New
#11
That's fine, we didn't take it as disrespect. :)
Freezes and BSOD, error 0x00000124
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New #12
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New #13
Thank you all! Ok, I'm back. Unfortunately (or fortunately? - no, I'd really be happy if I could finally find the root cause) non of the stress tests was able to reveal any hardware part as the culprit. I've tried everything described here and here except:
- CHKDSK: yes, with /F /V /X after each freeze, but without /R because this HDD is only about 4 weeks old. The problem existed with the old HDD already, that HDD didn't pass a stress test, so I replaced it. I guess the new one is ok. In any case it can't be the root cause because the problem is older than the HDD.
- Re-installation of Windows: Did it about three weeks ago. Just quickly before I had to fly to China where I am stuck now with limited technical equipment. Can't just do a re-installation now and here. It could be though that one of the many drivers, updates and so on that I had to install before my flight is the bad boy. I just don't know. I didn't have the time then to add the drivers slowly one by one, each time followed by an extended testing session.
- Removing/replacing hw items: Not much to remove or replace...
Now, what strikes me is the fact that indeed there seem to occur no freezes (and probably no bluescreens, if we assume both have the same cause) as long as I am playing a video with VLC player. That's what I am doing now constantly in the background (doesn't have to be visible in order to have that positive effect) just in order to be able to work. I know, pretty stupid but still effective. I will need to try playing just sound with VLC player instead. Or playing it with WMP instead of VLC. That might give us another hint. Anyway, does anybody so far have an idea what reason may lie behind this strange behaviour?
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New #14
I haven't gone through every post in this thread with a fine-tooth comb as it's late, but I did read them all. Based on your last item, I'd look for either a new (or at least different) video card driver and would also check your power-saving settings. I know that power management is important for a laptop, but for troubleshooting purposes I would temporarily disable it and see if the problem goes away. What makes me think this is that the VLC player is both A) Keeping your video card and driver busy at all times, and B) Preventing the laptop from entering a reduced power state.
That's where I'd start, anyway. :)
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New #15
Thanks profdlp, I already restored the System Default Settings incl. default Power Management Settings (provided by HP here). I have now also set the Windows power-saving settings to full power. Let's see...
And I will look for alternate video card drivers on the net. Although at first sight they seem to be up-to-date (at least that's what Windows tells me). I've got an NVIDIA Quadro FX 770M inside. In case anybody knows of any issues with that one I'd appreciate if you let me know. Thanks.
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New #16
Up-to-date is normally what we shoot for when it comes to drivers, but sometimes the latest release is not the best one. It's worth trying.
As for default power settings, for a laptop that almost certainly means that something is enabled power-saving wise. I'd try disabling it. Yes, your battery life will drop a whole bunch while testing it that way, but if the freezing goes away you'll at least know where the problem is. After that it's just a matter of zeroing in on the exact problem.
Of course, it could be neither of these, but troubleshooting is often just a matter of elimination. :)
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New #17
I would also make sure your network and audio drivers are up to date. Along the same lines as the excellent advice given by profdlp, network adapter drivers are among the most notorious for causing blue screen crashes during power saving states. We see a lot of network and graphics related crashes during power saving states on this forum.
The reason I recommend also checking audio is taken from https://www.sevenforums.com/crashes-d...ml#post1829246
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New #18
Thanks profdlp and writhziden. I tried all the energy-saving plans in Windows so far (German Windows): Ausbalanciert, Energiesparmodus, HP Optimized. All produced freezes. I am now testing with "Höchstleistung" (full power). If this also produzes freezes I will try to change the grafics drivers to the version before.
writhziden, that's interesting and worth a try. But I have to note that the freezes also happen when I am in the midst of working and the machine is hardly in power saving state. Could these drivers still be the source of the problem?
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New #19
What writhziden mentioned is definitely worth trying. In one sense, Windows tries to act like the conductor of an orchestra and keep all the players from sounding a note at the wrong time. Sometimes a driver doesn't want to take orders and butts in at the wrong time. This can cause a different device to not get its turn in the piece being played. Imagine if the tuba player drowned out the flute section. You might think the flautists weren't performing properly - when it was the tuba guy all along.
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New #20
Hmmm... there seem quite many pieces that I could/should check. Wow, that will take some time. So far I had no freezes while having Windows set to "full power". Even if this stays that way, that actually doesn't tell me that much, right? It could still be either a driver or the hardware (e.g. the NVIDIA grapfics) that causes the problems in energy saving modes. In essence this means I have to change ALL drivers and try (e.g. old) alternative ones; one by one. Only then can I find out that a) it was indeed a certain driver or by elimination that b) it must be the hardware, probably the graphics. D***, that can take weeks. And there's really no shortcut, right? No, I know... no shortcut. But you would start with the graphics, audio and networks drivers, is that correct?
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Ok, I finally got it. Sorry, I did not mean to be disrespectful about what you're doing. Not in any shape or form. I very much appreciate your support and help. I'd be lost without you. Going now back to testing...
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