BSOD while browsing, watching videos, and on startup

[dreman]

I got a BSOD about 5 months ago and I replaced one of my memory sticks and everything was fine until now. I've been getting them recently and I noticed its usually while watching a video or playing a game (graphics card problem?). After each bsod I usually get another during startup. Then my laptop runs startup repair and everything is fine for a few hours. I ran the driver verifier and it crashed almost as soon as i loaded a video but didn't create a dmp file for some reason.
Thanks in advance

Running Windows 7 x64
Upgraded from Vista about 7 months ago
Machine is a HP Pavillion dv7 1450us - a little over 2 years old

 

[zigzag3143]

I got a BSOD about 5 months ago and I replaced one of my memory sticks and everything was fine until now. I've been getting them recently and I noticed its usually while watching a video or playing a game (graphics card problem?). After each bsod I usually get another during startup. Then my laptop runs startup repair and everything is fine for a few hours. I ran the driver verifier and it crashed almost as soon as i loaded a video but didn't create a dmp file for some reason.
Thanks in advance

Running Windows 7 x64
Upgraded from Vista about 7 months ago
Machine is a HP Pavillion dv7 1450us - a little over 2 years old

These crashes were caused by memory corruption (probably a driver). Please run these two tests to verify your memory and find which driver is causing the problem.

If you are overclocking anything reset to default before running these tests.
In other words STOP!!!


1-Memtest.

*Download a copy of Memtest86 and burn the ISO to a CD using Iso Recorder or another ISO burning program. Memtest86+ - Advanced Memory Diagnostic Tool

*Boot from the CD, and leave it running for at least 5 or 6 passes.

Just remember, any time Memtest reports errors, it can be either bad RAM or a bad motherboard slot.

Test the sticks individually, and if you find a good one, test it in all slots.

Any errors are indicative of a memory problem.

If a known good stick fails in a motherboard slot it is probably the slot.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/105647-ram-test-memtest86.html



2-Driver verifier

Using Driver Verifier is an iffy proposition. Most times it'll crash and it'll tell you what the driver is. But sometimes it'll crash and won't tell you the driver. Other times it'll crash before you can log in to Windows. If you can't get to Safe Mode, then you'll have to resort to offline editing of the registry to disable Driver Verifier.

I'd suggest that you first backup your data and then make sure you've got access to another computer so you can contact us if problems arise. Then make a System Restore point (so you can restore the system using the Vista/Win7 Startup Repair feature).

In Windows 7 you can make a Startup Repair disk by going to Start....All Programs...Maintenance...Create a System Repair Disc - with Windows Vista you'll have to use your installation disk or the "Repair your computer" option at the top of the Safe Mode menu .

Then, here's the procedure:
- Go to Start and type in "verifier" (without the quotes) and press Enter
- Select "Create custom settings (for code developers)" and click "Next"
- Select "Select individual settings from a full list" and click "Next"
- Select everything EXCEPT FOR "Low Resource Simulation" and click "Next"
- Select "Select driver names from a list" and click "Next"
Then select all drivers NOT provided by Microsoft and click "Next"
- Select "Finish" on the next page.

Reboot the system and wait for it to crash to the Blue Screen. Continue to use your system normally, and if you know what causes the crash, do that repeatedly. The objective here is to get the system to crash because Driver Verifier is stressing the drivers out. If it doesn't crash for you, then let it run for at least 36 hours of continuous operation (an estimate on my part).

If you can't get into Windows because it crashes too soon, try it in Safe Mode.
If you can't get into Safe Mode, try using System Restore from your installation DVD to set the system back to the previous restore point that you created.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/101379-driver-verifier-enable-disable.html


Further Reading
Using Driver Verifier to identify issues with Windows drivers for advanced users

 

[dreman]

After running the memtest multiple time, i found that only one of my two memory sticks passed without any error but only in one slot. The stick that gives the errors was originally in the 'bad' slot. I am currently running windows with one stick in the functioning slot and everything is working fine so far. Is there anyway this can be fixed without having to send my machine in?

 

[zigzag3143]

After running the memtest multiple time, i found that only one of my two memory sticks passed without any error but only in one slot. The stick that gives the errors was originally in the 'bad' slot. I am currently running windows with one stick in the functioning slot and everything is working fine so far. Is there anyway this can be fixed without having to send my machine in?

IF just the memory is bad, it usually is under warranty. If the mobo slot is bad it can be repaired at home if you are handy and it is not under warranty.

If you are at all uncomfortable dont do it at home.

 

[dreman]

Yeah, I'm probably not going to try it at home. It's seems to be working fine with half memory right now so i will just make due until I can get t repaired. Thanks

 

[zigzag3143]

Yeah, I'm probably not going to try it at home. It's seems to be working fine with half memory right now so i will just make due until I can get t repaired. Thanks

good luck