BSOD random, BCCode f4

I have a Lenovo ThinkCentre M90Z running Windows 7 Pro SP1 (64 bit) at the office. It's about a year old and has a custom image for my company.

This is something that keeps happening randomly. I won't even be doing anything on my computer and it will crash, BSOD, and reboot asking me if I want to boot in Safe Mode.

Attached you will find two crash reports - one from 5/31 and one from 6/4. I'm more concerned with the one from 6/4, but they're probably the same.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!

For that Bugcheck:

Windows Dev Center - Hardware said:

Cause

Frequently, you can determine the cause of the KERNEL_DATA_INPAGE_ERROR bug check from the error status (Parameter 2). Some common status codes include the following:

• 0xC000009A, or STATUS_INSUFFICIENT_RESOURCES, indicates a lack of nonpaged pool resources.
  
  
• 0xC000009C, or STATUS_DEVICE_DATA_ERROR, typically indicates bad blocks (sectors) on the hard disk.
  
  
• 0xC000009D, or STATUS_DEVICE_NOT_CONNECTED, indicates defective or loose cabling, termination, or that the controller does not see the hard disk.
  
  
• 0xC000016A, or STATUS_DISK_OPERATION_FAILED, indicates bad blocks (sectors) on the hard disk.
  
  
• 0xC0000185, or STATUS_IO_DEVICE_ERROR, indicates improper termination or defective cabling on SCSI devices or that two devices are trying to use the same IRQ.

These status codes are the most common ones that have specific causes. For more information about other possible status codes that can be returned, see the Ntstatus.h file in the Microsoft Windows Driver Kit (WDK).

Another common cause of this error message is defective hardware or failing RAM.

A virus infection can also cause this bug check.

Resolution

Resolving a bad block problem: An I/O status code of 0xC000009C or 0xC000016A typically indicates that the data could not be read from the disk because of a bad block (sector). If you can restart the computer after the error, Autochk runs automatically and attempts to map the bad sector to prevent it from being used anymore.

If Autochk does not scan the hard disk for errors, you can manually start the disk scanner. Run Chkdsk /f /r on the system partition. You must restart the computer before the disk scan begins. If you cannot start the computer because of the error, use the Recovery Console and run Chkdsk /r.

Warning If your system partition is formatted with the FAT file system, the long file names that the Windows operating system uses might be damaged if you use Scandisk or another MS-DOS-based hard disk tool to verify the integrity of your hard disk from MS-DOS. Always use the version of Chkdsk that matches your version of Windows.

Resolving a defective hardware problem: If the I/O status is C0000185 and the paging file is on an SCSI disk, check the disk cabling and SCSI termination for problems.

Resolving a failing RAM problem: Run the hardware diagnostics that the system manufacturer supplies, especially the memory scanner. For more information about these procedures, see the owner's manual for your computer.

Check that all the adapter cards in the computer are properly seated. Use an ink eraser or an electrical contact treatment, available at electronics supply stores, to ensure adapter card contacts are clean.

Check the System Log in Event Viewer for additional error messages that might help identify the device that is causing the error. You can also disable memory caching of the BIOS to try to resolve this error.

Make sure that the latest Windows Service Pack is installed.

If the preceding steps do not resolve the error, take the system motherboard to a repair facility for diagnostic testing. A crack, a scratched trace, or a defective component on the motherboard can cause this error.

Resolving a virus infection: Check your computer for viruses by using any up-to-date, commercial virus scanning software that examines the Master Boot Record of the hard disk. All Windows file systems can be infected by viruses.

The above was taken from Bug Check 0x7A: KERNEL_DATA_INPAGE_ERROR.


If you have an SSD, let us know. There are additional steps that can resolve the above problem if you are using an SSD.


I also notice your Lenovo Parties Service Access Device Driver (SMBIOS) is out of date. You may want to check the support site for any updates to drivers.

As far as I know, it's not an SSD.

Alright, go through the steps in my previous post, then. To supplement those:

• If you are overclocking any hardware, please stop.
  
  
• Run Disk Check with both boxes checked for all HDDs and with Automatically fix file system errors checked for all SSDs. Post back your logs for the checks after finding them using Check Disk (chkdsk) - Read Event Viewer Log (you may need to search for wininit instead of chkdsk).
  For any drives that do not give the message:
  Windows has checked the file system and found no problems
  run disk check again as above. In other words, if it says:
  Windows has made corrections to the file system
  after running the disk check, run the disk check again.
  
  
• Run the short and long tests with SeaTools for HDDs.
  SeaTools for Windows
  
  SeaTools for DOS
  
  
• If you have an SSD, make sure the following are up to date:
  • SSD firmware
  • BIOS Version
  • Chipset Drivers
  • Hard disk controller drivers/SATA drivers
  • If you have a Marvell IDE ATA/ATAPI device, uninstall it in device manager and see if the system performs better.
  
  
  
• Check Windows for corruption. Run SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker up to three times to fix all errors with a restart in between each. Post back if it continues to show errors after a fourth run or if the first run comes back with no integrity violations. Use OPTION THREE of SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker to provide us with the sfcdetails.txt file if errors occur.
  
  
• Download and install Malwarebytes, update it, do not start the free trial, and then run a full scan. Also run a full scan with your antivirus software installed on your system. If you do not have antivirus software installed, see the Good and Free system security combination. for better security steps and scanning tools. Make sure to update the security software before running the full scan.
  
  
• Run the boot version of Memtest86+ paying close attention to Parts 2 and 3 of the tutorial. Also, in case Memtest86+ misses anything and comes up with no errors, run the extended version of the Windows Memory Diagnostics Tool for at least five passes. These you may want to run overnight since they take a long time to complete (run them an hour before bed each of the next two nights and check before going to sleep that they are still running).
  
     Warning

  Before you proceed with the following, answer these two questions: Are you still under warranty? Does your warranty allow you to open up the machine to check hardware? If you are unsure of the answers to these questions, contact your system manufacturer. WARNING: The steps that follow can void your warranty!!!
  
  For Part 3: If You Have Errors: If you swap any memory components, follow these steps for ESD safety:
  
  1. Shut down and turn off your computer.
  2. Unplug all power supplies to the computer (AC Power then battery for laptops, AC power for desktops)
  3. Hold down the power button for 30 seconds to close the circuit and ensure all power drains from components.
  4. Make sure you are grounded by using proper grounding techniques, i.e. work on an anti-static workbench, anti-static desk, or an anti-static pad. Hold something metallic while touching it to the anti-static surface, or use an anti-static wristband to attach to the anti-static material while working. If you do not have an anti-static workbench, desk, or pad, you can use your computer tower/case by finding a metal hold in it, such as a drive bay.
  
  Once these steps have been followed, it is safe to remove and replace components within your computer.

In addition to the above, check your cabling and re-seat hardware if you can. You may also take a look at: Troubleshooting Steps for Windows 7

   Warning

Some of the steps require that you open up your system, so before doing any of the re-seating and connection checking steps, answer these two questions: Are you still under warranty? Does your warranty allow you to open up the machine to check hardware? If you are unsure of the answers to these questions, contact your system manufacturer. WARNING: Some steps in that tutorial involve removing the system case or system panels and can void your warranty!!!

The steps specifically related to the warning are steps 8, 10, and 11.

I ran chkdsk again as well as sfc and malwarebytes, and none of them came across any errors.

It might help to let you know that I ran the Lenovo System Update and it found 4 updates. They completed without issues except for a BIOS flash upgrade. It locked up the machine.

I tried to download the file and use the GUI to flash the latest BIOS and ran into the same problem.

Does this help at all?

Try clearing the CMOS through the BIOS: BIOS -> EXIT screen -> Load setup/optimized defaults.

How To Clear CMOS (Reset BIOS)


Reset the BIOS hardware/software connections.

1. Shut down and turn off the computer.
   
2. Unplug the computer from the wall or surge protector (then remove the battery if it is a laptop).
   
3. "Remove the computer from any port replicator or docking station, disconnect
   cables to printers or devices such as external monitors, USB memory sticks or SD cards, headset or external speakers, mouse or auxiliary keyboard, turn off WIFI and Bluetooth wireless devices." (Use Hard Reset to Resolve Hardware and Software Issues HP Pavilion dv5000 Notebook PC series - HP Customer Care (United States - English))
   
4. Hold down the power button for 30 seconds. This closes the circuit and ensures all
   power from components is drained to clear the software connections between the BIOS
   and hardware and clear any corruption in the temporary memory.
   
5. (If it is a laptop, plug the battery back into the laptop and then) Plug the computer back into the wall. Do not reconnect any unnecessary peripherals; monitor, keyboard,
   and mouse should suffice and be the only peripherals reconnected.
   
6. Turn it on to reinitialize the software connections between the BIOS and hardware
   

All right, I was able to flash the latest BIOS using a boot CD. It completed.

Now, Lenovo and MS both say that my system is completely up to date.

I ran Malwarebytes again and found nothing.

I ran the SFC scan and it was 100% fine.

I ran Memtest86+ via USB and it went through 8 passes perfectly.

I'm completely at a loss. The Task Manager doesn't have any strange processes or services running, but the system is still slow.

Also, not sure if this helps, but when I click on Start and try to type in a command (anything from cmd to notepad to regedit), it takes forever to locate the file.

May be a startup/service conflict. Troubleshoot Application Conflicts by Performing a Clean Startup. That step is included in the tutorial I linked to earlier. It is included here for convenience:

writhziden said:

You may also take a look at: Troubleshooting Steps for Windows 7

   Warning

Some of the steps require that you open up your system, so before doing any of the re-seating and connection checking steps, answer these two questions: Are you still under warranty? Does your warranty allow you to open up the machine to check hardware? If you are unsure of the answers to these questions, contact your system manufacturer. WARNING: Some steps in that tutorial involve removing the system case or system panels and can void your warranty!!!

The steps specifically related to the warning are steps 8, 10, and 11.

I tried the clean startup troubleshooting steps. After disabling all the non-MS services, there's no difference.

If this is any hint, I've tried several different profiles and this is an issue with all of them.

Also, typing in a command from the Start button (I'm used to hitting Start and then R to run a program) doesn't really work. I've rebuilt the search index as well. However, clicking on File > Run in the Task Manager allows me to open those programs I'd normally use Start > Run to open.

Hope this helps. I'm completely at a loss for what to do next.

I've updated and ran Malwarebytes, Windows Update, the Lenovo updates, chkdsk, sfc, memtest86+ (8 passes), flashed the latest BIOS, rebuilt the search index, disabled the latest Windows Updates since it started being slow... no luck.

Only things left to try are re-installations. We should start with a repair install since that will leave your programs and data intact: Repair Install

Use steps 1-3 of Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 to get installation media and back up your data (just in case something unforeseen happens). You may also want to gather your product/software license keys. You will at least need the Windows key for your system.