Persistent BSODs without a clear root cause


  1. Posts : 2
    Windows 7 x64
       #1

    Persistent BSODs without a clear root cause


    I have an Acer v3-772g that I just bought last week and have spent nearly as long attempting to debug the BSODs present in my Windows 7 Ultimate x64 install.

    ntoskrnl.exe seems to crop up most often as the likely source of the crashes.

    Importantly, the computer came with windows 8, and the drivers on Acer's support page are for _only_ windows 8. After I installed windows 7, I matched the hardware IDs from the device manager to the drivers on each manufacturer's website.

    I initially thought I pinned down the BSODs to my Razer Lachesis mouse, so I got rid of it. The BSODs persist.

    Memtest passes, and no crashes are apparent in safe mode. This seems to be a driver issue, but damned if I can figure it out!

    Observed pattern:
    The computer most often crashes when I'm downloading things, or immediately after mouse/touchpad input, but it crashes while just sitting on the desktop too. Also, the computer doesn't crash if I'm in a fullscreen video game (torchlight 2, tf2, witcher). I can download in safe mode without crashing.

    Would anyone take a look at my crash dumps? It's a bit of a mess, so I thank any brave soul willing to analyze this!
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 3,056
    Windows 10
       #2

    Welcome to SF :).
    The vast majority of bugchecks point to the integrated GPU driver, igdkmd64, it's pretty recent;
    Code:
    lmvm igdkmd64
    Browse full module list
    start             end                 module name
    fffff880`0504b000 fffff880`05488fc0   igdkmd64 T (no symbols)           
        Loaded symbol image file: igdkmd64.sys
        Image path: \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\igdkmd64.sys
        Image name: igdkmd64.sys
        
        Timestamp:        Tue Jul 30 07:22:42 2013
    Despite the date look for an update using this online utility.


    Second place in the most blamed driver is, athrx, Qualcomm Atheros Wireless Network Adapter.
    It's the latest;

    Code:
    lmvm athrx
    Browse full module list
    start             end                 module name
    fffff880`06800000 fffff880`06bfb000   athrx      (deferred)             
        Image path: \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\athrx.sys
        Image name: athrx.sys
    
        Timestamp:        Tue Jun 25 08:56:14 2013
    AVG was responsible for a couple of Verifier enabled dumps, it's unfortunately known for 3rd party
    A/V software to cause bugchecks.

    Please remove it using the AVG Removal Tool and install MSSE as a reliable alternative.

    Other DV enabled dumps DV detected Lachesis as the culprit, which is really old;

    Code:
    lmvm Lachesis
    Browse full module list
    start             end                 module name
    fffff880`07e7a000 fffff880`07e81500   Lachesis T (no symbols)           
        Loaded symbol image file: Lachesis.sys
        Image path: \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\Lachesis.sys
        Image name: Lachesis.sys
    
        Timestamp:        Fri Oct 16 16:09:12 2009
    Please update or remove the driver.

    The rest of the bugcheck were all over the place, please follow the steps below to get a quick look
    if the PC is overheating and to scan for possible infections.


    • Download Speccy and upload a Screenshot of the summary tab.
    • Download TDSS-Killer and scan for rootkits.
    • Download Windows Defender Offline and scan for other types of infections.
    • Download Malwarebytes FREE (uncheck the box at the end of the installation process), perform a full scan after updating the database signatures.
    • Follow this tutorial on how to use the SFC/ SCANNOW tool in Windows.

    Update with the results :).
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 2
    Windows 7 x64
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Update


    The Intel Driver Update Utility you linked me to does not give me a lot of productive information about my drivers or which to install. See intel1.png and intel2.png.

    I'm not sure how to proceed with the athrx.sys bug. It seems like I'll have to scattershot test a bunch of old drivers until the problem goes away!

    I killed AVG via the utility you linked, and installed MSSE. I also nuked the Razer Lachesis and associated drivers.

    I attached my Speccy summary (Speccy.png). The reported temperatures seem to be fine.

    TDSSkiller: nothing found
    Windows Defender Offline: nothing found
    Malwarebytes full scan: nothing found
    'sfc /scannow' - no issues reported

    I've got a few more BSOD dumps to report (attached). Two of them appear to be memory related, which is something I haven't seen before. Any new ideas?

    Attachment 290341

    Attachment 290342

    Attachment 290343

    Attachment 290344
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 3,056
    Windows 10
       #4

    Very much like before the dumps portrait the cause to be a driver misbehaving.
    Please enable Driver Verifier to pinpoint the culprit(s).

    Arc said:
       Information
    Why Driver Verifier:
    It puts a stress on the drivers, ans so it makes the unstable drivers crash. Hopefully the driver that crashes is recorded in the memory dump.

    How Can we know that DV is enabled:
    It will make the system bit of slow, laggy.

       Warning
    Before enabling DV, make it sure that you have earlier System restore points made in your computer. You can check it easily by using CCleaner looking at Tools > System Restore.

    If there is no points, make a System Restore Point manually before enabling DV.

       Tip



    Please enable driver verifier following this TUTORIAL | But using the settings below:


    1. Go to Start and type in "verifier" (without the quotes) and press Enter
    2. Select "Create custom settings (for code developers)" and click "Next"
    3. Select "Select individual settings from a full list" and click "Next"
    4. Select everything EXCEPT FOR "Low Resource Simulation", "Force Pending I/O Requests", "IRP Logging" and click "Next"
    5. Select "Select driver names from a list" and click "Next"
    6. Then select all drivers NOT provided by Microsoft, Unknown, or Macrovision and click "Next"
    7. Select "Finish" on the next page.
      My Computer


 

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