Windows 7: Sporadic BSOD, 0x00000050 usually but not always - maybe thermal?

Hi

I've started getting BSOD's with some frequency. I get different errors, including:



PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA 0x00000050
NTFS_FILE_SYSTEM 0x00000024
ATTEMPTED_EXECUTE_OF_NOEXECUTE_MEMORY 0x000000fc

and others.

Please see .zip attachment for relevant files.

Windows 7 Professional 64 bit
Home-built system originally had Windows XP
Current Windows 7 installation is full retail version
Machine was built in 2008, upgraded with larger amount of RAM in 2010.
I have not re-installed Windows 7 after initially installing it in 2010.

I ran Memtest86, the memory tester on my Windows 7 install disc and chkdsk, all reported no problems. I got BSOD's both times I tried to to full anti-virus scans of the machine.

I enabled verifier.exe according to some instructions I found in a thread here (didn't save the url, sorry). It doesn't seem to have increased the frequency of BSOD's but I can't really tell.

I've been running CoreTemp today, and it looks like my CPU cores are getting close to overheat under moderate loads, so I'm wondering if it might be a thermal problem. I am not overclocking.

I would be extremely grateful for any help. I've tried to adhere to the best-practices for BSOD posts, but please let me know if I need to provide more info. Anything vague in my system spec is because I don't have that info at my fingertips, but I can get it if I dig in.

Thanks!
-Mike

Hello and welcome to Seven Forums!

ANALYSIS

HDD

Your crash reports indicate a possible hard drive failure. BACK UP ALL DATA ON YOUR HARD DRIVE NOW! The HDD could fail at any time.
Once you have completed this, run the long test with Seatools. Download and create a bootable version of the Seatools for DOS program as described here

MEMTEST

You said you ran Memtest. Did you run the correct version (Memtest86+) and did you run it for at least 8 passes? If not, run Memtest86+ again for at least 8 passes. RAM - Test with Memtest86+


DRIVER VERIFIER

You mentioned in your original post that you enabled Driver Verifier. Please disable it as it may be contributing towards your BSOD's. Please follow the following steps to disable it.

Start Menu -> All Programs -> Accessories -> Right click Command Prompt -> Run as administrator -> Type the following command and then Enter:

verifier /reset

-> Restart your computer.


SYSTEM AGE

Your system is old, dating before Windows 7 was released. It is possible a piece of hardware is incompatible with Windows 7. Please check hardware compatibility with this link - Windows 7 Compatibility: Software Programs & Hardware Devices: Find Updates, Drivers, & Downloads


AVG

Your dumps mention a possible issue with your anti-virus, AVG. Please uninstall it and replace it with Microsoft Security Essentials. Please uninstall AVG completely by uninstalling it via control panel then running the removal tool - Download tools and utilities | AVG Worldwide. Then download MSE for free here: Microsoft Security Essentials.


Work through each of these steps and report back after you've completed each one. If you have any questions, feel free to ask
Stephen

Thank you for your reply. I've been patiently running SeaTools and MemTest86+ tests for the last 48 or so hours. Here is what I have found:

HDD

I've been diligently backing up, so at least my data is safe. I ran SeaTools for DOS (I had to use the text-only version, as the GUI version would not accept input from my PS2 keyboard). I ran the long test as your recommended, and all my drives passed.

MEMTEST

I was using a different version of MemTest, so I got MemTest86+ v. 4.20a as you recommended and ran that for 40 hours. It made 13 passes. On pass 7 it showed 2 errors. Next time I looked during pass 13 it listed 239 errors. I have now started testing individual sticks. I'll proceed through each stick in each slot and see what happens.

DRIVER VERIFIER

I turned off Driver Verifier and restarted as you recommended. I don't know if would have made a difference, as I shut down and started running the SeaTools and MemTest tests right away without running Windows again for any length of time.

SYSTEM AGE

I haven't had a chance to do the Windows 7 compatibility tests because I've been running the other tests. I can tell you that the machine passed all tests before I initially installed Windows 7, and I've been running it with no problems until the BSOD's started happening recently.

AVG

I'll uninstall AVG and install MSE as soon as I have a stable desktop again.

So it looks like the problem is coming into focus, but I don't think I can mark this as "resolved" until I finish testing the RAM sticks in various slots.

At this point I'm really hoping it's the RAM, that would be the easiest and cheapest element to replace.

Thanks again for your help, I really appreciate it. I'll post back and mark this "resolved" if I make a definitive judgment about bad RAM, or post follow-up results and request more help if I don't.

-Mike

OK, if memtest has reported errors, then your RAM is almost defiantly at fault. I would recommend testing each stick individually in each motherboard slot to determine if either the RAM stick(s) is faulty or whether you have a bad motherboard slot. If it is the RAM, not the slot, RMA the RAM. If you can't, you'll have to buy some new RAM. If you buy some new RAM though, make sure all the RAM in your computer is the same speed/frequency/voltage otherwise you could have even more issues.

Oh, and the reason I asked you to disable Driver Verifier is because when it is enabled, Windows will stress the drivers, causing BSOD's. If you disable it, it will stop stressing the drivers.

Stephen

I wasn't able to devote uninterrupted time to troubleshooting so it took a while, but my issue is now resolved (at least temporarily...).

I ran MemTest 86+ with all my memory installed in the original configuration. After 8 passes it showed lots of errors. I then started testing each stick in each slot, one at a time. I only got errors in one configuration - the first stick in the first slot. That stick didn't produce errors in any other slot, and none of the other sticks produced errors in that slot. I ran a minimum of 8 passes on each stick/slot combination.

I then installed all the memory, making sure not to put the one stick in the one slot that produced errors. I then ran 12 passes of MemTest86+ and received no error warnings.

I'm still not sure whether the stick is to blame or the slot, but at least for now I have a stable system again.

Thanks for the help and advice, I truly appreciate it.

-Mike