Re: Crashes and the Blue Screen of Death!
From: John John (audetweld_at_nbnet.nb.ca)
Date: Sat, 30 Oct 2004 06:14:54 -0300
Probably time to take the box to a repair shop...
Excerpt from - Chapter 33 - Windows 2000 Stop Messages
Stop 0x0000007F or UNEXPECTED_KERNEL_MODE_TRAP
This Stop message, also known as Stop 0x7F, means that one of two types
of problems occurred in kernel-mode, either a kind of condition that the
kernel is not allowed to have or catch (a bound trap), or a kind of
error that is always fatal. Occasionally, this message can be caused by
software problems, but the most common cause is hardware failure.
Interpreting the Message
The four parameters listed in the message are defined in order of
appearance as follows:
Processor exception code
The first and most important parameter (0x0000000x) can have several
different values. The cause of this error can vary, depending on the
value of this parameter. All conditions that cause a Stop 0x7F can be
found in any x86-based microprocessor reference manual because they are
specific to the x86-based platform. Here are some of the most common
0x00000000, or Divide by Zero Error, is caused when a DIV instruction is
run and the divisor is 0. Memory corruption, other hardware problems, or
software failures can cause this error.
0x00000004, or Overflow, occurs when the processor executes a call to an
interrupt handler when the overflow (OF) flag is set.
0x00000005, or Bounds Check Fault, is generated when the processor,
while executing a BOUND instruction, finds that a variable's assigned
value exceeds the specified limits. A BOUND instruction is used to
ensure that a signed array index is within a certain range.
0x00000006, or Invalid Opcode, is generated when the processor attempts
to run an invalid instruction. This is generally caused when the
instruction pointer has become corrupted and is pointing to the wrong
location. The most common cause of this is hardware memory corruption.
0x00000008, or Double Fault, is when an exception occurs while trying to
call the handler for a prior exception. Normally, the two exceptions can
be handled serially. However, there are several exceptions that cannot
be handled serially, and in this situation the processor signals a
double fault. This is almost always caused by hardware problems.
Other exception codes are defined as follows:
0x00000001—A system-debugger call.
0x00000003—A debugger breakpoint.
0x00000007—A hardware coprocessor instruction with no coprocessor present.
0x0000000A—A corrupted Task State Segment.
0x0000000B—An access to a memory segment that was not present.
0x0000000C—An access to memory beyond the limits of a stack.
0x0000000D—An exception not covered by some other exception; a
protection fault that pertains to access violations for applications.
Resolving the Problem
Hardware failure or incompatibility. Stop 0x7F usually occurs after the
installation of faulty or mismatched hardware (especially memory) or in
the event that installed hardware fails. If hardware was recently added
to the system, remove it to see if the error recurs. If existing
hardware has failed, remove or replace the faulty component. Run
hardware diagnostics supplied by the system manufacturer, especially the
memory scanner, to determine which hardware component has failed. For
details on these procedures, see the owner's manual for your computer.
Check that all the adapter cards in the computer, including memory
modules, are properly seated. Use an ink eraser or an electrical contact
treatment, available at electronics supply stores, to ensure adapter
card contacts are clean. Be sure to wipe the cleaned contacts off,
removing all cleaning debris, before reinstalling the adapter card into
the computer. If compressed air is available, use it to clear out the
adapter card slot.
If the error appears on a newly installed system, check the availability
of updates for BIOS revisions on the motherboard, SCSI controllers, or
network cards. Updates of this kind are typically available on the Web
site or BBS of the hardware manufacturer.
Confirm that all hard disks, hard disk controllers, and SCSI adapters
are listed on the Windows 2000 Hardware Compatibility List (HCL). For
more information about the HCL, see "Additional Resources" at the end of
If the error occurred after the installation of a new or updated device
driver, the driver needs to be removed or replaced. If, under this
circumstance, the error occurs during the startup sequence, restart the
computer using Safe Mode to rename or delete the file. If the driver is
used as part of the system startup process in Safe Mode, you need to
start the computer using the Recovery Console in order to access the
file. For more information about Safe Mode and the Recovery Console, see
"Troubleshooting Tools and Strategies" in this book.
Also try restarting your computer, and press F8 at the character-mode
screen that displays the prompt "For troubleshooting and advanced
startup options for Windows 2000, press F8." On the resulting Windows
2000 Advanced Options menu, choose the Last Known Good Configuration
option. This option is most effective when only one driver or service is
added at a time.
Overclocking. Setting the CPU to run at speeds above the rated
specification (known as overclocking the CPU) can cause this error. If
this has been done to the computer experiencing the error, return the
CPU to the default clock speed setting.
Check the System Log in Event Viewer for additional error messages that
might help pinpoint the device or driver that is causing the error.
Disabling memory caching of the BIOS might also resolve it.
If you encountered this error while upgrading to Windows 2000, it might
be caused by a device driver, a system service, a virus scanner, or a
backup tool that is incompatible with the new version. If possible,
remove all third-party device drivers and system services and disable
any virus scanners prior to upgrading. Contact the software manufacturer
to obtain updates of these tools.
Microsoft periodically releases a package of product improvements and
problem resolutions for Windows 2000 called a Service Pack. Because many
problems are resolved by installing the latest Service Pack, it is
recommended that all users install them as they become available. To
check which Service Pack, if any, is installed on your system, click
Start, click Run, type winver, and then press ENTER. The About Windows
2000 dialog box displays the Windows version number and the version
number of the Service Pack, if one has been installed.
Occasionally, remedies to specific problems are developed after the
release of a Service Pack. These remedies are called hotfixes. Microsoft
does not recommend that you install a post–Service Pack hotfix unless
the specific problem it addresses has been encountered. Service Packs
include all of the hotfixes released since the release of the previous
Service Pack. The status of hotfix installations is not indicated in the
About Windows 2000 dialog box. For more information about Service Packs
and hotfixes, see "Additional Resources" at the end of this chapter.
Finally, if all the above steps fail to resolve the error, take the
system motherboard to a repair facility for diagnostic testing. A crack,
a scratched trace, or a defective component on the motherboard can also
cause this error.
For more troubleshooting information about the 0x7F Stop message, refer
to the Microsoft Knowledge Base link, using the keywords winnt and
0x0000007F. For information about this resource, see "Additional
Resources" at the end of this chapter.
> My Wife's computer spontaneously freezes or crashes. When it freezes, the
> only solution is to reboot. When crashes occur an error message window
> appears, indicating an error (unspecified) has occurred and Window will shut
> down the offending software; it could be internet explorer, Paint Shop Pro 8,
> a game (not Doom or anything like that) or any other software she may be
> After attempting a multitude of "fixes," such as changing video cards,
> adding memory, changing memory modules, I decided to re-install windows.
> However, after the install goes through to the point of "starting up
> Windows," the Blue Screen pops up with a "0x7F...unexpected_kernel_mode_trap"
> I have used several diagnostic memory programs, purchased new memory
> modules, pulled and installed new cards, and so forth, without seemingly
> effecting the problem. The crashes still occur, and I have no success
> re-installing windows.
> Could it be the mother board?
> What suggestions can anyone offer?