DPC Woes

Q: Almost every time I boot up my computer, I get the following stop message with a blue screen. Sometimes I get it 2 to 3 times and each time requires unplugging the computer and restarting. ”STOP: 0x000000B8 (0x00000000, 0x00000000, 0x00000000, 0x00000000) A wait operation, attach process, or yield was attempted from a DPC routine. “I am running Windows 2000 professional on a P3 Compaq machine with SP3 updates. Any suggestions?
T. Carter
A: No one likes the blue screen of death, with the obvious exception of those that are paid to repair computers like myself. As the message that you received suggests, your problem originates from a DPC routine. Deferred procedure calls or DPC routines are designed to make sure that the tasks that you ask your computer to perform are completed. During the course of normal computer operations some tasks have a higher priority or they trump other tasks. DPC routines make sure that the tasks that were temporarily halted or interrupted are completed. So, you can see how important it is for DPC routines to function properly.
The SP3 or service pack may have contributed to your situation. Service packs are used to update multiple areas of your system like compatibility, security, and other system functions. They are also used to distribute patches or fixes for bugs that may exist on the system that you have. Many people find that they experience some unintended side effects from downloading service packs from the manufacturer of the product. As I have suggested in the past, it is better to download one service pack at a time and wait a few days or a week before downloading additional service packs. This practice has several benefits; it allows you avoid any major computer problems because other users would have experienced them before you download the service pack. There seems to be no shortage of service packs that are offered from product manufacturers.
Nevertheless, I feel that your problem may stem from components in your computer and its possible relationship to the service pack. First of all, I am assuming that since you are using you Windows 2000 professional, that you are using it as a server. Also, I feel that you may have begun experiencing problems when you started downloading service packs. Compaq servers normally have a PCI card installed called a Remote Insight Board, that allows them to use a web browser on a remote system to perform remote management tasks. When this PCI card is reset it renders the problems that you are experiencing. The card may have been reset when a service pack was installed or some other event. I do not think that uninstalling the service pack would be best route to take. You could change the network settings manually or you could simply not use the Remote Insight Board Card. Compaq offers a solution to this problem also. I would suggest this as the easiest road to take. The link to Compaq solution is http:/www.compaq.com/support/files/server/us/download/9246.html.