BSOD 5-15 minutes after windows starts, 'works' after reboot.

Fordel · 11 Dec 2014

In the past handful of days, I've had more BSOD's and random reboots then I've had in the past like four or five years. I'll turn the machine on as per normal, everything will boot up just fine, there won't be any tasks that would be the machine under any kind of load... then while browsing a webpage, or looking through a folder, or opening steam or even the taskmanager, the computer will pause and either give me a BSOD or just flat out reboot itself.

Then after that first BSOD/Reboot, once everything loads in again, it will be fine. I can use the computer like nothing was wrong. Play games, watch videos, email, IRC, whatever I want to do. Then when I turn it off for the day and come back the next day, the cycle repeats and I get another BSOD.

It's a regular boring desktop, no overclocking or tweaks or anything like that. I don't know if there's a piece of hardware failing, or if I have a corrupted driver or what. I also don't really get why it only seems to happen when I first start up. It's not happening during the actual initial windows load up, I've let it sit idle for 10+ minutes after it finished loading, and I've still gotten that good morning BSOD.

I've just turned off the auto-reboot, I'll have the error code to add if/when it happens again. Sorry I don't have it now.

gregrocker · 12 Dec 2014

While you wait for analysis, start working through the Troubleshooting Steps for Windows 7 which often themselves will uncover the problem.

essenbe · 12 Dec 2014

Hello, Fordel. I will try to help you on this problem, if that's OK. You have 4 dump files, which is what we go by, to debug a system . One said

Code:

atikmpag
start             end                 module name
fffff880`02e8e000 fffff880`02f1b000   atikmpag T (no symbols)           
    Loaded symbol image file: atikmpag.sys
    Image path: \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\atikmpag.sys
    Image name: atikmpag.sys
    Timestamp:       Wed Dec 19 13:32:55 2012 (50D21667)
    CheckSum:         00095A98
    ImageSize:        0008D000
    Translations:     0000.04b0 0000.04e4 0409.04b0 0409.04e4

The graphics driver is way out of date and should be updated. Does your computer have a separate graphics card or does it run off of on board graphics? If you have either one, I can help you update it if you will let me know.

The 2 dumps that concern me most represent 50% of your dump files and are probably the most important. If that is what is wrong, it can make the rest of the dump files unreliable, so I would like to check that first. It is a very long test, but please follow the instructions as closely as you can. If you have any questions at all or do not understand something, please feel free to ask. I don't mind explaining anything at all. Next I am going to show you the error then give you the instructions for running the test. It is necessary for you to run 8 complete passes all at the same time or until you get an error. If you get even 1 error, stop the test, your ram has failed. It will most likely take quite a few hours. It takes one of my computers with 8 GB of ram 9.5-10 hours. It is best to run it overnight and let it run while you sleep.

Code:

Followup: memory_corruption
Use !analyze -v to get detailed debugging information.
BugCheck 3B, {c0000005, fffff88001a3c73a, fffff88003b28aa0, 0}
Probably caused by : memory_corruption
Followup: memory_corruption

Please Run Memtest86+

Information

Please download from this site only http://www.memtest.org/ in the middle of the page are the Download links, you can download the ISO.zip or the Auto USB Flash Drive installer.zip

Extract the Zip file. If you chose the ISO image, burn it to a CD using Windows Disk Image Burner or any Image burner you may have. If you downloaded the Auto USB installer, extract it, insert your USB 2.0 Flash Drive and take note of the drive letter. Run the installer, select the Flash Drive Letter, check the format box and press next. It will install memtest86+ to a flash drive. You can use either V4.20 or V5.01. Boot from your selected media. If you use V5.01 it will tell you to press certain buttons at the start, please press no buttons. The test will begin on it's own and continue to run until you stop it. It needs to run for 8 complete passes or until you receive an error. If you receive an error, stop the test. Even 1 error is a fail. Each pass tests a different part of the ram and each of the 10 tests in each pass tests something different. It takes a minimum of 8 passes to completely test the ram, more passes are better. It is quite a long test and will take several hours depending on how much ram you have. Due to the time length it is best to run overnight. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.

Fordel · 12 Dec 2014

Thank you so much for your time and help!

I have a graphics card, ATI Raedeon HD 5670. I usually let Steam update it's drivers for me, but I guess that process broke down somewhere if I am two years out of date.

I will run that memory test ASAP. I've burned the ISO thing to a CD with the Windows Image making thing and will start that up. If I do get a fail on the memory test, does that mean what I think it does and the memory will need replacing?

As my first post, I had my initial morning BSOD, but this time I was able to record the error message!:

REFERENCE_BY_POINTER

Tech Info: ***Stop: 0x00000018 (0x000000000000, 0xFFFFFA8009B68440, 0x000000000000002, 0xFFFFFFFFFFFF )

I really hope I wrote down the correct number of zeros there.

Thank you again!

essenbe · 12 Dec 2014

If memory test fails, it means either the memory is bad or the dimm slots in the motherboard are bad. If it is the memory, I strongly suggest you buy a complete set of memory, as sets are tested to work well together and individual sticks are not. I will tell you how to test the dimm slots too.

essenbe · 12 Dec 2014

The dump files don't give us much information. I would rather you ran the memory tests first. Remember I said that if it is memory, the dump files are unreliable.

Fordel · 13 Dec 2014

No joke about the length of the memory test! Little under 12 hours later, the memory test thing finished 8 passes with 0 errors. Which is maybe good? Should I try it again till I get an error or move on to something else?

Instead of a BSOD or reboot, today I just had the system freeze utterly and needed to manually reboot it to get anywhere.

Sorry if the additional dump file was redundant!

Thanks again so much for your time and help.

essenbe · 13 Dec 2014

6 GB of ram shouldn't have taken that long. I have another PC with 8 GB and it takes 9.5-10 hours for 8 passes. If it is not too inconvienant you may try a couple more passes. 8 Is just a minimum number. If you can't do that 8 is sufficient.

essenbe · 13 Dec 2014

You need (have to have a good GPU monitoring program) if you do not have one, I can suggest one for you. But I don't like Speedfan. Watch the temps on your GPU card, and stop the test if they become too high. You will need to monitor the test constantly, watching the temps as well as watch for artifacting. Please run Furmark, Video Card - Stress Test with Furmark
The temps will rise very high very rapidly, so watch them close. After a few minutes the temps will level out. When that happens for a few minutes you can stop the test. But be sure to watch the temps closely and watch for any artifacting. If in question, post a screenshot. Screenshots and Files - Upload and Post in Seven Forums

Fordel · 13 Dec 2014

I can run it again tonight for a few more passes.

Could I have done something wrong with the memory test if it took longer then anticipated?

I put the ISO on a CD, then rebooted and booted from said CD and then the memory test showed up and I touched nothing till it finished the 8th pass. This was V5.01 of the memtest.