Windows 7: BSOD, Usually Near Startup, error 0xf4

Before you do a Clean Install....



Avast can be a contributing cause of BSOD'S .
Please remove and replace with Microsoft Security Essentials AT LEAST TO TEST.

http://files.avast.com/files/eng/aswclear5.exe

Microsoft Security Essentials - Free Antivirus for Windows

Kudo's on your decision. Clean installs are a PITA but often are the fastest way to get going again, and they make your machine the most efficient it will ever be.

One caution though is to not install the same software as you did before or you may end up right where you started.


Good luck

Thank you all for your help,
I did install avast after the BSODs started, so it was not the starting issue.
however i did a clean install before i got these messages, and so far have been BSOD-free.
I'll update if anything happens

Thanks for reporting back.
Good luck too.
Please mark this thread as solved when you are sure all is well.

So I was installing Microsoft Security Essentials and during the initial update my computer froze, I could not do anything so I had to do a hard shutdown. Along restarting, I got the BSOD again. I finished the update, then was fine for a bit. Shutdown, started my computer today and before I got the login, got BSOD again. Restarted fine though.

Probably caused by : AppleCharger.sys. Your USB can natively charge USB devices.

I apologize. What should I do about that?

No need.

Applecharger isnt necessary for charging and can be removed in program control panel. You can also just rename it from Applecharger.sys to Applecharger.bak so it cant load. Your system may complain if the latter is used.

Do I just uninstall ON_OFF charge program by GIGABYTE in control panel?

I am not sure. Do you not have either iTunes, an iPhone, etc? If you dont then the gigabyte may be using it.