[HELP] . Computer Shutting Off Randomly - NO BSOD . [HELP]


  1. Posts : 5
    Windows 7 Ultimate 32bit
       #1

    [HELP] . Computer Shutting Off Randomly - NO BSOD . [HELP]


    I apologize if this is in the wrong forum, as I do not have a BSOD. However, it's still a system crash which I need help diagnosing, and I did not feel there was a more appropriate sub-forum. Kindly state so if there is.

    I have a basic, stock HP Pavilion m8109n PC. I moved about a month ago and out of no where it started randomly shutting off with NO BSOD, most commonly when I'm watching a movie, browsing the internet, or doing any day-to-day tasks. I'm fairly familiar with all things computer, but not having any BSOD to work with inhibited me from easily diagnosing the problem. I did a clean install of Windows, but it kept crashing. I assumed this meant it's the hardware.

    My first thought was heat. I checked the temperatures on all the sensors—everything from a cold start to seconds before it crashed—but all the temperatures were within range, even under heavy load. It doesn't seem to crash as frequently or at all when I leave the computer idle; it only seems to crash when I'm doing something on it. But assuming the sensor readouts are accurate, I moved on.

    The only way to successfully reproduce the crash is to plug in my D-LINK USB Wireless Network adapter. I have no idea why this causes it to crash, as it happens with or without software/drivers installed, but it does. I figured this might mean it's the power supply. I bought a new one, plugged it in, but the crashes still happened. It wasn't the power supply.

    This leaves me confused. I've exhausted all knowledge I have about computers. I don't have the finances to buy a new computer, so I really need to diagnose this problem. Does anyone have any ideas of what I could try next? Anything helps. Thank you very much!
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 5,705
    Win7 x64 + x86
       #2

    The only way to successfully reproduce the crash is to plug in my D-LINK USB Wireless Network adapter.
    Win7 doesn't like these devices and will spit out BSOD's in a heartbeat with or without drivers installed (Vista drivers just make it worse!). Here's my rant about these devices:
    I do not recommend using wireless USB devices. Especially in Win7 systems.
    These wireless USB devices have many issues with Win7 - and using Vista drivers with them is almost sure to cause a BSOD.
    Should you want to keep using these devices, be sure to have Win7 drivers - DO NOT use Vista drivers!!!
    An installable wireless PCI/PCIe card that's plugged into your motherboard is much more robust, reliable, and powerful.
    Please provide this information even though you're not experiencing BSOD's: https://www.sevenforums.com/crashes-d...tructions.html
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 5
    Windows 7 Ultimate 32bit
    Thread Starter
       #3

    usasma said:
    The only way to successfully reproduce the crash is to plug in my D-LINK USB Wireless Network adapter.
    Win7 doesn't like these devices and will spit out BSOD's in a heartbeat with or without drivers installed (Vista drivers just make it worse!). Here's my rant about these devices:
    I do not recommend using wireless USB devices. Especially in Win7 systems.
    These wireless USB devices have many issues with Win7 - and using Vista drivers with them is almost sure to cause a BSOD.
    Should you want to keep using these devices, be sure to have Win7 drivers - DO NOT use Vista drivers!!!
    An installable wireless PCI/PCIe card that's plugged into your motherboard is much more robust, reliable, and powerful.
    Please provide this information even though you're not experiencing BSOD's: https://www.sevenforums.com/crashes-d...tructions.html
    I appreciate the reply. Since the device is older and only Vista drivers are offered, I figured that may cause problems. The thing is, it happens even when I uninstall the drivers—and it happens even when the device isn't plugged in. It's just that it is the only way I can instantly reproduce a crash. When I plug the device in, Windows doesn't find drivers for it—I have to manually install drivers myself. Should I do a clean install of Windows 7 (without ever plugging in the device) and see if I can get it to crash? Would plugging in the device one time cause crashes later, even if it didn't install drivers (that I know of) and if I later unplugged it? I can try that.

    HP m8109n
    Windows 7 Ultimate (32 bit)
    - AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 Dual-Core Processor
    - NVIDIA nForce 430 Chipset
    - 3072MB PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM memory

    I'll have to boot it up again to check any other hardware, although it is stock (actually, the DVD Drive was replaced).

    I believe the other things required in that thread were all related to BSOD dump reports. I'll run the program anyways and report back. I'll reply with that soon.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 5,705
    Win7 x64 + x86
       #4

    It's my opinion that anything that you try with the wireless USB device is going to result in a BSOD.
    In short, DON'T USE IT!!!
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 5
    Windows 7 Ultimate 32bit
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Update: I reinstalled Windows 7 to test not using the Wireless USB adapter. I started a WMA episode of a tv show in WMP since playing videos seems to eventually make it crash. After an hour it was still going. I installed VLC player to play a 1080p movie and it turned off within 10 minutes. After booting it up and putting the same movie on, it turned off within minutes again.

    This tells me it's not the Wireless USB adapter, since I never plugged it in after the clean install. 1080p movies seem to make it crash, but not instantly and never in the same time frame. What association could playing a 1080p movie and plugging in the USB adapter have causing a crash? Those are the only ways that make it crash without waiting forever and being completely random.

    I'm seriously out of ideas guys. Should I run that program for crash logs?
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 5,705
    Win7 x64 + x86
       #6

    Yes, we need the reports to see what's crashing.
    In short what we do is we rule out all the known problem issues and remove them one-by-one
    What we're left with then is that it's either fixed, or there's a Windows/hardware problem.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 5
    Windows 7 Ultimate 32bit
    Thread Starter
       #7

    usasma said:
    Yes, we need the reports to see what's crashing.
    In short what we do is we rule out all the known problem issues and remove them one-by-one
    What we're left with then is that it's either fixed, or there's a Windows/hardware problem.
    Certainly. I am grateful for your effort. Please find attached the necessary files.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 5,705
    Win7 x64 + x86
       #8

    FYI - this system is awfully old for Win7 and it will become increasingly difficult to find support for it. The HP website only offers one driver for 32 bit Win7. The nVidia chipset drivers aren't even listed as being compatible with Win7 (but if you dig deeper into their site, you find that they are).

    SP1 isn't installed, please do the following:
    Installing Windows 7 Service Pack 1
    1. Visit the PC manufacturer's website and update ALL drivers. DO NOT use Windows Update or the "Update drivers" function of Device Manager. This is very important as a lot of your drivers predate Windows 7 (a common issue with HP systems).
    For starters, update your chipset drivers from here: NVIDIA DRIVERS 15.49 WHQL
    2. Check Device Manager for any unknown/disabled devices - if there are unknown/disabled devices, fix them with the latest drivers from the device manufacturer's website (not the PC Manufacturer)
    3. Visit Windows Update and get all updates (may take repeated visits)
    4. Visit Windows Update and get Service Pack 1 (usually under Important Updates). Read these notes for installing SP1: Steps to follow before you install Windows 7 SP1 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 from the Microsoft Download Center
    5. Visit Windows Update and get any other available updates. May take repeated visits, but keep it up until you get several "Windows is updated" results.
    If you're having difficulties with installing a Service Pack, please use the SURTool from this link: What is the System Update Readiness Tool?
    Looks like you're using a phone as an internet connection. I'm unfamiliar with this, but the USB connection is one of my concerns. We'll see about the drivers later on in this report.

    You have a Conexant Multimedia Video Controller that doesn't have any drivers installed. Please install the drivers for this device.

    Found this in Event Viewer - System Logfile:
    Event[30]:
    Log Name: System
    Source: Microsoft-Windows-HAL
    Date: 2012-04-10T16:08:26.041
    Event ID: 12
    Task: N/A
    Level: Error
    Opcode: Info
    Keyword: N/A
    User: N/A
    User Name: N/A
    Computer: GODsPC
    Description:
    The platform firmware has corrupted memory across the previous system power transition. Please check for updated firmware for your system.
    and this:
    Event[40]:
    Log Name: System
    Source: Ntfs
    Date: 2012-04-10T15:54:48.382
    Event ID: 55
    Task: N/A
    Level: Error
    Opcode: N/A
    Keyword: Classic
    User: N/A
    User Name: N/A
    Computer: GODsPC
    Description:
    The file system structure on the disk is corrupt and unusable. Please run the chkdsk utility on the volume HP.
    What is this? There shouldn't be anything trying to delete this!
    Was this you trying to delete it? If so, why? Or was it something else (such as malware)?
    From Event Viewer - Application Logfile:
    Event[122]:
    Log Name: Application
    Source: Microsoft-Windows-User Profiles Service
    Date: 2012-04-09T16:14:14.201
    Event ID: 1533
    Task: N/A
    Level: Error
    Opcode: Info
    Keyword: N/A
    User: S-1-5-18
    User Name: NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM
    Computer: GODsPC
    Description:
    Windows cannot delete the profile directory C:\Users\Administrator. This error may be caused by files in this directory being used by another program.

    DETAIL - The directory is not empty.
    There are some serious issues with your system. Run the first 3 free diagnostics from here (memory, HDD, and malware): Hardware Diags

    Run CHKDSK /R /F from and elevated (Run as administrator) Command Prompt. It'll say it can't run and will ask if you want to run it on the next reboot. Answer Y (for Yes) and then reboot the system and let it run. Post a copy of the report back here.
    Here's further instructions:
    CHKDSK /R /F:
    Run CHKDSK /R /F from an elevated (Run as adminstrator) Command Prompt. Please do this for each hard drive on your system.
    FWIW - I know that the /F is supposed to be redundant, but I prefer to have it run anyway.
    When it tells you it can't do it right now - and asks you if you'd like to do it at the next reboot - answer Y (for Yes) and press Enter. Then reboot and let the test run. It may take a while for it to run, but keep an occasional eye on it to see if it generates any errors. See "CHKDSK LogFile" below in order to check the results of the test.

    Elevated Command Prompt:
    Go to Start and type in "cmd.exe" (without the quotes)
    At the top of the Search Box, right click on Cmd.exe and select "Run as administrator"

    CHKDSK LogFile:
    Go to Start and type in "eventvwr.msc" (without the quotes) and press Enter
    Expand the Windows logs heading, then select the Application log file entry.
    Double click on the Source column header.
    Scroll down the list until you find the Chkdsk entry (wininit for Win7) (winlogon for XP).
    Copy/paste the results into your next post.
    There is one BIOS update available here: M2N68-LA Motherboard BIOS Update HP Pavilion Media Center TV m8109n Desktop PC - HP Customer Care (United States - English)
    But I'd be very careful to look it up yourself as flashing the wrong BIOS into your system (or even making just one little mistake) can turn it into a doorstop (it'll break the motherboard).

    Good Luck!
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 5
    Windows 7 Ultimate 32bit
    Thread Starter
       #9

    Thank you, usasma.

    - I am using a phone as an internet connection because the computer is located away from any ethernet connections and I wasn't about to use my wireless adapter. This never caused me problems in the past.

    - I'm going to assume it was me attempting to delete the Windows.old (and Windows.old001, Windows.old002, etc.) folders from C:. I reinstalled Windows multiple times in trying to diagnose this causing a few needless backup folders to be created. When I tried to delete them, I ran into errors about not having enough permissions to do so—even though I was logged into an Administrator account. Was this the problem you saw? If it wasn't this, I have no idea what it is. The only thing I did after reinstalling Windows but before doing the crash log was: 1) attempting to delete the multiple Windows.old files; 2) installing VLC Player to play a MKV file to get it to crash; and 3) changing a few basic settings in Control Panel (power management, UAC, Windows Update, etc).

    - The computer crashed shortly after doing the crash log dump you requested. After a reboot it wanted me to run the CHKDSK scan. This happens roughly half the time it crashes, so I opted out of it.

    You mentioned that the computer is quite old for Windows 7. The sticker on the tower tells me it was initially shipped with Vista. Is it likely that I'm experiencing problems because of this? (Again, I tried a new power supply and it's not overheating. So those two hardware problems shouldn't be the cause). It doesn't matter to me what operating system I run. Should I put Windows Vista on it to see if it will rectify my problem?

    I attempted to run the hardware diagnostic tools and install all Windows Update updates. However, it keeps crashing before I can finish any of those. Should I put Windows Vista on it and see if my problem persists?

    Thank you again for all your help. I'm sorry for the delayed replies, but I don't have access to a computer as often as I'd like to—since the one with the problem is my only one. I hope you continue rechecking this thread and assisting me. Thank you very, very much.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 5,705
    Win7 x64 + x86
       #10

    Don't worry about any delays. I get notified when you reply, so there's no loss of time on my part.

    I suggest running the hard drive diagnostic from the bootable media as instructed at this link: HD Diagnostic

    It's sounding more and more like a hardware problem - with the hard drive being the most likely suspect.
      My Computer


 

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