XPS 8930, what does EP_EXCEPTION SUB_HEADER mean?

look here 

ProfessorW00d,

Thanks for your prompt response, I didn't expect it so soon.

From reading the posts suggested by your link I assume the problem has something to do with the Killer Intelligence Center.  I just noticed this is installed on my computer and I never opened it until today.  I am not a game player and do not have any Alienware or any other aftermarket game software installed.

I could not find anywhere to stop GameFast in the application since I don't know the first thing about it.

I noticed that I did install "Killer PCIe Ethernet Controller Driver" and "Killer Control Center Application" from the "recommended' list on Dell Support for updates.

I found that "Killer Ethernet Performance Driver Suite UWD" is installed in my Programs and Features listing.

Should I delete this from my computer ?  I will never use it anyway.  I guess I won't be installing "recommended" software without investigation in the future.

Thanks for your help.

Jerry

@jmallard  - Click Start>Run and type in: services.msc and click OK.

When services.msc opens, double-click each Killer entry and set its Startup type to Disabled. Then do the same for all xTend services that are listed. Don't change anything else in services.msc. Just close services.msc.

Next, open Task Manager and click Startup tab. If any Killer entries (eg, Killer Intelligence Center) is listed there, right-click and disable them.  Then just reboot the PC.

You don't need any of that Killer junk and IMO, Killer Ethernet works better on my XPS 8930 without any of that stuff running in the background.

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@RoHe wrote:

 

You don't need any of that Killer junk and IMO, Killer Ethernet works better on my XPS 8930 without any of that stuff running in the background.

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Agreed. Same with my Aurora-R6.

Actually, in my Windows-11 Reliability History report, I even observed it quietly crashing (bring down my perfect score).

I just uninstalled it from "Programs and Features". I do not see any lingering Services (so, at least it appears to uninstall properly).

Thanks for your response.

I disabled all of the Killer titles in my Services.

However, after a shutdown and restart, I still get the unwanted random display.  I don't know what triggers the display.

I appreciate you taking time to make a suggestion for my problem.

Jerry

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@jmallard wrote:

On the Task Bar line was a "Dell" circle that said "My Dell".  When I hit escape, it goes away.  It doesn't seem to affect anything, other than being annoying.

 

 

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Since that didn't work, what you describe above seems (to me) to point to Support-Assist and/or Dell-Update.

You could try uninstalling both and rebooting. I don't use either on most Dell systems (ie, first sign of trouble, I uninstalled them). And when clean-installing Windows to a Dell, I never re-install them (or really, anything developed and distributed by Dell) ... there is just no reason to.

@jmallard  Try doing a Windows System Restore to the last restore point available before the problems started.

Be good idea to image your boot drive and save the image on an external USB drive before doing the restore, to be safe. Macrium Reflect (free) would be a good tool to create the image, if you don't already have an imaging app.

Be sure to include all partitions Macrium identifies on the boot drive, and select the option to validate the image as soon as it's created, which you have to select on the Advanced options screen before you create the image

Tesla 856 and RoHe,

Thanks for your responses.  

I need a few minutes to craft a response to your posts.  I can get into more details that is necessary to explain a problem sometimes and I want to avoid that.

Thanks.  

Tesla 856 and RoHe,

I'm an old guy (78), set in my ways, but I am patient.

My Dell 8930 is 2.5 years old.  I only have it because my old Dell XPS 720 would not run Windows10 properly.  My last 3 computers were purchased only because Microsoft stopped supporting older versions of Windows.

I noticed that my computer seem to be slower that it used to and it takes a long time to boot up (1 1/2 minutes). 

I did experience problems with Dell Support Assist.  Uninstalled and now it won't re-install and I see that a lot of people don't use it.  I have good current backup, I use Acronis True Image software.

I hate the thought of having to re-install everything on my computer and haven't done so since I got this computer.  But I'm pretty sure that is the only way to solve my problems.

I keep all my data, photos, etc. stored on a separate physical drive (a 1TB SSD Drive E: ).

I need to know which option I need to choose for a re-install of Windows 10:
  - Keep my files
  - Remove everything

I believe this computer has the restore partitions to re-install Windows to the state I received it from Dell.  I don't have a physical DVD or anything with Windows 10.

Going to try and include a copy of my disks/partitions.

Thanks for your help.

Re: that is the only way to solve my problems.  I keep all my data, photos, etc. stored on a separate physical drive.  I need to know which option I need to choose for a re-install of Windows 10:

  - Keep my files
  - Remove everything

A clean install is recommended, which means remove everything on your boot drive by deleting all existing partitions.  Download latest Windows 10 installation media (version 21h2) and prepare a bootable dvd (double sided) or usb flash drive (at least 8 gb).  This link explains step by step.  https://www.windowscentral.com/how-do-clean-installation-windows-10

PS it is good idea not to install support assist which is a Dell bloatware.

@jmallard  Did you try a System Restore?

If that doesn't help, click Start>Run>type in: services.msc and click OK. Look for any "Dell" services that may be listed (eg, Dell SupportAssist, Dell Update, etc). Double-click each one and set its Startup type to Disabled.  Don't change anything else in services.msc. Close services.msc and reboot.

If any of that works, you'll avoid having to do a clean install of Win 10...

Unfortunately, my System Restore has only 6 entries dating from 10-13 Sept.  I know I had older System Restore files because I usually (?) create a restore file before I install a program.

That is another reason I think I may have malware, virus or something that I cannot find, identify or remove.

  Also, unfortunately, I did not create a restore point for each file I installed from the Dell site updates so I don't know which one is likely responsible for the EP EXCEPTION display.   I will say my computer as been on about 35 minutes now and it has not popped up yet.  YEA!

I did remove or disable all Dell and Killer files that I could find:
  Programs and Features
  Services
  Program Files, Program Files (x86) and Program Data
  Deleted all Dell folders

I guess in the end I shall have to install windows again.  If I do a clean install, I will have to buy a copy of windows or windows installation key to install clean.  That's the only advantage of using the recovery files already on my computer.

Thanks again for your help.  I'll post what happens.

@jmallard - Windows automatically deletes old System Restore points as new ones are created.

Did this problem start before or after 9-10-22? If on or after that date, why don't you just go back to oldest restore point on 9-10-22, shown at bottom of your list? When you select that one Windows can show you exactly what apps/updates will be affected so you'll know what may need to be reinstalled. If any affected updates were installed via Windows Update, WU will offer those to you again if you manually tell WU to search for updates.

You don't need to buy a new license for Win 10. Just use the Windows Media Creation Tool to create a bootable USB stick that installs Win 10. It should activate itself automatically since the Microsoft Product Key is stored in your motherboard.  And if the clean install doesn't activate itself automatically, just log into your Microsoft email account and that should activate it for you. 

Besides, if you removed the Dell folders and that popup hasn't bothered you for a while, it sounds like the problem may be resolved. So I'd just keep using the PC until/unless the popups start again after you reboot.

In meanwhile, you may want to image your boot drive and save the image on external USB drive, to be safe. Macrium Reflect (free) is a good tool this...