Regular BSOD's under system load (logs attached)

AoyamaJPN · 03 Jun 2012

Windows 7 Ultimate 32bit (retail) installed for about a week.

Hello, I am trying to troubleshoot regular BSOD's on my system. They seem to occur during HD video playback (XMBC) or under other system load like downloading large files (from newsgroups) where the speed is fairly high (apx. 2mbps).

I stumbled upon this forums instructions for properly posting log files and have attached them for review.

I recently replaced my single core CPU for a dual-core thinking it may help, but it didn't. Now, I'm wondering if it could be the memory. I did the windows memory check, and it reported errors, but I don't where to find the log or what to do next.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

usasma · 03 Jun 2012

Try this free memory diagnostic (I'm not a big fan of the built in Windows memory diagnostic): Memory Diagnostics
If it spits out errors, then make sure you go to Steps 6/7 to isolate the bad sticks/slots

If the test passes, post back and we'll start analyzing things.

AoyamaJPN · 04 Jun 2012

Thanks for your reply usasma...

So, I've spent several hours messing with memtest86. Here's what I got...

I have 4 DIMMs. My MB has 4 slots for two matching pairs. I had a total of 3GB 1GBx2 and 512MBx2. I took the two 512MB DIMMs out just to narrow it down, left the 1GBx2 in and ran the test, came up with errors. Took one 1GB out and ran the test, no errors. Thought I had narrowed it down, so I ran the other DIMM in the same MB slot as the known-good DIMM, no errors. Then I think, okay, the slots bad. So, I ran the questionable DIMM in the questionable MB slot, tested with no errors. I thought that was strange, so I put he two DIMMS in non-matching MB slots (thinking they didn't match for some reason this way they wouldn't have to) ran and got errors. I then ran both DIMMs in the other matched pair MB slots and got errors.

It seems like I only get errors when these two DIMMs are ran together. Separately, they pass the test. But, in both matched pair MB slots, they run with errors.

Am I missing something here? This is all new to me, but this doesn't make sense.

Thanks!

usasma · 04 Jun 2012

It doesn't make sense to me either - but I've seen it several times on the forums.
Lot's of RAM has a lifetime warranty - see if you can return it for a replacement (that's the least expensive way)
FWIW tho' - I suspect the mobo. But it's gonna be expensive (and a PITA) to replace - so trying additional RAM may be the easiest thing to do.

Good luck!

AoyamaJPN · 04 Jun 2012

well, couldn't the RAM be okay? I get no errors with one stick, and could run on 2GB (1gbX1 and 512x2).

Do we know that my BSOD is even related to memory?

I'm going to try running on RAM with no errors and see if I still get the BSOD.

Thanks

usasma · 04 Jun 2012

Memory dumps rarely point to hardware, and even more rarely to RAM

Memtest86+ is the best memory test on the market. The only thing that holds a candle to it is Prime95 - and that's only for stressing the memory.

I'm not saying that the memory is bad, I'm saying that it'll be easier to replace it than to replace your motherboard. If it's not under warranty, you can purchase memory from a large retailer (such as WalMart or BestBuy in the USA) and return it if it has problems also.

The test is to see if you can run without BSOD's on the one's that don't have errors.
Good luck!

AoyamaJPN · 05 Jun 2012

so I tested the two 1gb modules overnight individually. one stick showed one error after 18 passes.

also, i realized the two modules were different brands.

i'm now running the machine minus the one module that had an error. we'll see if the bsod happens again...

thanks for all the help!

usasma · 05 Jun 2012

You can try Prime95 on the memory modules.
The Blend test stresses the RAM the most.
If it spits out errors - either in the test or causes the system to crash - then it's likely to be bad.