Tips

I agree with the Bishop.

We have been doing this recently, both at our main site and our satellite sites. We have in the past proved the benfit of this. We have had occasions where there appears to be an unknown/untraceable problem. Between us we have looked at the appropriate documentation etc and resolved the issue much quicker than the other folks who have been running around in the dark.

So, trust me, this is a very good tip and worth the pain of doing it.

nnbnbnnbnbHow to gather More Information about an Error Message

Microsoft Knowledge Base article support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q314084 contains:

For a Microsoft Windows 2000 version of this article, see
support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q192463

SUMMARY

This article describes how to gather more information about an error message that appears on a blue screen. Note that these steps do not always provide conclusive answers and may only point you to another problem.

MORE INFORMATION

Handling Event Log Messages
Configure Windows to write an event log message with bugcheck information:

Click the Start button, and then click Control Panel .

Double-click the System icon, and then click the Advanced tab.

In the Startup and Recovery section, click Settings , and then click to select the Write an event to the system log check box.

An event log message is written to the system log.

The description and format of the event log differs from the format that is displayed when the computer is writing the Memory.dmp file, but the majority of the information is the same. The following is an example of the event log:

Event ID: 1001
Source: Save Dump
Description: The computer has rebooted from a bugcheck.
The bugcheck was: 0xc000021a (0xe1270188, 0x00000001, 0x00000000, 0x00000000). Microsoft Windows NT (v15.1381).
A dump was saved in: C:\WINNT\MEMORY.DMP.
This information contains the STOP code 0xc000021a and the four parameters. These can be very useful when you are troubleshooting certain types of STOP codes. The meaning of the parameters varies, depending on the type of STOP code.

For information about what the parameters mean, search the Microsoft Knowledge Base for the specific STOP code. (Not all STOP code parameters are covered in the Microsoft Knowledge Base.) To query the Microsoft Knowledge Base, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
search.support.microsoft.com/kb/c.asp?ln=en-us
Using Dumpchk.exe to Determine Memory Dump Information
If you use Dumpchk.exe, you can determine all of the above information as well as the address of the driver that generated the stop message. This information can often give you a direction to begin troubleshooting. Before you run Dumpchk.exe, be sure to adjust the properties of the command prompt so that the screen buffer size height is set to 999. This height will allow you to scroll back to see the output. Run Dumpchk.exe from the command prompt with the following syntax:
dumpchk.exe Memory.dmp
This is an example of the portions of the output that are most useful.
[code:1]
MachineImageType i386
NumberProcessors 1
BugCheckCode 0xc000021a
BugCheckParameter2 0x00000001
BugCheckParameter3 0x00000000
BugCheckParameter4 0x00000000
ExceptionCode 0x80000003
ExceptionFlags 0x00000001
ExceptionAddress 0x8014fb84[/code:1]
Note that not all sections give the same information. The information depends on the type of STOP code. The preceding information tells you the STOP code (0xc000021a) and the parameters (0xe1270188, 0x00000001, 0x00000000, 0x00000000), along with the address of the driver that called the exception (0x8014fb84). You can use this address to identify the driver name by using the output from running Pstat.exe, which can be found in the Resource Kit.

Dumpchk.exe will also verify that the dump is valid.

For additional information about how to use Dumpchk.exe, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q156280 How to Use Dumpchk.exe to Check a Memory Dump File
Using Pstat.exe to Identify a Driver
Running Pstat.exe, a Resource Kit utility, gives you a picture of the processes and drivers that are currently running on your computer. For diagnostic purposes, the most useful information is the list of loaded drivers that appears at the end of the output.

Run Pstat.exe from the command line. You can pipe the information that you receive from Pstat.exe into a file by using the following command syntax:
pstat.exe > filename
This is an example of the driver list that appears at the end of the output.
[code:1]
ModuleName LoadAddr Code Data Paged LinkDate

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Ntoskrnl.exe 80100000 270272 40064 434816 Sun May 11 00:10:39 1997
Hal.dll 80010000 20384 2720 9344 Mon Mar 10 16:39:20 1997
Aic78xx.sys 80001000 20512 2272 0 Sat Apr 05 21:16:21 1997
Scsiport.sys 801d7000 9824 32 15552 Mon Mar 10 16:42:27 1997
Disk.sys 80008000 3328 0 7072 Thu Apr 24 22:27:46 1997
Class2.sys 8000c000 7040 0 1632 Thu Apr 24 22:23:43 1997
Ino_flpy.sys 801df000 9152 1472 2080 Tue May 26 18:21:40 1998
Ntfs.sys 801e3000 68160 5408 269632 Thu Apr 17 22:02:31 1997
Floppy.sys f7290000 1088 672 7968 Wed Jul 17 00:31:09 1996
Cdrom.sys f72a0000 12608 32 3072 Wed Jul 17 00:31:29 1996
Cdaudio.sys f72b8000 960 0 14912 Mon Mar 17 18:21:15 1997
Null.sys f75c9000 0 0 288 Wed Jul 17 00:31:21 1996
KSecDD.sys f7464000 1280 224 3456 Wed Jul 17 20:34:19 1996
Beep.sys f75ca000 1184 0 0 Wed Apr 23 15:19:43 1997
Cs32ba11.sys fcd1a000 52384 45344 14592 Wed Mar 12 17:22:33 1997
Msi8042.sys f7000000 20192 1536 0 Mon Mar 23 22:46:22 1998
Mouclass.sys f7470000 1984 0 0 Mon Mar 10 16:43:11 1997
Kbdclass.sys f7478000 1952 0 0 Wed Jul 17 00:31:16 1996
Videoprt.sys f72d8000 2080 128 11296 Mon Mar 10 16:41:37 1997
Ati.sys f7010000 960 9824 48768 Fri Dec 12 15:20:37 1997
Vga.sys f7488000 128 32 10784 Wed Jul 17 00:30:37 1996
Msfs.sys f7308000 864 32 15328 Mon Mar 10 16:45:01 1997
Npfs.sys f7020000 6560 192 22624 Mon Mar 10 16:44:48 1997
Ndis.sys fccda000 11744 704 96768 Thu Apr 17 22:19:45 1997
Win32k.sys a0000000 1162624 40064 0 Fri Apr 25 21:17:32 1997
Ati.dll fccba000 106176 17024 0 Fri Dec 12 15:20:08 1997
Cdfs.sys f7050000 5088 608 45984 Mon Mar 10 16:57:04 1997
Ino_fltr.sys fc42f000 29120 38176 1888 Tue Jun 02 16:33:05 1998
Tdi.sys fc4a2000 4480 96 288 Wed Jul 17 00:39:08 1996
Tcpip.sys fc40b000 108128 7008 10176 Fri May 09 17:02:39 1997
Netbt.sys fc3ee000 79808 1216 23872 Sat Apr 26 21:00:42 1997
El90x.sys f7320000 24576 1536 0 Wed Jun 26 20:04:31 1996
Afd.sys f70d0000 1696 928 48672 Thu Apr 10 15:09:17 1997
Netbios.sys f7280000 13280 224 10720 Mon Mar 10 16:56:01 1997
Parport.sys f7460000 3424 32 0 Wed Jul 17 00:31:23 1996
Parallel.sys f746c000 7904 32 0 Wed Jul 17 00:31:23 1996
ParVdm.sys f7552000 1312 32 0 Wed Jul 17 00:31:25 1996
Serial.sys f7120000 2560 0 18784 Mon Mar 10 16:44:11 1997
Rdr.sys fc385000 13472 1984 219104 Wed Mar 26 14:22:36 1997
Mup.sys fc374000 2208 6752 48864 Mon Mar 10 16:57:09 1997
Srv.sys fc24a000 42848 7488 163680 Fri Apr 25 13:59:31 1997
Pscript.dll f9ec3000 0 0 0
Fastfat.sys f9e00000 6720 672 114368 Mon Apr 21 16:50:22 1997
NTdll.dll 77f60000 237568 20480 0 Fri Apr 11 16:38:50 1997

---

Total 2377632 255040 1696384
[/code:1]
By using the starting address in the LoadAddr column, you can match the exception address to the driver name. Using 8014fb84 as an example, you can determine that Ntoskrnl.exe has the nearest load address below the exception address and is most likely to be the driver that called the exception. With this information, you can go to the Microsoft Knowledge Base to look for known issues that match your situation.
Additional Information
The following questions are used to gather additional information that may be requested by any Microsoft Support Professional. This information is needed so that we can properly analyze the blue screen you are experiencing.

Please answer as many questions as possible before you call a Microsoft Support Professional:
Software Configuration
- What version of Microsoft Windows is installed on the computer?
- Is this a localized version of Windows? If so, what language?
- Are any service packs installed? If so, which?
- Are any post-service pack hotfixes installed? If so, which?
- If this is a Compaq server, what is the version of Support Software Diskettes (SSDs) installed?
- Is Windows installed on an NTFS file system partition?
- How are the hard disks partitioned?
- What programs are installed?

Network
- What protocols are installed? (For example, TCP/IP or NetBEUI)

Are there any routers on your network?

Hardware
- What is the brand and model of your computer?
- Is the computer listed in the Windows Hardware Compatibility List (HCL)?
- What are the brands, types, and sizes of the hard disks?
- What types of controllers are in the computer?
- How many and what types of processors are in the computer?
- How much memory (RAM) is in the computer?
- What size is the paging file? On what partition is the paging file located?
- What types and models of tape drives are in the computer?
- What is the type and model of the CD-ROM drive?
- What types and models of network adapters are installed in the computer?
- Is this first occurrence of the problem?

After the dump has been successfully transferred, the Microsoft staff who requested the dump can collect the transferred dump from the following network location (make sure to remove the dump from this location because of limited disk space):
\\Ftppss\Transfer\Incoming\Windows.

Cheers..

~Pranav

Run Commands

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compmgmt.msc - Computer management
devmgmt.msc - Device manager
diskmgmt.msc - Disk management
dfrg.msc - Disk defrag
eventvwr.msc - Event viewer
fsmgmt.msc - Shared folders
gpedit.msc - Group policies
lusrmgr.msc - Local users and groups
perfmon.msc - Performance monitor
rsop.msc - Resultant set of policies
secpol.msc - Local security settings
services.msc - Various Services
msconfig - System Configuration Utility
regedit - Registry Editor
msinfo32 - System Information
sysedit - System Edit
win.ini - windows loading information(also system.ini)
winver - Shows current version of windows
mailto: Opens default email client
command - Opens command prompt

Command Prompt

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ANSI.SYS Defines functions that change display graphics, control cursor movement, and reassign keys.
APPEND Causes MS-DOS to look in other directories when editing a file or running a command.
ARP Displays, adds, and removes arp information from network devices.
ASSIGN Assign a drive letter to an alternate letter.
ASSOC View the file associations.
AT Schedule a time to execute commands or programs.
ATMADM Lists connections and addresses seen by Windows ATM call manager.
ATTRIB Display and change file attributes.
BATCH Recovery console command that executes a series of commands in a file.
BOOTCFG Recovery console command that allows a user to view, modify, and rebuild the boot.ini
BREAK Enable / disable CTRL + C feature.
CACLS View and modify file ACL's.
CALL Calls a batch file from another batch file.
CD Changes directories.
CHCP Supplement the International keyboard and character set information.
CHDIR Changes directories.
CHKDSK Check the hard disk drive running FAT for errors.
CHKNTFS Check the hard disk drive running NTFS for errors.
CHOICE Specify a listing of multiple options within a batch file.
CLS Clears the screen.
CMD Opens the command interpreter.
COLOR Easily change the foreground and background color of the MS-DOS window.
COMP Compares files.
COMPACT Compresses and uncompress files.
CONTROL Open control panel icons from the MS-DOS prompt.
CONVERT Convert FAT to NTFS.
CTTY Change the computers input/output devices.
COPY Copy one or more files to an alternate location.
DATE View or change the systems date.
DEBUG Debug utility to create assembly programs to modify hardware settings.
DEFRAG Re-arrange the hard disk drive to help with loading programs.
DEL Deletes one or more files.
DELETE Recovery console command that deletes a file.
DELTREE Deletes one or more files and/or directories.
DIR List the contents of one or more directory.
DISABLE Recovery console command that disables Windows system services or drivers.
DISKCOMP Compare a disk with another disk.
DISKCOPY Copy the contents of one disk and place them on another disk.
DOSKEY Command to view and execute commands that have been run in the past.
DOSSHELL A GUI to help with early MS-DOS users.
DRIVPARM Enables overwrite of original device drivers.
ECHO Displays messages and enables and disables echo.
EDIT View and edit files.
EDLIN View and edit files.
EMM386 Load extended Memory Manager.
ENABLE Recovery console command to enable a disable service or driver.
ENDLOCAL Stops the localization of the environment changes enabled by the setlocal command.
ERASE Erase files from computer.
EXIT Exit from the command interpreter.
EXPAND Expand a Microsoft Windows file back to it's original format.
EXTRACT Extract files from the Microsoft Windows cabinets.
FASTHELP Displays a listing of MS-DOS commands and information about them.
FC Compare files.
FDISK Utility used to create partitions on the hard disk drive.
FIND Search for text within a file.
FIXBOOT Writes a new boot sector.
FINDSTR Searches for a string of text within a file.
FIXMBR Writes a new boot record to a disk drive.
FOR Boolean used in batch files.
FORMAT Command to erase and prepare a disk drive.
FTP Command to connect and operate on a FTP server.
FTYPE Displays or modifies file types used in file extension associations.
GOTO Moves a batch file to a specific label or location.
GRAFTABL Show extended characters in graphics mode.
HELP Display a listing of commands and brief explanation.
IFSHLP.SYS 32-bit file manager.
IF Allows for batch files to perform conditional processing.
IPCONFIG Network command to view network adapter settings and assigned values.
KEYB Change layout of keyboard.
LABEL Change the label of a disk drive.
LH Load a device driver in to high memory.
LISTSVC Recovery console command that displays the services and drivers.
LOADFIX Load a program above the first 64k.
LOADHIGH Load a device driver in to high memory.
LOCK Lock the hard disk drive.
LOGON Recovery console command to list installations and enable administrator login.
MAP Displays the device name of a drive.
MD Command to create a new directory.
MEM Display memory on system.
MKDIR Command to create a new directory.
MODE Modify the port or display settings.
MORE Display one page at a time.
MOVE Move one or more files from one directory to another directory.
MSAV Early Microsoft Virus scanner.
MSCDEX Utility used to load and provide access to the CD-ROM.
MSD Diagnostics utility.
NBTSTAT Displays protocol statistics and current TCP/IP connections using NBT
NET Update, fix, or view the network or network settings
NETSH Configure dynamic and static network information from MS-DOS.
NETSTAT Display the TCP/IP network protocol statistics and information.
NLSFUNC Load country specific information.
NSLOOKUP Look up an IP address of a domain or host on a network.
PATH View and modify the computers path location.
PATHPING View and locate locations of network latency.
PAUSE Command used in batch files to stop the processing of a command.
PING Test / send information to another network computer or network device.
POPD Changes to the directory or network path stored by the pushd command.
POWER Conserve power with computer portables.
PRINT Prints data to a printer port.
PROMPT View and change the MS-DOS prompt.
PUSHD Stores a directory or network path in memory so it can be returned to at any time.
QBASIC Open the QBasic.
RD Removes an empty directory.
REN Renames a file or directory.
RENAME Renames a file or directory.
RMDIR Removes an empty directory.
ROUTE View and configure windows network route tables.
RUNAS Enables a user to execute a program on another computer.
SCANDISK Run the scandisk utility.
SCANREG Scan registry and recover registry from errors.
SET Change one variable or string to another.
SETLOCAL Enables local environments to be changed without affecting anything else.
SETVER Change MS-DOS version to trick older MS-DOS programs.
SHARE Installs support for file sharing and locking capabilities.
SHIFT Changes the position of replaceable parameters in a batch program.
SHUTDOWN Shutdown the computer from the MS-DOS prompt.
SORT Sorts the input and displays the output to the screen.
SMARTDRV Create a disk cache in conventional memory or extended memory.
START Start a separate window in Windows from the MS-DOS prompt.
SUBST Substitute a folder on your computer for another drive letter.
SWITCHES Remove add functions from MS-DOS.
SYS Transfer system files to disk drive.
TIME View or modify the system time.
TELNET Telnet to another computer / device from the prompt.
TITLE Change the title of their MS-DOS window.
TRACERT Visually view a network packets route across a network.
TREE View a visual tree of the hard disk drive.
TYPE Display the contents of a file.
UNDELETE Undelete a file that has been deleted.
UNFORMAT Unformat a hard disk drive.
UNLOCK Unlock a disk drive.
VER Display the version information.
VERIFY Enables or disables the feature to determine if files have been written properly.
VOL Displays the volume information about the designated drive.
XCOPY Copy multiple files, directories, and/or drives from one location to another.
TRUENAME When placed before a file, will display the whole directory in which it exists
TASKKILL It allows you to kill those unneeded or locked up applications

Windows XP Shortcuts

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ALT+- (ALT+hyphen) Displays the Multiple Document Interface (MDI) child window's System menu
ALT+ENTER View properties for the selected item
ALT+ESC Cycle through items in the order they were opened
ALT+F4 Close the active item, or quit the active program
ALT+SPACEBAR Display the System menu for the active window
ALT+TAB Switch between open items
ALT+Underlined letter Display the corresponding menu
BACKSPACE View the folder one level up in My Computer or Windows Explorer
CTRL+A Select all
CTRL+B Bold
CTRL+C Copy
CTRL+I Italics
CTRL+O Open an item
CTRL+U Underline
CTRL+V Paste
CTRL+X Cut
CTRL+Z Undo
CTRL+F4 Close the active document
CTRL while dragging Copy selected item
CTRL+SHIFT while dragging Create shortcut to selected iteM
CTRL+RIGHT ARROW Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next word
CTRL+LEFT ARROW Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous word
CTRL+DOWN ARROW Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next paragraph
CTRL+UP ARROW Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous paragraph
SHIFT+DELETE Delete selected item permanently without placing the item in the Recycle Bin
ESC Cancel the current task
F1 Displays Help
F2 Rename selected item
F3 Search for a file or folder
F4 Display the Address bar list in My Computer or Windows Explorer
F5 Refresh the active window
F6 Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktop
F10 Activate the menu bar in the active program
SHIFT+F10 Display the shortcut menu for the selected item
CTRL+ESC Display the Start menu
SHIFT+CTRL+ESC Launches Task Manager
SHIFT when you insert a CD Prevent the CD from automatically playing
WIN Display or hide the Start menu
WIN+BREAK Display the System Properties dialog box
WIN+D Minimizes all Windows and shows the Desktop
WIN+E Open Windows Explorer
WIN+F Search for a file or folder
WIN+F+CTRL Search for computers
WIN+L Locks the desktop
WIN+M Minimize or restore all windows
WIN+R Open the Run dialog box
WIN+TAB Switch between open items

Windows Explorer Shortcuts

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ALT+SPACEBAR - Display the current window's system menu
SHIFT+F10 - Display the item's context menu
CTRL+ESC - Display the Start menu
ALT+TAB - Switch to the window you last used
ALT+F4 - Close the current window or quit
CTRL+A - Select all items
CTRL+X - Cut selected item(s)
CTRL+C - Copy selected item(s)
CTRL+V - Paste item(s)
CTRL+Z - Undo last action
CTRL+(+) - Automatically resize the columns in the right hand pane
TAB - Move forward through options
ALT+RIGHT ARROW - Move forward to a previous view
ALT+LEFT ARROW - Move backward to a previous view
SHIFT+DELETE - Delete an item immediately
BACKSPACE - View the folder one level up
ALT+ENTER - View an item's properties
F10 - Activate the menu bar in programs
F6 - Switch between left and right panes
F5 - Refresh window contents
F3 - Display Find application
F2 - Rename selected item

Internet Explorer Shortcuts

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CTRL+A - Select all items on the current page
CTRL+D - Add the current page to your Favorites
CTRL+E - Open the Search bar
CTRL+F - Find on this page
CTRL+H - Open the History bar
CTRL+I - Open the Favorites bar
CTRL+N - Open a new window
CTRL+O - Go to a new location
CTRL+P - Print the current page or active frame
CTRL+S - Save the current page
CTRL+W - Close current browser window
CTRL+ENTER - Adds the http://www. (url) .com
SHIFT+CLICK - Open link in new window
BACKSPACE - Go to the previous page
ALT+HOME - Go to your Home page
HOME - Move to the beginning of a document
TAB - Move forward through items on a page
END - Move to the end of a document
ESC - Stop downloading a page
F11 - Toggle full-screen view
F5 - Refresh the current page
F4 - Display list of typed addresses
F6 - Change Address bar and page focus
ALT+RIGHT ARROW - Go to the next page
SHIFT+CTRL+TAB - Move back between frames
SHIFT+F10 - Display a shortcut menu for a link
SHIFT+TAB - Move back through the items on a page
CTRL+TAB - Move forward between frames
CTRL+C - Copy selected items to the clipboard
CTRL+V - Insert contents of the clipboard
ENTER - Activate a selected link
HOME - Move to the beginning of a document
END - Move to the end of a document
F1 - Display Internet Explorer Help

Don't get your fingers caught in a door.

:lol: Hey no-one said it had to be a techie tip now did they :lol:

sahirh

Please be a bit procedural , what do u mean by vi and outline ur steps .

thanks , sose

Very Useful Tips...Thanks to all.