Need Help With Persistent Crashes, Freezes, and BSOD


  1. Posts : 1
    Windows 7 Professional (64-bit)
       #1

    Need Help With Persistent Crashes, Freezes, and BSOD


    This problem began a little under two weeks ago. While playing Civilization 5, I began to notice visual artifacts appearing on my screen. I did not immediately interpret this as being a sign of an overheating video card, until my ATI video card restarted in the middle of a campaign. I proceeded to lower the graphical settings in Civilization 5, and the problem ceased. A few days later, I began to have issues with my desktop freezing up a few minutes after booting up (usually 10-15 minutes later). The problem usually ceased after one or two repeated boots, so I did not immediately take action on the problem. A week ago, I started-up Civilization 5, and 10 minutes after beginning to play it, my computer completely froze. After turning off my computer and booting-it up, my computer got a BSOD less than five minutes after start-up. Whether I was in the login screen or in an account, one of three things would always happen withing five minutes of booting my computer:

    1. The monitor would turn off (indicating it was getting no input signal)
    2. The computer would completely freeze
    3. I would get a BSOD. The two messages I got when a BSOD occurred were either a Bad_Pool_Header or IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL.

    Once these persistent problems appeared, I suspected action needed to be taken to diagnose if my video card was causing these problems. I managed to uninstall my ATI drivers (11.6), then install the beta drivers (11.7), to see if the problems may be related to my video card drivers. The problem still persisted. I then uninstalled the ATI drivers, removed my ATI card, and replaced it with my older Nvidia card. After the switch, my desktop was running smoothly. I even managed to play Civilization 5 without any problems. I was convinced those computer problems I had were directly caused by an overheated video card that was beginning to malfunction. However, two days after I switched my ATI card with an Nvidia card, I got a BSOD after booting my computer. The problems had returned. After doing some research online, I read that minidump files can be found after a BSOD, which can be useful to identify the source of such problems. I booted my desktop in safe mode, and before I could transfer the minidump files to my laptop, I got a BSOD, with a new error message (PFN_LIST_CORRUPT). Second time I entered safe mode, my computer froze and my monitor displayed a really messed-up image (mostly white with a red band on the top). The third time I successfully managed to transfer the minidump files to my laptop, of-which I found three (which are attached in a ZIP file to this post). Admittedly I do not possess the knowledge to thoroughly analyze these files, so I hope someone else can. I also read that using the Windows Memory Diagnostics Tool can check for hardware errors, and can be accessed through the Windows Installation Disc. So I booted from my Installation Disc, but before I could select the Windows Memory Diagnostics Tool, my computer froze (it froze on the "System Recovery Options" menu). After a second try, I was able to successfully select it, triggering a restart and the test to commence. After a few minutes, this message appeared:


    “Status: Hardware problems were detected. To identify and repair these problems, you will need to contact the computer manufacturer.”


    However, after reaching the 12% mark during Step 1 of the test, the progress completely halted. After 10 minutes of no changes, combined with not being able to access options or exit the test, I assumed that my computer had frozen, and powered off my desktop. I am near the end of my rope on ideas for identifying the cause of my computer issues. I really hope someone can help me fix these problems, and would greatly appreciate any assistance I receive.



    Specs
    Windows 7 Professional 64-bit
    3 GB DDR2 RAM
    1.5 TB Hard Drive (5200 RPM)
    Initial Video Card: ATI HD 5770 1 GB
    Replacement Video Card: Nvidia 9600 GT 512 MB
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 1,808
    Windows 7 64b Ultimate
       #2

    Hello TheHeeyy, welcome to SF!

    Regretfully you have only posted dumps and though they tell us a lot, having the rest of the info as per these instructions, makes our work a lot easier:
    https://www.sevenforums.com/crashes-d...tructions.html

    From one of your dumps, I suspect you have a brother printer. It's driver or proces could be causing a problem. As a test, please delete/de-install completely. To be sure it is de-installed, please check specifically that BrccMCtl.exe is not on your disk anymore.

    You have the oldest ok version of a copy protection system. The driver is lirsgt.sys.
    Please update to newer: TAGES, the AAA Copy Protection System

    One of your dumps mentions UPS software from APC. As a test, please disable temporarily.

    Please do these steps one by one and check for bsods's as it would be good to know which specific thing helped...

    Post back any results please?
      My Computer


 

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