HTPC locking up, no crash dump, how to find out reason?


  1. Posts : 2
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #1

    HTPC locking up, no crash dump, how to find out reason?


    Hi,

    I tried searching first but I seem to have trouble finding the proper terms to narrow the search enough... So I just post this...

    I put together a HTPC for 24/7 usage (windows media center and iMON remote control, spotify, PowerDVD for Blu-Ray movies). Minimal amount of additional software installed. The problem is it locks up often. The whole Windows 7 goes fully unresponsive (all you can do is power off -> on). It rarely stays responsive for 48 hours. No crash dump is generated. The event log shows nothing special, mainly two error items, one related with errors on Microsoft Security Essentials and the other is Circular Kernel Context Logger session failing to start.

    The main question is: what is there to do, is there a program that could monitor which other program seems to halt the system? I'd hate to go through eliminating each and every software/hardware component... The second question is: just in case, does anything below ring any bells what might cause the problem?

    Thanks in advance.

    - yallu


    HARDWARE:

    Asus Maximus IV GENE-Z Intel Z68 LGA1155 (temp stays around 39C)
    Hauppauge WinTV-Nova-TD 500 PCI Dual Tuner
    DeLOCK PCI Express x1
    500W MicroATX PSU
    Intel Core i3 2100T 2.5 GHz LGA1155 (temp stays around 40C)
    Logitech Speaker System Z906 - THX
    Samsung CLX-3185N Laser Printer
    Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit UK
    OCZ Vertex 2 - 120 GB 3.5" SSD SATA II (for OS)
    Hitachi Deskstar 5K3000 3 TB SATA-III (for data)
    Antec Fusion Remote Case
    Asus BW-12B1LT Blu-ray 12X
    Corsair Vengeance Low Profile 8 GB Kit
    Prodige NanoX Bluetooth Mini Keyboard

    INSTALLED PROGRAMS (in addition to W7, as shown in control panel):

    7-Zip 9.20 (x64)
    Asus AI Suite II (FAN XPert and Sensor only)
    Asmedia ASM104x USB 3.0 Host Controller Driver
    CCleaner
    CyberLink Media Suite
    CyberLink PowerDVD 10
    Foxit Reader 5.1
    Google Chrome
    iMON
    Intel(R) Network Connections 16.1.53.0
    Intel(R) HD Graphics Driver (using CPU's integrated GPU)
    Microsoft .NET Framework 4 Client Profile
    Microsoft Security Essentials
    Microsoft Silverlight
    Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 - 2010 x86 & x64 Redistributables (all updated latest versions)
    Notepad++
    PC Tools Firewall Plus 7.0
    PlayReady PC Runtime amd64
    PuTTY version 0.62
    Realtek High Definition Audio Driver
    Spotify
    Windows Software Development Kit

    + latest Windows 7 updates

    AUTOSTARTING PROGRAMS (as reported by msconfig.exe):

    Microsoft Security Client
    Realtek HD (RAVCpl64.exe -s)
    Intel(R) Common User Interface (igfxtray.exe)
    Intel(R) Common User Interface (hkcmd.exe)
    Intel(R) Common User Interface (igfxpers.exe)
    Google Update
    Spotify
    PC Tools Firewall Plus
    iMON

    SERVICES (as reported by msconfig.exe, other than MS):

    ASUS Com Service
    ASUS HM Com Service
    ASUS System Control Service
    Intel(R) PROSet Monitoring Service
    PC Tools Firewall Plus
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 28,845
    Win 8 Release candidate 8400
       #2

    Please provide us with your Event Viewer administrative logs by following these steps:


    Click Start Menu
    Type eventvwr into Search programs and files (do not hit enter)
    Right click eventvwr.exe and click Run as administrator
    Expand Custom Views
    Click Administrative Events
    Right click Administrative Events
    Save all Events in Custom View As...
    Save them in a folder where you will remember which folder and save as Errors.evtx
    Go to where you saved Errors.evtx
    Right click Errors.evtx -> send to -> compressed (zipped) folder
    Upload the .zip file here.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 2
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Thanks, here it is, hope I got it right...
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 28,845
    Win 8 Release candidate 8400
       #4

    yallu said:
    Thanks, here it is, hope I got it right...
    Memory corruption, possibly by your BT. I would run driver verifier

    I'd suggest that you first backup your stuff and then make sure you've got access to another computer so you can contact us if problems arise. Then make a System Restore point (so you can restore the system using the Vista/Win7 Startup Repair feature).

    In Windows 7 you can make a Startup Repair disk by going to Start....All Programs...Maintenance...Create a System Repair Disc - with Windows Vista you'll have to use your installation disk or the "Repair your computer" option at the top of the Safe Mode menu .

    Then, here's the procedure:
    - Go to Start and type in "verifier" (without the quotes) and press Enter
    - Select "Create custom settings (for code developers)" and click "Next"
    - Select "Select individual settings from a full list" and click "Next"
    - Select everything EXCEPT FOR "Low Resource Simulation" and click "Next"
    - Select "Select driver names from a list" and click "Next"
    Then select all drivers NOT provided by Microsoft and click "Next"
    - Select "Finish" on the next page.

    Reboot the system and wait for it to crash to the Blue Screen. Continue to use your system normally, and if you know what causes the crash, do that repeatedly. The objective here is to get the system to crash because Driver Verifier is stressing the drivers out. If it doesn't crash for you, then let it run for at least 36 hours of continuous operation (an estimate on my part).

    If you can't get into Windows because it crashes too soon, try it in Safe Mode.
    If you can't get into Safe Mode, try using System Restore from your installation DVD to set the system back to the previous restore point that you created.
      My Computer


 

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