Stop Error - Can't Update Driver

Hi!
First off, let me say I'm not so familiar with Windows, so forgive me if I use the wrong terminology as I describe things.
I reinstalled XP Home edition which, as far as I could tell, was stable. I then ran the first set of updates, (which seemed to just be software for downloading updates). After that, I could do nothing without crashing. Even logging in to my user account would cause a crash, and I'm talking a full OS crash that brings the whole machine down and forces an automatic restart!
I re-installed the OS again, again wiping the HD, and after the first round of updates got the same problem.
Finally, I was able to log in, and I went ahead and sent the crash report to Microsoft. Up popped a web page telling me that my problem was a "Stop Error ", caused by a "video adapter device driver ". Great! Solution 1 was to install a new driver, but it expected me to have it already on a disk. It would be nice if it would look online, eh? Solution 2 was to kill Hardware Acceleration. I did that, and it did help, allowing me to click on more things without crashing. So I tried to download a new driver, but I could only get so far in the ATI web site. When I click on the XP Drivers link on their site, it brings the machine down. I also tried to roll back the driver, but no go. It said there was no driver saved, or something like that. Does this mean the driver wasn't updated by the system?
So then I thought, "If I can just get the second round of updates installed, the problem will be fixed!" First try caused a crash, but the second time, it managed - all 56 needed updates to bring me up to SP1, lol! But the problem was not solved.
I can't click on links without crashing the OS. I can't download a new driver onto a Mac (well, I could, but they can't connect to the PC anymore, nor vice-versa, another stumper). I'm at a loss, folks - any thoughts?

 

XP Service Pack 2 is inclusive of all Hotfixes and other patches used in Service Pack 1. And more.

I want you to use Safe Mode with Networking, and download Service Pack 2 and apply it.

(Ignore that this says Network Version. It is the right one for you):
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...BE-3B8E-4F30-8245-9E368D3CDB5A&displaylang=en

From Safe Mode, download a newer driver for your video adapter as well.

Any installation of Service Packs or drivers I would request you do from Safe Mode without Networking.

I am going to make a guess: You went on the internet without a firewall active, and without any antivirus software.

I am going to make a second guess: your crashing is because you have some worms/trojans/viruses on your machine.

Before downloading anything, you are going to have to do a completely clean installation of XP Home.

You are then, prior to connecting to the internet, going to enable the XP native firewall.

You are then as your first download going to download a free antivirus application such as AVG by Grisoft, Avast 4 or AntiVir; disconnect from the internet, and install it.

Only then download Service Pack 2 and install it.
Only then download new video drivers and install them.

 

How Do I Boot Into Safe Mode?

Bill, how do I boot into Safe Mode?

I'm behind a NAT router (which is firewalled), but I did activate the Windows firewall.

According to the response I got from Microsoft, the crash was caused by the graphics card driver. Also, the only server I connected to was the MS update server, via the auto update app. I'm not sure I buy the virus theory. Remember, I have done a couple of clean installs, and I couldn't get online until I'd gone through the "advanced" network settings because the OS is incapable of detecting and setting the transfer rate of the ethernet card. Naturally, I turned on the firewall on the way to digging down to that setting.

That's true! The intial installation seems to be stable until the first round of updates, so that's the only way I'll be able to download anything. Thanks for your help. The link for SP2 is extremely helpful, as are the freeware anti-virus recommendations! Let's see what happens.

 

Which SP2? Never Mind!

Ignore this post.

 

Installed SP 2

OK, installed SP 2, restarted, logged in and then crashed. Another restart, and made it past log in, and was able to connect, (although, when I tried to send the crash report, it told me to connect first, even though i was clearly connected). Tried to go to version tracker to get the above recommended free virus protection, but crashed when I hit the "Go" button in IE. <sigh>
OK, logged in again, but I swear I had to do it twice....weird. Anyway, got the crash report out the door, and the response is: "Error caused by device driver ". But this time, it can't figure out which one. I will take a wild guess that it's the graphics card driver again. I will try to turn off the hardware acceleration if it stops crashing when I try to open the Control Panel.
Any other ideas, folks?

 

What is the Stop error number, and the stop error text?
Be as specific as you can.

You can look in your Event Logs to find out:
Start, Run, eventvwr.msc

 

I should also mention that since installing SP 2, it's downloaded and installed 50+ updates!

From MS:
Cause - A video adapter device driver
Computer symptoms:
STOP 0x000000EA THREAD_STUCK_IN_DEVICE_DRIVER
-or-
STOP: 0x100000EA THREAD_STUCK_IN_DEVICE_DRIVER_M

From Save Dump:
The computer has rebooted from a bugcheck. The bugcheck was:
0x1000008e (0xc0000005, 0xf8244e75, 0xf6e98dfc, 0x00000000) A dump was saved, etc....

The only System error I see near the time of the last crash, seems to be a few minutes before the actual crash, but I'll include anyway because it's identical to a lot of the other System Errors in the log:

System Error Category (102) Type: Error
Error Code 1000008e, parameter1 c0000005, parameter2 f8245e75, parameter3 3f86e3dfc, parameter4 00000000

Let me know if I can provide any other info, but I have to go to work now. I'll be back aroung 9:00 pm CST. Thanks!

 

You only have to install the Critical ones!

When I see 0xEA errors + 0x8e errors, it is time for a new video adapter.
Take the notebook to the dealer.

 

What exactly is a video adapter?

Heh, I was too afraid to click on anything for fear of crashing!

Actually, it's not a laptop. It's one of those big beige boxes. What exactly is a video adapter? Is that just another term for "graphics card ", or is this a different (hopefully cheaper) part?

Also, what do you make of the fact that everything worked perfectly until the updates, not to mention before I did the clean install? Looking at cause and effect, we see this:

Before new install - no crashing
After clean install - no crashing
After first round of updates - crashing
After second clean install - no crashing
After first round of updates - crashing

...and so on, through the third clean install. It's a repeatable problem, and to my mind, points to a software issue. Besides, I really can't afford a new graphics card, anyway. ; )
Do these Error Messages point to a particular piece of software/file? And if so, can we revert that file to the original install? If so, how?
Let me know what you think.

 

Start, Run, devmgmt.msc

• Right click your display/graphics/video adapter shown in the listings under the subhead 'Display Adapters';
• Properties, then click Device;
• Click Roll-back driver.
• Reboot and test.
• Remember: Friends do not let friends udpate device drivers from Windows Update.

 

I don't think it has been updated. The Driver date is 6/6/2001, version 5.1.2001.0 It's a 3D Rage Pro AGP card. When I try to roll back, it says there is no saved file to roll back to. Maybe that's the problem? The old driver not compatible with the updates?
I'll try to download an update from ATI again. I hope it won't crash everytime I try again. Sheesh!