random BSODs on windows 7 fresh install

blazingflare · 03 Nov 2012

Thank you both for replying. However I won't be able to try out your suggestions just yet as it is late where I am and I am going to bed. I understand how to do the ram/memory stick trick but I don't quite understand what you mean for me to do with the API card, or even what the API card is specifically. If you could clarify a bit it would be appreciated :)

blazingflare · 03 Nov 2012

Arc said:

Hello blazingflare....

your BIOS is very old, you should think of updating it.

Code:

Machine ID Information [From Smbios 2.3, DMIVersion 35, Size=1920]
BiosVendor = American Megatrends Inc.
BiosVersion = 1024.001
BiosReleaseDate = 08/04/2005

Enable driver verifier. Driver Verifier - Enable and Disable
Run Driver Verifier for 24 hours or the occurrence of the next crash, whichever is earlier.

Let us know the results, with the subsequent crash dumps, if any.

I tried looking for an update for it but I wasn't able to find one. But that might just be me not knowing how to find it -_-

Arc · 03 Nov 2012

Search in your motherboard manufacturer's website.

Can you enable driver verifier? :)

blazingflare · 04 Nov 2012

I decided to see how my system would run in safe mode and it ran fine and didn't crash. I will also try your Guys' suggestions in a bit.

blazingflare · 05 Nov 2012

I am running driver verifier right now and the BSODs it is pumping out right now list Smwdm.sys. My question is why the driver for my sound chip is giving errors. ~~I will upload the dump files in a bit.~~
Edit: here it is.

Arc · 05 Nov 2012

It is caused by SoundMAX Integrated Digital Audio driver.

Code:

*******************************************************************************
*                                                                             *
*                        Bugcheck Analysis                                    *
*                                                                             *
*******************************************************************************

Use !analyze -v to get detailed debugging information.

BugCheck C4, {f6, 1fc, 97a54030, 8dd22495}

*** WARNING: Unable to verify timestamp for smwdm.sys
*** ERROR: Module load completed but symbols could not be loaded for smwdm.sys
Probably caused by : smwdm.sys ( smwdm+3495 )

Followup: MachineOwner
---------

And it is extremely old.

Code:

 kd> lmvm smwdm
start    end        module name
8dd1f000 8dd54f40   smwdm    T (no symbols)           
    Loaded symbol image file: smwdm.sys
    Image path: \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\smwdm.sys
    Image name: smwdm.sys
    Timestamp:        Mon Mar 28 19:49:36 2005 (42481278)
    CheckSum:         00037796
    ImageSize:        00035F40
    Translations:     0000.04b0 0000.04e4 0409.04b0 0409.04e4

Update it from Analog Devices | Semiconductors and Signal Processing ICs.

Let us know the results.

blazingflare · 06 Nov 2012

I am pretty sure I found the link I needed that would have the update, but there is an internal server error every time I try it
http://www.analog.com/en/content/sou...ation/fca.html

Edit: I have the most recent update for both the audio driver and for my BIOS as well. I'm pretty sure ASUS stopped supporting my motherboard as there are no updates past 2005. It also appears that it doesn't officially support windows 7 either -_-

blazingflare · 06 Nov 2012

bump

Arc · 07 Nov 2012

blazingflare said:

I am pretty sure I found the link I needed that would have the update, but there is an internal server error every time I try it
http://www.analog.com/en/content/sou...ation/fca.html

Edit: I have the most recent update for both the audio driver and for my BIOS as well. I'm pretty sure ASUS stopped supporting my motherboard as there are no updates past 2005. It also appears that it doesn't officially support windows 7 either -_-

In that situation, better you upgrade your hardware.

TVeblen · 07 Nov 2012

I have a machine here with that MB and processor combination. I also have an Asus 9800 Pro card. I successfully installed W7 32 bit on it just about a year ago. Here are some suggestions from my notes:

I installed W7 SP1 by creating a slipstream install disk. This greatly improves the odds of a good install. And saves a lot of time with updates too.
Slipstream Windows 7 SP1 into a Installation DVD or ISO File

If you are going to install SP1 from WU then you must install this alone. It is very important to be patient and wait for the install to completely finish after the restart before touching the computer. This can take up to 30 minutes. Wait for all hard drive activity to slow down/stop.

The list of Windows Updates to install afterward is massive. It is not a good idea to install these in large batches. What I do is install them by starting with the oldest updates and installing them in batches by month (all the updates from Jan 2011), and further by installing them by type: Security, Update, ActiveX, Explorer, .NET .
This is tedious, but avoids the problems (and performing System Restores) that occur when updates conflict.

The motherboard is old and the on board devices do not have W7 or Vista drivers.
I actually found that the drivers for these devices offered by Windows Update worked best to get functionality and stability. Any non original Asus drivers I found did not work well. Some drivers would only work if from WU. Particularly graphics.

The AD1985 audio chip on the board uses a driver that is too old to use in W7. I only recently starting having problems with the audio drivers and bluescreens after installing tuner cards in the machine. I am pretty convinced I am going to need to upgrade my audio hardware and disable the on board chip and remove those drivers from the system.

In your BIOS settings you should check to be sure you have 2 changes made from the defaults:

Advanced Tab > USB Configuration > USB 2.0 Controller Mode > should be HIGHSPEED.
Power Tab > ACPI 2.0 Support > Should be ENABLED

Hope that helps