New Build, Random Crashes

ziNc · 20 Jan 2014

Hey!

Sorry if I make a mistake! I'm a bit new, but I tried to follow the instructions of the sticky.

Anyway, I received some secondhand parts from my uncle: a new motherboard, a new CPU, and new RAM. They were:
M4A87TD/USB3
AMD Phenom II X6 1090T
16GB of G.skill Ripjaws Series (8GB of 1666 and 8GB of 1333)

Ever since, I've gotten random crashes. Sometimes I get a blue screen, sometimes the computer simply restarts, and sometimes the screen just freezes until I hard restart. Sometimes after that the computer doesn't even turn on, at which point, I wait 5 minutes and then it usually works.

I cannot reproduce the blue screens. They come and go completely randomly.

I have run memtest and received no errors after multiple passes, but I'm not so sure anymore. If prompted, I will run it again.

Whenever I try to analyze the blue screens myself, I cannot get passed seeing that most if not all have ntoskrnl.sys as the culprit. I've reformatted several times in an attempt to solve it. I actually found out some of my crashes were caused by an old Realtek LAN driver, which I updated, but still got crashes.

TL;DR - I get random crashes, blue screens, freezes, and I don't know why.

The next step is to RMA, but I'm not sure whether to RMA the memory, motherboard, or CPU!

Thank you! I'm sorry I could not include all the dump files as I just finished a reformat. These were in the span of a day.

ICIT2LOL · 20 Jan 2014

Hello and welcome ziNc mate how many passes did you let the memtest run for?? as you must run them for at least 8 passes

Plus how old is the PSU??
Anyway for starters run these

https://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html

https://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/433-disk-check.html

http://www.superantispyware.com/

http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/malwarebytes_free/

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/adwcleaner/

ADW download from bleepingcomputer delete any rubbish found with themalware scans

ziNc · 20 Jan 2014

I believe I ran it for 4 passes, I could be wrong. I'm fairly certain it was less than 8, so I guess I'll run it when I sleep and let it get to 8. :)

The PSU is very old, probably older than 3 years.

Should I run the antispyware, malwarebytes, and adwcleaner even though this Windows 7 is a fresh install as of today?

Edit: sfc /scannow was clear.

ICIT2LOL · 20 Jan 2014

Ok Mate it has to be at least 8 passes and while you are at it take a look at this .

PSU- Jump Start

for a reference
PowerSupply 101: A Reference Of Specifications - Power Supplies asyou will see there is a +/- 5% variance that can make all the difference so11.4v is way too low and 12.6v way too high.

Plus remember correct volts do not necessarily mean correct current (amps - inturn watts

A WARNING first DO NOT under any circumstances try to take the old PSU out or especially apart

Measuring the leads and sockets -

The meter you need are very cheapthese days you need a DIGITAL onebecause an analogue one injects 9vinto a circuit which I am sure will know will do no good to the board!!

Something like this is ideal http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA1TX0K36453

Plus when testing place the blacklead to the case or one of the board fixing screws try not to use the blacks inthe 24 socket - you can but the other site are for more reliable forpreciseness. In fact you can get crocodile clips to fit the black probe toattach and forget leaving one hand free

For volts refs Voltage Rails - Power Supply 101: A Reference Of Specifications

ziNc · 26 Jan 2014

Thanks for the help but I do believe it is the CPU. I got my hands on my old quad-core processor, and suddenly, no crashes.

I'll post the dump files with a million crashes anyway. It was to the point where I couldn't even start up my computer, so I switched it out.

ziNc · 02 Feb 2014

Got a blue screen yesterday even with the other processor in, same error: page fault in nonpaged area. I decided to go ahead and test the PSU with the digital multimeter. Everything was in between tolerances. All the +12V were measured at 12.43, all the 5V at 5.08, and all the 3.3V at 3.41.

Since I've switched out the processors, half of the memory, the hard drives, the video card, and since I've tested the power supply, I'm guessing the only other things possible are: the other half of the memory, the motherboard, or a software issue?

In any case, I'll run memtest again for as long as possible and return with results... Any help is appreciated!

ICIT2LOL · 02 Feb 2014

For installing I prefer a disk to be honest but if you want to try again this is the one to follow
Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 make sure it is the right version ie Home Premium or Ultimate whatever you have a code for and then the language and do not use the ones with a large "N" or "old" beside them. If you are wondering why the N it is because that will not include the Windows Media Player and while it is not much to get it it is tedious.
You can use a disk or USB stick with this.

PS Just as a matter of interest what is the temp on the board?? Use Speccy ot HW Info to check
http://www.piriform.com/speccy/download
http://www.hwinfo.com/download.php (is slightly better for info)

ziNc · 02 Feb 2014

This was a clean re-install. I'd re-install with the instructions you've given but I don't have access to some software installation CDs I need in order to finish a couple projects.

HWiNFO64 shows the motherboard temps at 30.0 C across... I'm assuming that it isn't getting any temperature values as that is the default when you reset them.

I just got a MEMORY_MANAGEMENT blue screen while typing this response. Does it mean anything that every 2 or so restarts the motherboard recognizes the CPU as a new CPU? If I press F1 to enter setup... and change the values to how I want them, the computer restarts, and still recognizes the CPU as a new CPU. The only way to get past this is loading with default values (F2).

Thanks for your help!

ICIT2LOL · 02 Feb 2014

Temps are fine Z and It certainly looks to me like a RAM problem I don't think I asked but have you tried cleaning the slots? The reseating will clean some but perhaps there may be some crud has crept into them so take a look at this.

SLOTCLEANING

Now as for the slots to clean them use astrip of old credit card about 1/2 inch wide nip the corners off one end - preferably round them offhold apiece of thin lint free cloth over the end dab on some form of alcohol - isopropyl alcohol (what we swab the skin with before an injection) is good and GENTLY swipe along the slots.

This can also be done for the GPU slot/s.
I am not sure as to why the CPU is still being seen as new but as long as it is being seen is something I reckon.

If the memtest come back ok or if the machine will let you run these try them again too

https://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html

https://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/433-disk-check.html

One last ditch option may be try the Kaspersky from this list
5 Bootable AntiVirus Rescue CD for Windows: Free Download
again you will need to make a bootable disk and set the BIOS again to boot from optical or USB