BAD_POOL_CALLER on clean install

[bluecrush]

Help! I'm trying to install XP Pro onto my Sony Vaio notebook (PCG-F590). I originally had Win98 on it and upgraded to XP Pro...then, for reasons I can't remember, I reinstalled 98 . Anyway, like I said, it's a clean install...I've repartitioned and reformated the HD. It makes it to the part of the install that says "Installing Devices" and then I get this error code:

*** STOP: 0x000000C2 (0x00000007,0x00000CD4,0x11111111,0x81144C48)

This is very odd because I did have XP installed on the machine once upon a time...and used the same install discs. The only thing I can think of that may have changed is that I think the modem got fried during a power-outage...could this be the culprit? Oh, I also installed another 128 of RAM but ran a diagnostic on it with no errors reported.

Any help would be much appreciated!

 

[bcastner]

This is usually a bad device driver indication.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314492&Product=winxp

A parameter1 value of 0x07 indicates an attempt to free already freed memory.

 

[bluecrush]

Yes, but how would a device driver on an install disc be good for one install and then be bad for the next? Any drivers that are getting installed are coming directly from the install CD that I used the first time without problem. And, if it is a driver on the install disc, how do I replace it with a good driver?

 

[bcastner]

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=265879&sd=RMVP

 

[bluecrush]

Thanks for the link, bcaster. I've looked at this before but couldn't find anything very helpful. It says the error is caused by an "Attempt to free pool which was already freed"...and then use the "debugger." I'm in the middle of a clean install...how do I activate the debugger? If I boot to a floppy I can't even access the c: drive yet to read a dump file. Any ideas?

 

[bluecrush]

Anybody?

 

[bcastner]

Windows XP debugging tools, free from Microsoft:

http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/devtools/debugging/default.mspx

But consider a possibility: you had Win98 installed originally. This well could have included a BIOS patch, driver updates, etc.. You upgraded to XP without issue.

Now though, you are trying a clean install. I would revert to a clean install of Win98; check the Sony site for any and all updates and apply them; then do the XP upgrade and not clean install path.

 

[bluecrush]

Good idea, bcastner...Unfortunately, I did this without success. I did a clean install of Win98 and followed their (Sony) directions for upgrading to XP. They give 2 options: Either upgrade from 98 or do a clean install. I tried the upgrade first, following their instructions exactly, and got the BAD_POOL_CALLER message. Then I tried the clean XP install, thinking that there would be some existing driver that was causing the error, but got the same results.

I'm pretty frusterated with this! I'm about to turn this into a Linux machine!

 

[bcastner]

Look fairly carefully to see if there is a BIOS upgrade available for your machine.
And for the purposes of the installation, remove your newly added memory.

 

[bluecrush]

Thank you, bcastner, for stickin' with me. I've tracked down a BIOS upgrade and am going to flash it, do a clean install of 98 and try the upgrade again. Also, I've removed the extra memory. I'll let you know what happens....

 

[bcastner]

Best of luck,

Bill

 

[bluecrush]

Okay...I did a clean, bare-bones install of 98...followed Sony's directions for what needed to be removed prior to upgrading to XP...flashed the BIOS and ran the update...same error.

 

[bcastner]

Remove the modem and re-install.

 

[bluecrush]

I was afraid you were going to say that! I've never cracked the case of a notebook before...are internal modems slotted cards like towers or are they intergrated on the motherboard?

 

[bcastner]

Look at the bottom of the notebook. Roughly in the center should be a hatch containing the modem.

Use jeweler screwdrivers to remove the two or three screws involved.

Also, search the web site for the notebook manufacturer. Often they have PDF or other files to show an exploded view of the machine, and/or advice as to how to open the various doors.

 

[bcastner]

Also, post your removal question in forum602
The hardware guys there know the nuts and bolts of a lot of systems.

 

[bluecrush]

Thanks again...I'll give it a shot...

 

[msgirlgeek]

I had a "BAD_POOL_CALLER" error on a Sony laptop. It was bad memory. Try swapping the memory chips.