Windows 7: Windows 7 Crashing while browsing

Hi,
My Windows 7 home premium is crashing while browsing very frequently. I have Chrome set as my default browser and windows i fully updates. I tried installing Windows 7 as an upgrade and also by wiping the hard disk before, but I still have the same problem.

Also, i have to point out that I have the aBit airpace wireless card, and that doesn't support Windows 7, but I searched forums, and people said I could use a different driver for it and the internet will work, and so I did. I'm using the Atheros AR5006X Wireless Network Adapter (so is listed under Device Manager). But I doubt this is the problem.

-more details while browsing-
When 7 crashes,
the crash start by me not being able to close the tabs. I click on the x button but they don't close. Pages start taking a lot of time to load, and are stuck so I have to close the browser, wait some time, and fire it back up.
When it crashes then I have to wait some time for the browser to be able to start up again.



.. and this happens with both Chrome and Firefox. And IE too, but i'm not sure about that one.

Also, usually Windows Media Player start to skip when the crash start to occur.

I'd really like some help because it's driving me crazy,
thanks!

Hi & welcome to Seven Forums.
We require the dmp files. Please read the link to follow instructions on how to do so. [1 - Novice] How to ask for help with a BSOD problem
We look forward to receiving same to allow us to better help you.
Your System Specs also need to be filled in please.
Jan.

Hey,
thank you for your reply. I attached minidump here, and I'll go fill in my system specs to the best of my ability.

this is most likely caused by a driver that's not compatible with Windows 7. Here's the details from the Windows Debugging Tools help file.

Bug Check 0x18: REFERENCE_BY_POINTER
The REFERENCE_BY_POINTER bug check has a value of 0x00000018. This indicates that the reference count of an object is illegal for the current state of the object.



Parameters
The following parameters are displayed on the blue screen.

Parameter Description
1 Object type of the object whose reference count is being lowered.
2 Object whose reference count is being lowered.
3 Reserved
4 Reserved



Cause
The reference count of an object is illegal for the current state of the object. Each time a driver uses a pointer to an object, the driver calls a kernel routine to increase the reference count of the object by one. When the driver is done with the pointer, the driver calls another kernel routine to decrease the reference count by one.

Drivers must match calls to the routines that increase (reference) and decrease (dereference) the reference count. This bug check is caused by an inconsistency in the object’s reference count. Typically, the inconsistency is caused by a driver that decreases the reference count of an object too many times, making extra calls that dereference the object. This bug check can occur because an object's reference count goes to zero while there are still open handles to the object. It might also occur when the object’s reference count drops below zero, whether or not there are open handles to the object.

Thanks,
that's very helpful as now I know what the problem is.
But if you don't mind I have a few more questions:

If I Format my drive, and let Windows 7 install it's own drivers, then all drivers are compatible. Right?
But the wireless driver doesn't install, so I had to search google to find another driver (because the orignal aBit Airpace doesn't work) and installed it. People said it worked fine. So If I'm blaming the crashes on this driver now, what can I do?

Thanks a lot!

The easiest solution would be to find an adapter that is supported by Windows 7.. I know that this is probably not the answer that you were hoping for....

Oh, okay. Thanks.
So you're 100% sure the problem is the wireless card's driver?

It looks like it, as you tried to use a driver not specifically designed for the card, but NOTHING is 100%...

Okay.
Thanks a lot

iwillthinkof,
Good luck. Please post back with your results.
Also thanks for filling in your system specs.