Bad Pool Caller & Other Problems - Hyperthreading in XP

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I've installed the PIV 2.6c I've bought recently, as well as the 7600GT AGP card. I'm getting Bad Pool Callers and my system is lagging even in Internet Explorer (it takes ages to scroll down the page). What could be giving me the trouble? I've heard it might be RAM, but my RAM is okay. Running at stock speed and it had been running okay until today, so it's not RAM. Any other ideas?

Edit: Seems to be about USB. Bugcode_USB_driver. And I've done nothing to USB. It's always been fine until now.

Edit2: Okay, problem solved. At least in so far as making Windows and programs workable goes. There are many causes of such errors, but in my case, it was the Hyperthreading processor conflicting with the graphics card and even USB devices. Not good for threads, it seems. Guess that's what you have for emulating two CPUs on one. In case anyone else has the same problem, disabling those devices, removing them etc etc and then resetting computer and reinstalling the drivers for those components sometimes solves it all.

What an annoying bug. And the explanations are so misleading. I thought I had burnt my RAM while testing fans a bit and resetting often.

[ January 21, 2007, 23:56: Message edited by: chevalier ]

 

Did you change any hardware just before the problems began to appear (other than the fans)? I am just curious about the root cause for this.

 

GeForce 7600GT instead of 5900XT is one change. Instead of Celeron 2.4, I used a PIV 2.6c with hyperthreading. Hyperthreading creates bugs in XP.

 

I have used a Northwood P4 2.8 with HT for two years without a single bug relating to HT. My bro has been using it for quite some time as well, without a problem either. HT causing bugs in XP? Sorry, dude, never seen that.

 

It will cause "bugs" when you switch from a non-HT prosessor to a HT prosessor just like that.

 

Ah, I should have posted my solution earlier.

Guys, HT conflicts with USB. Newer drivers for USB devices correct the problem, but on stock drivers HT seems to think it's getting overloaded. Basically, something wrong with splitting the job between the one and the other core. Updated my modem drivers and used the USB to PS2 converter for my keyboard and mouse.

@Erod: So if I were to reinstall Windows on a clean disk or something, it should go? I've heard from people saying it's better for a couple of days and then still bugged again.

 

The one scenario I can imagine is switching from a non-HT to HT processor and NOT enable HT in the BIOS... that I could imagine would f*** up.

I've reinstalled XP home on my bro's P4 sometime ago, and I never saw HT conflict with USB (stock drivers too). You've got a strange problem I never, ever seen.

 

Microshaft says it's a not so very common problem and they give you a fix if you contact client support. But they won't be getting any cash from me apart from what I need to pay for the OS itself. I suppose if you install the system with an HT processor already in, then you don't get problems, but I'm not sure. Some people report problems even in such cases, so I suppose my rare problem could fit in that area too.

However, I think my Windows has never been reinstalled (I considered reinstalling every couple of months to be a necessary hygienic activity back in Windows 95/98 times...). I keep it neat and all, but I've changed one processor and two graphics cards in the meantime, so who knows, maybe I should reinstall. I guess I'll just see if there's anything important I don't have installers for. What I fear is having to disable HT anyway when the OS tries to update via the USB modem, although I can update the driver the first thing I do.

 

Reinstalling would be my advice. But if this is indeed a known bug, could you give a link to the MS KB article, I am too lazy to search for one.

 

Got the same after reinstalling, but this time, as it was plain XP before service packs, I just got rebooted. Updated modem drivers with HT switched off in BIOS and then things were okay, so turned it back on and so I've had it ever since.