BSOD around every 10 days on Windows 7, Bugcheck 0x000000f4

[JCutter]

Hello.

I have a Windows 7 PC that runs 24/7 (I Access it remotely via RDP and IIS, so sleep/hibernate are both disabled.)

About once every 10 days, it blue screen crashes - When I get back to it, either on the console or RDP Session, it's got the Windows Error Report ready to send, and a clean desktop. The only pattern I've managed to figure out is that it's when I'm away from the PC and it's in "Idle" mode

Looking in the event log, the last three times it happened, the bugcheck events were:

Source: Bugcheck, EventID: 1001, Logged 24/03/2013 20:11:42
The computer has rebooted from a bugcheck. The bugcheck was: 0x000000f4 (0x0000000000000003, 0xfffffa8006ba5320, 0xfffffa8006ba5600, 0xfffff80003986470). A dump was saved in: C:\Windows\MEMORY.DMP. Report Id: 032413-14539-01.

Source: Bugcheck, EventID: 1001, Logged 19/03/2013 22:12:09
The computer has rebooted from a bugcheck. The bugcheck was: 0x000000f4 (0x0000000000000003, 0xfffffa800af73b30, 0xfffffa800af73e10, 0xfffff800039da470). A dump was saved in: C:\Windows\MEMORY.DMP. Report Id: 031913-11138-01.

Source: Bugcheck, EventID: 1001, Logged 07/03/2013 11:23:02
The computer has rebooted from a bugcheck. The bugcheck was: 0x000000f4 (0x0000000000000003, 0xfffffa800c7c6060, 0xfffffa800c7c6340, 0xfffff800039cb470). A dump was saved in: C:\Windows\MEMORY.DMP. Report Id: 030713-18876-01.

I'm at the point of getting ready to rebuild the OS, but I'd really appreciate if you could help me rule out a hardware issue, or help pin down any likely candidates for the cause.

I Have attached a zipped dump from the SF Diagnostic Tool, as requested.

 

[cluberti]

csrss.exe is crashing (that's the "critical process" in the F4 bugcheck), and the indications are that it's being caused through the ATI Catalyst Control Center binary. Your dump indicates these drivers are from an early August release of the ATI suite, so upgrading those for starters would be beneficial.

 

[JCutter]

Thanks for the very quick and informative reply, cluberti.

I tried Catalyst 13.1 in February, but I reverted to 12.8 due to compatibility issue with 1 game.

I'd rather have a stable system than a fast game, so based on AMD Catalyst, would you recommend Catalyst 13.1 (Latest Stable) or 13.3 (latest beta?

 

[cluberti]

Unless you like testing, I always recommend the latest stable WHQL drivers.

 

[JCutter]

Heh. Not with a production system, at least.

I've installed Catalyst 13.1, along with the latest Catalyst Application Profiles (12.11 CAP 2) - Hoping that will stop the BlueScreen, and fix the performance issues with the game.

Due to the nature of the crash, it will be a while before I know if it's worked, but I'll post back either way.

 

[koolkat77]

In addition to Carl's recommendation I'd just add that out dated SSD firmware causes BSOD with bug check F4.

Model	SAMSUNG SSD 830 Series ATA Device

Be sure to update the latest firmware for your SSD!

 

[JCutter]

Thanks for the advise, koolkat77.

I've checked the firmware using Samsung SSD magician 4.0, and it confirmed I'm on the latest version, CXM03B1Q.

I was running an older Intel AHCI Driver from January 2013, but I'm on the latest driver now (11.7.0.1013)

 

[JCutter]

No crashing so far, so I think Catalyst 12.8 was the cause. Still having shader issues in games, but looking at the release notes for the 13.3 beta, that's due to be fixed, so I'll wait for them to hit final before fixing that, too.

Thank you for your help, cluberti and koolkat77.
http://www.sevenforums.com/members/koolkat77.html