I’ve just downloaded Comodo Firewall Free and tried to install it twice. Each time, just after the installation has started, the computer has gone to blue-screen with an “unknown threat” advisory and forced shutdown. I’m using Windows 7, 64-bit. Avira anti-virus and Windows Firewall are currently running on my computer. Any help?
What happens if you disable Avira during the install?
Also, can you please provide us with exactly what the error message says?
Thanks.
Thanks for the replies.
Chiron, I downloaded a fresh copy of the Firewall, diconnected from the web and disabled both Avira and Windows Firewall. I forgot to mention before, I also had Spybot installed. I completely uninstalled it, before trying to install Comodo again. With everything disabled or removed, I still got the bluescreen and shutdown, several times. The error message says basically, “An unknown error has been detected and your computer is being shut down to prevent it from being damaged.”
EricJH, I installed Bluescreenview and have some information about the 3 crashes that occurred today. It doesn’t seem to have a record of the two shutdowns that happened several days ago. What’s interesting is, the first two crashes were caused by driver, msahci.sys, but the third shutdown was caused by a different driver, ntoskrnl.exe.
Several months ago, my PC was infected with the “FBI scam” virus. I don’t know its real name, but apparently it’s been very widespread in the last year or so, and seems to be a pretty nasty virus. Things got so bad that, several weeks ago, I was forced to install a fresh version of Windows 7 on my computer. The original version of Windows 7 is still in the PC, cached in the directory, windows.old. Is it possible this problem is being caused by a residual effect of the virus? Since installing the new OS, when Avira scans my computer, it always finds several “hidden files,” all of them contained in the windows.old directory.
I would like to ask, since I have no special need to keep a stored copy of an old operating system, is it possible to delete the entire contents of the windows.old directory, and remove any malware that might be hiding in it? All help is appreciated.
The information on a blue screen is often a good indication in what corner the problem is. It is not always 100% but never strays far. For example; I once had a problem with a faulty memory module for which blue screens would point me to my graphics hardware. That means it told me it was hardware related but got slightly off.
In this case Windows points to the kernel driver and AHCI driver for your hard drive. This points to a problem most likely with the AHCI driver for your hard drive. See if updating the motherboard drivers with the AHCI driver from the motherboard drivers will fix this.
Several months ago, my PC was infected with the "FBI scam" virus. I don't know its real name, but apparently it's been very widespread in the last year or so, and seems to be a pretty nasty virus. Things got so bad that, several weeks ago, I was forced to install a fresh version of Windows 7 on my computer. The original version of Windows 7 is still in the PC, cached in the directory, windows.old. Is it possible this problem is being caused by a residual effect of the virus? Since installing the new OS, when Avira scans my computer, it always finds several "hidden files," all of them contained in the windows.old directory.First off. As stated in the above, blue screens may stray a little but they have the trend right. Second off. A virus that just sits in a folder is not a treat; it just sits there. Even if a virus would still be in your windows.folder there is nothing in your new installation that will trigger it.I would like to ask, since I have no special need to keep a stored copy of an old operating system, is it possible to delete the entire contents of the windows.old directory, and remove any malware that might be hiding in it? All help is appreciated.
It is my firm conviction the instability you are facing is caused by a problem with a driver and not a virus. Please focus on the problem with the AHCI driver for now. Did you recently make any changes to your OS? Installed a new driver?
I used Device Manager to search for updates for my drivers, including for Standard AHCI 1.0 Serial ATA Controller. According to the Manager, my drivers are up to date. I went online and downloaded the “Driver Tool” service, which scanned my computer and says half my drivers are out of date. Driver Tool will happily update my drivers for a $30 fee. Windows says my drivers are good, DT says they’re not. What are my options for updating drivers, other than buying into a professional seller?
I do advice against such programs. If you need other drivers go the web site of the manufacturer and get them there. There is no need to pay for drivers.
In the case of an AHCI driver you need to get the chipset drivers. They can typically be found at the web site of the manufacturer of the motherboard chips or at the website of the manufacturer of your motherboard or on the web site of the manufacturer of your computer.
To know the model and make of the chipset used on the motherboard of your system you can check the manual of your motherboard or use a a system analysis tool like SIW or SiSoft Sandra.