Solved BSOD about twice a day. Feels like I've tried everything.

[Boiuthh]

So the last month or two I've been getting a lot of BSODs. I've been getting these crashed doing all diffrent things. Alot of them while playing Diablo 3 or League of Legends. Some of them while surfing in Firefox and some in Chrome. I've also bluescreened while watching films. I've even gotten one or two while being away from the computer.

It feels like I've tried tons of different things to solve the problem. I've reinstalled windows. I've upgraded every driver I could find. I've ran memtest twice for 18hrs (last time ran was 2 days ago). I've disconnected one of my harddrives and my CD-drive.

I now dont know what to do since I haven't gotten the impression that its a hardware failure.

What is there left to do? (I'm always up for trying things again. Such as installing more drivers)

These are pretty much my specs: http://i.imgur.com/y1McI.png
Whats different is a switch of graphicscard to a Sapphire Radeon HD 6950 and I've also added 8 more GB of RAM.

 

[writhziden]

Crashes indicate graphics card driver issues or memory_corruption. Could be related to your DirectX/graphics installations. DirectX comes installed with Windows, so this may indicate Windows corruption. Any chance the installation media is damaged? Even a retail disc bought from a store or online can be damaged. So can a burnt DVD from an ISO file.

It may also be that you have corrupted drivers or a graphics card hardware problem.

• If you are overclocking any hardware, please stop.
  
  
• Check Windows for corruption. Run http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html up to three times to fix all errors with a restart in between each. Post back if it continues to show errors after a fourth run or if the first run comes back with no integrity violations. Use OPTION THREE of http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html to provide us with the sfcdetails.txt file if errors occur.

Follow the steps for Diagnosing basic problems with DirectX. To re-install your display card drivers as outlined in the DirectX link, use the following steps.

1. Download the drivers you want for your display card(s)
2. Click Start Menu
3. Click Control Panel
4. Click Uninstall a program
5. For AMD:
   • Uninstall AMD Catalyst Install Manager if it is listed (this should remove all AMD graphics software and drivers)
   • If AMD Catalyst Install Manager is not listed, use the following method to uninstall the graphics drivers (this applies to onboard graphics, as well):
     1. Click Start Menu
     2. Right Click My Computer/Computer
     3. Click Manage
     4. Click Device Manager from the list on the left
     5. Expand Display adapters
     6. Do the following for each adapter (in case you have multiple display cards)
        • Right click the adapter
        • Click Uninstall (do not click OK in the dialog box that pops up after hitting Uninstall)
        • Put a tick in Delete driver software for this device (if this option is available, otherwise just hit OK) and hit OK
        
        Alternatively:
        1. Login as an adminstrative user
        2. Click Start Menu
        3. Click Control Panel
        4. Click Hardware and Sound
        5. Click Device Manager (the last link under Devices and Printers)
        6. Expand Display adapters
        7. Do the following for each adapter (in case you have multiple display cards)
           • Right click the adapter
           • Click Uninstall (do not click OK in the dialog box that pops up after hitting Uninstall)
           • Put a tick in Delete driver software for this device (if this option is available, otherwise just hit OK) and hit OK
6. Restart your computer after uninstalling drivers for all display cards
7. Install the driver you selected for the display cards once Windows starts

Remember to try multiple versions of the graphics drivers, download them fresh, and install the freshly downloaded drivers.


Also, make sure the Catalyst Control Center/AMD Vision Engine Control Center is not overclocking your system without your knowledge.

 

[Boiuthh]

Thank you for your quick reply!
Will do these thing right away and report back.

 

[Boiuthh]

The windows was downloaded through MSDN and then burnt to a dvd. If it was damage in the process, I do not know.
Have ran the SCANNOW twice with a reboot inbetween. No integrity violations were found.
"Downgraded" my graphics drivers from 12.4 to 12.1.

Not overclocking anything that I know of. How could I check if the card is overclocked?

I'll see if what happends now and will report back. Hopefully the downgrade will be enough.
Maybe worth mentioning is that when I play Diablo 3 it also keeps crashing. Not BSOD but just regular crashing. Not sure if this has anything to do with it but it occurs unnaturally often when I compare it to my friends.

 

[writhziden]

You do have some errors associated with Search & Destroy and with Adobe AIR. Uninstall both through Start Menu -> Control Panel -> Uninstall a program.

When you start the uninstall process for Adobe AIR, it will tell you which programs it will affect when it is removed. At that time, cancel the uninstall of Adobe AIR. Make sure to remove the programs that depend on Adobe AIR before uninstalling Adobe AIR.

Download fresh copies of Adobe AIR and Search & Destroy. Install them. Then install the programs that depended on Adobe AIR.

I could not find crashes for Diablo 3. It does not seem to be saying what is causing its crashes, so see if the above help with it, too. If not, try to http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorial...ation-conflicts-performing-clean-startup.html.

 

[Boiuthh]

I uninstalled Spybot but I cant seem to find any Abode AIR installed. I do know though that League of Legends is using Adobe AIR someway. Should I perhaps reinstall League then?

 

[writhziden]

Yes, re-install League of Legends. Odd that you do not see Adobe AIR, though. Hopefully re-installing League of Legends will resolve it.

 

[Boiuthh]

Just got another bluescreen while I was surfing and watching a stream in firefox.
I attached a .rar of the minidump file.

 

[Boiuthh]

Yet another crash. This time while playing League of Legends (that I reinstalled).

..aaaaand yet another one. This time I was just surfing aswell...

 

[writhziden]

Your crashes primarily indicate hard disk problems. This could mean hard disk corruption, bad sectors, a failing hard disk, Windows files or registry corruption, viruses, or memory problems.

• If you are overclocking any hardware, please stop.
  
  
• Run Disk Check with both boxes checked for all HDDs and with Automatically fix file system errors checked for all SSDs. Post back your logs for the checks after finding them using http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/96938-check-disk-chkdsk-read-event-viewer-log.html (you may need to search for wininit instead of chkdsk).
  For any drives that do not give the message:
  Windows has checked the file system and found no problems
  run disk check again as above. In other words, if it says:
  Windows has made corrections to the file system
  after running the disk check, run the disk check again.
  
  
• Run the short and long tests with SeaTools for HDDs.
  SeaTools for Windows
  
  SeaTools for DOS​
  
  
• If you have an SSD, make sure the following are up to date:
  • SSD firmware
  • BIOS Version
  • Chipset Drivers
  • Hard disk controller drivers/SATA drivers
  • If you have a Marvell IDE ATA/ATAPI device, uninstall it in device manager and see if the system performs better.
  
  
• Check Windows for corruption. Run http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html up to three times to fix all errors with a restart in between each. Post back if it continues to show errors after a fourth run or if the first run comes back with no integrity violations. Use OPTION THREE of http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html to provide us with the sfcdetails.txt file if errors occur.
  
  
• Download and install Malwarebytes, update it, do not start the free trial, and then run a full scan. Also run a full scan with your antivirus software installed on your system. If you do not have antivirus software installed, see the http://www.sevenforums.com/system-s...-system-security-combination.html#post1732627 for better security steps and scanning tools. Make sure to update the security software before running the full scan.
  
  
• Run the boot version of Memtest86+ paying close attention to Parts 2 and 3 of the tutorial. Also, in case Memtest86+ misses anything and comes up with no errors, run the extended version of the Windows Memory Diagnostics Tool for at least five passes. These you may want to run overnight since they take a long time to complete (run them an hour before bed each of the next two nights and check before going to sleep that they are still running).
  
     Warning

  Before you proceed with the following, answer these two questions: Are you still under warranty? Does your warranty allow you to open up the machine to check hardware? If you are unsure of the answers to these questions, contact your system manufacturer. :warn:WARNING: The steps that follow can void your warranty!!!
  
  For Part 3: If You Have Errors: If you swap any memory components, follow these steps for ESD safety:
  1. Shut down and turn off your computer.
  2. Unplug all power supplies to the computer (AC Power then battery for laptops, AC power for desktops)
  3. Hold down the power button for 30 seconds to close the circuit and ensure all power drains from components.
  4. Make sure you are grounded by using proper grounding techniques, i.e. work on an anti-static workbench, anti-static desk, or an anti-static pad. Hold something metallic while touching it to the anti-static surface, or use an anti-static wristband to attach to the anti-static material while working. If you do not have an anti-static workbench, desk, or pad, you can use your computer tower/case by finding a metal hold in it, such as a drive bay.
  Once these steps have been followed, it is safe to remove and replace components within your computer.

I also note a slight overclock on your CPU. Please clear your CMOS by going into your BIOS, going to the EXIT screen, loading setup/optimized defaults, saving, and exiting the BIOS.

How To Clear CMOS (Reset BIOS)

 

[Boiuthh]

So I did pretty much everything you listed, except for the BIOS/CMOS, and nothing was found. Yet I got 2 or 3 more bluescreens. Tired of all these problems I did a new clean install of Windows 7 on a diffrent Harddrive. Installed all the drivers (atleast I think so) and even changed the sata-cable between the harddrive and the motherboard. Yet only 2 hours later another BSOD came up.
It feels more and more like it would be a hardware error. Perhaps the motherboard?'
Should I remove the memory sticks that I added some time ago even though neither Memtest or Windows own memorytester found any problem?

 

[writhziden]

The memory diagnostics are not foolproof. Further reading: Finicky RAM.

I would suggest testing your RAM by running Windows instead of a memory diagnostic tool. You may swap out your current modules for your old ones, or you can test the current ones individually. It's up to you.

• Before doing any RAM swapping, please download and install CPU-Z and Upload screenshots of the CPU, Mainboard, Memory, and SPD tabs. In the SPD tab, upload an image of each slot.
  
  Also, go into your BIOS and post all Voltages (CPU, RAM, NB, IMC, etc.) and all RAM settings (timings, frequency, etc.)
  
  Thanks to Dave76 for help learning RAM Stability
  
  
• Test the memory slots as follows.
  1. Shut down and turn off your computer.
  2. Unplug all power sources to the tower (unplug the power from the outlet/surge protector or PSU).
  3. Hold down the power button for 30 seconds (for your safety and the safety of the components) to close the circuit and drain all power from components.
  4. Remove the casing.
  5. Remove all but one memory module making sure you are grounded while doing so.
  6. Replace the casing and put the remaining memory modules in a safe, static free environment.
  7. If the problem persists, repeat steps 1-4 and move the memory module to another slot (while staying grounded, of course).
  
  Do this until all slots have been tested. If all slots fail, the memory module may be bad. Test with one of the remaining modules. Continue one module at a time in one slot at a time until you find a good module and good slot. Test remaining modules in the good slot, test good modules in other slots to find bad slots, etc.
  
  
  Test by doing your normal routine in Windows for twice as long as it takes to get a crash or until you get a crash, whichever comes first. You can also test by doing the tasks that generally cause crashes.

 

[Boiuthh]

So I was resetting the CMOS/BIOS to make sure that I wasnt overclocking anything. After doing this my computer is kinda not working. When trying to start it goes to the "swilry" windows thingy during the bootup and then I think it bluescreens. It flashes a bluescreen and some text for about half a second before the computer reboots. After the reboot windows wants to try and repair. However it doesnt find anything and even when trying to reinstall windows it eventually goes back into bluescreening during bootup.
I guess there were some settings I shouldnt have messed with. ATM looking around for solutions for this problem.
Any ideas?

 

[Boiuthh]

Nevermind. I managed to fix the bios problem. Will see how it goes from here.

 

[writhziden]

Alright, glad you got back to Windows. Nice work! May I ask, how you fixed it?

 

[Boiuthh]

It was some setting concerning AHCI.
I do think you are correct that it might be faulty RAM that is the culprit. I was trying to install/download Guild Wars 2 and it crashed a couple of times complaining about "Corrupt memory" or something of that sort. I'll remove some of them and see how it goes.

 

[writhziden]

AHCI makes sense. Sometimes the BIOS reset changes AHCI settings, and they have to be reset manually by the user to be able to boot. I'll keep that in mind as a possible step when I let people know to clear the CMOS.

Your troubleshooting sounds like good steps. Let us know how it turns out.

 

[Boiuthh]

Been about a week now without any bsod or games crashing. Its not conclusive but it feels like it was faulty memory that was the problem. I guess memtest cant find everything. I will probobly look into buying some new sticks since I notice quite the difference with 4 instead of 12 GB.


Thank you for the help and I hope I wont be needing it again

 

[writhziden]

You're welcome.

Just make sure when you get any new RAM that you get the kits at the same time, same models, and same voltages. It is best not to mix and match any RAM or you may end up with instability again.

You are better off getting RAM that runs at 1.5 V instead of 1.65 V for an i5 processor, as well.