Blue screening / freezing randomly in W7

[Rajada]

Ever since I got my computer, the OEM Vista on it was a pain n the butt. It never was stable. That's why I upgraded to Windows Seven Professional. My computer had been running nearly perfectly until recently. Now I'm experiencing quite a bit of freezing and a few bluescreens whenever I play certain games. So far I have not frozen while idle, it always occurs while playing a game. So, because the problem is so random, in an attempt to get all the information someone might need to help me, I'm going to probably give too much information. I've also attached the diagnostic stuff just as this forum asked me to do.

The first blue screen I experienced happened in a game called Cogs. I didn't get any of its details unfortunately.

The second blue screen appeared while playing Portal 2. At the time I brushed it off as an effect of it being really new software. A few updates to the game itself didn't solve the problem. The game would still blue screen (sometimes citing my display drivers or memory management or nothing at all) and sometimes entirely freeze without a blue screen (no response from computer and looping the last 10 milliseconds or so of sound). Finally, I tried running he compatibility diagnostic tool which (the real name of it escapes me at this time) turned on compatibility mode for the executable. It still has the same issue but now it sometimes (maybe half the time) just crashes to my desktop.

Now my computer has frozen several times while playing MineCraft. Only once has it ever blue screened rather than freeze and it definitely caused my display driver to crash.

Next, I recently experienced a bluescreen (display driver crash this time) while playing UT 99. Usually this game is rock solid and never causes issues, but this time after two unexplainable display driver errors in-game, my computer blue screened.

Sometimes I use Skype while playing these games with friends. It crashes (harmlessly in the background) a lot during games like MineCraft, but can go for several hours without issue in a game like Unreal Tournament 99 online. Using Ventrillo instead of Skype has made no difference, and not using either still causes the above blue screens and freezes. It seems my computer's interactions with online software may be to blame, though I can't be certain.

I Googled one of the associated drivers from one of my bluescreens that I had never heard of before. People say that it is a driver for Norton AV which I recently (112 days ago) installed. Some forums also say that Norton causes blue screens in a belated fashin, several weeks after installing it. The fact that Norton actually has a Norton removal tool on their site seems a little tell-tale.

Failing that, the only other software that could be the issue (besides the games themselves) is my SpyBot Search and Destroy (which I love and would really hate to give up).

Lastly, I did investigate a few errors in my Event Viewer. The most troubling were:

• The WD File Management Engine service terminated unexpectedly. It has done this 1 time(s).

This is my external hard drive, but these drivers and software are 100% up to date.

• The platform firmware has corrupted memory across the previous system power transition. Please check for updated firmware for your system.

I read on a Microsoft KB article that this is simply an error report they were using to find out why the first 1 MB of memory becomes corrupted upon resuming from sleep mode.

• The Windows Font Cache Service service hung on starting.

I think I just have a lot of fonts, but this happens every boot.

• The driver detected a controller error on \Device\Harddisk3\DR3.

My third drive is bad? I need to pull data off it and remove it anyway as it housed my previous Vista install and I don't want the bad juju from it getting into my system.

• The file system structure on the disk is corrupt and unusable. Please run the chkdsk utility on the volume \Device\HarddiskVolume2.

No idea which drive this is, I wish it would name a letter drive.

• The server {Numbers and letters here} did not register with DCOM within the required timeout.

No idea what this is.

So that's my wall-o-text. Hope this and the diagnostic stuff is enough for someone to lend me a little advice at least.

 

[zigzag3143]

1-Norton is a Huge cause of BSOD's, in fact one of the leading ones.

2-Sounds like a video driver but we need the actual DMP files to be sure.

3-You can in the interim run a system file check

Run a system file check to verify and repair your system files.
To do this type cmd in search, then right click to run as administrator, then
SFC /SCANNOW

Read here for more information http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html

Let us know the results from the report at the end.

 

[Rajada]

Is there anything at all I can do to test if it is Norton? Because I don't want it hanging around if it is, even if it will be a pain to replace it.

I've run a check disk on my third drive with no errors, running another on my external at the moment.

The system check said no integrity violations were detected, so that's good.

-Removed link to corrupt file-http://lab.nerfarena.net/MemoryDump.zip

 

[zigzag3143]

Dump is corrupt no useful info.

Norton cant be tested and often is difficult to remove.

We are going to have to wait for the next one/. the only thing I can see here is cdd.dll canonomical display driver was loaded when it crashed.

 

[Rajada]

Okay, while on Minecraft ans Skype I got a BSOD that mentioned Ntfs.sys. Here is that dump.

http://lab.nerfarena.net/mem.zip

 

[zigzag3143]

Okay, while on Minecraft ans Skype I got a BSOD that mentioned Ntfs.sys. Here is that dump.

http://lab.nerfarena.net/mem.zip

First you are running a full kernal dump that is why it is 100 Mb. Change the setting in syscpl. to small memory dump to upload here. see pix


Second the DMP is corrupt in that it loads the module but cant load the symbol for over half of your files. The crash may be happening so quickly that it cant write the memory to pagefile fast enough (or you may have no page file)

I do notice you have Symantec loaded in the active thread on each crash so I would remove it as it is a known Cause of BSOD's and replace it with Microsoft Security essentials

Download and run the Norton Removal Tool to uninstall your Norton product | Norton Support

http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/

 

[Rajada]

Ok, I changed that to small memory dump. Good news and bad news time. The good news is I uninstalled Norton and went hours on end without issue in Minecraft. Luckily I got Norton for super cheap at a Fry's free with rebate table so I'm not concerned about a refund. Bad news is I can't be sure if it was the whole problem without either extensive testing or hitting another BSOD.

So what I'm gonna do is run Portal 2 since it gave me the most problems. If I can't get a BSOD in the next few days, I'll call this thread resolved. Otherwise I'll post data back here. Either way I'll probably be back here in another thread as I've been getting other weird error messages in event viewer lately that aren't threatening but still annoying.

All I have to say now is it's quite annoying that Symantec thought this was an appropriately stable AV program.

 

[zigzag3143]

Ok, I changed that to small memory dump. Good news and bad news time. The good news is I uninstalled Norton and went hours on end without issue in Minecraft. Luckily I got Norton for super cheap at a Fry's free with rebate table so I'm not concerned about a refund. Bad news is I can't be sure if it was the whole problem without either extensive testing or hitting another BSOD.

So what I'm gonna do is run Portal 2 since it gave me the most problems. If I can't get a BSOD in the next few days, I'll call this thread resolved. Otherwise I'll post data back here. Either way I'll probably be back here in another thread as I've been getting other weird error messages in event viewer lately that aren't threatening but still annoying.

All I have to say now is it's quite annoying that Symantec thought this was an appropriately stable AV program.

It is impossible to remove and one of the largest causes of BSOD's

 

[Rajada]

When you say 'impossible' I assume you are using exaggeration for emphasis because the removal tool seems to have done a decent job. There isn't more I need to do to fully remove it is there?

Also, I had McAfee before, would that be better than nothing or another option? Or should I just go without and stick with MSE.

 

[zigzag3143]

When you say 'impossible' I assume you are using exaggeration for emphasis because the removal tool seems to have done a decent job. There isn't more I need to do to fully remove it is there?

Also, I had McAfee before, would that be better than nothing or another option? Or should I just go without and stick with MSE.

"impossible", sometimes only a reformat will do.

Macaffee is almost as bad (when it comes to BSOD's)

The one that crashes least are Microsoft Security Essentials

 

[Rajada]

I froze up in Portal 2 (looping sound, frozen video and no response to input). All I got was this since it wasn't a BSOD:

From event viewer:

Faulting application name: portal2.exe, version: 0.0.0.0, time stamp: 0x4d4c804d
Faulting module name: atiumdag.dll, version: 7.14.10.825, time stamp: 0x4d9bc344
Exception code: 0xc0000005
Fault offset: 0x00002ce8
Faulting process id: 0x33c
Faulting application start time: 0x01cc0eb6c45f8ba4
Faulting application path: C:\program files\steam\steamapps\common\portal 2\portal2.exe
Faulting module path: C:\Windows\system32\atiumdag.dll
Report Id: 3f6ab808-7aac-11e0-b42b-001e90650ae0

My thoughts are (and I could be completely wrong) that Norton was half the problem, since MineCraft hasn't crashed on me since I removed it and it isn't exactly graphically intensive. I almost always play MineCraft in multiplayer, my first thought being Norton didn't like that.

As for Portal 2, I freeze in single and multiplayer, but that is a graphically intensive game. I looked up atiumdag and it seems it is a video card driver. I would assume this is the reason why an intensive game like Portal 2 causes this kind of error, and idling on my desktop doesn't. Some people say disabling the Smart AI feature helped them, but frankly I'm not sure what the AI does and if the problems they had were even similar enough to draw that conclusion.

My question is, is there a way to get more data on this kind of freeze? I mean, knowing it is my card helps but I'd love to get a dump or something more telling. Because if it is just a bad setting (such as how I had to disable USB selective suspension because it caused my USB drivers to crash) I want to know.

 

[zigzag3143]

The faulting module is a video module so a video driver re-install couldnt hurt. do it like this

When upgrading your graphic driver you MUST remove all traces of the current driver. In order to do that we recommend using Guru3D - Driver Sweeper

Or Phyxion.net - Driver Sweeper

When it is removed then download and install the fresh copy.

 

[Rajada]

Okay, will I need to switch to my on-board graphics if I do that sweep?

Here is a new Minidump that might help more.

 

[Rajada]

My bluescreens are now worse and more frequent, I got one after starting up after a restart. I got one after Skype crashed 4 times in a row. I got one in bugcode_usb_driver also.

Please, I need more information, because this isn't limited to my vid card anymore it seems.

Guru is down, discontinued and Driver Sweeper is, well, confusing and frankly worsened the problem.

 

[Rajada]

Bluescreening has worsened

Since my last thread here my computer has increased in instability and I have no idea what is left to try to fix it. Worst of all, the recommended driver sweeper seems to have only caused more damage. Now it bluescreens almost every time I power it on for the first time (not a resume from sleep, only from a cold boot). These are my recent dumps, please help me. I'm out of ideas.

More info:

Trying to run the Intel Driver Updater bluescreens me on CPUDRV.sys every time. It then chkdsks my second harddrive (no problems), which had an old WinME installation on it. After the second time it logged me into a temporary account, not my user account. I managed to get back to my user account after logging out of that. I have since removed the old Windows folder that was there.

Most if not all of my drivers should be up to date. I used to have Vista but upgraded to Win 7. As a result, I can't find drivers for specific things like my motherboard or built in video/audio. But I'm not using built in audio or video, so I don't think those would be a problem.

 

[zigzag3143]

Since my last thread here my computer has increased in instability and I have no idea what is left to try to fix it. Worst of all, the recommended driver sweeper seems to have only caused more damage. Now it bluescreens almost every time I power it on for the first time (not a resume from sleep, only from a cold boot). These are my recent dumps, please help me. I'm out of ideas.

More info:

Trying to run the Intel Driver Updater bluescreens me on CPUDRV.sys every time. It then chkdsks my second harddrive (no problems), which had an old WinME installation on it. After the second time it logged me into a temporary account, not my user account. I managed to get back to my user account after logging out of that. I have since removed the old Windows folder that was there.

Most if not all of my drivers should be up to date. I used to have Vista but upgraded to Win 7. As a result, I can't find drivers for specific things like my motherboard or built in video/audio. But I'm not using built in audio or video, so I don't think those would be a problem.

The newest crash was Related to AmdK8.sys AMD Athlon64 Processor Driver. I would re-install it

Microsoft (R) Windows Debugger Version 6.11.0001.404 X86
Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.


Loading Dump File [C:\Users\K\Desktop\Windows_NT6_BSOD_jcgriff2\052411-19999-01.dmp]
Mini Kernel Dump File: Only registers and stack trace are available

Symbol search path is: SRV*C:\Symbols*http://msdl.microsoft.com/download/symbols;srv*e:\symbols
*http://msdl.microsoft.com/download/symbols
Executable search path is: 
Windows 7 Kernel Version 7601 (Service Pack 1) MP (2 procs) Free x86 compatible
Product: WinNt, suite: TerminalServer SingleUserTS
Built by: 7601.17592.x86fre.win7sp1_gdr.110408-1631
Machine Name:
Kernel base = 0x82c4b000 PsLoadedModuleList = 0x82d944d0
Debug session time: Tue May 24 19:55:54.870 2011 (GMT-4)
System Uptime: 0 days 0:02:04.665
Loading Kernel Symbols
...............................................................
................................................................
.........................................
Loading User Symbols
Loading unloaded module list
....
*******************************************************************************
*                                                                             *
*                        Bugcheck Analysis                                    *
*                                                                             *
*******************************************************************************

Use !analyze -v to get detailed debugging information.

BugCheck 1000007F, {d, 0, 0, 0}

Probably caused by : amdk8.sys ( amdk8!C1Halt+4 )

Followup: MachineOwner
---------

1: kd> !analyze -v
*******************************************************************************
*                                                                             *
*                        Bugcheck Analysis                                    *
*                                                                             *
*******************************************************************************

UNEXPECTED_KERNEL_MODE_TRAP_M (1000007f)
This means a trap occurred in kernel mode, and it's a trap of a kind
that the kernel isn't allowed to have/catch (bound trap) or that
is always instant death (double fault).  The first number in the
bugcheck params is the number of the trap (8 = double fault, etc)
Consult an Intel x86 family manual to learn more about what these
traps are. Here is a *portion* of those codes:
If kv shows a taskGate
        use .tss on the part before the colon, then kv.
Else if kv shows a trapframe
        use .trap on that value
Else
        .trap on the appropriate frame will show where the trap was taken
        (on x86, this will be the ebp that goes with the procedure KiTrap)
Endif
kb will then show the corrected stack.
Arguments:
Arg1: 0000000d, EXCEPTION_GP_FAULT
Arg2: 00000000
Arg3: 00000000
Arg4: 00000000

Debugging Details:
------------------


BUGCHECK_STR:  0x7f_d

CUSTOMER_CRASH_COUNT:  1

DEFAULT_BUCKET_ID:  VISTA_DRIVER_FAULT

PROCESS_NAME:  System

CURRENT_IRQL:  2

LAST_CONTROL_TRANSFER:  from 90b4dbb6 to 82c1731a

STACK_TEXT:  
807dec28 90b4dbb6 00007390 00000000 00026161 hal!HalpClockInterruptPn+0x42
807dec98 82ccb36f 88b97030 807c7800 807c2000 amdk8!C1Halt+0x4
807ded20 82cc2e0d 00000000 0000000e 00000000 nt!PoIdle+0x524
807ded24 00000000 0000000e 00000000 00000000 nt!KiIdleLoop+0xd


STACK_COMMAND:  kb

FOLLOWUP_IP: 
amdk8!C1Halt+4
90b4dbb6 c3              ret

SYMBOL_STACK_INDEX:  1

SYMBOL_NAME:  amdk8!C1Halt+4

FOLLOWUP_NAME:  MachineOwner

MODULE_NAME: amdk8

IMAGE_NAME:  amdk8.sys

DEBUG_FLR_IMAGE_TIMESTAMP:  4a5bbf07

FAILURE_BUCKET_ID:  0x7f_d_amdk8!C1Halt+4

BUCKET_ID:  0x7f_d_amdk8!C1Halt+4

Followup: MachineOwner
---------

Old drivers needing updating

PxHelp20.sys    9/23/2004 8:24:24 PM        0x8ae5f000    0x8ae63de0    0x00004de0    0x41536938                        
wacommousefilter.sys    2/16/2007 2:12:29 PM        0x936c3000    0x936cb000    0x00008000    0x45d5f40d                        
bcmusbdhdlh.sys    9/26/2007 8:18:31 PM        0x8ca25000    0x8ca62000    0x0003d000    0x46faf6d7                        
SaiMini.sys    10/29/2007 11:55:23 AM        0x936dc000    0x936df700    0x00003700    0x4726026b                        
SaiBus.sys    10/29/2007 11:55:27 AM        0x9365b000    0x93663a00    0x00008a00    0x4726026f                        
SaiK0728.sys    1/18/2008 1:18:30 PM        0x93736000    0x93754000    0x0001e000    0x4790df66                        
spldr.sys    5/11/2009 12:13:47 PM        0x8b3c2000    0x8b3ca000    0x00008000    0x4a084ebb                        
GEARAspiWDM.sys    5/18/2009 8:16:53 AM        0x93219000    0x9321e280    0x00005280    0x4a1151b5                        
amdxata.sys    5/19/2009 1:57:35 PM        0x83764000    0x8376d000    0x00009000    0x4a12f30f                        
dump_nvstor.sys    5/20/2009 2:44:09 AM        0x93774000    0x93799000    0x00025000    0x4a13a6b9                        
nvstor.sys    5/20/2009 2:44:09 AM        0x836f8000    0x8371d000    0x00025000    0x4a13a6b9

How To Find Drivers:

- search Google for the name of the driver
- compare the Google results with what's installed on your system to figure out which device/program it belongs to
- visit the web site of the manufacturer of the hardware/program to get the latest drivers (DON'T use Windows Update or the Update driver function of Device Manager).
- if there are difficulties in locating them, post back with questions and someone will try and help you locate the appropriate program.

- - The most common drivers are listed on this page: Driver Reference Driver Reference
- - Driver manufacturer links are on this page: Drivers and Downloads

 

[Rajada]

In bold are ones I have questions for...

amdk8.sys: If this is my processor driver, how can I update it when this pc originally came with Vista and I am now running Win 7?

PxHelp20.sys: No idea, I don't use any of the programs that are listed as using it, so I wouldn't know WHAT to update.

wacommousefilter.sys: I updated my Wacom Tablet drivers, this was an easy one.

bcmusbdhdlh.sys: This is coming up as a wireless driver I think, I have a US Robotics Wireless USB adapter but the drivers for that for Win 7 do not exist, only Vista ones on the manufacturer's site. Still not 100% sure what it is, Google's not much help on this one. But I do recall this was the one that blue-screened me twice on startup!

SaiMini.sys, SaiBus.sys and SaiK0728.sys: For my Cyborg keyboard, I just updated these... but I'll try again.

spldr.sys: Security Processor Loader? Why would this be out of date and how would I even update it?

GEARAspiWDM.sys: Comes with iTunes, so I don't think this is essential... help?

amdxata.sys: A display driver, and it seems to be for my current vid card. But I updated these again today, and they were all reported as up to date... ???

dump_nvstor.sys and nvstor.sys: NVidia? Seems like my built in motherboard's vid card. Two questions, updating this won't interfere with my AMD card in all likelihood will it? And secondly, I did look up my motherboard model, and my Gateway support page has up to date drivers for all the default stuff on my PC, but this PC came with Vista so they are all Vista drivers. How do I find, if at all, Win 7 drivers?

I feel like I'm far from fixing this, and not 100% sure all my issues are driver related (possibly compatibility?) but thanks for the feedback so far, it's been nice to talk with someone who knows what they're talking about.

Oh, also, there is a DRIVERS folder on my third HDD, should I delete that? I found some event log events from a whiiiiile back ( a month or so) that reference some drivers in there as being accessed erroneously.