Solved BSOD carried over to fresh install of Windows 7. Help.

[Sumidian]

One year old system. i2500k P8P67 Pro Asus board with 8GB Corsair RAM and XFX 6970. No other add on cards, 3 hard drives. Ever since originally building the system last January 2011 it has had BSOD when playing games only. Any game, sometimes will not crash for a while ie. weeks, other times repeatedly within hours. Very random. But only with games. Not enough of a pain to really care that much. Did a fresh install of Windows 7 and hoped that would solve my problem. Installed and updated drivers from Asus site for my motherboard, new drivers for anything I could think of. No errors in device manager. Ran memtest86 overnight with no problems. Prime 95 run for 3 hours CPU going to 50C max CPU idles at 26C. GPU generally runs at 90C while playing grahpically intense games. Idles at 40C. Big case, lots of fans, tons of airflow.

THe common demoniator may be the ASUS AI Suite II (and Steam). All other programs on this install I've not used before. Switched to MSE, etc. Only installed a new game not previously used which led to the recent BSOD after fresh install. At this point I`m a bit stumped.

Uploaded dump file as per instructions in top post. Any help would be appreciated. My guess is that since it is only happening in games that it is probably the video card, although I have no clue really.

*edit: Fresh install was done yesterday May 5th

 

[Sumidian]

On a side note Windows 7 is installed on a SSD, don't know if that matters or not.

 

[Sumidian]

Another BSOD while playing a game. Attached is the new dump file.

 

[Sumidian]

Two more dumps (3 and 4 since fresh install). Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[karlsnooks]

Sumidian,
I'm not a bsod analysis expert, but there are some general things which I can look at while we await the true bsod experts.

Install CCleaner:
CCleaner - PC Optimization and Cleaning - Free Download

list of STARTUP PROGRAMS

CCleaner | Tools icon | Startup button | Windows tab |
click on Save to text file button (bottom right side) |
accept Startup.txt as file name | SAVE button

list of SCHEDULED TASKS

CCleaner | Tools icon | Startup button | Scheduled Tasks tab |
click on Save to text file button (bottom right side) |
enter Scheduled Tasks as File name | Save button

List of INSTALLED PROGRAMS

CCleaner | Tools icon | Uninstall button |
click on Save to text file button (bottom right side) |
accept install.txt as File name | Save button


UPLOAD the startup.txt file
UPLOAD the Scheduled Tasks.txt file
UPLOAD the install.txt file.

HOW TO UPLOAD
Post a File or Screenshot in Seven Forums

 

[Sumidian]

Thanks for replying. I have to go to work but will post those files on my return

 

[Sumidian]

Here are those three files listed. Thanks again for any help.

 

[karlsnooks]

WIN | type MSCONFIG | ENTER | STARTUP tab
uncheck ALL except for:

MSC    "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Security Client\msseces.exe" -hide -runkey

REBOOT!

 

[karlsnooks]

In CCleaner, under Scheduled Tasks, Disable all
====================================

Your install list is amazingly clean:

You might try without the ASUS AI suite and the Intel Watchdog Timer.

Let's see what the BSOD experts find.

 

[writhziden]

I agree with Karl. Please remove the ASUS AI suite. It provides some software overclocking ability that can cause crashes when it interfaces with the hardware. I also note that you have an SSD. Make sure the following are up to date:

• The SSD firmware
• BIOS version
• Chipset drivers (get from the Chipset manufacturer rather than your motherboard support site; the motherboard support site can help you determine which manufacturer you need)
• Hard disk Controllers

The final item leads me to one other possible issue. I see the Marvell controller installed. The latest is supposed to provide support for SSDs and not cause conflicts: update from Marvell - Support. The Marvell controller you installed may cause conflicts with the SSD. If the updated version still does not provide stability with the SSD, uninstall the Marvell Controller.

You can find the Marvell Controller device in Device Manager under IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers. To fully re-install a driver, use the following steps.

1. First, download the latest driver. Then do the next steps.
2. Click Start Menu
3. Right Click My Computer/Computer
4. Click Manage
5. Click Device Manager from the list on the left
6. Find the device you are trying to uninstall by expanding the appropriate set of devices
7. Right click the device
8. Click Uninstall (do not click OK in the dialog box that pops up after hitting Uninstall)
9. Put a tick in Delete driver software for this device (if this option is available, otherwise just hit OK) and hit OK
10. Restart your computer only if Windows asks you to.
11. Install the latest driver for the device.

Alternatively:

1. Login as an adminstrative user.
2. First, download the latest driver. Then do the next steps.
3. Click Start Menu
4. Click Control Panel
5. Click Hardware and Sound
6. Click Device Manager (the last link under Devices and Printers)
7. Find the device you are trying to uninstall by expanding the appropriate set of devices
8. Right click the device
9. Click Uninstall (do not click OK in the dialog box that pops up after hitting Uninstall)
10. Put a tick in Delete driver software for this device (if this option is available, otherwise just hit OK) and hit OK
11. Restart your computer only if Windows asks you to.
12. Install the latest driver for the device.

 

[Sumidian]

I will definitely take action on the above items, hopefully it will make an impact. However, is anyone able to analyse my BSOD dumps? I'm very interested to learn what lies within those. Thanks again for everyones help.

 

[writhziden]

I actually did analyze the .dmp file. With only one .dmp file, it is difficult to find patterns and determine a proper course of action which is why I moved to the other steps.

Since you are interested, the crash most likely indicates a hardware incompatibility. That is why I outlined the steps for the SSD. However, it was not conclusive in this regard, so I was hesitant to say that was the only reason I outlined those steps. Other possible causes for the crash are hard disk corruption/errors, viruses, lack of Windows updates, faulty device driver or corrupted drivers, or memory problems.

 

[Sumidian]

Luckily I have 5 more dumps. These are more indicitive of the ones I was getting before reinstalling Windows also. Any further insight would be very appreciated. *again these have ONLY ever happened while playing games

 

[writhziden]

Your latest crash in that set indicates a hardware fault possibly related to your graphics card. It may be that the graphics card driver is corrupted and showing up as the faulty hardware due to the corruption and not because the card itself is bad...

The next latest crash was nearly identical to the first crash report you uploaded.

The next crash is driver related and points to the corrupted graphics card driver or possible an issue with DirectX.

Another DirectX based crash; this one did not show the graphics card driver, but it still is likely to be the underlying issue.

And a final DirectX based crash that does show the corrupted graphics card driver in the memory stack again.


Re-install or install the latest drivers for your display card. Your current drivers may be corrupt and/or outdated. Use the following method to re-install the drivers.

1. Download the drivers you want for your display card(s)
2. Click Start Menu
3. Click Control Panel
4. Click Uninstall a program
5. For AMD:
   • Uninstall AMD Catalyst Install Manager if it is listed (this should remove all AMD graphics software and drivers)
   • If AMD Catalyst Install Manager is not listed, use the following method to uninstall the graphics drivers:
     1. Click Start Menu
     2. Right Click My Computer/Computer
     3. Click Manage
     4. Click Device Manager from the list on the left
     5. Expand Display adapters
     6. Do the following for each adapter (in case you have multiple display cards)
        • Right click the adapter
        • Click Uninstall (do not click OK in the dialog box that pops up after hitting Uninstall)
        • Put a tick in Delete driver software for this device (if this option is available, otherwise just hit OK) and hit OK
        
        Alternatively:
        1. Login as an adminstrative user
        2. Click Start Menu
        3. Click Control Panel
        4. Click Hardware and Sound
        5. Click Device Manager (the last link under Devices and Printers)
        6. Expand Display adapters
        7. Do the following for each adapter (in case you have multiple display cards)
           • Right click the adapter
           • Click Uninstall (do not click OK in the dialog box that pops up after hitting Uninstall)
           • Put a tick in Delete driver software for this device (if this option is available, otherwise just hit OK) and hit OK
   • Restart your computer after uninstalling drivers for all display cards
   • Install the driver you selected for the display cards once Windows starts

 

[Sumidian]

Thanks for the help again. Since I installed these graphics drivers straight after a fresh install of Windows (most recent AMD drivers as well). I guess then that either something isn't playing right with something else // or the graphic card hardware itself is faulty... very interesting development.

 

[writhziden]

Keep in mind that system/data/driver corruption is common with SSDs when there is any incompatibility with the device. SSD technology is still fairly new, so it is rather finicky with other hardware/software combinations. That is the main reason a good portion of the gurus on these forums have not made the switch to SSD hardware. Those that have swear by them, though, so it is possible to make them work. In some cases, it takes a bit of trial and error as well as patience.

 

[karlsnooks]

Did we have a survey here of how many of us are using SSDs?

I for one do.

 

[Sumidian]

I think I'll RMA the video card (its a $350 card) first. See what that results in. Second step would be to buy a new SSD, install Windows on that. Third step, install Windows on a good old fashioned HD. I'll get to the bottom of it. THanks for all the help. I'll mark as solved for now while I swap out hardware.

 

[writhziden]

Did we have a survey here of how many of us are using SSDs?

I for one do.

I bet you swear by it, too. I'm not against SSDs, I just think they are not yet fully tested and supported by all Windows 7 capable systems.

There is a poll, but it does not appear that many have voted: http://www.sevenforums.com/hardware-devices/223820-ssd-poll-vote-now.html

I know that for some, including me, it is a cost issue. I do not feel it is cost effective in terms of dollars per GB for me to buy one with a limited budget. However, I am also reluctant to buy one because they do not yet seem as reliable as a platter drive. Based on my experiences in Crashes and Debugging, most of the unreliability stems from system age, and I do have an older system.

There are at least a few others I know of who feel the same way I do about switching to the newer SSD technology because it has not yet shown that it is reliable enough for everyday work. usasma has said as much on numerous occasions.

I think I'll RMA the video card (its a $350 card) first. See what that results in. Second step would be to buy a new SSD, install Windows on that. Third step, install Windows on a good old fashioned HD. I'll get to the bottom of it. THanks for all the help. I'll mark as solved for now while I swap out hardware.

Alright, best of luck! Hopefully it is the card and a new one resolves the problems.

 

[karlsnooks]

I think I'll RMA the video card (its a $350 card) first. See what that results in. Second step would be to buy a new SSD, install Windows on that. Third step, install Windows on a good old fashioned HD. I'll get to the bottom of it. THanks for all the help. I'll mark as solved for now while I swap out hardware.

Based purely upon personal experience:
Use SSD if such fits in your budget. Get the largest SSD that fits in your budget. Incidentally, there have been some rather extensive surveys and statistics collected regarding the ssd vs hdd question. And SSD is the slight winner. Both can be reliable. Both can be unreliable.

Intel, although not the cheapest, is a supplier of SSD by the thousands to enterprises. Consequently, they have a good track record.

I use SSD and only SSD for Windows. For data storage, then HDD is a more economical alternative.

My laptop and my netbook perform remarkably better with SSD.

Can't give you any advice on the graphic card. Let's hope that the RMA result is positive.