BSOD at random points and it restarts instead of shutting down.

Hi folks.

My PC which I built myself about a year ago has suddenly started blue screening, and also when I shut it down (from the start menu) it shuts down, and then starts itself back up again!

When it started to do these two things I hadn't changed anything on my pc, or installed anything new, I was just working one day, my screen went blank (with the exception of a few vertical coloured lines) and then blue screened. Ever since then it has blue screened every couple of days, and I have the shut down issue every time I try to power down.

I have tried a few things I have found on forums (disk checks, shutting down with internet cable out) but I'm really struggling here. I have also booted in safe mode then shut down but I get the same issue, and I have also tried a clean boot but it still happens.

I have also completely re-installed windows twice on it, but it continues to do the same.

I'm thinking something is on the way out which is fine (I do use my pc a hell of alot), I just need to know what.

Attached is the latest mini dump.

Thank alot for any help you can offer, really appreciated.

Dan.

Deeby said:

Hi folks.

My PC which I built myself about a year ago has suddenly started blue screening, and also when I shut it down (from the start menu) it shuts down, and then starts itself back up again!

When it started to do these two things I hadn't changed anything on my pc, or installed anything new, I was just working one day, my screen went blank (with the exception of a few vertical coloured lines) and then blue screened. Ever since then it has blue screened every couple of days, and I have the shut down issue every time I try to power down.

I have tried a few things I have found on forums (disk checks, shutting down with internet cable out) but I'm really struggling here. I have also booted in safe mode then shut down but I get the same issue, and I have also tried a clean boot but it still happens.

I have also completely re-installed windows twice on it, but it continues to do the same.

I'm thinking something is on the way out which is fine (I do use my pc a hell of alot), I just need to know what.

Attached is the latest mini dump.

Thank alot for any help you can offer, really appreciated.

Dan.

Dan Hi and welcome


These crashes were caused by memory corruption. Please run these two tests to verify your memory and find which driver is causing the problem.


1-Memtest.

*Download a copy of Memtest86 and burn the ISO to a CD using Iso Recorder or another ISO burning program. Memtest86+ - Advanced Memory Diagnostic Tool

*Boot from the CD, and leave it running for at least 5 or 6 passes.

Just remember, any time Memtest reports errors, it can be either bad RAM or a bad motherboard slot.

Test the sticks individually, and if you find a good one, test it in all slots.

Any errors are indicative of a memory problem.

If a known good stick fails in a motherboard slot it is probably the slot.

RAM - Test with Memtest86+



2-Driver verifier

I'd suggest that you first backup your data and then make sure you've got access to another computer so you can contact us if problems arise. Then make a System Restore point (so you can restore the system using the Vista/Win7 Startup Repair feature).

In Windows 7 you can make a Startup Repair disk by going to Start....All Programs...Maintenance...Create a System Repair Disc - with Windows Vista you'll have to use your installation disk or the "Repair your computer" option at the top of the Safe Mode menu .

Then, here's the procedure:
- Go to Start and type in "verifier" (without the quotes) and press Enter
- Select "Create custom settings (for code developers)" and click "Next"
- Select "Select individual settings from a full list" and click "Next"
- Select everything EXCEPT FOR "Low Resource Simulation" and click "Next"
- Select "Select driver names from a list" and click "Next"
Then select all drivers NOT provided by Microsoft and click "Next"
- Select "Finish" on the next page.

Reboot the system and wait for it to crash to the Blue Screen. Continue to use your system normally, and if you know what causes the crash, do that repeatedly. The objective here is to get the system to crash because Driver Verifier is stressing the drivers out. If it doesn't crash for you, then let it run for at least 36 hours of continuous operation (an estimate on my part).

If you can't get into Windows because it crashes too soon, try it in Safe Mode.
If you can't get into Safe Mode, try using System Restore from your installation DVD to set the system back to the previous restore point that you created.

Driver Verifier - Enable and Disable

Hero, thank you ZIGZAG, I shall try this later or tomorrow when I get the chance and post how I get on.

Thanks again.

Dan.

Deeby said:

Hero, thank you ZIGZAG, I shall try this later or tomorrow when I get the chance and post how I get on.

Thanks again.

Dan.

Good Luck Dan

zigzag3143 said:

These crashes were caused by memory corruption.

Hi, first post: not sure if I can ask this here... you don't mention if the OP's re-start problem is caused by memory corruption as well, or if it's just the BSOD (or both).

Reason is that yesterday my PC developed the shutdown-restart problem (and just that, no BSOD) and I've exhausted all other "solutions" I've searched for, but without success - just wondering if it's worth trying your memory tests for my shutdown-restart problem? Or are these only relevant for a BSOD?

zigzag3143 said:

Deeby said:

Hero, thank you ZIGZAG, I shall try this later or tomorrow when I get the chance and post how I get on.

Thanks again.

Dan.

Good Luck Dan

ZigZag, I am running the test with Memtest86, and you say to run it for 5 or 6 passes. It has done one pass and instead of carrying on and doing another it is just repeating test #8 over and over and not doing another complete pass.

Should I be exiting and going back into it each time?

Oh, and it hasn't found an error yet, I have both sticks of RAM in at the moment.

It completed the pass in just under an hour. I have attached an image of the test.

Shall I just leave this running?

Sorry it has now ticked over to the second pass, i'll leave it running.

Ok so I left the test running for a good few hours and this is what I come back to.

My memory slots on my motherboard are laid out like:

A1 (blue slot)
A2 (black slot)
B1 (blue slot)
B2 (black slot)

If using two memory modules I can install into either A1/B1 or A2/B2. Mine are installed into A1/B1.

What would be the next step for me? Shall I switch my memory into A2/B2 and test again to see if it's a fault with the motherboard slots, or run the test again with one module removed (so just one module in A1) and then repeat using the other module?

I hope that makes sense!

Thank you.

Dan.

Deeby said:

Ok so I left the test running for a good few hours and this is what I come back to.

My memory slots on my motherboard are laid out like:

A1 (blue slot)
A2 (black slot)
B1 (blue slot)
B2 (black slot)

If using two memory modules I can install into either A1/B1 or A2/B2. Mine are installed into A1/B1.

What would be the next step for me? Shall I switch my memory into A2/B2 and test again to see if it's a fault with the motherboard slots, or run the test again with one module removed (so just one module in A1) and then repeat using the other module?

I hope that makes sense!

Thank you.

Dan.

Dan

I dont know your specific mobo but you can try A2/B2. You can also try a single stick in A1, then repeat for all the rest.

Last night I tried in A2/B2 - Errors

Tried single module in A1 (which is the only slot you can use with one module according to my manual) - Errors

Swapped modules in A1 - Errors

Are we looking at a faulty motherboard here then?

My PC is barely booting, and if it does it pretty much blue screens straight away.