BSOD -- seems okay but want to try nailing down the cause


  1. Posts : 8
    Windows 7 Pro 64
       #1

    BSOD -- seems okay but want to try nailing down the cause


    Windows 7 machine. i7 4770. OS/apps on SSD. One HDD for data, and one SSD for data (added a couple weeks ago). All SATA. Very carefully and well maintained mission-critical machine.

    While sitting idly, BSOD occured. It caused a spontaneous reboot. On Windows startup, Windows simply said it had not been shut down properly. All seems fine. CHKDSK and SFC showed all to be fine. (The only odd behavior so far is that the Error-checking "Start" button is frequently lagging up to 60 seconds before giving a response. I asked if that's normal in a different thread. Other than that, all seems perfectly normal so far.)

    While I may restore from image backup to be safe, I'd still love to nail down the cause if that can be done.

    The DM log file is attached.

    Let me know if you need more.

    Thanks!
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 21,004
    Desk1 7 Home Prem / Desk2 10 Pro / Main lap Asus ROG 10 Pro 2 laptop Toshiba 7 Pro Asus P2520 7 & 10
       #2

    Hello rocketman6 the dump files really don't nail it down as you say more that they point and scratching through a multitude of probable causes.

    I see you have done a chkdsk - did you run that on it's own or with the /f and /r switches?
    Also you don't mention any malware scans so I might just mention these even though I am guessing you have



    https://www.malwarebytes.org/mwb-download/index.html

    http://www.superantispyware.com/

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

    ADW download from bleepingcomputer delete any rubbish found with the malware scans

    NB If anyone is runningKaspersky security it may rant about ADW - just ignore it or disable it for awhile


      My Computer


  3. Posts : 8
    Windows 7 Pro 64
    Thread Starter
       #3

    F switch was implemented by virtue of my having run it from Windows via Drive > Properties > Tools > Error Checking > Check Now > and then leaving the default of "Automatically fix file system errors" checked on. R switch didn't concern me -- I didn't check the box to tell it to check for bad sectors (it's a top quality SSD that's one year old).

    I run Symantec Endpoint and trust that to do all my malware protection. It's an enterprise-level solution I've relied on for years.

    I do realize that it's not easy to determine the cause of a BSOD. Frankly, that's not what I really intended in the first place coming to this forum. I posted in the General forum asking if that lag after clicking Start for the error checking was normal. That's all I wanted to know, since that's the sole oddity I'm seeing after the reboot. But nobody wanted to answer that question there, and they sent me to here. (Go look. I had to be a bit firm yet diplomatic in re-asking them to just answer my question. I'm extremely experienced when it comes to troubleshooting and I know not to chase BSOD causes. I'll replace the machine first -- if it happens again, that is, since I know one BSOD can occur as a fluke on a perfectly stable system, and the only concern is whether it corrupted the OS. I'm mainly just looking to decide if I should restore from image backup. If anyone answers me.)

    Thanks.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 21,004
    Desk1 7 Home Prem / Desk2 10 Pro / Main lap Asus ROG 10 Pro 2 laptop Toshiba 7 Pro Asus P2520 7 & 10
       #4

    Ok mate well you do what you want that is your choice I saw the post had been hanging around a for a bit and thought I would try.

    Personally I never rely on any one AV and I have been running Kaspersky for the last five years but still pick up stuff that is misses even if they are only PUP's (SAS) after all it only takes a couple of minutes to run.

    The other things I do like to get out of the way are hardware problems and everyone seems to think that issues start and end with GPU's CPU's etc etc when something a simple as a failing PSU can take down a machine and could explain maybe your issue because any interruption in the signal at pin 8 (grey cable) on the 24 socket will shut down the computer and if the PSU is really mucked up will not let the machine even start because that signal will not be generated.

    Anyway I think junking the machine is rather drastic when a little time taken now could avoid that but if you have the funds to do that then I don't envy you myself but there are a lot of folks that would.

    However I hope you can get it sorted
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 8
    Windows 7 Pro 64
    Thread Starter
       #5

    I absolutely do not have the funds to replace a machine on a whim. What I have even less is the time to chase down the possible causes of BSOD issues if they're recurring (let alone worry about constant image backups to restore if a BSOD corrupts the OS). I have a tech guru friend who said that a colleague does chase down BSOD issues and uses the DM log tool, so I thought I'd try it when it was suggested here.

    As to my initial inquiry in another thread, I still haven't gotten an answer but I'm starting to think lags after hitting Start to run the disk check from within Windows are not uncommon at all (and don't indicate that the BSOD corrupted the OS), especially when it's being run on the OS drive and "Automatically fix file system errors" is checked on. It seems that during that lag time it's actually starting to run or at least initially scan the drive to see where it wants to go next -- eventually saying a restart is needed.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 21,004
    Desk1 7 Home Prem / Desk2 10 Pro / Main lap Asus ROG 10 Pro 2 laptop Toshiba 7 Pro Asus P2520 7 & 10
       #6

    Well mate sorry for you not getting an answer in the other thread and I only said you were going to junk the machine after you did state that you would replace the machine if the issue arose again - or am I reading that wrong??

    I'm extremely experienced when it comes to troubleshooting and I know not to chase BSOD causes. I'll replace the machine first -- if it happens again, that is, since I know one BSOD can occur as a fluke on a perfectly stable system
    It also - from that begs the question why if you and your friend are that experienced then why ask in this forum? - after all it is not as if we do this for money we do it because we like doing it.
    For myself it is a personal hobby not that I am any great expert but one does get it right now and then and that I find rather rewarding and a bit of a social place to be and have many friends in here. In any case it beats the hell out of tramping through the rubbish in sites such as facebook and twitter etc ad nauseum / infinitum.

    Anyway rant over good luck!!:)
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 8
    Windows 7 Pro 64
    Thread Starter
       #7

    I appreciate the help very much... and the candor. Yes, if BSOD events occur more than once or twice, I will replace a machine.

    And, yes, hanging out, helping, and making new friends here sure does beat the Facebook madness so many people obsess with.

    Maybe you can do me a huge favor? In Windows Explorer, select your OS drive > Properties > Tools > Error Checking > Check Now. Have the first box checked (fix system errors) and the second one unchecked (checking bad sectors). Click Start, and count the seconds until the message comes up telling you it needs a restart to do that. Maybe cancel, reboot, and do it again? Maybe repeat a couple more times? I'd sure like to know the seconds it takes until the message comes up after a few attempts.

    Thanks either way!
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 21,004
    Desk1 7 Home Prem / Desk2 10 Pro / Main lap Asus ROG 10 Pro 2 laptop Toshiba 7 Pro Asus P2520 7 & 10
       #8

    Ok well done that and each time (3) it just goes instantly to Can't check disk now and asks for it to be scheduled.
    I would hazard a guess at from hitting Start it takes less than a second - taking into account this is a new laptop and isn't cluttered with a lot of stuff as I regularly sweep it with CCleaner and also use the Windows feature to keep down the update rubbish. As for my other machines 3 deskies and four laptops I would reckon would be about the same.


    Well it has been an experience meeting you and I have to admit I was getting a tad irritable being an old bugger but computing is my only outlet now after having to give up the biking and woodwork after wrecking my shoulder prospecting for gold 1st January 2009 a day that lives in infamy for me
      My Computer


 

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