Don't worry. It's just me.

Weekend of blue screen of death, McAfee, and Cisco VPN

Andy Pedisich   October 6 2008 07:40:25 AM
Here's how it went.

I use the Cisco VPN with for about 80% of remote access to clients.  Friday my laptop crashed in what I thought was a random. Windows XP Blue Screen of Death.  Shmikerosoft sent me a post crash reference to their standard "it's the driver's fault" page.  Then the torture began.  It came down to this.
  • Restart laptop
  • Restart VPN
  • Connect to client  - BSOD
  • Cold start laptop
  • Restart VPN
  • Connect to client  - BSOD
  • Uninstall stuff I could research that might be causing it, even though they were installed ages ago including:
  • iTunes moble support
  • iTunes
  • Cold start laptop
  • Restart VPN
  • Connect to client  - BSOD
  • Try to uninstall VPN - BSOD
  • Cold start
  • Go to safe mode
  • Try and uninstall VPN
  • Successful uninstall
  • Restart
  • Install VPN
  • BSOD in the middle of the install
  • VPN is 1/2 way installed, On start menu but nothing works
  • Try to uninstall - VPN not in list
  • Try to uninstall something else (Bonjour)
  • MS Installer says VPN install is suspended, wants to know if I'd like to remove it
  • Suspended install backed out
  • Do a system restore from Sept. 29, 2008
  • Cold start system
  • VPN back on the start menu
  • Start VPN - some graphics missing, but works fine
  • Test by connecting to all clients - everything works
  • Notice that while I am working, McAfee is busy installing new version of AV software
  • NcAfee wants a restart
  • Restart laptop
  • Restart VPN
  • Connect to client - BSOD
I want my weekend back.  
I want my VPN back.  
I want my sanity back.

- Andy
Comments

07:40:25 AM October 6 2008