[Charlotte]

Hmmm got a blue screen with "bad_pool_caller" and, per instruction on screen, pushed the restart button. Then just got a black screen Thought my PC was done for

Switched it off (using the on/off switch, as the main button did nothing) and back on again. It showed me the usual error msg that windows didn't close down properly, but went on to load up ok.

Immediately started a full virus scan before I did anything else, but also googled "bad_pool_caller". It's not a virus but a system error, usually associated with installing xp/vista/hardware/software. I haven't recently installed anything

The only thing I have noticed is that over the last couple of days my anti-virus (PC Tools free one) has not been loading itself in the system tray, and when I tried to open it yesterday it didn't load first time.

What was I doing at the time I got the blue screen? Had just clicked a link on pixalo, i.e. running IE + Windows Mail and I had Windows Explorer open. After the successful restart, I opened Mail but the last email msg failed to load saying "message cannot be found", so obviously got lost while all this was going on.

Hope this doesn't happen again - it wasn't so much the blue screen that scared me, as the black one!

I've laid out as much info as I can think of ... any clarification on this problem anyone? Google didn't yield anything useful.

PS I also got bumped off pixalo, i.e. had to sign in when I came back, but I hadn't logged off (normally takes me straight in).

[Dabhand16]

Did you try the reset button, or is that the same as the restart? I mean when you got the black screen. Always a worry when things don't behave properly.

[AQ]

You do have your data files backed up onto DVDs or a second hard drive dont you.

This does not sound much like a virus to me. It is even less likely to be spyware as they need working PCs. More likely a hardware problem or some file / registry corruption.

You do not say what OS you have but I guess XP or Vista. I do not know much ( anything ) about Vista.

Have you tried using system restore to a time before this strated to happen. That should always be you first action in cases klike this.

Also you say you are using a free virus scanner. I am not sure how good these are but you can also get online scans run. do a Google search for "Online scanner" for example

F-Secure Support pages: F-Secure Online Virus Scanner

You may want to be careful if a spyware scan is offered as well. I have been told that some of these throw up a lot ow warning messages and then want some money to "fix" the problems.

If all else fails there is always a reinstall.


Good luck.

[Steve]

I have no experiance of this as I run Win XP but a Google search brought back some interesting results. All of them without exception listed drivers as being at fault. I would check that you are running the latest drivers for all hardware in your pc and if not, update them. You can then only hope that it fixes the problem or wait until more mature drivers are available for Vista while keeping your fingers crossed that the error doesn't happen again.

If you have the urge to narrow it down to which driver is exactly causing the problem then the following quote may get you set on the right path. Googling for ‘Windows Driver Verifier’ and ‘WinDbg’ may bring back relevant information.

It's definitely a faulty driver. You may want to use Microsoft WinDbg with
"!analyze -v" on a crash dump, or Windows Driver Verifier.

Hope that helps Charlotte

[Steve]

Here is a very good link that details how you can identify the culprit

Bluescreens

[daveyuk]

Charlotte,
Have you tried restarting and hitting the F8 key to go into safe mode then selecting "last Known good configuration.

This link may also be of some help
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/944904

[Charlotte]

Thanks for help + advice everyone, will follow the links + investigate further

Meantime, to answer your questions:

Originally Posted by Anthraquinone

You do have your data files backed up onto DVDs or a second hard drive dont you.

Er, um, ug (take that as a "no" )

I'm running Vista.

Hoping to avoid any + all of the Safe Mode, Restore + Reinstall options, mainly 'cos I wouldn't know what I'd be doing Although davey's suggested F8 + last known good config sounds straight forward enough (if it works with Vista).

All seems ok now, and it only happened once (so far). I think Steve has it with the driver route, so will try that first.

I did wonder if it was PC Tools Anti-Virus causing it, since it wasn't loading properly at start-up.

Thanks again for suggestions.

[AQ]

Originally Posted by Charlotte

Er, um, ug (take that as a "no" )

Although davey's suggested F8 + last known good config sounds straight forward enough (if it works with Vista).

Thanks again for suggestions.

Please back up before you do anything else. Even if you solv this problem your hard drive WILL fail at some time. You WILL lose your pictures and data. You WILL be sorry.

As your system is OK now the last know good config will be the current one and in this case will not help much.


Good luck