Solved All browsers crash on Windows 7 32bit only

[Arc]

Points as I see here ...

• All browsers crash.
• Windows 7 32 bit only. Even after clean reinstall.
• Happens on several machines, identically. Not on this one only.
• In this machine, and the other ones, no browser crash with any other OS than windows 7 32 bit.

I have a question to you. Are all the machines those are yielding browser crash got the OS installed with the same ISO or disc?

 

[gregrocker]

Exactly, test the install media from step one of the reinstall tutorial under my signature pic below.

Compare also The install you are doing to the one in that tutorial which compile everything that works best in tens of thousands of installs we've directly helped with here, and which has been used by 1.5 million consumers without a single complaint.

 

[Layback Bear]

Are all these computer Activated properly?

I would suggest just working on one computer that has the problem.
When the problem is repaired the repair may work on the rest of the computers with the same problem.

For that one problem computer post the System Information so we can take a look. Use this programs to do so.

This tutorial by Kari will help

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/311593-speccy-publish-snapshot-your-system-specs.html

To put things in some sort of order:

1. One problem computer

2. Windows 7 installed and Activated properly

3. Post system specs

 

[carwiz]

The OP doesn't have access to the Lab after 2pmET so he won't be back until tomorrow AM.

 

[Layback Bear]

That's fine, we can wait.

 

[ptcstudent]

Points as I see here ...

• All browsers crash.
• Windows 7 32 bit only. Even after clean reinstall.
• Happens on several machines, identically. Not on this one only.
• In this machine, and the other ones, no browser crash with any other OS than windows 7 32 bit.

I have a question to you. Are all the machines those are yielding browser crash got the OS installed with the same ISO or disc?

The lab computers are installed with a USB MAK OS. The school computers as well as the teachers laptop also suffer these symptoms. And I'm not sure if those are also MAK but I doubt it's the same image. No matter the computer specs only 32bit Win7 OS has this issue. Ironically I have a computer that runs Windows 8 and Windows 7 64 bit with only 2gb of ram and they have no issue what so ever.

Are all these computer Activated properly?

I would suggest just working on one computer that has the problem.
When the problem is repaired the repair may work on the rest of the computers with the same problem.

For that one problem computer post the System Information so we can take a look. Use this programs to do so.

This tutorial by Kari will help

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/311593-speccy-publish-snapshot-your-system-specs.html

To put things in some sort of order:

1. One problem computer

2. Windows 7 installed and Activated properly

3. Post system specs

I have been using only one lab computer for testing purposes. Let me get that program onto the server and load it in and I'll have the specs up shortly.

 

[ptcstudent]

Confirmed with my teacher that at least 4 different images, .isos are used for these computers. I have a freshly installed win 7 admin machine I just got up running yesterday that's not using any previous image .iso. I will be attempting to see if the same issues occur.

Attached is a snap of Speccy. Both Enterprise (Admin I freshly installed yesterday running the Enterprise) and Professional 32bit have the same issue.

 

[Arc]

The computer under question is having a grandfather network driver.

[COLOR=Red]11/5/2009[/COLOR] 8:35:19 PM   C:\Windows\system32\DRIVERS\e1k6232.sys

Search for any possible update to the Intel(R) 82567LM-3 Gigabit Network Connection from Support | Dell US and see how it goes.

 

[ptcstudent]

Updating drivers made no impact.

 

[gregrocker]

Where did you get the driver? Link?

For 4gb RAM you should be running 64 bit Windows 7, otherwise .6 gb is wasted unless the Resource Monitor proves it is being used for hardware. 32 bit can only utilize 3.4gb RAM.

 

[ptcstudent]

Where did you get the driver? Link?

For 4gb RAM you should be running 64 bit Windows 7, otherwise .6 gb is wasted unless the Resource Monitor proves it is being used for hardware. 32 bit can only utilize 3.4gb RAM.

Product Support | Dell US

The District is too cheap to buy MAK for 64 bit. We are forced to use 32bit in the school system here.

 

[gregrocker]

Any MS key can be used interchangeably for 32- or 64-bit. Try a test install with x64.

Confirm the LAN device with Hardware Identification.

Enable hardware auto-updating via Windows Update (Step 3) then Check for Updates, install all Important and Optional to make sure you have all drivers Windows wants and are fully patched. Having no SP2 makes all patching critical.

Test the RAM - Test with Memtest86+ for 6-8 passes or overnight.

Establish a totally clean boot, with only MSE starting with Windows.

Flush DNS

Run another full scan with Malwarebytes this time followed by AdwCleaner.

Reinstall Flashplayer.

Clean out all temp files and cookies in all Browsers, remove all Add-Ons except flash, reset IE to defaults in Advanced tab saving nothing, uninstall Chrome spyware, try other browsers.

Work through the other Troubleshooting Steps for Windows 7 which often unmask the problem.

 

[ptcstudent]

Any MS key can be used interchangeably for 32- or 64-bit. Try a test install with x64.

Confirm the LAN device with Hardware Identification.

Enable hardware auto-updating via Windows Update (Step 3) then Check for Updates, install all Important and Optional to make sure you have all drivers Windows wants and are fully patched. Having no SP2 makes all patching critical.

Test the RAM - Test with Memtest86+ for 6-8 passes or overnight.

Establish a totally clean boot, with only MSE starting with Windows.

Flush DNS

Run another full scan with Malwarebytes this time followed by AdwCleaner.

Reinstall Flashplayer.

Clean out all temp files and cookies in all Browsers, remove all Add-Ons except flash, reset IE to defaults in Advanced tab saving nothing, uninstall Chrome spyware, try other browsers.

Work through the other Troubleshooting Steps for Windows 7 which often unmask the problem.

I know you're trying to help, but we have done all of these things already. My instructor is allowing me to pursue this because it's of interest to us. We are a technical college studying networking. It is very unlikely this is a hardware issue as that would mean hundreds of computers on the district level are all going bad at the same time. Is there any other things we can try?

Also

Testing on other OS had no issues on the machines. I tested Windows 7 64bit, Windows XP, Windows 8(8.1) 32 and 64 bit.

This is happening on several machines not just one. I have done testing on fresh installs so it's not malware, nor is it hardware issues.

I have done sfc/ scannow as well as chkdsk /f and winsock resetting.

I've reinstalled the web browsers as well as made multiple new user accounts.

 

[gregrocker]

Well that's what I'd do. But then what do I know?

Once you did the due diligence (9/10 of which is not reported as done) then I was going to elevate this to my friend Rayda who is a top Networking MVP.

 

[Arc]

Most probably your network chip does not have a driver update available.

​

Are you sure that the driver that you are getting from Dell is for windows7? I am not.

 

[ptcstudent]

Any MS key can be used interchangeably for 32- or 64-bit. Try a test install with x64.

Confirm the LAN device with Hardware Identification.

Enable hardware auto-updating via Windows Update (Step 3) then Check for Updates, install all Important and Optional to make sure you have all drivers Windows wants and are fully patched. Having no SP2 makes all patching critical.

Test the RAM - Test with Memtest86+ for 6-8 passes or overnight.

Establish a totally clean boot, with only MSE starting with Windows.

Flush DNS

Run another full scan with Malwarebytes this time followed by AdwCleaner.

Reinstall Flashplayer.

Clean out all temp files and cookies in all Browsers, remove all Add-Ons except flash, reset IE to defaults in Advanced tab saving nothing, uninstall Chrome spyware, try other browsers.

Work through the other Troubleshooting Steps for Windows 7 which often unmask the problem.

1. Was tested already
2. Confirmed
3. Already set
4. Skipping this
5. Was done yesterday and tested today (the admin machine) still has issues.
6. Was done
7. Skipping this
8. Done
9. Done
10. All of these things were done prior or done with previous inquiries.

I am not saying you don't know what you're doing, but I'm saying we aren't your typical 97% either. And I feel like I'm chasing my tail and making no progress here. I'm sure you can understand that.

 

[ptcstudent]

Most probably your network chip does not have a driver update available.

View attachment 362912
​

Are you sure that the driver that you are getting from Dell is for windows7? I am not.

Attached

 

[gregrocker]

There may be something in the install and setup that is causing the problem. No one of the 1.5 million who've used Clean Reinstall Windows 7 has reported browser crashes. So limit yourself to only the tools and methods there which compile everything that works best.

You might do a diagnostic install where you start with wiping the hard drive of any code which can interfere using Diskpart Clean Command. I would use 64 bit.

Then install the OS with only ethernet cable attached. Install LAN driver if needed when install finishes. Enable hardware auto-updating via Windows Update (Step 3) then Check for Updates, install all Important and Optional with reboots until no more are offered.

Before each group of Updates use IE to see if it crashes. This can pinpoint a driver causing the crash. If these crash before Updates then it would point to the hardware or OS media. However there might also be a patch missing that remedies this, so proceed with all Updates and scour the Dell Downloads page for all patches to consider.

If no crashes install each Program, testing the browser after each one is installed. Same with settings changes.

 

[ptcstudent]

There may be something in the install and setup that is causing the problem. No one of the 1.5 million who've used Clean Reinstall Windows 7 has reported browser crashes. So limit yourself to only the tools and methods there which compile everything that works best.

You might do a diagnostic install where you start with wiping the hard drive of any code which can interfere using Diskpart Clean Command. I would use 64 bit.

Then install the OS with only ethernet cable attached. Install LAN driver if needed when install finishes. Enable hardware auto-updating via Windows Update (Step 3) then Check for Updates, install all Important and Optional with reboots until no more are offered.

Before each group of Updates use IE to see if it crashes. This can pinpoint a driver causing the crash. If these crash before Updates then it would point to the hardware or OS media. However there might also be a patch missing that remedies this, so proceed with all Updates and scour the Dell Downloads page for all patches to consider.

If no crashes install each Program, testing the browser after each one is installed. Same with settings changes.

Just made another fresh install without doing ANY updates. No web browsers crash. The only difference between the fresh install and this lab computer is Windows Updates and Networking programs/AV is installed on this computer.(Programs should be irrelevant though because the student computers which are district regulated have none of these programs on them)

Also I can't use 64 bit as the MAK licenses we are issued are only for 32bit.

My instructor and I may think that the WSUS has a bad windows update that it sent out to all of the computers.

Update: It was a bad WSUS file sent out to the computers. Thank you guys for the help.

 

[gregrocker]

I know of no exceptions to all Windows 7 licenses being interchangeable for either 32 or 64-bit.

Now install small groups of updates testing the browser after each reboot. Whenever the browser crashes, that would mean that something you did just beforehand triggered it. If it's a group of updates, uninstall them one at a time to test the browser again.

It's very important to keep track of everything you do and limited in the beginning to just small groups of updates which can be uninstalled or rolled back using System Restore.