Windows 7: BSOD Playing Tribes Ascend, watching YouTube and General Use

Wabbitface · 06 Jun 2012

Windows 7
- 64bit - It is the original installed OS on the system - a full retail version- The age of system (hardware) is about 1 year old - The age of OS installation is two weeks

I get frequent BSOD errors on this PC, when Playing games, watching vids on YouTube and for general use. Not sure why I am getting these errors, hopefully you could help fix it for me.

Wabbitface.

writhziden · 07 Jun 2012

Security Software: ??? Make sure to install security software. I recommend either of these:

Microsoft Security Essentials - Free Antivirus for Windows coupled with Malwarebytes. Do not start the free trial of Malwarebytes. Just use the standalone version, update it, and scan your computer once a week with Malwarebytes and with Microsoft Security Essentials.
Good and Free system security combination.

After installing your security software, update it, and then run full scans today with each program. Report back the results of the scans.

Crashes indicate a hardware issue. Run some hardware checks.

If you are overclocking any hardware, please stop.
Monitor temperatures during the following tests.
Use the following programs to monitor the temperatures.
- Real Temp is a good CPU temperature monitor.
- Speccy - System Information - Free Download will monitor all hardware temperatures.
- HWiNFO, HWiNFO32 & HWiNFO64 - Hardware Information and Analysis Tools can be inaccurate for CPU temperatures, but is a good program for GPU temperature monitoring.
- Use FurMark: VGA Stress Test, Graphics Card and GPU Stability Test, Burn-in Test, OpenGL Benchmark and GPU Temperature | oZone3D.Net to test the graphics card GPU. Let it run until the GPU temperatures even out or until the GPU temperatures reach a dangerous level (you can find the max temperature for your card on either the nVidia or AMD sites; if you are not sure, ask us). The goal is to get a steady temperature, find out if the GPU is overheating, or to see if there are any artifacts present in the test itself: look for strange pixelated patterns on the screen or colors that do not look like they belong. Then use the |MG| Video Memory Stress Test 1.7.116 Download to test your graphics card memory. Let the memory test run for at least seven passes; the more the better.
- Run Hardware - Stress Test With Prime95 to determine any hardware problems. Run all three tests for a few hours each. If you get errors, stop the test and post back here.
- Follow the steps for doing CPU stress test using IntelBurnTest
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.

Wabbitface · 07 Jun 2012

Already currently running Microsoft Secuirity Essensials so I don't know why its not reconising it. It's fully updated, firewall has been enabled and it allows that software to run. I have also ran windows update to reassure I havent missed anything.

Also soon as I was getting the blue screen errors I had restored my pc a week earlier when it was working fine to ensure if it was a software problem, later found it is not.

Also forgot to point out I have already updated all the drivers I need for my pc before I made a post on here.

I used the FurMark stress test burn-in test but I unfortunately got another blue screen error during it. So I tried the benchmark test aswell and luckily my pc didn't come up with an error for the 15 mins it ran. The GPU steady temp was around a cool 66-69 degrees celsius

Also while running speccy I noticed that both my SSD's reported an extremely high temperature of 128 degrees celsius. Though after researching this I found that this is a common bug.

Well that's what I can tell you so far, Still have to do:

MG Video Memory stress test
Hardware stress test with Prime95
CPU stress test using IntelBurnTest (I assume this will still work on a AMD Processor?)
boot version of Memtest86+
the Windows Memory Diagnostics Tool for at least five passes
Check with the manufacturer to see if im still in warranty

The issue I would have is what happens if there is a blue screen error during the tests that require more time to finish? I assume the program will have no idea if that happens or remember it? Would they show the results of the test at the end?

Thanks for the really technical response!
Wabbitface.

writhziden · 08 Jun 2012

You are correct, I do see MSE installed. My mistake.

GPU temp looks great.

If you get crashes while running any of the diagnostics, let us know. Also, provide the .dmp files to see if they yield any new information to help with debugging.

Most of the tests do not have a result. They are just to see how long the system will run them, what temperatures are reached, etc. If Memtest86+ does not make it to 7 passes or the system turns off during a run, that would indicate some kind of hardware fault. That is rare, but it does happen.

Wabbitface · 09 Jun 2012

at one point something went terribly wrong, I couldn't start up windows, every time it was loading a bsod error came up and i was forced to do a windows repair which in turn I used system restore a couple of days back. That fixed it anyway but it was a big scare!

So to continue the tests....

After starting up the Video memory test I got this message in the log:
'Your card can be not compatible with this test! If multiple errors will be found, changing video mode to 640x640x16...OK'

It then proceeded to do the test in that really low resolution and finished with no errors.

But using the Prime95 tests I got a different story:

Motherboard temps reaching 60 degrees Celsius, cpu temp 55, everything else pretty normal.

During Test 1
Test lasted 15 minutes until bsod error
tried again, it lasted 1hr 40 minutes before a bsod error

During Test 2
Test lasted under a minute before bsod error

(during today the bsod errors came more frequently)

I'm also having issues uploading the .dmp files, getting invalid file as I upload it with this post.

Also while looking through Device Manager I noticed something unusual, the only Human Interface Devices I am using is my World of Warcraft gaming mouse and a normal keyboard. But this shows I'm using more, is it safe to remove any of them?

writhziden · 09 Jun 2012

You have to compress (zip) the files to upload them. .dmp files are not accepted by the site.

The second test causes the most heat and power consumption. Those would be the first two places to check for possible issues.

For the devices, there is no danger in removing them, but you should set up your power scheme so the power button will shut down or restart Windows because your mouse/keyboard may stop working.

See OPTION THREE of Power Button - Start Menu.

Windows 7: BSOD Playing Tribes Ascend, watching YouTube and General Use

BSOD Playing Tribes Ascend, watching YouTube and General Use problems?