Repeated blue screens with multiple stop codes and "Bad Image" on exe files

mclintock

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Nov 21, 2015
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Hello,

As the title says, I'm having some problems. These problems started a couple of weeks ago, and I should've done something about them a lot sooner, but I've had a lot of my plate lately. Basically, both of these issues started around the same time, when starting up various exe files, usually games, it would give me a bad image error. On some files, the program would start up anyways, with some it would not. The computer has also blue screened far too often recently, having done it three times today. Usually giving differing stops codes depending on the time, I remember having seen both MEMORY_MANAGEMENT and, I believe, SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION. I've run multiple anti-viruses, as I've heard that can be the cause of the bad image problems ,but none have found anything. If anyone can offer help, thanks.

EDIT: I also forgot to mention, I am somewhat concerned this may be a hardware problem. A couple months ago my hard drive died and to replace it I got a hybrid drive, I had heard a couple of people have had problems with drives like these. It is a Seagate FireCuda, 2GB.
 

Colif

Win 11 Master
Moderator
That Bad Image bsod is happening more often recently... See if this helps

right click start button
choose powershell (admin)
type SFC /scannow and press enter
once its completed, copy/paste this command into same window:
Repair-WindowsImage -Online -RestoreHealth and press enter
SFC fixes system files, second command cleans image files, re run SFC if it failed to fix all files and restart PC

For the other BSOD, can you follow option one on the following link - here
and then do this step below: Small memory dumps - Have Windows Create a Small Memory Dump (Minidump) on BSOD

that creates a file in c windows/minidump after the next BSOD
copy that file to documents
upload the copy from documents to a cloud server and share the link here and I will get someone to convert file into a format I can read

I assume SSHD is 2tb and not 2gb :)
 

mclintock

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Nov 21, 2015
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I was about to use your advice, but when I went to turn on my computer, it BSOD'd on startup with the error BAD_SYSTEM_CONFIG_INFO twice.

 

Colif

Win 11 Master
Moderator
Do you have a Win 10 installer? (just need it to boot off)

On another PC, download the Windows 10 media creation tool and use it to make a win 10 installer on USB

Its possible running chkdsk will help
change boot order so USB is first, hdd second
boot from installer
on screen after languages, choose repair this pc, not install.
choose troubleshoot
choose advanced
choose command prompt
type chkdsk C: /f and press enter
 

mclintock

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Nov 21, 2015
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I tried this and it did not work.
 

Colif

Win 11 Master
Moderator
See if this helps

Method 3. Fix corrupted Windows Registry by CMD to solve "Bad_System_Config_Info" error
No matter you are running Windows 10, 8 or 7 on your PC, you can directly apply the below CMD commands to fix corrupted Windows Registry which may cause "Bad_System_Config_Info" error right now:

- Boot from a Windows 10/8/7 USB/DVD and launch Command Prompt;
- Type: CD C:\Windows\System32\config > hit Enter;
Follow below commands one by one and hit Enter to rename these files with .old postfix:

ren C:\Windows\System32\config\DEFAULT DEFAULT.old
ren C:\Windows\System32\config\SAM SAM.old
ren C:\Windows\System32\config\SECURITY SECURITY.old
ren C:\Windows\System32\config\SOFTWARE SOFTWARE.old
ren C:\Windows\System32\config\SYSTEM SYSTEM.old

Type the following commands one by one and hit Enter to copy registry backup files to your current registry folder. And this will help to manually restore your Windows registry:

copy C:\Windows\System32\config\RegBack\DEFAULT C:\Windows\System32\config\
copy C:\Windows\System32\config\RegBack\SAM C:\Windows\System32\config\
copy C:\Windows\System32\config\RegBack\SECURITY C:\Windows\System32\config\
copy C:\Windows\System32\config\RegBack\SYSTEM C:\Windows\System32\config\
copy C:\Windows\System32\config\RegBack\SOFTWARE C:\Windows\System32\config\

https://www.easeus.com/computer-instruction/fix-bad-system-config-info-error.html

there are other steps here - its source of above quote - https://www.easeus.com/computer-instruction/fix-bad-system-config-info-error.html
 

mclintock

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Nov 21, 2015
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I believe as a result of my having tried to start in safe mode earlier, the default directory was X, not C. But I started the process you listed, and when I got to the first rename, it said "The system cannot find the path specified."
 

Colif

Win 11 Master
Moderator
Did you change msconfig settings to enter safe mode or go through the settings menus?

If you changed msconfig, see if this works
boot from installer
on screen after languages, choose repair this pc, not install.
choose troubleshoot
choose advanced
choose command prompt
type start msconfig and press enter. This might work (it does inside windows)
change it to normal startup and click apply

restart PC and see if it starts
 

mclintock

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Nov 21, 2015
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It was not recognized as an internal or external command.

Just so you know, the location is currently listed as "X:\Sources>"
 

Colif

Win 11 Master
Moderator
X is a ram disk created by the installer you are booting off.

Type: C: to change drives to C.
then try to start msconfig
and see if it works...

don't seem to be getting anywhere. I wonder if system restore will fix it
boot from installer
on screen after languages, choose repair this pc, not install.
choose troubleshoot
choose advanced
choose start up repair - this will scan PC and maybe fix this - will ask for logon info
 

mclintock

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Nov 21, 2015
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I got the same error from msconfig even in the C drive. I've tried the startup repair, and it usually bluescreens during that.

Unfortunately, earlier, I realized I never made a restore point.

Since I haven't had the hard drive too long and don't have much I particularly care about on it, I tried to do a system reset (I've had to do this in the past for a different issue), however when I tried to reset it, it said it was not capable of performing the reset, and now the button isn't even there in the advanced options.
 

mclintock

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Nov 21, 2015
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Thanks for you trying to help. I'll have to remember to make a restore point after I get everything sorted out.
 

Colif

Win 11 Master
Moderator
if you get errors installing win 10, you can run 2 tests from USB that might figure out cause (Don't use Win 10 installer USB)

1.download and run memtest86, it creates a bootable USB. Test your ram sticks, 1 at a time. ANy error count higher than 0 is too high and is likely source of errors. Remove any ram with errors.

2. download seatools bootable - https://www.seagate.com/au/en/support/downloads/seatools/ and test your SSHD
 

mclintock

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Nov 21, 2015
13
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4,510


I have not run these yet, but I installed windows just fine. It's been working fine all afternoon, then, while I was browsing Facebook, it randomly BSOD'd again, with UNEXPECTED_STORE_EXCEPTION as the error. I'll run these tools and get back to you with the results, but at least it started up this time.