BSOD at random


  1. Posts : 19
    Windows 7 64-bit
       #1

    BSOD at random


    I've been getting BSOD crashes seemingly at random for quite a while now. Sometimes it happens while my system is busy, sometimes while idle. Windows seems to think it's a HDD communication problem.

    Also, sometimes these crashes are not accompanied by a blue screen, instead giving a briefly scrambled screen (less than 1 second in duration) followed by a system reset.
      My Computer


  2. Arc
    Posts : 35,373
    Microsoft Windows 10 Pro Insider Preview 64-bit
       #2

    Please test the HDD using Data Lifeguard Diagnostic for Windows.

    Take both the short test and the extended test. Let us know the results.
    _________________________________________________
    Code:
    BugCheck F4, {3, fffffa800a10ab10, fffffa800a10adf0, fffff800033c3e20}
    
    ----- ETW minidump data unavailable-----
    Probably caused by : csrss.exe
    
    Followup: MachineOwner
    ---------
    Code:
    BugCheck 7A, {fffff6fc50000b58, ffffffffc00000c0, 20a050880, fffff8a00016b020}
    
    Probably caused by : partmgr.sys ( partmgr!PmSurpriseRemoval+a3 )
    
    Followup: MachineOwner
    ---------
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 19
    Windows 7 64-bit
    Thread Starter
       #3

    I've finished both tests on my primary HDD and it passed both. I also have a secondary drive I use for backups and other storage, should I test that one as well?
      My Computer


  4. Arc
    Posts : 35,373
    Microsoft Windows 10 Pro Insider Preview 64-bit
       #4

    Well, now open the computer. Re-seat the sata and power.


    Use a new SATA cable there, and attach the HDD to another unused SATA port on the motherboard.



    And, as you are opening the computer, re-seat the other components like RAM and graphics card too.



    Then see how it goes.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 19
    Windows 7 64-bit
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Tried the re-seat and cable / port swap, no luck seeing improvement so far. I've uploaded a fresh DM log to capture the latest crashes, just in case they can offer any insight.
      My Computer


  6. Arc
    Posts : 35,373
    Microsoft Windows 10 Pro Insider Preview 64-bit
       #6

    The stop 0xF4 BSODs are continuing to happen. It is in general a storage related bugcheck.

    As far as I understand, these things do influence in such a bugcheck:
    (Items in Green are already checked, Items in Red, you have to test now, Items in Blue will be tested at last)

    A failing HDD ==>
    already checked, nothing found in this line.
    Running out storage space ==>
    462 GB free space is more than enough.
    A failing storage controller driver ==>
    it is msahci there, which never fails.
    A wrongly seated disc, with a bad SATA cable or a failing SATA port. ==>
    tested, negative result.
    A Backup tool or defrag tool ==>
    If you have any, please uninstall it for a test purpose.
    A storage monitoring driver of a third party antivirus ==>
    Please uninstall BitDefender for a test purpose. Use Microsoft Security Essentials as your antivirus with windows inbuilt firewall, and free MBAM as the on demand scanner.
    A virus ==>
    Will think for it as the last resort.
    A failing Memory, which may cause any sort of issue. Test is as follows:
    Test your RAM modules for possible errors.Run memtest86+ for at least 8 consecutive passes.

    If it start showing errors/red lines, stop testing. A single error is enough to determine that something is going bad there.

    Let us know the result. A camera snap of the memtest86+ window will be nice.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 19
    Windows 7 64-bit
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Against my own better judgement I upgraded to Windows 10 without first resolving this crash issue, and haven't had a crash since. The upgrade involved reinstalling Bitdefender, which makes me wonder if it was indeed the culprit.

    Thanks very much for all your help!
      My Computer


 

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