Lost Aero Theme, BSOD, No Antivirus in safe mode?

[EivlEvo]

Howdy squad...

1. I read the tutorial for posting BSODs, but am unable to comply at this stage.

System specs:
Windows 7 Pro 64
Mozilla Firefox
Nvidia 470 (Fermi card)
Core i7
16gigs of Ram

I can get more details if you need them... I built the thing, I just can't recall the exact specs.

2. As I was surfing Youtube, the PC seemed to lose "Aero mode". I paused the video and went to settings, and it appeared to be "custom" for my theme, so I re-selected the default aero theme, and the computer BSOD'd on me.

3. It restarted as normal, and went back into regular windows... within 10 seconds, BSOD again.

4. This time around... I started it in safe mode. Symantec was disabled, and when I said yes to run a scan, it gave me the error saying that it needed networking. I then selected "no" (as Symantec says) and ran a scan manually... it finished within 3 seconds. So I'm guessing it didn't do anything.

5. I then tried starting it in safe mode with networking (the only way this machine connects to the internet is via a USB wireless adapter currently)... and received the same sort of roadblocks.

6. I tried restoring the system to a previous state (2 separate ones) with no luck.

The BSOD is up too quickly for me to notice anything... and initially, I suspected it may be the graphics drivers, but the lack of antivirus has me thinking something more malicious.

 

[EivlEvo]

I should also add... I do have the option of just reformatting and reinstalling windows and such...

All of the critical info is kept on an external HDD, and Steam.

 

[EivlEvo]

No thoughts on this at all guys?

 

[Golden]

Hi,

Its impossible to diagnose the BSOD without dmp files. Zip them up and attach them here.

Regards,
Golden

 

[EivlEvo]

Chaps... I just uploaded 2 dump files in the first post (I think).

I used whocrashed and it seems to be associated with symantec and directx?

"dxgkrnl.sys"
"srtspl64.sys"

 

[Golden]

Hi,

Symantec has been known to be a cause of BSOD on some systems - I suggest replacing it with MSE, and see if that improves things.

Regards,
Golden

 

[EivlEvo]

In safe mode, it tells me that windows installer service could not be accessed?

 

[Golden]

Mmm. Please do a scan of your system using this, to be sure:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/166445-windows-defender-offline.html

 

[EivlEvo]

During the quick scan... no threats were detected. Any further thoughts?

 

[koolkat77]

Run this tool and delete anything it finds:
→ Anti-rootkit utility TDSSKiller

Did you boot back normally?

 

[EivlEvo]

Run this tool and delete anything it finds:
→ Anti-rootkit utility TDSSKiller

Did you boot back normally?

No, I'm still in safe mode. What are you all implying btw. Or is this all simply precautionary?

 

[koolkat77]

Precautionary.

Boot up normally and uninstall the symantec programs.
Let us know if there are more blue screens.

 

[EivlEvo]

Yes. It blue screens everytime I boot normally. Within 2 minutes. Can I run that in safe mode?

 

[koolkat77]

Can I run that in safe mode?

Yes

 

[EivlEvo]

In safe mode, the antirootkit found nothing.

 

[koolkat77]

OK.

Go through this: Uninstalling Symantec Endpoint Protection in Safemode | Symantec Connect Community

 

[EivlEvo]

In the process of uninstalling now. I'm assuming once that's done, my next step should be to boot normally and ascertain the microsoft antivirus? Ideally without bluescreening?

 

[koolkat77]

In the process of uninstalling now. I'm assuming once that's done, my next step should be to boot normally and ascertain the microsoft antivirus? Ideally without bluescreening?

..yes
Fingers crossed

 

[EivlEvo]

It seems to be functioning correctly. I'm updating the virus definitions.

So you lot see that many issues with Symantec's stuff nowadays huh?

 

[koolkat77]

It seems to be functioning correctly. I'm updating the virus definitions.

Sorry, din't get you. Do you mean you were able to uninstall it and boot into normal mode?

So you lot see that many issues with Symantec's stuff nowadays huh?

Can't judge really cause I've never used Symantec, Norton, McAfee, or any other except
MSE, Avast!, and Avira. Prefer MSE+MBAM above all anyway.