BSOD's & freezing on and off for 2 years

distilda · 19 Jul 2012

Custom built computer:

Motherboard - ASUS M4A79XTO EVO
CPU - AMD Phenom II 6 core
GPU - previously GT440, currently gtx 460
PSU - 500w +12v = 18A
RAM - x 2 - 4gig ripjaw
Displays - ~19" Hanns G through DVI, 42" HDTV through HDMI
HDD - 2tb WD

Windows 7 Home Prem. 64bit
OEM System Builder Pack

I built the computer about 2 years ago. The first thing that started the bsod was about a year and a half ago and was actually while playing Portal 2. Since then, my computer has on and off periods of blue screening and locking up. By this I mean i may have blue screen problems for a week or two then the computer will be fine for months. Most recently though, its been crashing for 2 months now. This will happen while doing pretty much anything: sitting idle, playing Itunes, playing games, videos, surfing internet. It also has a very difficult time booting up, I have to power up and press the reset button a few times for the BIOS beep to sound. I've reset bios/ remove clock battery and replace plenty of times. I've unplugged all of the computer parts from the MB and plugged everything back in which worked the first time I did it about a year ago, and just recently when I did, it helped for about a day. I got my gt440 replaced by Asus and that didn't fix it, i bought a new HDD and tried installing win7 on that and it still crashed. I recently swapped in the gtx460 and it still crashes. Currently all of my computer components are plugged into a power strip which has a 3 to 2 prong adapter because the outlets are not grounded, if this would affect anything.

If I am missing any details please let me know.

Vir Gnarus · 24 Jul 2012

Concerning grounding your system, read Paperdoc's response on the thread here. It should give you fair warning that not having a proper ground ain't gonna bode well for your system, and there is the potential it may have already done its deed on your PC. Fortunately there's workarounds outside of grounding the electricity in your house.

Given what I've been seeing on your syslog, your crashdumps, and your accomplishments at attempting to remedy this, I can say it's gotta have something to do with the Trio of Trouble, aka CPU/Mobo/PSU. These items are especially difficult to diagnose as there's no solid testing regiment for them outside of hardware swapping. Right now I see most issues appear to be disk-related, so your disk controller on your mobo may be on the fritz.

Before you go swapping hardware, a couple other procedures: first, run your RAM thru several (7+) passes of Memtest86+; second, check your motherboard for any blown or bloated capacitors; 3rd, and lastly, re-seat your CPU and its cooler if you haven't already done so (make sure you remove all thermal paste and apply fresh layer), checking for any bent or broken pins on both CPU socket and CPU itself.

If none of those resolves the issue, and Memtest86+ doesn't show any faults, it's time to start swapping hardware, starting with the PSU, followed by the Mobo and then finally CPU.

Everlong · 24 Jul 2012

As well as Vir's suggestions, try uninstalling Avast, for testing sake, and install MSE.

Also, old versions of this file ASACPI.sys have been known to cause BSOD problems. Could you just check your motherboard system specs that you've entered are correct. The only model for your board I can find is "M4A79XTD EVO", whereas you've put "M4A79XTO EVO".

If it is a typo, then visit the support site for your motherboard here ASUSTeK Computer Inc. -Support- Drivers and Download M4A79XTD EVO, scroll down to utilities and download the "ATK0110 driver for WindowsXP/Vista/Win7 32&64-bit" to make sure you have nothing earlier than 2009 version.

distilda · 27 Jul 2012

Thank you for the replies. Yes Everlong, you are correct with my mobo model, I changed it in my specs. This is what I have done:

Computer is now plugged into a grounded outlet.
I swapped out my power supply with a 550w I have.
Resat CPU and heatsink with new gel
Checked for blown/bloated capacitors, there are none.
Uninstalled Avast, installed MSE
Downloaded the AKT0110 driver. I clicked the only application file and a cmd window flashed real quick and nothing else happened. I assume this means it installed or i'm up to date.

Ran Memtest:
2 passes on slot 1 and 2 - got 700 errors right at the end of the second pass
moved the two sticks of ram to the other slots (3 and 4)- after a few seconds all i got was errors, i stopped after about a minute with 500,000 errors
I put a single stick into all the slots and I'm pretty sure slot 3 is bad.

couple days later- I put both sticks back in slots 1 and 2- ran 8 passes without any errors

As far as the RAM, can I assume it is good and there's probably a problem with the slots on the mobo? I wouldn't be surprised from the amount of bending it's been through from removing and replacing the RAM and gpu.

So far my computer is working fine, although I've only been using it since last night. I haven't tried playing any videos or games, or hooking up the second display yet. If the BSOD's start happening again my next move will be changing the motherboard.

Thanks again for the help.

Edit:
It is still freezing, no blue screens yet but i'm sure it will continue happening. When I can, I will buy a new motherboard.

Vir Gnarus · 31 Jul 2012

If you have bad slots, then you have a bad motherboard, for sure. Time to send that puppy in for replacement.

distilda · 01 Aug 2012

Alright I got a new motherboard:
Newegg.com - ASUS M5A99X EVO AM3+ AMD 990X SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard with UEFI BIOS

I installed everything and the motherboard boots up fine however right after the windows loading screen it blue screens really quick and immediately restarts. I tried both hdd's that i have, in safe-mode and used start-up repair.

Is there anything I need to do for the new motherboard and do I need to update my BIOS?

kegobeer · 01 Aug 2012

You can try downloading and installing the chipset drivers from Asus for that motherboard, but when you replace a motherboard it's recommend to reinstall Windows.