Solved Random occasional BSODs on new W7 64-bit build

This is my first post so I hope I've done it correctly.

I bought a retail W7 64-bit in September and installed it on my 8 month old PC which previously had run Windows XP Pro SP3 without a glitch.

Almost immediately I started getting random BSODs but persevered for 10 days or so but, knowing I had played around with various utilities to find appropriate W7 ones, and had probably left legacy registry entries and possibly files I decided to do a full and clean rebuild.

I found I was still getting BSODs so did some digging and found various drivers, NIC, Graphics, USB3, sound, were out of date so downloaded and installed the new ones.

I also uninstalled and disconnected my Logitech Quikcam S7500 webcam in case that was a factor.

Up till yesterday morning I'd then gone almost 7 days without a BSOD - though I did get one PC freexe when it completely stopped, the mouse laser went out, had to power down and reboot. Then yesterday morning I got a BSOD, and again this afternoon while browsing this forum after preparing the diagnostics files - now recreated.

I've been using WhoCrashed to look at the dumps but they all seem to point to random modules and suggest a driver issue.

I've run MemTest86 for 2+ hours, ok. I've also run SFC /verifyonly and that ran clean.

I've attached the diagnostic zip file requested at the top of this forum and completed the system spec in my personal data. Basic spec is:
Intel 2.80 gigahertz Intel Core i5 760
Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd. P55-USB3
NVIDIA GeForce GT 430
4 Gbytes memory

Any help on how to take this forward would really be appreciated.

Hi tpriest

Update your Realtek RTL8168D/8111D Family PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet NIC

Realtek


Finish with this and post back with any results.

Thank you kindly sir.

The irony was that previous BSOD dumps didn't, when analysed by Whocrashed, indicate any specific driver, so I hadn't got round to look at the one that happened when I was creating the evidence files. Later when I did I saw a reference to that driver. Typical!

Despite having thought that I'd checked them all, I found that driver was out of date and have now downloaded and installed the new one. Then came here to see if there had been any thoughts.

I'll see how things go now.

Once again, many thanks. You guys really are helpful stars.

Good news!

You are always welcome!

Impeccably timed!

I had another BSOD about an hour ago, dump analysis no help, so, taking the advice giving in a thread http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/190651-why-does-there-seem-more-bsods-win-7-a.html I started on the general forum, I intend - when time permits - to rebuild and only use W7 installation drivers and those from Windows Update.

And then see what happens.

Ok no problem

Since my last post I've reinstalled Windows 7 several times, both 64-bit and 32-bit. All of the resultant systems have suffered from BSODs.

2 or 3 times (less frequently than BSODs) the PC freezes / locks / stops. Nothing happens, the mouse laser goes out. Has to be powered down and rebooted. One occured while preparing this post.

The most recent install went BSOD during the actual insdtall "Finalising Installation" phase, long before I'd had chance to do any localisation.. The dump from this is the earliest of those in the attached zip. This .zip contains all the dumps since that build, none of which, as far as I can see, point to any specific faulting item.

This installation BSOD made me think of hardware issues - despite the PC running XP Pro fine for 7 months.

I've twice run MEMTEST86 overnight - no problems found.
I've twice run Hiren's HDD Scan - no problems found.
I've reset the BIOS to Optimized Defaults - still BSODs.
I've swapped the memory modules round - still BSODs.
I've run on one of the two memory modules - still BSODs.
I've changed the BIOS Performance Enhance option from Turbo to Standard - still BSODs.

I'm beginning to run out of ideas as to what it might be.
A friend wondered if it was a 'bad' copy of Windows - it's the full retail version purchased from Amazon UK.

Any help/thoughts would be most appreciated.

[Edit: I've also reset the BIOS to 'optimized defaults'.]

Run Prime 95 to test your CPU. Carefully the instructions in this tutorial: CPU - Stress Test with Prime95. Run 3 separate tests, one on each of the settings (Blend, Small FFTs, Large FFTs). Post back with your results.
Note that this test may overheat the CPU, ensure proper cooling

If its not the CPU then the only option would be to replace the board.

Maybe a silly (or naive) question. What is a normal reasonable maximum temperature to look out for?

tpriest said:

Maybe a silly (or naive) question. What is a normal reasonable maximum temperature to look out for?

Click to expand...

Around 80-85C

Worthy of an update now the problem is resolved.

Monday last week I took the PC to my local shop for them to have a look at.

They ran tests on memory - passed; CPU - passed; motherboard - passed; PSU - passed. At no stage did they get a BSOD (typical!)

Then they put their collective heads together and came to the conclusion that it was a memory problem. So to include the relevant bit of their email to me:

"We believe it was your ram modules that were causing your blue screen issues; your old ram was the hyper Tec value ram 1.65v in which we have now replaced with 4 GB corsair Vengeance 1.5v Ram.

The Sandybridge motherboard you have has a maximum voltage memory controller which can handle up to 1.59v.

We could probably tweak the motherboard to give more stability with your old ram but the best way is to simply replace the Ram to the 1.5v memory controller."

I've now had it back for over a week and it has run without a hiccough - previously the longest time BSOD free was 6 days (once) more normally 1-2 days.

So, in a week or so when I've got time, I'll rebuild to get a clean system - it's got a bit messy with diagnostic software, etc.

Thanks to all who offered their advice and guidance. Clearly the new memory would have cost somewhat more than the old so they lost a little but they know I'll bring more business, where they are reasonably competitive, because their service is so good.

Good news!

You are welcome and thanks for posting back!