BSOD 10 minutes in playing Empire: TW

I do have ZoneAlarm installed, yes. But this second BSOD doesn't seem to blame Zonealarm, or VSdayant.sys, instead cdrom.sys and ntoskrnl.sys.

My list of installed programs:


Start Menu Default:Start Menu Default
Start Menu Public:Start Menu Public
Start Menu The_Beast\Benjamin:Start Menu The_Beast\Benjamin
Start Menu\Programs Default:Start Menu\Programs Default
Start Menu\Programs Public:Start Menu\Programs Public
Start Menu\Programs The_Beast\Benjamin:Start Menu\Programs The_Beast\Benjamin
Start Menu\Programs\Accessories Default:Start Menu\Programs\Accessories Default
Start Menu\Programs\Accessories Public:Start Menu\Programs\Accessories Public
Start Menu\Programs\Accessories The_Beast\Benjamin:Start Menu\Programs\Accessories The_Beast\Benjamin
Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Accessibility Default:Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Accessibility Default
Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Accessibility Public:Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Accessibility Public
Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Accessibility The_Beast\Benjamin:Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Accessibility The_Beast\Benjamin
Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\System Tools Default:Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\System Tools Default
Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\System Tools Public:Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\System Tools Public
Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\System Tools The_Beast\Benjamin:Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\System Tools The_Beast\Benjamin
Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Tablet PC Public:Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Tablet PC Public
Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Windows PowerShell Public:Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Windows PowerShell Public
Start Menu\Programs\Administrative Tools Public:Start Menu\Programs\Administrative Tools Public
Start Menu\Programs\Administrative Tools The_Beast\Benjamin:Start Menu\Programs\Administrative Tools The_Beast\Benjamin
Start Menu\Programs\ASUS Public:Start Menu\Programs\ASUS Public
Start Menu\Programs\ASUS\ASUS Sync Public:Start Menu\Programs\ASUS\ASUS Sync Public
Start Menu\Programs\AVG 2012 Public:Start Menu\Programs\AVG 2012 Public
Start Menu\Programs\CCleaner Public:Start Menu\Programs\CCleaner Public
Start Menu\Programs\Check Point Public:Start Menu\Programs\Check Point Public
Start Menu\Programs\Check Point\ZoneAlarm Public:Start Menu\Programs\Check Point\ZoneAlarm Public
Start Menu\Programs\Debugging Tools for Windows (x64) Public:Start Menu\Programs\Debugging Tools for Windows (x64) Public
Start Menu\Programs\Defraggler Public:Start Menu\Programs\Defraggler Public
Start Menu\Programs\Dropbox The_Beast\Benjamin:Start Menu\Programs\Dropbox The_Beast\Benjamin
Start Menu\Programs\Fatal1ty Utility Public:Start Menu\Programs\Fatal1ty Utility Public
Start Menu\Programs\Fatal1ty Utility\F-Stream Tuning Public:Start Menu\Programs\Fatal1ty Utility\F-Stream Tuning Public
Start Menu\Programs\Games Public:Start Menu\Programs\Games Public
Start Menu\Programs\Logitech Public:Start Menu\Programs\Logitech Public
Start Menu\Programs\Logitech\G9x, G500 and G700 Gaming Mice Public:Start Menu\Programs\Logitech\G9x, G500 and G700 Gaming Mice Public
Start Menu\Programs\Logitech\Mouse and Keyboard Public:Start Menu\Programs\Logitech\Mouse and Keyboard Public
Start Menu\Programs\Logitech\Unifying Public:Start Menu\Programs\Logitech\Unifying Public
Start Menu\Programs\Maintenance Default:Start Menu\Programs\Maintenance Default
Start Menu\Programs\Maintenance Public:Start Menu\Programs\Maintenance Public
Start Menu\Programs\Maintenance The_Beast\Benjamin:Start Menu\Programs\Maintenance The_Beast\Benjamin
Start Menu\Programs\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware Public:Start Menu\Programs\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware Public
Start Menu\Programs\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware\Tools Public:Start Menu\Programs\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware\Tools Public
Start Menu\Programs\Microsoft Office Public:Start Menu\Programs\Microsoft Office Public
Start Menu\Programs\Microsoft Office\Microsoft Office Tools Public:Start Menu\Programs\Microsoft Office\Microsoft Office Tools Public
Start Menu\Programs\Microsoft Silverlight Public:Start Menu\Programs\Microsoft Silverlight Public
Start Menu\Programs\NirSoft BlueScreenView The_Beast\Benjamin:Start Menu\Programs\NirSoft BlueScreenView The_Beast\Benjamin
Start Menu\Programs\NVIDIA Corporation Public:Start Menu\Programs\NVIDIA Corporation Public
Start Menu\Programs\NVIDIA Corporation\3D Vision Public:Start Menu\Programs\NVIDIA Corporation\3D Vision Public
Start Menu\Programs\Origin Public:Start Menu\Programs\Origin Public
Start Menu\Programs\PeerBlock Public:Start Menu\Programs\PeerBlock Public
Start Menu\Programs\PeerBlock\Help and Support Public:Start Menu\Programs\PeerBlock\Help and Support Public
Start Menu\Programs\Phyxion.net Public:Start Menu\Programs\Phyxion.net Public
Start Menu\Programs\Phyxion.net\Driver Sweeper Public:Start Menu\Programs\Phyxion.net\Driver Sweeper Public
Start Menu\Programs\Rainmeter Public:Start Menu\Programs\Rainmeter Public
Start Menu\Programs\Ralink Wireless Public:Start Menu\Programs\Ralink Wireless Public
Start Menu\Programs\Recuva Public:Start Menu\Programs\Recuva Public
Start Menu\Programs\Roxio Public:Start Menu\Programs\Roxio Public
Start Menu\Programs\Roxio 2011 Public:Start Menu\Programs\Roxio 2011 Public
Start Menu\Programs\Roxio 2011\Applications Public:Start Menu\Programs\Roxio 2011\Applications Public
Start Menu\Programs\Roxio\Roxio BackOnTrack Public:Start Menu\Programs\Roxio\Roxio BackOnTrack Public
Start Menu\Programs\Stardock Public:Start Menu\Programs\Stardock Public
Start Menu\Programs\Stardock\Object Desktop Public:Start Menu\Programs\Stardock\Object Desktop Public
Start Menu\Programs\Startup Public:Start Menu\Programs\Startup Public
Start Menu\Programs\Startup The_Beast\Benjamin:Start Menu\Programs\Startup The_Beast\Benjamin
Start Menu\Programs\Steam Public:Start Menu\Programs\Steam Public
Start Menu\Programs\Tablet PC Public:Start Menu\Programs\Tablet PC Public
Start Menu\Programs\The KMPlayer The_Beast\Benjamin:Start Menu\Programs\The KMPlayer The_Beast\Benjamin
Start Menu\Programs\TuneUp Utilities 2012 Public:Start Menu\Programs\TuneUp Utilities 2012 Public
Start Menu\Programs\TuneUp Utilities 2012\All functions Public:Start Menu\Programs\TuneUp Utilities 2012\All functions Public
Start Menu\Programs\WinRAR Public:Start Menu\Programs\WinRAR Public
Start Menu\Programs\WinRAR The_Beast\Benjamin:Start Menu\Programs\WinRAR The_Beast\Benjamin
Start Menu\Programs\XFast USB Public:Start Menu\Programs\XFast USB Public

Recommend re-installing Zone Alarm. I also find it concerning that you have TuneUp Utilities installed...

Many of us on the forums actually do not recommend automated optimization tools for Windows 7. Windows 7 does a much better job of handling its own optimization than its predecessors did. We especially do not recommend registry cleaning as an "optimization" step because automated registry cleaning causes more harm to the registry than it actually repairs.

In the future, if you need help optimizing Windows 7, please post a thread in Performance & Maintenance - Windows 7 Forums or follow the tutorial enclosed in that forum to Optimize Windows 7.


I would also recommend avoiding 3rd party defragmenting software like Defraggler Public. There are command line options that provide the same defrag options through the -w and -b flags as these 3rd party programs advertise. Defraggler public is probably one of the safer 3rd party options, but you may be interested in researching the -w and -b flags. They defrag the system for file location optimization and boot time optimization respectively.


Your crash report was rather inconclusive. I would recommend uninstalling ZoneAlarm and then downloading the latest version and re-installing. The ZoneAlarm driver blamed in the previous crash appeared to be corrupted.

Thank you for your suggestions and time.

I am re-installing ZoneAlarm right now, and then I'll run the Verifier again?
It's strange that the real BSODs I get are always inconclusive. Is there any other steps I can take to look into this, Writhziden?

Again thank you,
Twistedben

I reinstalled Zone Alarm, and tried Verifier again. This time, when booting into Windows, I got a STOP error--blue screen--saying "C000021a" (Fatal system error). It didn't create a minidump file, and there was no mention of Vsdatant.sys (I guess that's good, at least.) Do you know what's happening here?

Twistedben

Dev Center - Hardware > Learn > Debugging > Windows Debugging > Bug Checks (Blue Screens) > Bug Check Code Reference > Bug Check 0xC000021A: STATUS_SYSTEM_PROCESS_TERMINATED said:

Cause

This error occurs when a user-mode subsystem, such as WinLogon or the Client Server Run-Time Subsystem (CSRSS), has been fatally compromised and security can no longer be guaranteed. In response, the operating system switches to kernel mode. Microsoft Windows cannot run without WinLogon or CSRSS. Therefore, this is one of the few cases where the failure of a user-mode service can shut down the system.

Mismatched system files can also cause this error. This can occur if you have restored your hard disk from a backup. Some backup programs might skip restoring system files that they determine are in use.


Resolution
Running the kernel debugger is not useful in this situation because the actual error occurred in a user-mode process.

Resolving an error in a user-mode device driver, system service, or third-party application: Because bug check 0xC000021A occurs in a user-mode process, the most common culprits are third-party applications. If the error occurred after the installation of a new or updated device driver, system service, or third-party application, the new software should be removed or disabled. Contact the manufacturer of the software about a possible update.

If the error occurs during system startup, restart your computer, and press F8 at the character-based menu that displays the operating system choices. At the resulting Windows Advanced Options menu, choose the Last Known Good Configuration option. This option is most effective when only one driver or service is added at a time. If this does not resolve the error, try manually removing the offending software. If the system partition is formatted with file allocation table (FAT), use an MS-DOS startup disk to gain access to the computer's hard disk. If the system partition is formatted with NTFS file system, you might be able to use Safe Mode to rename or delete the faulty software. If the faulty software is used as part of the system startup process in Safe Mode, you need to start the computer using the Recovery Console in order to access the file. If a newly installed piece if hardware is suspected, remove it to see if this resolves the issue.

Try running the Emergency Recovery Disk (ERD) and allow the system to repair any errors that it detects.

Resolving a mismatched system file problem: If you have recently restored your hard disk from a backup, check if there is an updated version of the Backup/Restore program available from the manufacturer. Make sure the latest Windows Service Pack is installed.

Taken from Bug Check 0xC000021A: STATUS_SYSTEM_PROCESS_TERMINATED


I would recommend that you disable Driver Verifier and proceed as suggested by James7679.

After the repair install, Troubleshoot Application Conflicts by Performing a Clean Startup since the above error may have been due to third party application conflicts as the article I linked to suggests.


Steps 1-3 of Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 may be helpful in doing the repair install.

Awh, God.
Okay, I'll do the repair install.
Thank you guys so much for guiding me along. I'll give you some Rep. I'll post back here later after the repair install and let you know how things are going. Again, thanks.

Twistedben