Windows 7: Fatal blue screen 1-3 times a day

Hi there, new here. Upgraded to Windows 7 Home prem a while back and am pretty much regretting it. I have used Belarc to help me post the tech spec of the PC I am using in my profile (I hope that's where it is).

I am getting driver related blue screen fatal crashes one to three times or more a day. The information of the blue screen is of little sense (as per Microsoft) and all I can suggest is it is driver related.



I have updated all my graphics drivers (NVIDIA) as I thought that might be the problem. I am an experienced PC user, but not an experienced PC fixer. I am happy to sit and write down salient details of the next BSOD if someone would like to just suggest what are the salient bits ? When it is working, I like the Windows 7 interface, but I am far from happy that a PC which was always working fine with Windows XP is now crashing at random. Any tips greatly appreciated Keith (yes I will read the guides on BSOD)

To enable us to assist you with your computer's BSOD symptoms, upload the contents of your "\Windows\Minidump" folder.

The procedure:

* Copy the contents of \Windows\Minidump to another (temporary) location somewhere on your machine.
* Zip up the copy.
* Attach the ZIP archive to your post using the "paperclip" (file attachments) button.



To ensure minidumps are enabled:

Go to Start, in the Search Box type: sysdm.cpl, press Enter.
Under the Advanced tab, click on the Startup and Recovery Settings... button.
Ensure that Automatically restart is unchecked.
Under the Write Debugging Information header select Small memory dump (256 kB) in the dropdown box (the 256kb varies).
Ensure that the Small Dump Directory is listed as %systemroot%\Minidump.
OK your way out.
Reboot if changes have been made.

OK, before I bite off more than I can chew late at night, I will come back tomorrow when fresh and follow instructions. Thank you. Keith

I did what you requested, but having looked at the dmp file, it doesn't make a lot of sense... Wonder if I screwed up along the way ? Keith

This one Related to Extensible Wireless LAN device driver from Atheros Communications, Inc.

I would re-install with newest and update the following drivers

Old drivers
How To Find Drivers:- - The most common drivers are listed on this page: Driver Reference Driver Reference
- - Driver manufacturer links are on this page: Drivers and Downloads

I will need a bit of coaxing on this. I did google Atheros drivers for WIndows 7 and the info I got was confusing and unclear. I did not really understand any of the code you pasted in the reply. This is new territory for me you understand. Appreciate a little idiot proof coaxing. Keith

Really appreciate some more help on this one guys. Three more crashes today and I don't have the ability to problem solve this on my own. Thanks in advance. Keith

The atheros driver can be found by simply Googling "athrusb.sys driver". Find a site that has it and download and install it. Use the newest version you can find.

Got very poor results googling that, only a lot of similar gripes to mine regarding BSOD's. As this is a Belkin Network USB adapter, I have gone to their site and downloaded what appears to be the latest driver for the product which is 2009. Can't say as I am confident. I am pretty sure I used the site based driver when I upgraded my PC from XP to Windows 7 (something I am regretting, considering the number of annoying problems I am having - this being one of them). I do think Microsoft designed this OS just to get everyone to buy new hardware and software ! I will report back in a few days and let you know if I am still getting BSOD's Keith

Well, I did as I said I would and for many hours all seemed well. In fact I was about to post later today on my success, but just found I had another BSOD, this time I think with a different error message. I am attaching a zip of the minidump in the hopes someone might tell me if this is related ? Keith