Constant BSODS, Issues booting, erratic Video Card Fan on boot, etc.

[writhziden]

Crashes still point to hard disk problems... Did you scan for viruses? What about the SFC results? SeaTools?


Run some hardware checks.

• If you are overclocking any hardware, please stop.
  
  
• Monitor temperatures during the following tests.
  
  Use the following programs to monitor the temperatures.​
  • Real Temp is a good CPU temperature monitor.
  • Speccy - System Information - Free Download will monitor all hardware temperatures.
  • HWiNFO, HWiNFO32 & HWiNFO64 - Hardware Information and Analysis Tools can be inaccurate for CPU temperatures, but is a good program for GPU temperature monitoring.
  • Use FurMark: VGA Stress Test, Graphics Card and GPU Stability Test, Burn-in Test, OpenGL Benchmark and GPU Temperature | oZone3D.Net to test the graphics card GPU. Let it run until the GPU temperatures even out or until the GPU temperatures reach a dangerous level (you can find the max temperature for your card on either the nVidia or AMD sites; if you are not sure, ask us). The goal is to get a steady temperature, find out if the GPU is overheating, or to see if there are any artifacts present in the test itself: look for strange pixelated patterns on the screen or colors that do not look like they belong. Then use the |MG| Video Memory Stress Test 1.7.116 Download to test your graphics card memory. Let the memory test run for at least seven passes; the more the better.
    
    
  • Run http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/100352-hardware-stress-test-prime95.html to determine any hardware problems. Run all three tests for a few hours each. If you get errors, stop the test and post back here.
    
    
  • Follow the steps for doing CPU stress test using IntelBurnTest
  
  
• Sometimes, memory is finicky and difficult to find errors. One of the best posts about this was made yesterday by a user having typical memory issues: Finicky RAM.
  
  Run the boot version of Memtest86+ paying close attention to Parts 2 and 3 of the tutorial. Also, in case Memtest86+ misses anything and comes up with no errors, run the extended version of the Windows Memory Diagnostics Tool for at least five passes. These you may want to run overnight since they take a long time to complete (run them an hour before bed each of the next two nights and check before going to sleep that they are still running).
  
  
     Warning

  Before you proceed with the following, answer these two questions: Are you still under warranty? Does your warranty allow you to open up the machine to check hardware? If you are unsure of the answers to these questions, contact your system manufacturer. :warn:WARNING: The steps that follow can void your warranty!!!
  
  
  For Part 3: If You Have Errors: If you swap any memory components, follow these steps for ESD safety:
  1. Shut down and turn off your computer.
  2. Unplug all power supplies to the computer (AC Power then battery for laptops, AC power for desktops)
  3. Hold down the power button for 30 seconds to close the circuit and ensure all power drains from components.
  4. Make sure you are grounded by using proper grounding techniques, i.e. work on an anti-static workbench, anti-static desk, or an anti-static pad. Hold something metallic while touching it to the anti-static surface, or use an anti-static wristband to attach to the anti-static material while working. If you do not have an anti-static workbench, desk, or pad, you can use your computer tower/case by finding a metal hold in it, such as a drive bay.
  Once these steps have been followed, it is safe to remove and replace components within your computer.

 

[aquitas]

There are a lot of tests there and it's going to take a long time to run all of them.

Running speccy with prime95 caused two crashes so I had to run prime95 without monitoring temperatures. I'm assuming prime95 just continues to run indefinitely. I ran it for two hours and it was still running when i got back. Not really sure what any of the results meant so I took a screen shot. BTW, realtemp is only for Intel. I'm AMD.

Yes I've run virus tests, full scans, clean. Yes I ran seatools, passed three times.

I'll run the video memory stress test tonight before i go to bed.

 

[writhziden]

--------------------------------------------
--------------------START-------------------
--------------------------------------------
Loading Dump File [D:\Kingston\BSODDmpFiles\aquitas\dmps\060712-13774-01.dmp]

Windows 7 Kernel Version 7601 (Service Pack 1) MP (2 procs) Free x64

System Uptime: 0 days 0:07:33.347

BugCheck 1E, {0, 0, 0, 0}

Probably caused by : memory_corruption

KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED (1e)

DEFAULT_BUCKET_ID:  CODE_CORRUPTION

PROCESS_NAME:  prime9

STACK_TEXT:  
ff5ff880`02f21ba8 00000000`00000000 : 00000000`00000000 00000000`00000000 00000000`00000000 00000000`00000000 : nt!KeBugCheck

ff5ff880`02f21ba8 00000000`00000000 : 00000000`00000000 00000000`00000000 00000000`00000000 00000000`00000000 : nt!KeBugCheck


FAILURE_BUCKET_ID:  X64_MEMORY_CORRUPTION_STRIDE

--------------------------------------------
---------------------END--------------------
--------------------------------------------

Crash indicates memory corruption; could be a faulty RAM module or RAM motherboard slot.


Let us know what Memtest86+ reveals. If you do not want to run Memtest86+, try running with one module at a time and seeing how Windows behaves for a while.

 

[aquitas]

will do. i'll post back as soon as i find results.

 

[aquitas]

First crash with one RAM in slot 4, 2 days after motherboard flash [this could explain the date 12/31/2001 for the dump file]. computer kept restarting when windows started up, removed battery from board, had to pull out battery and place it back in the board in order for windows to start. Will try 2nd RAM card in 4th slot to see if it crashes.

 

[writhziden]

Pretty much the same as the previous one. Is your system maintaining the date and time correctly at present, or is it still an issue?


Download and install CPU-Z and Upload screenshots of the CPU, Mainboard, Memory, and SPD tabs. In the SPD tab, upload an image of each slot.

Also, go into your BIOS and post all Voltages (CPU, RAM, NB, IMC, etc.) and all RAM settings (timings, frequency, etc.)

Thanks to Dave76 for help learning RAM Stability

 

[aquitas]

Attached is a zip containing a dmp file of a crash that just occurred while system was sitting idle and i was away. Also contained are requested screen shots of CPU-Z tabs. In the folder marked MOBO are pictures of requested voltages. I looked for ram settings and was unable to find anything other than DRAM frequency which was set to AUTO (Picture inside). If you see somewhere in the screenshots where the information missing would be, let me know and i'll get it for you.

edit: earlier today i took the entire case apart and cleaned out all the parts with compressed air and duster.

 

[Welland]

I feel your pain man... I had the exact same blue screens/black screen/freezing for months, all day long. I also had to pull the cmos battery out to get it to boot sometimes.

What fixed it for me I had to run my 2x 2 GB memory sticks in the 2nd and 4th slots, when counting outward from the CPU. However, I had no crashes when I ran with only one stick in the 4th slot, and you did. I read back a couple pages and it look like you may have already tried this.

Good luck... I know it's frustrating!

 

[aquitas]

I feel your pain man... I had the exact same blue screens/black screen/freezing for months, all day long. I also had to pull the cmos battery out to get it to boot sometimes.

What fixed it for me I had to run my 2x 2 GB memory sticks in the 2nd and 4th slots, when counting outward from the CPU. However, I had no crashes when I ran with only one stick in the 4th slot, and you did. I read back a couple pages and it look like you may have already tried this.

Good luck... I know it's frustrating!

That worked for me for a while but it doesn't work anymore. Thanks for the well wishes. I'm sure everything will work out in the end even if i have to buy new parts.

 

[writhziden]

Your memory appears to be designed for Intel hardware and is running in AMD hardware. That is probably the cause of your conflicts. For DC Mode, the setting is grayed out when it should read Unganged for AMD hardware.

Your BIOS does not seem to have the options needed to make the configuration work, so your best option is probably to replace the RAM with AMD RAM: AMD Memory for Systems

 

[meepster]

Ok so I'm aquitas's friend and here's what I just did to his computer. So I tried it with my ram as well and neither of our RAM models are technically supported in the QVL for his motherboard. His is a better match then mine it seems, his version of ram is supported in the D version or something like that I don't really remember. But anyway, from what I can figure, it has to be a motherboard issue. Even though he's RMA'd several, there is no logical explanation for the computer not booting if you have ram in the first or 3rd slots and only booting if you have it in slot 2 or 4. This pretty much HAS to be a motherboard issue in my opinion. But, in the spirit of fiddling, I manual set his ram clock speed up to its rated 1600mhz and changed the northbridge clocks and voltages accordingly. I also manually set the timings to what they are supposed to be so we are going to see if it crashes again. But thought I'd keep you in the loop as to what we were trying. I'm still convinced it's a POS motherboard though

 

[writhziden]

Thanks for keeping me in the loop. Let me know what you two find out. I am not sure why ASUS lists those modules as compatible with the AMD board, though. I'll see about getting our RAM expert to take a look, too.

By the way, AMD often does not do well with 1600 MHz without the proper voltage changes, so make double sure the voltages you are using are set correctly.

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[aquitas]

Crashed today. Upon reboot mobo message says "failed to overclock press f1 to reconfigure in setup". When i go into the bios, all of the settings are still the same.

 

[aquitas]

another. "cache management"

 

[writhziden]

It is probably due to the 1600 MHz overclock. AMD Phenom II is only able to go up to 1333 MHz reliably. AMD Phenom :

Type of Memory Supported

Support for unregistered DIMMs up to PC2 8500(DDR2-1066MHz) and PC3 10600 (DDR3-1333MHz)

Try leaving your voltage settings as they were and changing the frequency back to 1333 MHz.

 

[Dave76]

Do you have 'Driver Verifier' enabled?

What PSU do you have?

Did you seat your CPU in the new motherboard?
Bent CPU pins can cause these type of issues.

Agree with writhziden, set your RAM to 1333MHz to see if it will boot.
If writhziden's post above is your CPUZ snips, then you are at 668.9 MHz which is close enough to 1333 MHz.

@meepster, what are/were the exact settings you manually entered?

Download your motherboard manual if you don't already have it: ASUSTeK Computer INC. M4A78T-E

If one RAM card won't post in slots 1 or 3, this is indicating a CPU IMC (Integrated Memory Controller) memory channel issue as that is channel A.
RAM slots 2 and 4 are channel B.
Normal position for your motherboard with two RAM cards is slots 1&2 (counting from the CPU outwards), the orange slots. When running two RAM cards you need to have one in channel A and one in channel B. Slots 1&2 (preferred) or slots 3&4.
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Your motherboard is listed as compatible on the G Skill site: F3-12800CL9D-4GBNQ (2Gx2)
That doesn't mean you don't need to adjust some settings to get it to work correctly.

In your BIOS:
Go to 'DRAM Frequency Control' manually set it to 1333 MHz.
Go to 'CPU/NB Voltage' manually set it to 1.20v.
Go to 'DRAM Voltage' manually set it to 1.60v.
Set your first four RAM timings manually to 9-9-9-25.
Set the 'DRAM Command Rate' manually to 2T.
Save and exit your BIOS.

First have only one RAM card installed in slot #2, this is to ensure the system will still boot, as it did before.
If it boots, then shut down, install one RAM card in slot #1, re-boot.
If it fails then I would say you CPU IMC (Integrated Memory Controller) is damaged or not able to function.
This could be due to a bent CPU pin.

Let us know the results, or if you have any questions.

 

[aquitas]

Driver Verifier is disabled.

Will not post with any ram config other than ram in slots 2 + 4, 2 solely, and sometimes 4 solely.

Ram has been set to 1333mhz on bios, switched from auto. All other settings are on auto.

I seated the CPU on all three versions of the board, pins intact.

Here is the PSU. Forgot to list it in specs.

 

[Dave76]

Please re-read my post, I have been updating information.

Change the BIOS settings I posted, these are still conservative settings for your system.
If the RAM won't run in slot #1 at these settings it is likely the CPU IMC.

It is possible that the PSU is causing these issues, do you have another you can test with?
A quality PSU is worth every penny.
These specs aren't impressive: Rosewill Stallion Series RD500-2DB
Scroll down to your PSU.

 

[aquitas]

8 days no crash. Today, came back after a four hour break to a blue screen. Rebooted, opened google chrome, got a new blue screen that said "bad pool header". These are the first two BSOD's since i changed the motherboard settings. They were all strictly on auto except for 'DRAM Frequency Control' manually set to 1333Mhz. I'm now going to set the parameters on the MOBO to specifically what you said to set them too. We'll see if it crashes. If those blue screens point to anything new let me know. I appreciate your patience.

 

[aquitas]

After my last post I had a game open for maybe 5 min and then another BSOD. (it will be the oldest of the two in the zip attached to this post)
After restart I went into bios to change settings according to your earlier post. I was able to change everything except for the 9-9-9-25. There were two readings (visible through the attached picture) Both were grayed out. I was not able to edit them. I changed everything else to your specifications. I saved and exited. While rebooting, computer crashed right after windows login screen passed. (bsod attached). Upon restart, mobo gave same message it's been giving me, unable to overclock, f1 to enter bios, f2 to load default. I decided to enter the bios to see if anything had changed and something had. As you can see in the second attached picture, the bus frequency was set to 200 and the PCIE was set to 100. The time prior to this they were both set to auto. I was not given an option to change them back to auto, they were restricted specifically to a range (200-600 for the first one, cant remember the second one).