BSOD - can't take the few steps requested before posting

[lynnalexandra]

It did not install. I tried again - selecting let me pick from a list - but it doesn't show a list - it just goes to a screen that says driver updated.
Thanks.

Lynn.

 

[Patrick]

Okay, let's try this:

If you used the Windows extraction method, it should have created a folder for you that put all of the Atheros files in it. If it did not, create a folder (call it whatever you want), and move all of the Atheros files to it.

Once you've done that, when you right click > properties the Atheros driver from Device Manager, rather than selecting 'let me pick from a list', this time select Search for driver software in this location > Browse.

Once you have selected browse navigate to the folder containing the Atheros driver files, click the folder itself, and then select OK.

Once you have done that, ensure 'include subfolders' is checked, and then select Next.

Let me know if this works. If it says something along the lines of 'driver successfully installed', restart and check the version #.

Regards,

Patrick

 

[lynnalexandra]

Success. The Atheros driver is installed. Just FWIW, it didn't happen in quite the steps you outlined.

I did create a folder in my documents - I copied the atheros driver files to it. Went to device manager, atheros, properties, update driver.

Then I selected browse and next - and it jumped to the next screen saying the driver was updated.

I verified that it was the correct, updated driver.

So I don't know how Windows 7 just jumped a couple of those steps, but the latest driver is now installed.

What's the next step in this troubleshooting?
(I should mention that in between posting and waiting for further instructions, I did my microsoft updates. I ran Secunia and I have a few more updates to do. I'm going to go ahead and do them (unless someone tells me not to).

Thank you so much.
Lynn.

 

[Patrick]

Great work, Lynn : )

What's the next step in this troubleshooting?

Now we wait and monitor the behavior of the system to ensure the crashes have ceased and no other issues are present.

I ran Secunia and I have a few more updates to do.

Which updates?

Regards,

Patrick

 

[lynnalexandra]

Thank you so much, Patrick/

The updates are:
a few .net framework updates (but I don't usually keep .net framework on my computers - unless I need it for something particular. Don't think I have it on this computer so I'm not planning to install those.

Open office and pdf exchange viewer - those I figure I should update.

Then a few I am unsure about:
two silverlight updates
one microsoft xml core services

For now I'll install microsoft security essentials - and keep my eye on the computer.

I've learned so much in this process. I'm very grateful. It also gives me some ideas of things I should run on my other computers (an xp desktop and xp thinkpad) - like check disk?, update drivers (I actually did update the wireless adapter driver on my xp home laptop - it is constantly needing to be repaired - and multiple tech support calls when it was under warranty only yielded temporary relief. There was an updated driver so I installed it and will keep an eye on that computer too).

Thanks.
Lynn.

 

[Patrick]

.NET framework updates generally aren't TOO important. To my knowledge, if any specific .NET framework updates are needed, they are included with the software the requires them. As long as you have the latest version of .NET framework - Download Microsoft .NET Framework 4 (Web Installer) from Official Microsoft Download Center you are okay.

Open office and pdf exchange viewer - those I figure I should update.

Sure.

two silverlight updates

Up to you, it depends on what the updates address. Knowing Silverlight, I imagine they could possibly be security fixes, so I would say yes.

one microsoft xml core services

I am not too sure what this is, so therefore I cannot comment.

For now I'll install microsoft security essentials - and keep my eye on the computer.

Great : )

For future reference, in regards to driver updates, in case you don't already know, the best way to get the latest drivers is to always check the manufacturers website for them. For example, if you have an nVidia video card and you want to update the drivers, simply navigate to nVidia's website and get the latest drivers that way. Updating via Windows Update is not recommended as the drivers are not their latest version. Updating via Device Manager's 'update this driver automatically' is the same thing, because guess where it goes to look for that driver? Right onto Windows Update's servers.

3rd party applications are also in all cases a no-no in the tech world. They are known to ship and install out-of-date drivers, buggy drivers, incorrect versions, general issues, etc. Always go to manufacturers website first.

As for the optical drive, I had changed boot order so it booted from the drive first. And when I then tried to boot from the disk, it said:
Status: 0xc00000e9

This error code usually always means your drive in question (optical) has failed. Check the connections to the optical drive to ensure they are okay. If they are, it's the drive itself. Optical drives these days aren't too expensive, you can buy them online for around or less than $20: DVD Burners, DVD Media - Newegg.com

Regards,

Patrick

 

[lynnalexandra]

Patrick,

This is a laptop - is it still that simple and inexpensive to replace the optical drive? on a desktop I know I could do it - but not sure about a laptop. that might also explain why I wasn't sure what other physical connections I could check.

Thanks.
Lynn.

 

[Patrick]

My apologies! As it is a laptop, you are correct, messing with it yourself is not the best route. If the laptop is still under warranty, I would imagine a repair would be covered.

Regards,

Patrick

 

[lynnalexandra]

Good news. My optical drive seems to be okay. I thought I'd test it by inserting a blank disk. Writing a file to it. Then opening the file from the disk. All those steps worked fine. Is it possible that the problem before during attempts to boot from disk had to do with the bad avast drivers still on my laptop? or might something have been wrong with this recovery disk? I did insert it into my desktop - and the desktop saw the files?

(On another note, I tried getting the newest drivers from the intel wireless adapter on another laptop. It's a thinkpad xp, sp3. I found the new driver, downloaded it but can't figure out how to install it. Trying the methods we used to get the driver on my work laptop (windows 7) did not work. Is this thread a reasonable place to post this question - or should I start another thread. (that thinkpad has issues - so perhaps I should start a new thread. If so, where? it needs updated drivers, and it's incredibly slow, and runs quite hot).

On another note, I googled Avast drivers causing crashes on windows computers - and see quite a bit on the Avast forums.

Thank you.
Lynn.