Persistant BSoDs, crashes, and driver malfunctions for several months

I realize the title of this thread is a little out there, I wasn't quite sure how to best describe what I've been dealing with but, yes, I have been dealing with this issue for multiple months at this point. Anyway, it occurred to me that being able to read dump files might give me some more insight into the problems I've been having. However, try as I might, I have found no resources on how to actually read and decipher these files for myself, just a lot of blog posts and videos about how to generate dump files or read the BSoD as it's actually happening, which is extremely unhelpful, as you might have experienced yourself. So, I decided to bite the bullet and actually make a post on the forums here.

I suspect that the issue is related to my GPU. It's one of the "founding members" of my rig, so to speak, so it's been chugging along for around four and a half years at this point, and I've had some issues over time, so I wouldn't be surprised if it was the problem. Plus, it probably ought to be replaced at this point anyway. But, just in case, I decided to triple check and make sure I wasn't buying something I didn't need. I'd hate to get a new GPU only to still have the same problems, or worse, end up having whatever is causing these problems now ruin my brand new tech.

I'm uploading two different files, I suspect that they are the same but I don't know that for sure. I noticed when I was creating these .zip folders that the DM Log Collector couldn't access the minidump files for some reason, even though I know they are there. I don't know how important having access to those is, but if anyone has any ideas I'd love to hear them.

I know this is kind of a sparse request, but I'd appreciate any help I can get. If possible, I'd like to hear how to read these files for myself, or what program to use, but I understand if that's inconvenient to anybody.

Regardless, thanks for your time.

Hi Lolrider,
i look at other bits not explicitly BSOD.

You have 2 AV's running Avira and McAfee
ONLY USE 1, run the AV's own uninstaller, not your MS remove program option
Your windows update system is not runnng correctly, Troubleshoot it please.
can you also turn OFF MS driver update option, go to MSI for updates.

Roy

torchwood said:

Hi Lolrider,
i look at other bits not explicitly BSOD.

You have 2 AV's running Avira and McAfee
ONLY USE 1, run the AV's own uninstaller, not your MS remove program option
Your windows update system is not runnng correctly, Troubleshoot it please.
can you also turn OFF MS driver update option, go to MSI for updates.

Roy

Avira is a new edition I downloaded yesterday to check for Malware, in case that was the issue (I don't think it was). McAfee is provided through my IP, which is why I use it. I don't really like it so I agree with your earlier statements about it, but it feels like a waste not to use it, y'know?

I'm not sure I fully understand your instructions, but I will try my best nonetheless. Does MS stand for Microsoft? Also, do you have anymore instructions for troubleshooting Windows Update. When you say it's not working, to me that means the updates aren't installing, which doesn't seem to be the case, as far as I can tell.

Hi Lolrider,
The choice of AV is yours, BUT only 1, they end up conflicting with each other.
MS does stand for Microsoft.
The windows Update report error comes from the logs you provided,
2016-11-30 11:18:05:596 1036 16f0 Setup WARNING: SelfUpdate is in an error state
see screenshot for troubleshooter

Roy

torchwood said:

Hi Lolrider,
The choice of AV is yours, BUT only 1, they end up conflicting with each other.
MS does stand for Microsoft.
The windows Update report error comes from the logs you provided,
2016-11-30 11:18:05:596 1036 16f0 Setup WARNING: SelfUpdate is in an error state
see screenshot for troubleshooter

Roy

I appreciate the help. I ran all of the options under System and Security. The "Fix problems with Windows Update" found nothing. I even ran it as Administrator using the Advanced options and didn't find anything.

However, in regards to the MS updates and such, I did disable automatic updates in the settings menu for Windows Update, and set it to "Check for updates but let me choose whether to download and install them." I haven't found any downloads on the MSI website, or anything of that nature, but hopefully that was what you were asking me to do.

Would disabling automatic updates make the SelfUpdate error irrelevant?

*Correction, I found a page for downloads on the MSI page for my specific motherboard. I assume that's what you are talking about. Many of them are quite old, with the exception of the Utility downloads. Like, 2012 and 2013 old. I've had the motherboard for four and a half years, so maybe that's expected?

ICIT2LOL said:

Hello mate sorry late reply well I did look at some of the other stuff like Roy does but I focus more on things like problem devices for example as I don't fully understand some of the more than basic stuff.

Pleased Roy also picked up there were two AV's - something i did miss how I must have taken my eye off the ball. As for the dump files for BSOD do you use CCleaner and Windows Disk Cleanup regularly because they will clear those files?

Anyway I hope the McAfee is gone now even though unless I am terribly mistaken owner by another AV company it is still crap and even if it wasn't as we have said two AVs not a good idea.

Now not wanting to influence you in any way I also have reservations about Avira it is good but I would pick Avast over it and if you are willing to pay for one Kaspersky is my pet AV and it costs me approx $0.035 per day on a 3PC 2 year licence - a no brainer in my mind but the choice is yours.

If you got rid of the McAfee did you use the dedicated tool? and even so I always check the HKEY,s LOCAL_MACHINE and CURRENT_USER > Software - scroll down the listings for remnants of what I have just uninstalled and right click them and delete - pedantic yes but total clearance - yes. Now as a rule before I do that I do this Registry - Backup and Restore as a by the by I always do this after a clean install but I digress.

I will leave the update stuff for Roy because they are a bit of a misnomer to me because on my 7 machines it really is a hit and miss often the latter

No worries, I appreciate any and all help I can get, so long as it's actually relevant and helpful.

I must confess, a lot of this is Greek to me, so I'm just stumbling along trying to learn as I go. I'm not having a lot of success, honestly. I'm checking out chipsets and stuff like that right now and just not having a great time, it doesn't seem like any of the information I have access to matches anything online, so I'm at a bit of a loss.

I don't think those are the causes of my problems, but I'd like to know what I'm doing at the very least.