Need Advice on 0x7B BSOD

boweasel

Member
I can't really follow any of the directions on BSOD postings. When it was slightly more cooperative, F8 at least gave me numerous options, but most resulted in screens showing multiple drivers being loaded... and then it just sat there. I let it sit once for 2 hours without it budging.

Normal boot always brings the 0x7b BSOD screen. Lately F8 is only giving me 2 options - Launch startup repair or Start windows normally. Both give me the BSOD.

Booting from a Microsoft Vista Home Premium 32-bit CD fails to display an operating system on the C: drive. When I get to the screen where one is supposed to select the OS, it is empty. Clicking on the load drivers option fails to show any hard drive (except for the X: drive, which is the CD-Rom I'm using to boot). Going to the DOS prompt from the recovery console is useless since I can't access the C: drive to run a CHKDSK or a Scannow. Startup Repair says that it cannot repair the PC.

Yesterday it would boot to the desktop, but I couldn't do anything - even attempting to bring up the task manager would lock the PC. It seemed obvious that something was taking all the resources, hence the attempts to boot in safe mode.

I am currently running SeaTools for DOS (long test) on the HD - it's been running for 1:59 and is 83% complete. It has found 1 error at this point.

I do have 3 restore disks for this Gateway, each of them labeled Applications, Drivers and Operating System (Disk 1 of 3, 2 of 3, etc). The first disk is labeled a Restore CD, while disks 2 and 3 are labeled Restore DVD(s). All of them have a warning that the restoration process would erase all data and files from my HD. However each of them also says "Use this CD (or DVD) to reinstall hardware, drivers, selected applications and your operating system." I have no idea how to use these disks in conjuction with the MS disk to reinstall the drivers - since I gather that the 0x7B points to a driver problem.

Any help?
 

My Computer

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    a6530f Desktop
    CPU
    HP-PAVILION
    Motherboard
    M2N68-LA (Narra3)
    Memory
    8 Gigs of Ram/DDR2 PC2-6400 MB/sec
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce 6150SE nForce 430
    Sound Card
    Intergrated Realtex ALC888S Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG W40 series widescreen
    Screen Resolution
    1600 X 900
    Hard Drives
    1 640 GB Sata transfer rating: 3.0 Gb/sec speed: 7200 RPM
    PSU
    300W
    Case
    Mid-Size ATX
    Keyboard
    HP Multimedia Keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Wireless Mouse 5000
    Other Info
    Processor: AMD Phenom X3 8450 Operating speed: Up to 2.1 GHz, Number of cores: 3, Socket: AM2+, Bus speed: 3600 MHz HT3 (clocked down to 2000 MHz)

    Modem: 56K WinModem/

    Supermulti: 16X DVD(+/-)R/RW 12X Ram (+/-)R DL Lightscribe SATA Drive

    Menory Card Reader: 15-in-1 Multimedia Card Reader

    Media Drive
As I already said, I'm not sure how I can comply with the posting instructions - I cannot download a BSOD Dump & System File Collection app since my PC won't start. I can't Run a System Health Report since my PC won't start.

The rest of the info I've already given. Wait, it is the original OS, and it's about 4 years old.
 

My Computer

INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE

Code Meaning: Caused when Windows loses access to the system

partition during the Startup process. This can be caused by: an

incorrect driver for a SCSI, RAID, or UDMA IDE controller;

incorrect ARC path in the Boot.ini; or a failed boot device.

Recommended Resolution: Verify that the disk storage device is

installed correctly and working. Reinstall or update the device

driver. Verify that the BIOS setting for the device is correct.

Verify the integrity of the [COLOR=#009600 !important][COLOR=#009600 !important]hard [COLOR=#009600 !important]disk[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR].
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
Recommended Resolution: Verify that the disk storage device is installed correctly and working.
And how, pray tell, do I accomplish this? I have completed the SeaTools long test, and it only found one error on the hard drive, but it did detect the HD. When I look inside the chassis it is connected correctly.

Reinstall or update the device driver. Verify that the BIOS setting for the device is correct.

I appreciate the advice, but you're asking me to do things that might as well be in a foreign language. When this PC is booting it indicates that I can press F2 for BIOS Settings and F10 for the Boot Menu. Neither of those 2 options do anything but take me to the screen with 'Launch Startup Repair (recommended)' or 'Start Windows Normally'.

Putting in the Restore CD from Gateway indicates that I have two choices - Exit or Restore to Factory Settings. The MS CD does take me to the Recovery Console, but I have no idea how to proceed from there.

If I can somehow load these drivers (what drivers?), when and where and how do I do this?
 

My Computer

Last edited by a moderator:

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
Once again, while I appreciate the advice, I'm left to wonder whether you actually read any of the responses I give
This takes me to a page that instructs me on how to access the BIOS settings and how to change the boot priority once I'm there. Let me quote myself from my last post: When this PC is booting it indicates that I can press F2 for BIOS Settings and F10 for the Boot Menu. Neither of those 2 options do anything but take me to the screen with 'Launch Startup Repair (recommended)' or 'Start Windows Normally'.
You see, no matter what key I press during the boot process I am taken to a Windows Error Recovery screen with only the option to launch a repair or start normally. Therefore, it's a bit useless to send me links telling me that ESC or F1 or F2 are used to enter the BIOS, when ESC, F1, F2 or any other effin key I seem to hit while booting doesn't do squat. The system does seem to recognize when a CD is in the drive, and prompts me to hit any key to boot from that disk.
If you can in safe mode access device manager and make sure all drivers do not have a yellow warning marker.
If not possible to access safe mode, try this
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/141820-create-recovery-disc.html
No, he screams, "I cannot access safe mode". I do not need to make a repair disk. I've already got one.

Let me try to make this simple since nobody who has replied seems to understand the situation:

If I try to start the system normally, I get the Windows Error Recovery screen with 'Launch Startup Repair (recommended)' or 'Start Windows Normally' as my only options.

If I try to start the system in safe mode (pressing F8 repeatedly during startup), I get the Windows Error Recovery screen with 'Launch Startup Repair (recommended)' or 'Start Windows Normally' as my only options.

Are we clear so far?

Either of those options give me a 0x7b BSOD.

If I boot off a Microsoft Vista disk, I can initiate repairs, get to the recovery console, etc, but there is no OS listed when I am prompted to select my operating system.

I kinda figured that a BSOD death expert would be able to advise me on what to do next. Was I wrong?


 
Last edited by a moderator:

My Computer

Your system has had the boot stuff (MBR, boot sector, or something related) hosed. IME most often this is because you've gotten one of the nasty TDSS rootkits.

The rootkit must be removed first. How? I've got no idea (I'm not a virus fighter) - but you can check the Security forums for advice about this. I've run the Kaspersky TDSS Killer in PE Mode - so you may be able to run it from the Startup Repair Command Prompt.

Once the rootkit is removed, then you can use Startup Repair - and it works in most cases.
If not, you can also try bootrec /fixmbr and bootrec /fixboot from the command prompt.
If that doesn't fix it, then I'm outta ideas.

When this happens at work, I slave the hard drive to another machine and backup the data (and scan for viruses). Then I use KillDisk or DBAN to wipe the hard drive clean (to get all traces of the TDSS rootkit) - and then install a fresh copy of Windows.
 

My Computer

Most often this is because you've gotten one of the nasty TDSS rootkits.

The rootkit must be removed first. Check the Security forums for advice about this. I've run the Kaspersky TDSS Killer in PE Mode - so you may be able to run it from the Startup Repair Command Prompt.

Thanks for your advice. I've attempted to run TDSSKiller from the command prompt, but since I can't access my HD, it's only running it on my USB drive. I have submitted a thread about the issue to the Security forum.

BTW, when I (ineffectively) run Startup Repair from the console and get 'Startup Repair cannot repair this computer automatically, a look at the details indicates that there is a MissingfBootManager. Of course since I can't get to my C: drive to run Fixboot, I have no idea if this info is of any use.
 

My Computer

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    a6530f Desktop
    CPU
    HP-PAVILION
    Motherboard
    M2N68-LA (Narra3)
    Memory
    8 Gigs of Ram/DDR2 PC2-6400 MB/sec
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce 6150SE nForce 430
    Sound Card
    Intergrated Realtex ALC888S Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG W40 series widescreen
    Screen Resolution
    1600 X 900
    Hard Drives
    1 640 GB Sata transfer rating: 3.0 Gb/sec speed: 7200 RPM
    PSU
    300W
    Case
    Mid-Size ATX
    Keyboard
    HP Multimedia Keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Wireless Mouse 5000
    Other Info
    Processor: AMD Phenom X3 8450 Operating speed: Up to 2.1 GHz, Number of cores: 3, Socket: AM2+, Bus speed: 3600 MHz HT3 (clocked down to 2000 MHz)

    Modem: 56K WinModem/

    Supermulti: 16X DVD(+/-)R/RW 12X Ram (+/-)R DL Lightscribe SATA Drive

    Menory Card Reader: 15-in-1 Multimedia Card Reader

    Media Drive
Back
Top