BSOD refers to corrupted PFN... Causes?

This is the machine I just built that we had so many problems with in the other topic. Starting to give me headaches again.

Both Opera and IE like to crash out on me, especially when watching streaming video or online games. Seems to be anything Flash-based. Random times, random programs. I can't reproduce it with any consistency. However, only had the one BSOD.

PFN_LIST_CORRUPT
0x0000004e (0x00000099, 0x0005fe10, 0x00000001, 0x00000000)

Quick google turns up the following from the MSDN. But it's for 2000, not XP. Does it still apply? I double-checked my device manager. No hardware or driver issues are apparent. My RAM is fine - installed with bracelet and everything - and Windows only sees 3.12 / 4 gigs I have installed. That's to be expected.

It's only been one BSOD, but I'd rather track down the error and see if it's solvable before it actually reproduces itself. Where do I look? Drivers are clean, hardware is new, latest version of Flash, all my windows updates are installed and current, latest version of browsers (opera 9.64 and IE7). Where do I look for an error?

 

I just shut down the computer for the night, and got BSOD'd. Just noting it here, so I can look it up in the morning.

IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL
0x0000000A (0xC700000C, 0x00000002, 0x00000000, 0x8050EF1C)

(Where do all of these logs physically dump to? Is there someplace they can be read, so I can get further information to troubleshoot with?)

 

Microsoft Support offers me the following consolation:

This Stop error message usually occurs during installation when there was an attempt in kernel mode to touch pageable memory at too high a process internal request level (IRQL). Typically, this error occurs when a driver uses an incorrect memory address. Other possible causes of this error include an incompatible device driver, a general hardware problem, or incompatible software.

All this (including my other, previous issues) seems to come back to my RAM. Is there something I don't understand about a 32-bit system operating on 4gb of RAM? I was under the impression that, because of limitations, that my system could not even see the existence of that extra gig...

A response like this makes me think that the OS is seeing the RAM and ignoring it, until some device sees and attempts to write to the addresses in that extra gig? It should be invisible, or protected from being used, right?

Or am I off on the wrong track altogether?

 

Same error with slightly different parameters when I shut it down tonight.

0x0000000A (0xAB000060, 0x00000002, 0x0000000, 0x8050EF1C)

Found these references via google, thought I'd share with the board:
Overclock.net contributor suggests "pstat" utility
CyberSlam contributor explains where to find the stop code you just experienced

 

I'm just going to tear out the motherboard and get it replaced. What a pain.

Based on the BSODs I was getting, and Pete's awesome links, I tried to run the driver verifier utility in windows. No unsigned drivers were found, but when I tried to have it verify ALL drivers on the machine, I got the following error, on a BSOD at boot up (which is when it verifies drivers):

??System verification error in wmiacpi.sys (WDM Driver Error 200)
??iacpi.sys+152f at BA57D52F

The ?s are because my monitor cut off the first characters of the message. My resolution must be too high. I don't know.

I also attempted SFC /SCANNOW from the Run option in the start menu. It flashed on screen for half a second and disappeared. To my knowledge, it reported no errors.

Just for the hell of it, I also got into Recovery Console and ran CHKDSK /P to discover three instances of "CHKDSK is performing additional checking or recovery. . . . ." and that it "found 1 or more errors on the volume. "

Followed that up with CHKDSK /R and received 3x of the same message about additional checking and recovery. I'm assuming that means my errors there were corrected, at least.

However, any multimedia I seem to try to access via the web just crashes after an indeterminate period. Just random. Hasn't BSOD'd on me since running CHKDSK /R, but my browsers keep crashing.

The only hardware I have not replaced on this machine is the DVD burner, the motherboard and the PSU. (I assume if this was a processor problem, the issues would have been MUCH more catastrophic to experience, instead of just intermittent problems.)

So, do I replace the motherboard? Or is there another step of troubleshooting I can escalate myself to? I'm not turning up anything you haven't already offered me for research and help... And does it seem like it's a problem with the motherboard as a product, or just a faulty motherboard unit?

 

I did. The seagate I had was faulty for other reasons. I replaced with with a brand new WD that was exactly the same in every stat.

7200/12/500, I think is what it came to...

I have a diagnostic disc for the WD, too. I can run it again, if you think there's a reason to. Not like I'm doing much else on my system.

 

Yes, I am.

2 sticks, 2gb each. Kingston, PC2-6400 DDR2 RAM.

..and, as someone suggested, I reinstalled on 2 gigs, and THEN put in the other two.

 

Matched pair: they came out of the same kit. Two sticks in one sealed package. And they are configured according to motherboard recommendations for two sticks.

s1 s2 s3 s4
** -- ** --

That's how the documentation, if I read correctly, wants the RAM set up. And that's how I installed my memory.

EDIT: Forgot this - the WD diagnostic came back negative. 0 detected errors. The hard drive seems good.

 

I have the opportunity to, today... Should I just attempt to return the board, and get a new one?

If there's still more we can do, good. But short of changing the memory's voltage (something ASUS site suggested), and swapping the PSU out (something I can't do - don't have a PSU to swap with), I've done everything I've found to troubleshoot.

I'll double-check the BIOS version, maybe I can flash that... Unless that's just generally not recommended (my A+ prof said to generally avoid doing that unless you absolutely have to).

 

Now, Pete... Do you recommend returning it to my local Tiger location? Or would calling ASUS for the replacement be easier?

I've had little interaction with either vendor - my first real set of purchases from Tiger (other than some RAM for another system which worked just fine).

What's your usual MO for dealing with defective components?

 

Okay! Got a brand new board!

While I'm putting it in, I'll submit these questions to you:
- The processor and heatsink were removed, of course. The thermal contact paste (silver) is only 14 days old, literally. Do I need to wipe the old and reapply the paste?

- At the drugstore (tiger didn't have any?! , told me to get some alcohol and paper towels), I found isopropyl wipes. They're only 70% isopropyl content. Is this alright? Or do I need to find a higher content, and buy them specially from an electronics store?

 

I think I'm up and running now. I've got a flash game and three tv shows running in Opera right now. I think this board is doing me good. ^_^

Should I feel bad, though, that it took me this long to ID a problem with the motherboard?