[LS773]

Background:

1. Laptop is a Dell Inspiron 1520 running Windows Vista.

2. Computer became slow to the point of being unusable. Took it in to a local Staples. They ran diagnostic, replaced hard drive, restored Windows.

3. Laptop reached BSoDs a few times after I got it home. I don't remember what the error messages were, but at least one of them was PFN_List_Corrupt.

4. I took it back to the Staples. They said PFN_List_Corrupt indicated that the RAM or motherboard likely needed to be replaced. On their recommendation, I sent the laptop to the 3rd party offsite storage facility Nexacore to deal with the problem (at an added fee).

5. Nexacore's tests don't show any errors. They send the computer back to the Staples store after replacing the hard drive and restoring Windows. This took 3 weeks.

6. I get the computer back and it bluescreens again. I return the computer to the Staples. They send it back to Nexacore with instructions to replace the RAM and motherboard.

7. Nexacore has the computer for 3 weeks. During this time, they again say that it isn't showing any errors and that they are unable to get the machine to bluescreen again. I don't know what tests they were running, but I was told that the tests are those that would tax the machine's RAM and motherboard. Since their tests don't show any errors, they don't replace either the RAM or motherboard.

8. I get the machine back 6 days ago and attempt to return it to normal use. It runs fine for 3 days. Since then it has reached a BSoD 4 times. Two of those times I did not see the error message, while the other two times the error message was Memory_Management.

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My questions:

1. Other posters have attached .dmp files with a summary of the error that occurred. When I attempt to access the minidump file, a blank text document opens accompanied by an "Access is denied" message. How do I access and display the .dmp files?

2. Is there anything I can do with respect to Staples and Nexacore? Any tests I can run that might indicate what the error is? I find it unlikely that their tests were as thorough as claimed given how readily the computer has experienced a bluescreen since I got it back. My research via google thus far seems to suggest a test called memtest, but it also said that running the test required detaching RAM blocks (I think?), and I don't know how to do that.

3. Anything else I could do? Any help is appreciated.

[Phantom010]

Do you have any files in the Minidump folder?

If there are some, ZIP the latest ones and attach them to your next post.

Windows Vista

Right-click the minidump file, select Send To, then select Compressed (zipped) Folder.

Windows Vista will compress (zip) the file and save the new zipped file in the same location as the original file.

If you get an Access Denied error, disable the UAC.

[LS773]

Here is the most recent minidump file:

[Phantom010]

ntkrpamp.exe is the probable cause. It's a common generic message and it can mean quite a few things.

Do you have all the latest drivers on the machine?

I would run another Memtest on your RAM. They already replaced the hard drive and reinstalled Windows.

Memtest

Burn the ISO image to a CD/DVD and boot from it. Follow the on screen instructions.

[LS773]

Thank you. All drivers are up to date. I'm following the Memtest instructions now.

[LS773]

Sorry to belabor it, but I haven't been able to boot from the ISO image. I downloaded the ISO image to a CD. However, when I restart the computer with the CD/DVD in the drive, Windows loads normally. I've checked the setup menu and the startup preferences do check the CD/DVD drive first for a potential boot source.

Do I need to first download a program to read the ISO image, like WinZip?

[Phantom010]

You simply burn the ISO image to a CD with a burning software. Nothing else is needed. Then, you need to change the boot order in the BIOS:

How to Set BIOS to Boot From CD in Vista

[LS773]

Sorry, I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong. I've burned the file Memtest86_3.5.iso to a CD. The CD drive has the first priority in the BIOS boot order preference list. The burned CD is in the CD drive. I selected "Restart" from the start menu, and the computer started up in Windows again. I tried it a second time, it started to boot into Windows again, then it reached a BSoD error with the error code Bad_Pool_Caller.

[Phantom010]

I'm afraid you'll need to insist with Staples. You did pay for the computer and the repairs and it still doesn't work.

[LS773]

Thanks, I'll take it back in and see what they can do for me.

[LS773]

Scratch that, I wasn't burning the file properly. I burned it using a different burner program and it successfully booted into memtest. The test is currently running.

[Phantom010]

Great! Keep us posted.

[LS773]

How many passes are commonly run? Memtest just finished its first test and started another one, but also includes a direction of "Pass complete, no errors, press Esc for exit".

[Phantom010]

Generally, a single pass is sufficient to catch all but the most obscure errors. However, for complete confidence when intermittent errors are suspected, testing for a longer period is advised.

[LS773]

I let it run overnight. It went through 20 passes and didn't experience any errors. Is there anything else I can do?