Mysterious restarts, maybe related to MSI?

cormanaz · 09 Nov 2015

I recently replaced an old XP machine I have to run a home automation system with a refurbished HP DC 7900 with W7 preinstalled. The thing has been restarting for no apparent reason.

I have Windows updates set to manual. No dumps are generated even though I have them enabled. There is nothing in the system log except the error about the previous shut down being unexpected. I looked for errors in the application log, and found one that pops up around the times of the shutdowns, the description of which is

Event filter with query "SELECT * FROM __InstanceModificationEvent WITHIN 60 WHERE TargetInstance ISA "Win32_Processor" AND TargetInstance.LoadPercentage > 99" could not be reactivated in namespace "//./root/CIMV2" because of error 0x80041003. Events cannot be delivered through this filter until the problem is corrected.

The full event is in an attachment. I don't know if this type of error and cause a restart, but it's the only thing I can find that's suspect. Since it involves WMI, I ran a WMI diagnostic the Microsoft offers, and attached the output file from that.

How can I debug this? Or would Win10 likely fix the problem? If so I could just upgrade to that.

ICIT2LOL · 11 Nov 2015

Cormanaz mate I would run in safe mode these for starters
SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker
Disk Check < if necessary include the /f and /r in the command line as per Option2
if you can keep the machine running long enough then these
SUPERAntiSpyware | Remove Malware | Remove Spyware - AntiMalware, AntiSpyware, AntiAdware!
Malwarebytes | Free Anti-Malware Detection & Removal Software
AdwCleaner Download
ADW download from bleeping computer delete any rubbish found with the malware scans
(NB If one is running Kaspersky security it may rant about ADW - just ignore it or disable Kaspersky while the ADW is being used)

If there is nothing untoward then we will have to start looking at some hardware I think.

Edit: Mata set the updates to let me know and let me choose what to download / install.

cormanaz · 11 Nov 2015

Everything checks out fine. However, it looks like I have an outdated BIOS, which I guess could explain this, so I plan to flash it to a new version.

But what are these MSI errors? This system is almost brand new. I don't use it for anything except this home automation system so I don't have anything installed beyond what comes with Windows 7, except Chrome and the home automation software.

ICIT2LOL · 12 Nov 2015

Now it would be really good to know what is inside the HP so can you run Start > type msinfo32 it will bring up the same as in my pic. There is another option but we would like to see the basic stuff.
If you wnat to send pics see this Screenshots and Files - Upload and Post in Seven Forums

As it is s refurbished machine have you got any warranty with it??

cormanaz · 12 Nov 2015

Here you go. On the problem devices, the z-wave controller is not being used and I should probably just get rid of it. IDK what the keyboard and trackpad entries are about. The only thing connected is a Logitech K400 and it's working fine.

Warranty is expired, of course.

ICIT2LOL · 12 Nov 2015

Ok well I think it might be worth memtest and 2GB is a tad on the low side unless you are running the Starter version 4GB is better and with 7 Pro and Ultimate essential. So try this - I know it is tedious but at least it rules out some bad RAM or even a bad slot

RAM - Test with Memtest86+ this is the only memtest we recommend and please whatever you do leave it to run for at least 8 PASSES any less and you may as well not do it - overnight is good.

Now having said that if errors come up reasonably quickly you can stop the test and try and find the culprit part,

cormanaz · 13 Nov 2015

Okay, I will do that over the weekend and post when I get some results. Right now the thing won't boot from CD even though it's set to do so in the BIOS. I'm thinking that could be related to the outdated BIOS, so I will have to flash that first.

ICIT2LOL · 13 Nov 2015

Hmm as well as the BIOS issue cormanaz which personally I don't think it is or it would not let you get to picking the boot device.

Just so I know - you can get into BIOS and change the boot device? and then if you go back to the BIOS the boot order is not what you have just set it for?. If that is the case it sort of seems to me that the BIOS is corrupted - after all it is only a ROM chip with some changeable abilities.

Being a refurbished and therefor perhaps a superseded model you could also check the SATA and power cables to the optical drive that is in there now - just pull off and reseat them at the drive and board ends.
Plus as they are so reasonably priced have you thought of swapping out the optical drive for a new one? There is also the option of booting from the USB of course

cormanaz · 29 Nov 2015

I flashed the bios about a week ago, and have had no further unexpected shutdowns, so I'm marking this solved. Thanks for the input.

ICIT2LOL · 29 Nov 2015

Well at least it is fixed.