BSOD several times since September 2011

Hi

I have had problems with my laptop and have reached the point where I just have to accept that something needs to be done about it!! I've done searches in the past to try and diagnose it myself so that I don't have to "bother" anyone - but I'm just running around in circles!

I've followed all the instructions on how to makes this easier for you guys, so I hope you will have everything you need!!

These BSOD issues have ranged from IRQ issues, to RAM issues as well (I think) and invariably happen randomly with no obvious cause.

I did the System Spec thing that you have suggested as well - but I see it didn't fill everything in - so if there's anything you need from that, please let me know and I will do my best to provide whatever information is needed.

I have also attached the Dump File info for you to check.

Hope that covers everything - and just want to thank you in advance for whatever help you can send my way!

Welcome to SevenForums.

Please start by reducing items at start up and some instructions are coming on your way.

Free up the start-up:

• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1401-startup-programs-change.html
• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorial...ation-conflicts-performing-clean-startup.html

Problematic software:
AVG is often a cause of BSOD-s and is contributing to your crashes. Please uninstall and replace with Microsoft Security Essentials.

Daemon Tools
Please uninstall DAEMON Tools. It uses a driver called sptd.sys which is known to cause BSODs in Windows 7. Uninstall the software using Add/Remove Programs. Reboot the system. Once the program is uninstalled, run sptd.sys uninstaller to remove the driver from your system.

As an alternative, many people recommend the use of Total Mounter or Magic ISO

Run this tool and delete anything it finds:

• Anti-rootkit utility TDSSKiller

• AVG | Download tools and utilities
• Microsoft Security Essentials - Free Antivirus for Windows

Run a full scan once installed and updated.

Run Disk Check on your hard disk for file system errors and bad sectors on it:

• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/433-disk-check.html

Run the System File Checker that scans the of all protected Windows 7 system files and replaces incorrect corrupted, changed/modified, or damaged versions with the correct versions if possible:

• Click on the rb:
• Type CMD on Search
• Left click and Run as Administrator
• Type SFC /scannow

Full tutorial here:

• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html

Click on the Start rb: ► Control Panel ► Programs ► Uninstall a program ► Uninstall everything related to; Atheros. Delete remnants of its drivers/older drivers using Driver Fusion/Sweeper

If its wireless, match your device from here:

• ATHEROS Wireless drivers for Windows

If its not a wireless, match your device from here:

• ATHEROS Network drivers for Windows

Go to the Intel Download Center and download anything the auto-detect tool finds (needs java to run)

• Intel® Driver Update Utility

Click on the Start rb: ► Control Panel ► Programs ► Uninstall a program ► Uninstall everything related to; Realtek (reboot). Delete remnants of its drivers/older drivers using Driver Fusion/Sweeper.
Update the drivers from here: Driver Reference Table
Upload a screenshot of your hard disk using crystal disk info and "Summary" tab of Speccy:

• Speccy - Download
• CrystalDiskInfo - Software - Crystal Dew World
• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/9733-screenshots-files-upload-post-seven-forums.html

Let us know the results and we'll do further troubleshooting.

WOW!! Ok - I've got my work cut out for me!!
Thank you SO SO much for this - at least I know I'm going in the right direction and hopefully will put an end to all of this
I'll probably work through it over the weekend and will let you know how I progress - thanks again (SO MUCH!!) :-D

Alrighty, take your time

Done!

Ok - I decided to spend the day sorting this out because I'm so tired of having issues!!
Here is a list of everything I've done and results:

AVG is OFF
Windows Security Essentials is ON
Daemon Tools Lite is OFF
Anti-Rootkit utility TDSSKiller USED
Disk Check RUN - FIXED ERRORS AND NO BAD SECTORS
System File Checker RUN - ALL GOOD
Atheros SORTED
Intel Driver Update Utility - auto-detect didn't give me choices to download alternatives... I can do a screenshot if you want me to.
Realtek - SORTED
Speccy and Crystal Disk Info screenshots are attached

Two things noteworthy that I forgot to mention - I have a D drive as well - I think it's a virtual drive - I use it as my back-up drive. Both my C and D drives are NTSB Drives. When I did the Chkdsk, my C drive was fine because I had actually done a Chkdsk quite recently for my C Drive, but I decided to run one for my D drive today and everything came out fine.

Secondly, about a month ago I downloaded the Piriform Defraggler because NOTHING I did could get the Windows Defrag to work - it just kept bombing out on me.
I ran the Defraggler but that also didn't work - and I know for a fact that my computer desperately needs a good defrag too - any suggestions?

No BSOD happened today - yay!!

OK. Make sure the netbook is running cooler.

Click on the caution button of Crystal Disk and post a screenshot of the resulting window.

Yes - I noticed my computer is running a little hot!! But we are in summer here (I'm in South Africa) - so the ambient temperature is also high :-( I'll see what I can do to get airflow underneath my laptop though, that might help.
I've attached a screenshot of that caution issue with Crystal.

View attachment 242762

Drag the slider under 1 mark to a bit right. See the number under 2 mark is increasing from "1". Then drag it to the left most point, until the value under 2 mark comes to "0". Do it for the three sliders ... one by one.

Does it change anything?

Hi Arc (LOVE your Avatar!)
I've attached a screenshot of your suggestion and that seems to have fixed it.

Good news.

Let us know if you get any further crashes. And thanks for loving the avatar

I will do - thank you both so much for your help!!

You are welcome