Hello,

Could you please upload a jcgriff2 report?

http://www.techsupportforum.com/for.../blue-screen-of-death-bsod-posting-instructions-windows-7-and-vista-452654.html

 

here's the BSOD dump file according to the instructions. couldn't get the system health check report to work for some reason...

 

For some reason, minidumps are either not being created, or just not saved. Could you please zip up the memory.dmp file found in C:\Windows, and uploading it to a file-hosting site such as Rapidshare or Mediafire?

You might start by installing the latest BIOS for your laptop: Toshiba Support - Homepage

BIOS Version/Date    TOSHIBA V1.90, 18/12/2009

Uninstall Hotspot Shield for now; it may be causing problems in Normal Mode.

Also start on some hardware tests, beginning with the three Prime95 tests: CPU - Stress Test with Prime95 - Windows 7 Forums

Also run Memtest86: RAM - Test with Memtest86+ - Windows 7 Forums

 

Hi Jon,

I have managed to upload the MEMORY.DMP file to Rapidshare, the link is below.

http://rapidshare.com/files/456240315/MEMORY_DMP_file.zip

As for the other things, I have uninstalled Hotspot Sheild, to no visible effect. I also uninstalled my VNC software, which did give it a little longer before the system crashed. I am unable to update the BIOS because the drivers will not load in safe mode. I am currently posting this message from my laptop in Safe Mode, because in nomal mode it still crashes every time I log in. It is not BSOD-ing so much any more, just more hanging and crashing.

I also can't run the stress and RAM tests for the same reason. I was particularly keen to see the results of the heat stress test, as i have recently noticed it becoming hotter than normal when used for long periods of time.

Thanks again for your help, if you have any ideas concerning the BIOS or drivers, please let me know, I'm kind of desperate! (I have work due in which requires me to use a program, and the only computer I own with this program is the laptop!)

 

Thanks!

The dump blames atikmdag.sys, your ATI video drivers. I see they are about two years old:

atikmdag.sys    Tue Apr 21 22:21:20 2009 (49EE7F20)

Download updated ones from here: ATI Catalyst

...Summary of the dumps:

[font=lucida console]
Built by: 6002.18327.x86fre.vistasp2_gdr.101014-0432
Debug session time: Tue Apr  5 09:38:11.964 2011 (UTC - 4:00)
System Uptime: 0 days 2:27:03.292
*** ERROR: Module load completed but symbols could not be loaded for atikmdag.sys
Probably caused by : atikmdag.sys
DEFAULT_BUCKET_ID:  VISTA_DRIVER_FAULT
BUGCHECK_STR:  0x9F
PROCESS_NAME:  System
FAILURE_BUCKET_ID:  0x9F_3_IMAGE_atikmdag.sys
SystemProductName = Satellite L550
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨``
  
[/font]

 

Hi Jon,

Thanks for identifying the problem, it makes things a little easier!

I tried the link you posted, which told me that the Toshiba Display adapter in my computer needs to be updated first. However, I still can't get onto my computer in normal mode to install the drivers or update them. I have tried installing the display adapter update in Safe Mode but it pops up with the message "Failed to load detection driver". is there a way i could load this driver in safe mode to get the update going?

Also, I had a look around the unzipped files in the update, and managed to locate the atikmdag.sys file, so it is there, its just a question of getting it installed and getting it to work.

The main problem is, my computer will stop functioning and freeze up within a couple of mins of turning it on. I have tried to update everything fast, to try and get it done before it freezes, which just slowed it down even more. I have also tried slowly, in which case it freezes up anyway within those precious few minutes. If you have any suggestions as to how I'd be able to load my normal desktop up without it freezing, it would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance for your help, and sorry this is a little tedious!

 

I just tried a virtual machine; I believe you should be able to update the display adapter in Safe Mode. Have you tried it yet?

 

Hi Jon,

Thanks for the quick response, I spent the last 45 mins typing out a step by step guide of what I did, then clicked backspace and it took me back a page, losing all of it...

So here goes again.

Firstly, I went on the Toshiba website, and clicked Download Drivers (link provided)
Laptop Driver Downloads:

I entered into the fields these specifications:
Notebooks
Satellite
Satellite L Series
Satellite L550
PLSN8E
Windows Vista 32 Bit
Display Driver
United Kingdom
English
and left the "date of upload newer than" box unchecked.


it came up with one driver, with these details:

05/08/09 Display Driver ATI Windows Vista 32 Bit 8.611 World Wide

I downloaded the file, called 'AMD Display Driver', opened it, and ran the application inside called 'TC40048900A'. It extracted some files to a folder I created on my desktop.

It then automatically started up an application called 'ATI - Catalyst(R) Install Manager (version 03.00.0723). I managed to locate the application it auto-started in the folder of extracted files from TC40048900A, it was called "tinstall" with a little icon of an owl on a branch at night. (not sure if that would help, just thought i'd include it anyway.)

I chose the install language as English, then clicked next, 'Install', not 'Uninstall', then clicked Express, and let it install in the default folder. I clicked next, then 'Agree'.

The next window is where it went wrong.

A window came up with 'Welcome, Analyse, Custom, Install, Finished" on the left side, in a column, with "Analysing configuration" on the right with progress bars of "overall progress" and "detecting system". then popped up the message 'failed to load detection driver' and it cancelled it. what was shown after I clicked OK on this message was the same window with "failures occurred during installation" with an option to "view log".

I had a look at the log, and all it says is "failed to load detection driver".

If there's anything in there that I'm doing wrong, or that you did differently on the virtual machine, please let me know!

Thanks again, you've been a great help so far!

 

I didn't actually download any drivers to test; I just confirmed that the ability was there.

Try installing the latest drivers from here instead: ATI Catalyst

The latest Toshiba drivers are from 2009, the latest drivers directly from ATI are from March 2011.

As for the post you lost...I hear you! I got so sick of that happening to me that I installed a Firefox addon "Lazarus". That automatically backs up what you type into a temporary cache, so you can paste it again if need be. Just be careful typing up that confidential email, sending it, and then letting someone borrow your system!

 

Hi Jon,

Sorry for the late reply - have been very busy this week and only just got a chance to get onto the forum!

Just tried the link you provided, I believe it's the same one as the one I had originally, but I downloaded it anyway. I tried to run it and it came up with the error message it did before:
"ATI Catalyst Mobility cannot be downloaded due to incompatible hardware/software on your computer. The version of your graphics adapter is not supported. Please contact your notebook manufacturer for a graphics driver update."

this is the same error message I received before, which led me to trying to update my 'Display Drivers' from Toshiba. I need to update the Toshiba graphics adapter drivers before I can download the latest ATI update. However, I have tried to do this, but it won't let me update the Toshiba graphics adapter drivers in Safe Mode. Hence, I can't apply the latest ATI update without the updated Toshiba graphics adapter drivers.

thanks for the help, any further ideas let me know!

 

Try uninstalling your ATI display drivers in Safe Mode; see if that will allow you access to normal mode so you can update everything.

 

Hi Jon,

forgive me if I'm wrong, but won't that just disable my screen, making it impossible for me to do anything with a visual reference, even in safe mode?

if not, how will uninstalling my display drivers help?

sorry, this is the one thing I'm a little reluctant to try, as I have a feeling I may not be able to get it back to the current situation if it all goes wrong, which would make the problem worse!

 

You'll still be able to see the screen; it will just be small resolution (800x600) until some better drivers are reinstalled.

Uninstalling the drivers and rebooting should reinstall the generic Windows drivers; hopefully those will not cause any BSODs. Once you're in Normal Mode, you can then update whatever else you need in order to install the latest ATI drivers.

 

Hi Jon,

just managed to get my computer up and running in normal mode, finally! i just started it up and it didnt crash for once!

about these drivers, I still don't seem to be able to install the latest ones from ATI, because it still says my toshiba graphics adapter is out of date, even after I ran the display driver update. are the display driver and the graphics adapter the same thing?

 

Hi again Jon,

Just a couple of things to add - I downloaded the stress tests you recommended and the heat monitor.
I did what I could with my basic knowledge, I think I ran a stress test, which seems to have come out OK, and by this I mean nothing popped up telling me I had any problems.

I then had a look at my temperature monitor and it is running at 90 degrees celcius!
I ran the stress test again and it went up to 97 degrees at the highest point. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm not sure this is normal! is there any way I can improve this? My current intake fan is on the bottom, and lately I've had my laptop propped up on 2 wooden slats to keep it from getting too hot.

The 'blowing out' fan is on the side. Also, the intake and blow out are right next to each other, near the edge, and the processor (i think) is in the middle of the bottom of the laptop.

I would install a new fan, but its a laptop and its all kind of self-contained. do you have any recommendations?

Thanks, your help has been much appreciated!

 

You're right, that does seem hot, even for a laptop. You may consider purchasing a cooling pad: Newegg.com - SYBA Spyker 12" - 15.4" Notebook Cooler Pad with Giant 16cm Cooling Fan Model CL-NBK68015