BSOD with various messages

Hi!
I have been experiencing Blue Screen of Death, and other similar types of freezing/crashing of system. I have attached the dump files. The advice I have been getting is that it could be drivers, could be hardware. I have tried several things already by getting advice from Samsung technicians, but not getting closer to fixing. So fare I have tried
- Complete System Restore
- updating graphics drivers
- updating windows updates

The problem occurs mainly when using high graphic content game, or multitasking. However, nothing out of the ordinary. I am using laptop in same way I have for past 18 months, without problems.

Hope you can help.. I am one step away from sending the laptop off for hardware repair but would rather find out if it is simply a software thing!

Thanks :)

BSOD Analysis:

Code:

BugCheck 3D, {fffff880031fcf60, 0, 0, fffff88004b4a8f3}

Probably caused by : atikmdag.sys ( atikmdag+e18f3 )

Code:

3: kd> lmvm atikmdag
start             end                 module name
fffff880`04a69000 fffff880`05391000   atikmdag T (no symbols)           
    Loaded symbol image file: atikmdag.sys
    Image path: \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\atikmdag.sys
    Image name: atikmdag.sys
    Timestamp:        Thu May 26 05:12:42 2011 (4DDDD33A)
    CheckSum:         008DEADE
    ImageSize:        00928000
    Translations:     0000.04b0 0000.04e4 0409.04b0 0409.04e4

Please update to the latest WHQL version of ATI graphics driver from here -

• AMD Graphics Drivers & Software

WHQL
Release Date: April 24th 2013
Version: 13.4
In Device Manager: 12.104

Code:

3: kd> lmvm athrx
start             end                 module name
fffff880`05a85000 fffff880`05d2b000   athrx    T (no symbols)           
    Loaded symbol image file: athrx.sys
    Image path: \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\athrx.sys
    Image name: athrx.sys
    Timestamp:        Tue May 24 08:24:19 2011 (4DDB5D23)
    CheckSum:         002A98B1
    ImageSize:        002A6000
    Translations:     0000.04b0 0000.04e4 0409.04b0 0409.04e4

Please check for any potential updates for your Atheros network adapter driver from here - ATHEROS drivers for Microsoft Windows (Atheros?????)

The model number may be listed in Device Manager.

Internet Security programs are known to cause problems with the network drivers and other networking components.

------------------------------------------------------------------

Remove:

Code:

Start Menu\Programs\Norton Internet Security
Start Menu\Programs\Norton Online Backup

Norton is known to cause BSODs with Windows 7, please remove the program completely, using the Norton Removal Tool, and then install and run full scans with these free and proven alternatives which work the best with Windows 7 due to compatibility and lightweight nature on system resources.

Install and perform full scans with:

• Malwarebytes : Free anti-malware download
• Microsoft Security Essentials | Protect against viruses, spyware, and other malware

   Information

Remember to install the free version of Malwarebytes not the free trail; untick the free trial box during installation. MSE is the most lightweight and compatible with the Windows 7 operating system

You can also view this thread for a complete free and lightweight security protection combination:

• Good and Free system security combination.

HI BlueRobot,
Thanks so much! I have followed your instructions. I have removed Norton, and intalled Security Essentials and Malwarebytes, and will go ahead and check that thread for more protection, looks great.

However.. on the drivers...
1) Atikmdag.sys is confusing the hell out of me. My graphics cards are not ATI. I know that AMD took over ATI... but this particular error, is weird. Because, my drivers that are compatible when i look for correct drivers for my product are not ATI, but are AMD. I have dual graphics - AMD Radeon (TM) HD 6620G and AMD Radeon 6630M Graphic. I have already updated this driver a couple of times, and in device manager it says both these drivers are up to date. The atikmdag.sy_ seems to be one small component of this driver update, as I can see it sitting there inside one of the folders. What it WHQL?
2) Atheros.. I went into Device Manager, and that is saying the Atheros driver is up to date.

Since the blue screen errors identify different things all the time, is it drivers? Or could it be a hardware problem like mother board etc?

Thanks for your help.... really want to get this sorted!

Device Manager never tell you if a driver is completely up to date or not, and WHQL means Windows Hardware Quality Labs approved, it means the driver has been tested by Microsoft for stability and compatibility.

With the graphics card drivers, using the AMD site, you can select the automatic detection and installation option.

Could you please post a screenshot of your Device Manager, with the Network Adapters section expanded?

Thanks so much for your help so far BlueRobot. I have been three days now without blue screen. The longest stretch of time since this problem started to occur. I have not yet taken screen shots as you suggested, as I am having a little trouble with that as I have not yet reinstalled office to save them into a document. However. I am really hoping the steps I already took that you suggested may have resolved my problem. The things I have done are:
- changed my security/antivirus/antispyware set up as you suggested
- the spyware program found 121 case of adware, which i removed
- i updated malwarebytes, and i did have a residual malwarebytes icon from this program before i had not been able to remove even though i had previously uninstalled the trial when it ran out. So not sure if that was it

Do you think any of these things could have been the thing that caused my bluescreen problems and these changes may have already fixed it? I guess i will know after i have no blue screen for a week or so!?

There's no need to save the screenshots in a Word document like in the XP days - Screenshots and Files - Upload and Post in Seven Forums

I think the Snipping Tool is explained in that tutorial too.

The graphics card drivers seemed to be the main cause, and yes, performing all the steps I provided should have solved or least partially solved the BSODs.

If you don't have any other blue screens over the weekend (well it's probably already Saturday for you now ), then mark this thread as solved.

I'm glad to be able to help :)

x BlueRobot said:

There's no need to save the screenshots in a Word document like in the XP days - Screenshots and Files - Upload and Post in Seven Forums

I think the Snipping Tool is explained in that tutorial too.

The graphics card drivers seemed to be the main cause, and yes, performing all the steps I provided should have solved or least partially solved the BSODs.

If you don't have any other blue screens over the weekend (well it's probably already Saturday for you now ), then mark this thread as solved.

I'm glad to be able to help :)

Hi BlueRobot.. it has been a few weeks, and I have had no where near the number of BSOD episodes. I would say for about 3 weeks I had one or two events a week, rather than the multiple events in one day previously. However, they have been increasing again. Today I have had about six times of getting BSOD or other crashes. Sometimes it is black screen.. sometimes blue screen. Sometimes just a frozen image with brightly coloured speckled lines through the screen. I have now attached the screen shot of Device Manager with Network Adapters expanded for you to see.

There isn't a driver for your network adapter on the Atheros website, have you checked your model support page?

Please also upload the new crashes with - Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) Posting Instructions

HI there :)
I have clicked on this item just now and updated the driver. And I have also attached the latest information using the SF Diagnostic tool. Hope that has everything you need.