for BING which I don't use & don't want)

4. Diagnostic tests pass 100%

5. I have tried to download the latest BIOS, but the Dell site says the file (E6320A15.exe) is missing, so I can't download it I would like to be able to get this so that I can install it.

6. All Drivers are the latest version available on the Dell Support site

7. I have adjusted the size of the Virtual memory in line with your recommendations

If I can get the Minidump file to you will it help you analysewhach driver maybe the cause?

Thanks

Jon

Hi Jon,

As the issue is intermittent and does not happen due to some particular application, it seems that the issue is related to Windows corruption. The error report that you sent earlier pointed to ntoskrnl.exe being the cause. The Mini-Dump file would have the same details. So that would not be required.

I would suggest that you back up all important data (For example Pictures, Music, Videos, Documents, Favorites, Outlook Emails etc.) and reinstall the software. While reinstalling the Windows, delete all partitions from the hard drive, format the drive and install a fresh copy of Windows. After the Windows has been installed, install the drivers. Then check the system before installing any applications or putting the data back on the hard drive.

Let me know if you need further information or assistance. I will be glad to assist.