BSOD every 3/4 days.

Adzinger · 12 Jun 2011

Hi everyone,
I'm on a self built PC which is running fine, but every few days it crashes with a BSOD. Although there are 2-3 different causes, I believe I have fixed one (dxgkrnl.sys) by updating DirectX. The one I can't find a solution for online is the ntoskrnl.exe crash. One crash is a return from Verifier, which I have now disabled.
I have BlueScreenView so I know the culprit drivers/files, but I cannot read the minidumps for additional information and Google isn't returning any helpful information.
Attached are the minidumps from my crashes. Please let me know if I need to provide further information.
The crashes tend to happen randomly, although it usually happens at night, once the PC has been on for a long period.
I'm running Windows 7 Professional 64bit (gained legitimately from digital download - my University has a Microsoft Alliance thing) on a Phenom II 975, NVidia Geforce 460GTX, 4GB RAM.
Thanks in advance!

Jonathan_King · 12 Jun 2011

Hello,

From the looks of it, there is a major graphics issue going on. The video drivers seem okay, though we can't tell for sure if they are the problem or not. The best thing you can do is install the latest version from here: Drivers - Download NVIDIA Drivers

Be sure to select "Clean install", when the option is shown.

Code:

nvlddmkm.sys    Thu Apr 07 23:22:12 2011 (4D9E7F64)

If the driver update doesn't do the trick, I believe we are down to a hardware issue. My first suspects would be the PSU and the video card itself.

What is the make/model of your PSU? A PSU incapable of powering your system, or a cheap one, could cause this problem.

Probably completely unrelated to your problem, but just a good idea, install SP1: Learn how to install Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1)

...Summary of the dumps:

Code:


Built by: 7600.16792.amd64fre.win7_gdr.110408-1633
Debug session time: Fri Jun 10 08:12:40.897 2011 (UTC - 4:00)
System Uptime: 0 days 0:00:45.630
*** WARNING: Unable to verify timestamp for dxgkrnl.sys
*** ERROR: Module load completed but symbols could not be loaded for dxgkrnl.sys
*** WARNING: Unable to verify timestamp for nvlddmkm.sys
*** ERROR: Module load completed but symbols could not be loaded for nvlddmkm.sys
Probably caused by : nvlddmkm.sys ( nvlddmkm+164520 )
DEFAULT_BUCKET_ID:  VERIFIER_ENABLED_VISTA_MINIDUMP
BUGCHECK_STR:  0x116
PROCESS_NAME:  System
FAILURE_BUCKET_ID:  X64_0x116_VRFK_IMAGE_nvlddmkm.sys
BiosReleaseDate = 10/11/2010
SystemProductName = GA-880GM-UD2H
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨``
Built by: 7600.16792.amd64fre.win7_gdr.110408-1633
Debug session time: Thu Jun  9 18:46:14.096 2011 (UTC - 4:00)
System Uptime: 0 days 12:57:30.828
*** WARNING: Unable to verify timestamp for nvlddmkm.sys
*** ERROR: Module load completed but symbols could not be loaded for nvlddmkm.sys
Probably caused by : nvlddmkm.sys ( nvlddmkm+fe859 )
BUGCHECK_STR:  0xC1_32
DEFAULT_BUCKET_ID:  VERIFIER_ENABLED_VISTA_MINIDUMP
PROCESS_NAME:  System
FAILURE_BUCKET_ID:  X64_0xC1_32_VRF_nvlddmkm+fe859
BiosReleaseDate = 10/11/2010
SystemProductName = GA-880GM-UD2H
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨``
Built by: 7600.16792.amd64fre.win7_gdr.110408-1633
Debug session time: Sat Jun  4 06:30:04.148 2011 (UTC - 4:00)
System Uptime: 0 days 0:00:45.491
*** WARNING: Unable to verify timestamp for dxgkrnl.sys
*** ERROR: Module load completed but symbols could not be loaded for dxgkrnl.sys
*** WARNING: Unable to verify timestamp for nvlddmkm.sys
*** ERROR: Module load completed but symbols could not be loaded for nvlddmkm.sys
Probably caused by : nvlddmkm.sys ( nvlddmkm+164520 )
DEFAULT_BUCKET_ID:  VERIFIER_ENABLED_VISTA_MINIDUMP
BUGCHECK_STR:  0x116
PROCESS_NAME:  System
FAILURE_BUCKET_ID:  X64_0x116_VRF_IMAGE_nvlddmkm.sys
BiosReleaseDate = 10/11/2010
SystemProductName = GA-880GM-UD2H
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨``
Built by: 7600.16792.amd64fre.win7_gdr.110408-1633
Debug session time: Sat Jun 11 23:00:41.530 2011 (UTC - 4:00)
System Uptime: 0 days 6:10:34.262
Probably caused by : memory_corruption ( nt!MiCheckSpecialPoolSlop+83 )
BUGCHECK_STR:  0xC1_32
DEFAULT_BUCKET_ID:  VERIFIER_ENABLED_VISTA_MINIDUMP
PROCESS_NAME:  System
FAILURE_BUCKET_ID:  X64_0xC1_32_VRFK_nt!MiCheckSpecialPoolSlop+83
BiosReleaseDate = 10/11/2010
SystemProductName = GA-880GM-UD2H
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨``
Built by: 7600.16792.amd64fre.win7_gdr.110408-1633
Debug session time: Fri Jun 10 19:52:21.979 2011 (UTC - 4:00)
System Uptime: 0 days 9:32:10.337
*** WARNING: Unable to verify timestamp for STREAM.SYS
*** ERROR: Module load completed but symbols could not be loaded for STREAM.SYS
Probably caused by : STREAM.SYS ( STREAM+da26 )
BUGCHECK_STR:  0xc4_f6
DEFAULT_BUCKET_ID:  VERIFIER_ENABLED_VISTA_MINIDUMP
PROCESS_NAME:  Skype.exe
FAILURE_BUCKET_ID:  X64_0xc4_f6_VRFK_STREAM+da26
BiosReleaseDate = 10/11/2010
SystemProductName = GA-880GM-UD2H
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨``

Adzinger · 12 Jun 2011

Thanks for the advice, downloading the newest graphics driver now.
My PSU is an 800W one and has served me well since my old PC - almost 6 years ago now, I transferred it from my old PC. I don't think this is the problem as I know it's powerful enough, and I haven't had a problem with it since I got it.
I will install the newest graphics driver and let you know how it goes.
Was that the only problem that came up? It didn't seem like a graphics problem at the time but it makes sense now, thinking about it.
Thanks again, you're a great help!

Jonathan_King · 12 Jun 2011

I guess I wouldn't be too surprised if this was a RAM issue; seeing as you brought it up, you might as well run a test: RAM - Test with Memtest86+

You may be surprised if your PSU is at fault here, but realize that PSUs do "wear out" over time. As the capacitors in it age, it becomes capable of supplying less and less power, and less and less stably as well. It may be worth testing a different one out, if at all possible.

Adzinger · 12 Jun 2011

Thanks for the advice Jonathan, but I don't think it's a RAM issue - I ran Memtest on the new RAM I bought as the first 2 sticks were faulty, and these check out fine. I did a small test on them just now, to be sure, and for the time that I conducted the test, no errors showed up.
I'm thinking about a new HDD anyway so if these BSOD's don't clear up with my intervention and they don't clear up with the new HDD, I'll suspect the PSU is the issue.
No bluescreens yet but they weren't common anyway so I will keep you guys posted.

Adzinger · 18 Jun 2011

Just had another bluescreen guys, again with dxgkrnl.sys. Attached are the relevant files.
Is there any way to to a complete reinstall of DirectX? Seems that might help.
I might end up just formatting the hard drive, I'm having several issues with it - mainly that no installed updates appear when searched for in Windows. sfc /scannow returns with "Windows Resource Protection could not perform the requested operation", I've checked that trustedinstaller.exe is manual and active. This means that I am unable to install SP1 or any server 2008 updates...seems the sort of tangled mess that would be best sorted with a fresh install.
Any alternative methods you guys might have in mind? I suppose more to the topic, any new info showing up in the new minidump?

Jonathan_King · 18 Jun 2011

A clean install may well be the best way forward from here. I don't think it will actually solve the problem, as this appears to be a hardware issue, but it may help with the Windows Update issues.

A DirectX reinstall should have no effect.

Adzinger · 18 Jun 2011

How certain are you that it's a hardware issue? As the graphics card is still in warranty, so I can have it sent back and replaced, as long as they too find the fault.
It seems strange that it would fail to boot a directX system file only say, 5% of the time, do you think that may be due to lack of power at startup? That would hint at the PSU problem you stated originally.
I'll keep an eye out for anything else, thanks for the help so far.

Jonathan_King · 18 Jun 2011

How certain are you that it's a hardware issue?

Pretty sure...

do you think that may be due to lack of power at startup?

It very well may be, though there is not necessarily a link between a video error and the DirectX kernel being blamed in the dump.

Adzinger · 18 Jun 2011

Thanks for the reply. Do you know of any way to test if the video hardware is at fault? I haven't heard of any software but you may know of some.