Random BSODs when on wireless network

[breecat]

I just moved and my new internet provider is Comcast. Ever since they set up my modem/router, whenever I use the wireless network (which is preferred/needed) I eventually get a BSOD. Sometimes 3-4x in a couple of hours; the longest has been 1.5 days without - that was until this morning, when it happened again (and it's happened 2-3x since today). The BSOD error message is not always the same, but it only happens when I'm on-line wirelessly. Comcast has put in 3 routers over the last week... I'm sure at this point that it's not the router!

I've run hardware and memory diagnostics, defragged, checked bios, etc etc. I'm about 90% sure it's a wireless network driver conflict but my Device Manager says my drivers are up to date. A couple of the screens have mentioned drivers:
athrx.sys
ndis.sys


So -
1) I keep getting different error messages,
2) the computer seems to be fine, whether I re-boot normally or in safe mode, and
3) it only ever happens when I'm on-line through wireless router. I've been hooked up with an ethernet cable for much of the time the last week to be safe, and I've been on the computer but off-line, working in Word and Excel - no crashes. But when I go back to the wireless network....

I've uploaded the DM log.... Any help in deciphering it is greatly appreciated! I sure hope I'm not killing my computer with all these BSODs!

I can post some of the errors I'm getting, but I've only been copying down the first lines -


mostly - bad pool header stop: 0x00000019

also:
stop: 0x0000007E with athrx.sys listed

Irq not equal.... with ndis.sys listed

 

[breecat]

PS. I'm wondering if this zip file I created contains what it's supposed to? It seems to just have .dmp files through 10/5....? Please let me know if I need to do something else to provide information needed for my case. I followed the instructions here: http://www.sevenforums.com/bsod-help-support/96879-blue-screen-death-bsod-posting-instructions.html

 

[derekimo]

Welcome to the forum,

You did the right thing but there is a bunch of info missing.

Since we have the older dumps in your first post, can you go to C:\Windows\Minidump and delete the ones that aren't from this month.

Then run the tool again and post it in your next post.

I'm a little worried about your AV choice, but that's another matter.

From the info you did provide, I see your wireless driver getting flagged.

Unable to load image \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\athrx.sys, Win32 error 0n2
*** WARNING: Unable to verify timestamp for athrx.sys
*** ERROR: Module load completed but symbols could not be loaded for athrx.sys
 athrx+0x109443

Loaded symbol image file: athrx.sys
    Image path: \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\athrx.sys
    Image name: athrx.sys
    Timestamp:        [COLOR="Red"]Wed Nov 20 19:24:01 2013[/COLOR] (528D7CD1)
    CheckSum:         003E04AA
    ImageSize:        00407000
    Translations:     0000.04b0 0000.04e4 0409.04b0 0409.04e4

I see a newer one at Acer,

Download Drivers and Manuals | Acer Official Site

View attachment 373253

Your dumps are all over the place and the fact that your AV is also a tune up and optimizer it's likely doing some screwy things to your system.

 

[breecat]

Thanks, derekimo, I'll re-do the minidump re-upload tomorrow... gotta hit the hay tonight. Thanks for the link to the Acer drivers too - I didn't think to look there. It's the version I have, but it couldn't hurt to uninstall and re-install it from the site.

I'll post the new info tomorrow, and give this another go. Thanks again for the reply.

 

[derekimo]

You're welcome. If it's the same version then they just have different dates for another reason.

That's part of the info that was missing from the upload. Yeah, couldn't hurt trying it though.

 

[breecat]

Okay, this one seems to have more files in it besides the dmp files. And I cleared out the Sept and older dmp's. I hope this is helpful!

In the meantime, I think I'm going to re-install that Atheros driver.

Thanks!

 

[derekimo]

Yeah, that's a little better. This is how many files besides the dumps that should be in there,

View attachment 373312

This one is one of the most important,

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/374583-system-information-file-create-windows.html

Let us know how things go after updating that driver.

 

[breecat]

Well, lol, I crashed right when I came here to read the latest reply! So I guess re-installing the driver didn't do anything. But I am not entirely sure that the install I did - using the setup.exe in the zipped directory from the Acer site - actually replaced the athrx.sys.... It did install another Bluetooth driver, but everything else looks the same.

Anyway, I'm in Safe mode now and I'm going to try this file compiling again. It was weird, when the dm log collector was making the files, it created a folder that had a ton of other files in it, but when it zipped the whole thing at the end, a lot of them disappeared.

I'm going to try dm log collector once more, and if that doesn't work, I'll try the Windows way.

 

[breecat]

Okay! I think this one has everything...!

 

[derekimo]

Yeah, much better.

Have you scanned your system for malware?

Your dump files are all over the map but there is a common recurring driver and that's the Athrx.sys.

Can you confirm this is what you are using as AV that's listed in your specs,

SystemSuite Professional

 

[breecat]

Hi - Yeah, I've been using System Suite for years. I did run their malware day before yesterday as part of my search for problems.


Edited to add: I just BSODed while I was in Safe mode. First time that's happened. My on-line speed goes down after the BSODs too. From 25-30mbps to 5-10.

 

[derekimo]

Yeah, I was afraid of that. I know people have the choice of what they want to use but when I see "tune up" and "repair" on programs I already know they do neither.

Can you download and run a scan with the free Malwarebytes,

https://www.malwarebytes.org/antimalware/

Just untick the option for the trial premium.

Are you using a VPN software? One of your earlier dumps was pointing to that.

 

[breecat]

Got another blue screen last night so I turned the thing off and went to bed!

I ran malwarebytes this morning and it did find assorted adware/browser hijackers, etc or remnants of them... 126 items, and I told it to quarantine everything. I doubt if any of these is the culprit, but it can't hurt to have them gone. I was surprised at how much stuff there was. Did you want to see the log from that?

I don't use a lot of the stuff on SystemSuite, but it has been a good anti-virus and firewall for me, and I will occasionally run their defrag or other clean-up tools. I've used it for years, so I'm used to the interface....

I do have a VPN that I log into 2x a week, working remotely from home. Oddly enough, I have not had a blue screen while I've been on the VPN. Could just be coincidence, since the crashes are so random.

 

[breecat]

Several more bsod's today since running the malware scan/clean, and a new one:

PFN_LIST_CORRUPT Stop: 0x0000004E

Ran chkdsk after that and it didn't find any problems.

 

[derekimo]

Sure, you can upload the log from the Malwarebytes scan. I am curious to see what it found. That's a good tool to keep on your system.

Can you run the tool again, so I can look at the dumps and other info.

 

[breecat]

Hi derekimo, Thanks for hanging in here with me!

I'm getting more bsod's today, and got another new one just now, with a new driver named: fltmgr.sys

I've been online quite a lot today, so that's probably why so many.... I am getting concerned that I may be causing additional damage to my system by continuing to re-boot in normal mode after a bsod. What do you think about that?

I've uploaded the latest dm log for you, but it's not loading all the files again - I tried it 3 times and this is the best I can get. I don't know why all the files aren't loading into the report... when it's running, it appears to be doing everything it's supposed to.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it shows something helpful....

 

[derekimo]

Hi there,

You're welcome. That driver is a Microsoft driver, that's not the real cause. Do me a favor and empty out the C:\Windows\Minidump folder, it's just getting packed with older ones you've already uploaded.

Just looking at the ones from today, I see a couple that blame your VPN software driver,

BugCheck 19, {20, fffffa800aaa2920, fffffa800aaa2a00, 40e004a}

*** WARNING: Unable to verify timestamp for dnelwf64.sys
*** ERROR: Module load completed but symbols could not be loaded for dnelwf64.sys

Loaded symbol image file: dnelwf64.sys
    Image path: \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\dnelwf64.sys
    Image name: dnelwf64.sys
    Timestamp:        [COLOR="Red"]Wed Jul 27 23:36:44 2011 [/COLOR](4E31037C)
    CheckSum:         00027709
    ImageSize:        00025000
    Translations:     0000.04b0 0000.04e4 0409.04b0 0409.04e4

Driver Reference Table - dnelwf64.sys

Can you see if there's an update for that.

I suggest you delete the quarantined items Malwarebytes found.

A couple others were the Athrx driver, and some assorted bugchecks.

When the dumps are all over the place like that, it's a good idea to test the hardware, since I saw a storage driver in one of your earlier dumps, checking the hard drive is a good start.

Please perform the following tests,

chkdsk /r

SeaTools for DOS and Windows

 

[breecat]

Okay - I ran it again and saved the folder file and zipped it myself (instead of letting DM Log zip it), and this one has all the files you need, including the msinfo.

Edited to add - Whoops! I didn't see your post above before I posted this. This one does still have some of the older minidumps...

Will do the items you list above, and report back.

Thanks again for your help!

 

[breecat]

Deleted the malware-found stuff, and ran chkdsk /r and it didn't find anything. I'll run the Seatools tonight and see if it finds anything. Thanks for the link.

For that dnelwf64.sys issue, I'm going to have to submit a ticket to IT at work, as it's their VPN I'm using. I'll link to this thread. Maybe they'll have an idea of what's going on, or a driver update for me.

In the meantime, I'm staying on an ethernet connection so I won't crash any more.

Another thing that has started happening is that it takes forever for certain folder to load, like my default Downloads folder, or Control Panel/Programs.

I'll see what they have to say tomorrow, and then post again.

 

[breecat]

Well, Seatools didn't find anything, and I didn't have time to submit a ticket to IT at work today, but someone else in the office who remotes in tells me she's been getting bsod's lately whenever she tries to launch the vpn.... So I'll be sure to submit a ticket tomorrow and see what they say.

Thanks again....