BSOD's not saving minidumps, multiple 0x9F crashes

Sorry, I'll fill in the system spec. Basically it's a HP DV7 3111ea with an intel core i5 430M 2.26GHz processor. 4GB RAM and 500GB Toshiba HDD.

I have carried out numerous tests on the RAM and HDD using memtest and seatools with no faults arising.

Interestingly, when I ran the hardware test you mentioned before (hwinfo) the program froze at "detecting smart batteries". Is this perhaps my cause as the BSOD points to a power state failure? Is it ACPI based?

As for system cleanliness, it is like a new machine inside. Heat sink has been removed and cleaned, CPU cleaned, fresh thermal compound added.

Odd that your temperatures would be getting so high with everything clean...

Power state failure means one of your drivers is not turning off the hardware or turning on the hardware when the system sends a signal for it to do so. The usually happens during sleep cycles, hibernation cycles, or shutdown/startup of the system. I do not know what "smart batteries" are other than batteries that can be charged? I did a Google search and found no information regarding them. Can you post the screenshot of the message: Screenshots and Files - Upload and Post in Seven Forums

Yes, I'll try it again once I'm at home. I can only assume its a term they have used for batteries in general. Would the operating system call for any of the battery circuitry to shut down?

And the problem I have only ever happens on startup/shutdown/sleep etc. any power state change!

Driver power state failures are typically due to four things:

1. chipset drivers being outdated or corrupted
2. network adapter drivers being outdated or corrupted
3. sound drivers being outdated or corrupted
4. graphics card drivers being outdated or corrupted.

I would suggest uninstalling all of the above and re-installing them; start with the chipset drivers.



To fully re-install a driver, use the following steps.

1. Click Start Menu
2. Right Click My Computer/Computer
3. Click Manage
4. Click Device Manager from the list on the left
5. Find the device you are trying to uninstall by expanding the appropriate set of devices
6. Right click the device
7. Click Uninstall (do not click OK in the dialog box that pops up after hitting Uninstall)
8. Put a tick in Delete driver software for this device (if this option is available, otherwise just hit OK) and hit OK
9. Restart your computer
10. Install the latest driver for the device once Windows starts.

Alternatively:

1. Login as an adminstrative user.
2. Click Start Menu
3. Click Control Panel
4. Click Hardware and Sound
5. Click Device Manager (the last link under Devices and Printers)
6. Find the device you are trying to uninstall by expanding the appropriate set of devices
7. Right click the device
8. Click Uninstall (do not click OK in the dialog box that pops up after hitting Uninstall)
9. Put a tick in Delete driver software for this device (if this option is available, otherwise just hit OK) and hit OK
10. Restart your computer
11. Install the latest driver for the device once Windows starts.

I really appreciate your time and effort on this, it's helping me understand how these things work! I'll give your steps a go in the morning. My wife is getting fed up with me!

It's using the intel 5 series/3400 chipset and it's using the intel drivers for a lot of the on board hardware. Should I uninstall each part in the device manager individually that uses the intel drivers?

It appears you have an Intel wireless adapter, integrated Ethernet adapter (not sure what brand, but may be Intel), and nVidia card. Audio is usually Realtek, but not sure with your computer as the specs for the general DV7 did not specify. Is this correct for your model? I am unable to find the exact model since you did not provide adequate information to do so, so I am working with some guesswork here.

If you have the intel wireless, I would uninstall it. Also uninstall any intel chipset drivers. Re-install the latest for all through the Intel® Driver Update Utility

Now you mention it, the HP driver site actually has two different drivers for the wireless card. The one I have appears to be Broadcom, at least that's what it physically says on the silicone chip on the card. I'll try removing the card from the machine and deleting all traces of it from the OS.

I'll google the specs of the machine and post them up.

The wireless adapter is Realtek but Intel's driver detection software picks it up and they have their own driver for it. Is it possible I would need to install the intel version of the driver instead of the Realtek version?

Can you post the hardware ID? In device manager, if you right click on the driver, click properties, and go to the details tab, you can find the hardware ID for the wireless device. It is the second Property in the list within the Property section of the details tab.