Windows 7 crashes - monitors go on standby

[rapidz]

Hi,

Problem

• Windows 7 randomly crashes
• My 2 pc monitors that are connected, simply go on standby
• The computer appears to still be running, as my external hard drive is connected with the light on.
• In order to get my PC back, I need to force a restart, by holding down the power button on the tower unit.

If anyone can help me solve this once and for all, there will be more than just eternal gratitude offered.

This is beginning to drive me up the wall. I got my PC back from repair last night. They replaced the motherboard as they thought this is what was causing my problem. Unfortunately not.

Now, I'm no computer genius - the web is more my forte, but I've managed to get a little bit of info from the event viewer.

Critical 24/09/2010 10:10:52 Kernel-Power 41 (63)

If you guys need me to provide any more information, please let me know.

With hope and thanks,
Rapidz

 

[reventon]

Hi,

Please follow these instructions: http://www.sevenforums.com/crashes-debugging/96879-blue-screen-death-bsod-posting-instructions.html

Attach the .zip file to your next post in this thread.

Regards,
Reventon

 

[rapidz]

Here's the zip file

I've attached what I was asked to, and included the perfmon report in the same zip as 'perfmon_report.html'

Many thanks for all this assistance.

My windows 7 info is:

• Windows 7 Ultimate 32 bit
• OEM version
• Not entirely sure of the age of system hardware, but I'd say about 12-18 months.
• OS was installed about a month ago.

As ever, any help is much appreciated.

 

[rapidz]

Firstly - please don't apologise. You're helping me out in a big way - so there's absolutely no need for an apology. I'll patiently await your next post.

 

[reventon]

Ok.

Do you have a Belkin USB wireless deivice?

[FONT=lucida console] [COLOR=Red][B]08/01/2007[/B][/COLOR]   17:22:53  "C:\Program Files\Belkin\F5D7050v3\VistaDriver\netr73.sys"[/FONT]

If so, it needs updating - Belkin : Support

Also, given that your problem showed itself in the display suddenly going blank, your graphics driver is worth an update too:

[FONT=lucida console][B][COLOR=Blue]19/11/2009 [/COLOR]nvlddmkm.sys[/B][/FONT]

More up to date version here - NVIDIA DRIVERS 258.96 WHQL

That being said, the lack of BSOD dump files (which we often see with Kernel Power errors) and the fact that there is not much trace of the crashes in the Event Logs or WERCON either makes me think that this may be hardware related.

So, run the following hardware tests aswell

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/100352-cpu-stress-test-prime95.html (run the Blend test as well as the Small FFT test)

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/100356-video-card-stress-test-furmark.html

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

Regards,
Reventon

 

[rapidz]

sorry for the delayed response - yes, I do have a belkin wireless adapter. Do you think this could be doing it?

 

[rapidz]

not sure if this info is of any use to you - but as i clicked on the download on nvidia's site - the pc crashed for the first time in about 5 hours.

Anyway, I restarted, downloaded the nvidia drivers and am in the process of installing. I'll keep you posted. Once again, thanks for all the help today.

 

[rapidz]

I'm doing a stress test at the moment, but the screen has been the same for quite a few minutes now. Where is the outputted result that I can attach to this thread?

 

[cybercore]

sorry for the delayed response - yes, I do have a belkin wireless adapter. Do you think this could be doing it?

It is 2007, you should definitely update it as suggested. Update your drivers and if more crashes, attach the .dmp's.

When you do the RAM test, make sure you run it at least several hours in a row and without interrupting the process. Report your results.

 

[rapidz]

since updating the drivers, it seems like it may been fixed. But I don't want to jinx anything. I'll keep you guys posted.

 

[rapidz]

right, here's something that just happened. I was watching a video - and screens went blank. The flash video however, was still playing in the background - with no sound distortion. I couldn't wake the PC up though...

 

[rapidz]

I'm really confused with all this stress testing stuff. This really isn't my field at all. I've downloaded Prime 95, and I'm currently running a blend test as we speak. How do I know when the test is finish? Where do I get the results?

Your help, as ever is much appreciated.

 

[reventon]

It tells you in the Prime95 window if you get errors. Or if you get a BSOD that is considered a "Fail" too!

Make sure to run the Furmark test, this is sounding more and more like a graphics problem.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/100356-video-card-stress-test-furmark.html

 

[rapidz]

Reventon, I think you could be onto something with the graphics card here.

I just did the Video Card - Stress Test - and half way through watching some sort of furry ring rotating(ooh-err), I got the BSOD.

 

[rapidz]

any idea? Do i do the test again? Where can I get a report of the test?

 

[reventon]

That BSOD during the test is as much of a report as you are gonna get.

Get Dell to replace your Graphics Card under warranty.

 

[rapidz]

So from that test we can definitely determine it's a hardware problem, furthermore a graphics card problem?

If that's what you're telling me - I'm going to send it back to the guys who replaced the motherboard, and get them to replace the graphics card.

I just want confirmation from you guys that it's a graphics card error.

 

[reventon]

When Furmark fails - there are still several possibilities.

The most common ones -

- Faulty Graphics Card

- Underpowered/Faulty PSU (what is your PSU? Brand? Model?)

- Faulty RAM (this is unlikely as you say the Prime95 Blend test and Memtest didn't show errors?)

- Faulty Motherboard (unlikely - as it's been replaced)

- Faulty CPU (very unlikely - anyway, Prime95 passed)

So, either way, I would recommend sending it back to Dell to get the Graphics Card replaced. And if that doesn't work, then replace the PSU (you will likely have to upgrade it to a decent one - so do it yourself rather than get Dell to do it).