Vry Strange BSOD - No reason - No Minidump - Please help, desparate :(

karlsnooks · 25 Jul 2012

OK. Let's see if I still have the link that I recommend that you use:
Go to this link:Crucial.com Product Downloads - Firmware Updates

You want download both the manual and the firmware for the MANUAL boot file for Windows.
I'm including a pic with the arrow pointing at the set you need.

Attachment 223191

Read that manual for the MANUAL method.

Do not use the Windows 7 Updater Application.

With the MANUAL method, burn the downloaded ISO file to a CD or a DVD if you prefer but CD is more than enough.

To burn an ISO in Win 7, you just need to dbl-clk on the ISO and a burn dialog window pops up. You click on the Verify checkbox, insert the CD and click on the Burn button.

Now let's say that you've burnt the ISO to CD.
Insert the CD.
Remove Power.
Disconnect ALL drives SSD and HDD.
Connect the SSD that you want to update to the place where the SSD was that was updated already.
Power Up.

the manual for the MANUAL method shows you what to expect and what to do, although as simple as it is, you should be able to sail thru this.

As to the correct connections for your drives, I do not know. On this point, you will need to download the manual for the mobo and read and read and reread.

There is one very distinct possibility which is that you need to update the mobo BIOS, the mobo chipset driver and other mobo drivers. I can not stress enough how important this is in your case.

I must be honest in that I never was fond of any Belgium beer, although I certainly downed a few after finishing a long walk. I was in europe for many, many years and would go on the 100 km walks, the Todtmarch? (the Amis called it Death March), the Paris-Tubize walk (300 km--4 x 75 km) and a 125 km in 24 hour walk that was right around Christmas time--ah yes, think it was simply named after the town of Tubize. Beer tasted rather good after those walks.

Oh well, those were the days.

gulliwog · 25 Jul 2012

Thank you for taking the time to give me such clear and consise instructions. I already made the disk so that part is done. There is just one little thing that confused me was this step:

"Connect the SSD that you want to update to the place where the SSD was that was updated already"

Neither of my SSDs have ever been updated. I think maybe you are refering to the difference between the version 0002 and 0009. The reason they are different versions is that they were bought at different times and came with different versions. So i guess that I just leave the SSD I want to update where it is. But maybe I'm misunderstanding

As regards the updating of the mobo, should I just get EVERYTHING on the driver page from here and install it?

GIGABYTE - Motherboard - Socket 1155 - GA-Z68X-UD4-B3 (rev. 1.0)

I am guessing the 2 boot disks I dont need but the rest Im not sure. DO I need both Intel Management Engine Interface and Intel INF installation?

Im not sure every driver is essential. Regarding the bios, Ive never updated a bios before. I guess I just get the lastest version (F10) and install it?

karlsnooks · 25 Jul 2012

download the drivers and the drivers only, with the exception of first update the bios.

Yep, just get the latest version of the bios.

After creating the firmware update cd, disconnect all drives except for one of them. Update the firmware on that one. then disconnect the ssd and connect the other ssd and update its firmware. They are both out of date. The latest is 000F.

Once again, update the firmware in both SSDs, but simply one at a time with everything else disconnected.

First, get those firmware updates out of the way.
then the bios,
then the chipset driver,
then the other drivers.
no utility programs, etc.

gulliwog · 25 Jul 2012

Thanks Karls. Ill do things in that order and post later for the results (providing I havent eletrocuted myself in the meantime!!)

Its a shame you're not a fan of belgium beer, in my humble opinion its the best in the world... maybe you didnt drink the right ones. I mean don't trust Stella... no self-respecting belgium would even wash their car with Stella!!! :)

karlsnooks · 25 Jul 2012

Agree regarding Stella. I prefer the beer from the country with the Reinheitsgebot. None of that carbonated, sweetened horse u.... for me. If you are ever in Muenchen, then go the Augustiner restaurant/pub in downtown.

In any case, I'm looking forward to the glowing reports of success.

gulliwog · 25 Jul 2012

Step 1 complete. I have sucessfully updated the firmware for both SSD to version 000F...!!!

(and if I never have to plug in another SATA lead behind my graphics card, it'll be too soon)

I am going to let the PC run for a while to see if that makes any difference to the BSODs (fingers crossed)

If it doesnt get better I'll attack the bios next.

I never updated bios before. Theres nothing special to be aware of is there. I mean I just run windows normally, double click the .exe and the rest is like a normal install?

I'll update as soon as I have any new info

(I'm really not sure I'd have had the confidence to go for the firmware updates without you there to help me out, karl... you rock!)

karlsnooks · 25 Jul 2012

gulliwog,
be sure and read how they want to update the bios.

I'll review myself in about 2 hours and get back to you.

karl

gulliwog · 25 Jul 2012

Hey!! Sorry not for replying sooner. I've been working for nearly 2 days straight to fix this and needed a few hours sleep!

I am not going to mark this thread as solved just yet, I'd prefer to wait a little longer... however since updating the firmware on the SSDs I have had no further BSODs, freezes or restarts!!! :)

Since the problem started the PC hasnt been able to work without crashing for more than 1 hour 15 minutes... Now the firmware has been updated the PC has been running for at least 4 hours without problems. So its very promising.

My problem seemed similar enough to this other thread to possibly be connected.

https://www.sevenforums.com/crashes-d...ml#post1793840

I was concerned that there was a bit of a difference in the timing, firstly according to the article it happens after 5184 hours and mine (according to SSD life) is much closer to 6000 hours and also the crashes happened at approximatly hour intevals, but not completely, the average was probably about 40-45 mins.

Ill post a definitve answer tomorrow, but I think updating the firmware has fixed it. Thank you very much for talking me through it karl... I cant believe this morning that I was pretty much giving up and ready to take it back to the store (which would have been a real pain, I hate the guy!! When i talked about updating the firmware this morning he was like, "you'll mess it up and lose all your info", he couldnt be bothered to take 5 mins to explain what to do like you did).

So once again, thanks for everything.

I am wondering if I should just go ahead and update the bios anyway, but as far as the bios is concered I was always told, "if it aint broke, dont try fixing it!"

I assume you mean when you say "see how they want you to do it" you mean read what is on the GIGABYTE site... but they dont seem to say alot, the just say dont flash the bios if everythings ok.

I would also like to figure out why my second SSD drive is showing as an IDE device. I dont know if it has something to do with the Marvell thing. On my mobo website there are Marvell drivers, I dont know if they're already installed on my machine because I dont know where to look to see (not sure they'd show up in programs like nVidia driver). After that I dont know if my SSDs even work with this Marvell system.

Final (hopefully) update tomorrow.

karlsnooks · 25 Jul 2012

Very glad to hear that BSODs gone.

I suspect that the other problems will vanish when we have the bios and driver updates completed.

I read the manual for you mobo, have downloaded same, and am now making a copy using NitroPDF.

I will review, copy, etc to explain to you how to use QBasic to update your bios. QBasic is built into your bios for updating the bios. You never run Windows which is a much safer approach.

At least system is partially usable now.

May take me another hour before I get back to you.

karl

gulliwog · 25 Jul 2012

Sry Karl... I think I must explained or phrased badly. Since updating the firmware everything been fine! Theres no BSODs... theres no programs freezing up and theres been no random restarts. Everything seems completely normal atm.

I'd still definitely like the info on the Mobo you got, and if you think it needs to be done I'll go ahead and flash the bios anyway. Like I said, I was always told to leave the bios alone unless there was a specific problem, and right now it seems there isnt anymore.

Im not sure the SSD drive in IDE mode is a malfunction or problem really, theres a good chance its just setup wrong.