BSOD 0xf4 during 'cold' boot

quercus · 23 Nov 2013

Hello All,

I hope you can help me with my BSOD error.

When starting up my system after it's been off for a few hours I get a BSOD 9 out of 10 times.
It's the STOP code 0xf4 (parameter1: 000003)

When I reboot after that it usually boots and operates normally. Sometimes it BSOD's again with the same error.

My specs:
Maximus VI Hero (Bios: 1002)
CPU: Intel Core i7 4770
SSD: Samsung 840 EVO 120 GB (FW: EXT0BB0Q, latest according to Samsung Magician)
HDD: Seagate Barracuda 2TB
Memory: Crucial 8GB

The SSD is in AHCI mode with hot pluggable enabled.

Things I have tried:
- I reinstalled Win7 Ultimate x64 from the new SSD without any drives attached.
- I ran memtest for a day (9 passes) no errors found
- I replaced the SATA cables
- I moved the SATA cables to different (Intel) ports. (SSD port 1, HDD port 2. Is now: SSD Port 3 HDD port 5)
- Changed Win7's power settings to High performance and with drive to never enter sleep mode

I have the most recent driver versions installed from Asus' website.

Any help and suggestions are appreciated.

Arc · 23 Nov 2013

Hi quercus.

Daemon Tools, Alcohol 120% and Power Archiver Pro uses SCSI Pass Through Direct (SPTD), which is a well known BSOD causer. Uninstall Daemon Tools at first. Then download SPTD standalone installer from Disk-Tools.com, and execute the downloaded file as guided below :

Double click to open it.
Click this button only:
If it is grayed out, as in the picture, there is no more SPTD in your system, and you just close the window.

I hope that the SSD is running with the up to date firmware? I see that you have magician installed. If not by any chance, update it.

Update Asmedia AHCI controller from Station-Drivers - Asmedia drivers & firmwares.

Post a screenshot of all your SSD and HDDs using CrystalDiskInfo - Software - Crystal Dew World.

Free up the startup. Windows does not need any other program to auto start with it, but the auto start programs often conflicts and causes various problems including BSODs.

Click on the Start button
Type “msconfig (without quotes), click the resulting link. It will open the System Configuration window.
Select the “Startup” tab.
Deselect all items other than the antivirus.
Apply > OK
Accept then restart.

Let us know the results.
__________________________________________________________________________________________

Code:

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

Use !analyze -v to get detailed debugging information.

BugCheck F4, {3, fffffa80096b47c0, fffffa80096b4aa0, fffff8000318f7b0}

----- ETW minidump data unavailable-----
Probably caused by : wininit.exe

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

quercus · 23 Nov 2013

Thanks for your quick reply.

I have uninstalled Deamon Tools. And updated the asmedia driver.

I have included the CrystalDisk screenshot.

The SSD runs the latest firmware (accordin to Samsung Magician)

Unfortunately I have to wait until tomorrow to see if the problem has been solved, due to it only BSOD-ing after the PC has been turned off for a couple of hours.

Arc · 23 Nov 2013

Discs are all healthy.

As you have implemented some changes, now it is time to observe the situation. Report us back when needed.

quercus · 24 Nov 2013

Sadly, it didn't work. I still got the BSOD.

I did notice the errors in the eventlog.
The following boot-start or system-start driver(s) failed to load:
cdrom

(Which is odd since I don't have CD-Rom attached at all)

The driver detected a controller error on \Device\Ide\IdePort3.

I think it might be related.

I am wondering if a defective controller on the mainboard might be an issue since I checked all hardware and even replaced the SSD & Cables?
Also changing the SATA cables to a different port doesn't help. It just lists another port number to which the SSD is attached. When trying to install the Intel Storage Driver it BSOD with an 0xD1 error and I had to use system restore to make windows bootable again.

Arc · 24 Nov 2013

If you report a BSOD, you need to post it following the Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) Posting Instructions.

quercus · 24 Nov 2013

Arc said:

If you report a BSOD, you need to post it following the Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) Posting Instructions.

Here's the updated SF zipfile.

Arc · 24 Nov 2013

Controller errors are found in IDEPorts 0, 1 and 3. And the controller is Asmedia 106x SATA Controller, which is the latest version.

Code:

fffff880`01680000 fffff880`01697000   asstor64   (deferred)             
    Image path: asstor64.sys
    Image name: asstor64.sys
    Timestamp:        Wed Oct 02 14:20:41 2013 (524BDE61)
    CheckSum:         00014ECE
    ImageSize:        00017000
    Translations:     0000.04b0 0000.04e4 0409.04b0 0409.04e4

The cdrom.sys may be caused by the Daemon tools, which is still in the autoruns.

Code:

DAEMON Tools Pro Agent    "c:\program files (x86)\daemon tools pro\dtagent.exe" -autorun    Q1\UpdatusUser    HKU\S-1-5-21-3231090210-838333999-2361752671-1004\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

It is certain that the SSD and HDD is not bad. You re-seat the SATA and power cables. Apply them in the other unused ports on the motherboard. If still the problem continues to occur, let us know.

Also, as the antivirus programs can cause such unwanted behaviour of the storage system, uninstall BitDefender at least on a test basis. Use Microsoft Security Essentials as your antivirus with windows inbuilt firewall, and free MBAM as the on demand scanner.

Download, install and update those, and then run full system scans with both of them, one by one.