[ZmaN]

yea the tech forums im registered on arent getting me answers fast enough, I promise I wont ask another tech question for a week!

If I got a blue scren error saying that NTFS.sys was corrupt or missing, even after freshly reinstalling windows XP Home twice, the error is in either the hard drive or the hard drive controller, right?

I ran tests on the hard drive with western digitals testing utility.. (its a western Digital SATA Drive, 80 gig) The hard drive had no errors, so does that mean the motherboard is bad???

Its not my computer, its a computer Im building for my cousins.  Here's the stop error the Windows XP Gave me:

here is the stop error:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A Problem has been detected and Windows has been shutdown to prevent damage to your computer.

The Problem seems to be caused by the following file: NTFS.sys

PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA

If this is the first time you have seen this stop error screen, restart your computer. If this screen appears again, follow these steps:

Check to make sure any new hardware or software is properly installed. If this is a new installation, ask your hardware or software manufacturer for any windows updates you might need.

If Problems continue, disable or remove any newly installed hardware or software. Disable BIOS memory options such as caching or shadowing. If you need to use safe mode to remove or disable components, restart your computer, press F8 to select advanced startup options, and then select safe mode.

Technical Information:

*** STOP: 0x00000050 (0xD3498F40, 0x00000001, 0xF84511E1, 0x00000000)


*** ntfs.sys – Address F84511E1 base at F844F000, Datestamp 41107eea

Beginning dump of physical memory
Physical memory dump complete.
Contact your System administrator or technical support group for further assistance.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Close as quote)

Being the error is cause by ntfs.sys, im thinking the hard drive is bad... but im not sure.. here are the system specs:


And Here are the system Specs:

AMD Sempron 64 3100+ Socket 754 Stock Cooler)
MSI RS482M Motherboard (Ati Radeon Xpress 200 Chipset)
MSI Nvidia 6600 video card
512 MB of PC 3200 DDR RAM
80 GB Western Digital SATA Hard drive
Raidmax 380 Watt PSU
Sound Blaster Live
Basic Floppy Drive
Asus 16X DVD-ROM Drive on IDE channel 2

I would greatly appreciate help on this, and please dont bash me for asking too many questions, please?

[MatthewPapa]

if youve tried reinstalling XP multiple times then chances are its ur system hardware settings
try fooling around in the bios, if u see them disable: shadowing and bios cache. if that doesnt work make sure everything is getting cooled well and all the frequencies are running OK.

[knn]

If you suspect the motherboard is faulty, try the drive in another computer, if it works, it's the motherboard.

[ZmaN]

now im getting win32k.sys errors...  I really think its the motherboard guys.

any more thoughts....

[karajorma]

Are you using SATA drivers from a floppy drive? If so check if they are the newest ones from the motherboards manufacturer.

Remember to press F6 when prompted to load them during the first phase of the install.

[Nix]

You DID format the hard drive instead of just installing over the top of an existing bad windows install, I hope, right?  Not just the quick format either, but a full format?  Also, make sure your driver disk you F6 with when you boot up isnt corrupted.  If that driver's in the very least bit goofed up, nothing will work right.  Do do what knn said, try the drive in another computer.  Take out your drive in your system and try installing windows and running some stuff on it.  If it does work, you still might have a quick and easy fix to try. Try a different SATA cable. Are you using a longer-than-usual SATA cable?  I've heard that extra long SATA cables cause these kind of problems, using a shorter one might fix the errors. 
This sounds though like when I tried a MSI motherboard with SATA on it, it would not recognize the drives after a warm reboot, and even then I'd get nasty bluescreen errors with the same stop error as you, the Page Fault in Non Paged Area error.  It could be a bad SATA controller as well.  You CAN try flashing the BIOS, which MIGHT flash the SATA BIOS as well, if that has been corrupted. 

That, and stay away from Western Digital.  I've never ever liked thier products personally, due to the high failure rates I've seen at uni back when we had all gateways with WD hard drives in them.  Still have a lot fail in the Dell's we get today as well. 

[ZmaN]

no no no no!!!!  I can boot into windows and Use the computer, it just blue screens at random times...  it happened to me three individual times...
First I was installing my wiereless adapter so I could download some drivers for the PC..  got a blue screen and restarted without the adapter and uninstalled the adapter...
then it happened when I was installing Nvidia Drivers...
Then it happened when I was installing a sound Driver
Then it happened while I was installing Spyware Blaster....

Its definitly the motherboard...  I took the hard drive out and put in my computer, and ran PCMark 05 on it, and also did some copy and Paste operations...  I KNOW its the motherboard......

and yes I did format the drive, I actually formatted it using the western Digital Program the second time I tried to reinstall XP..
Its running on SATA as IDE, so I didnt need SATA Drivers....

[Grey Wolf]

Probably just incorrect settings in the BIOS.

[ZmaN]

i screwed up...  Acording to MSI (and I never seen another mobo do this), you MUST install the SATA Driver, even if you arent using a RAID Array.  wierd....

They should relabel the floppy disk so it says SATA Driver, not SATA RAID DRIVER..

Man I'm such an idiot...  oh well, I've learned my lesson...

[Grey Wolf]

.....

Why would you not install the SATA driver if you're using a SATA disk?

[Setekh]

I think he thought it was just a driver you needed to install if you were running a RAID array.

Glad you got it sorted out, Z.

[Descenterace]

Last time I saw that particular BSOD it was a memory problem.

I'd've suspected the mainboard first, then the RAM. A driver problem would not have occurred to me.

[ZmaN]

Xp setup WAS running smoothly, then I got the NTFS.sys error again...  I didnt get to test the RAM, but I pretty darn sure the motherboard is bad...  Let me ask you, since Im using an Nvidia Geforce 6600, should I Get an Nforce4-4Xchipset?  I would say so...

Also, what brands would you say I should get?
I found Abit, MSI, Gigabyte, DFI, and few other brands....

It must be socket 754 and PCI-Express with it (Sempron 64 processors, not regular semprons)

EDIT:  Heres the Motherboards I found...  They All have he same socket, same chipset, and close specs, so which one would you pick?  dont worry about price, they're all in my range...  I already have the processor so I cannot upgrade to socket 939...

THANKS SO MUCH GUYS...  Zman

EPOX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813123255

Abit NV8
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813127220

Gigabyte GA-K8NE
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813128308

MSI K8N NEO 3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813130493

JETWAY 754GT
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813153036

DFI Nf4X Infinity
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813136162

[Grey Wolf]

I'm using a VIA-based board, and I'm having no problem with my 6800GT.

In other words, pick whichever chipset you want.

[Nix]

Awnser me this before you go any further.  Did you install Windows on a SATA or a PATA drive?  If your install went on a SATA drive, did you F6 during Windows Setup (IMMEDIATELY When you start setup) and feed it the floppy with the SATA driver on it?

Chipsets dont really matter anyway, all of them have thier ups and downs.  Nvidia's nforce pretty much dominates the 754 socket boards though, (bad for die-hard VIA men like me) so you'd probably be good with anything on the board.  I'd not suggest the MSI Neo-3 if it has that funky AGR slot.  Since you have a PCI-X videocard, you wouldnt have to worry about it, but it's just another slot that's there that you'll never ever use.  Jetway's are junk, and thier support site is a mess, Gigabyte and Abit have been pretty decent, and have better support sites than DFI. 

[CP5670]

I suppose it's a good thing I'm still using only PATA drives and haven't run into any of the Windows install hassles.

I would get the DFI without thinking twice, but it depends on what exactly you're looking for. You may want to stay away from Abit though. They have gone bankrupt and are looking to sell off all their facilities, so their support is reportedly nonexistent.

[ZmaN]

yes I did install the SATA driver by pressing F6 when windows says to...  no, it didnt work... 

I dont want the MSI board...  I was going with the Abit, but I didnt know they were going out of business... 
Ive heard good reports about Epox, and their great overclockability....
Ill see...  Maybe check some reviews...

[Grey Wolf]

In the past, Epox didn't have the greatest support. I'd suggest DFI or Asus.

[Nix]

I was researching 754 boards last night and I found that Asus has one that's not too shabby.  Once it comes back in stock, I'd grab that.  Not as good as my K8vSE-DLX board, but still not too bad. 
Yeah, if you f6'd and it still doesnt work, then the sata controller is damaged.  Like I said, I had that happen to me because the controller was faulty.

[MatthewPapa]

dude, its probably not your motherboard
its probably the settings in your BIOS and the way you are installing XP

If I were you I would probably do a bit more troubleshooting before I ran out and paid 150+ for a new mobo.