Random BSODs since August MS patches


  1. Posts : 6
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #1

    Random BSODs since August MS patches


    Hello,

    up front, thank you for any help with this issue. I originally did not plan to create a post, hoping to solve the problem with information available on this forum, but after many days of trying and failing, I realized I am unable to resolve it without outside help.


    PROBLEM 1 - PC is getting BSODs at random since August (possibly due to MS patches). = RESOLVED

    The BSODs (incosistent and appearing at random) started from (approximately) the middle of August. Before then I experienced on average less than 1 BSOD per month. Based on information I found online this might have been a result of a faulty MS patch, MS14-045 (KB2982791).
    The following temporary fix seemed to have solved the issue of BSODs (until last week that is):
    1) Deleted fontcache C:\Windows\System32\FNTCACHE.DAT
    2) Uninstalled Update KB2982791
    3) Cleared C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution
    Sample list of BSODs:
    STOP 0x0000001E
    STOP 0x0000003B dxgmms1.sys
    aswSnx.sys
    atikmdag.sys
    STOP 0x0000007E wdf01000.sys
    STOP 0x00000019 BAD_POOL_HEADER
    PROBLEM 2 - Windows is not creating dump files. = RESOLVED

    My last dmp file is from July. I did not do change anything since then but it seems that the system stopped generating dmp files around the time the August BSODs started.
    I followed the instructions here and still nothing. I tried both options 1 (through Advanced System settings) and 3 (through cmd).

    Virtual memory:
    I tried different pagefile.sys settings; system managed size and custom size larger than installed RAM. Pagefile.sys currently at 16.6GB.
    Services:
    Windows Error Reporting Service is turned on and at Automatic.
    Windows Management Instrumentation is Started and Automatic.
    Attachment 340691
    Attachment 340692


    PROBLEM 3 - SFC /scannow not working.

    I tried it in Win7 cmd, Safe Mode and in System Recovery:
    1) Win7: it instantaneously (i.e. it did not even run) gave the following message:
    "Beginning system scan. This process will take some time.
    Beginning verification phase of system scan.
    Verification 0% complete.
    Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations."
    2) Safe Mode: The same message as in 1) appeared.

    3) System recovery via boot+F8: SFC /scannow /offwindir=c:\windows /offbootdir=c:\ gave a slightly different message this time:
    "There is a system repair pending which requires reboot to complete. Restart Windows and run sfc again"
    Regardless of restarts, the message is always the same. According to some, this is because of C:\Windows\WinSxS\pending.xml.01ca7... and reboot.xml. I tried renaming/removing the pending.xml through cmd but it did not work. According to this post it is best to leave it alone, so I did.
    PROBLEM 4 - Windows Update not working properly.

    Since the August update issue, I turned updates to manual download and install. Strangely, some downloads don't work, giving me a 80073712 error code, while others do.

    Attachment 340694
    Attachment 340693
    Attachment 340695


    Attempted BSOD resolutions:

    Memory: Both Memtest68+ and Windows Memory Diagnostic.
    GPU: Stress test in FurMark.
    Graphics card driver: BSODs appeared even when running without AMD drivers.

    Basically, I don't know if the BSODs are due to HW failure or SW issues. I did not experience any in Safe Mode and only 1 BSOD before OS start-up, so my guess would be it is SW/driver related.


    End note:

    I understand that without the mini-dumps it's much more difficult to help me, but from what I have described above, it seems that the problems are interlinked. Is it probable that solving one will resolve the other (e.g 4->3->2->1)? If so, what should I do next?

    I also understand that a Repair Install might be considered the best solution at this point, but given that the BSODs occur at random and the installation is through the OS, I don't want to risk a BSOD mid-install.
    Ideally, I would like to resolve this in any other way possible.

    Again, thanks, at least for reading through the above :)
    Last edited by bohemiansonic89; 02 Dec 2014 at 14:22. Reason: 1) Status update: Dump files are now being generated. 2) Issues 1&2 Resolved!
      My Computer


  2. Arc
    Posts : 35,373
    Microsoft Windows 10 Pro Insider Preview 64-bit
       #2

    If you ran memtest86+ for at least 8 consecutive passes without any error, better you plan for a clean reinstall.

    Repair install might not solve all the corners of your issue.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 6
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Well, if I wanted to avoid a repair install, then I really want to avoid a clean reinstall. Regardless, thank you for the reply.

    UPDATE: The good news is that, somehow, the system began generating dump files today, so based on the two that I have so far, I managed to attach per instructions the required zip.

    Also, I did not run the memtest86+ 8 consecutive times (did it only 3 times), so I will do that now. What I did in the mean time though is remove one RAM module and for 6+ hours no BSOD, so maybe, it is the RAM.
    I kind of hope it is the RAM, because that is a better solution than a clean install.
    I'll post back once I have something to report.
    Last edited by bohemiansonic89; 02 Dec 2014 at 14:23. Reason: Attachment removed
      My Computer


  4. Arc
    Posts : 35,373
    Microsoft Windows 10 Pro Insider Preview 64-bit
       #4

    The crash dumps are saying that there is a possibility of memory malfunctioning, but you should apply another keyboard there, at least as a test basis.

    Code:
    BugCheck 3B, {c0000005, fffff96000094eec, fffff88004145ba0, 0}
    
    Probably caused by : win32k.sys ( win32k!MNLookUpItem+2c )
    
    Followup: MachineOwner
    ---------
    Code:
    BugCheck 50, {fffff8a00815fce8, 0, fffff800041b1404, 2}
    
    
    Could not read faulting driver name
    Probably caused by : kbdclass.sys ( kbdclass!KeyboardClassGetWaitWakeEnableState+121 )
    
    Followup: MachineOwner
    ---------
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 6
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Arc, thank you so much for helping out and SOLVING my problem! :)

    The problem was my 2nd RAM module being faulty. I re-tested them, this time individually in slot 1, and while the first one passed (am running my system for approx. 2 weeks w/o a single BSOD), the second one failed as early as OS boot.
    I feel kinda stupid for only running memtest 3 times, but lesson learned and problem fixed - both more important than my pride.

    As for the issues with sfc /scannow and Win Update; these are not as critical, so I'll try to fix those when I have some free time. If I'll need help, I'll link to to the appropriate subforums.
      My Computer


 

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