Solved BSOD Battlefield 3 (and others!) Bugcheck code: 0x124

[tpenr01]

Hey Guys,

I'm running on a custom built system (specs in my profile I think) and it's been going fine for several years with only the odd BSOD that driver updates seem to fix.

I've been getting more and more frequent crashes and it seems to happen most when I'm playing Battlefield 3 but can also just happen randomly. It seems the stop code relates to a hardware fault and it always seems to be HAL.dll as the culprit. I've run memtest overnight and also done HDD and CPU tests and they seem to pass OK so I'm totally stumped! Cooling doesn't seem to be an issue - everything runs nice and cool as far as I can tell.

I can go hours without a crash or 3 or 4 in the space of 30 minutes!

Would love any help or advice on what to try next.

I've attached the file from the SF Diagnostic Tool as well!

Thanks in advance.

Tristan

 

[Arc]

Hello tpenr01.

A stop 0x124 is a hardware related BSOD, but it may cause by any element of the hardware-device driver environment; and overclocking is one of the most culprit.

You are highly overclocked.

CPUID:        "Intel(R) Core(TM) i7 CPU         870  @ 2.93GHz"
MaxSpeed:     2930
[COLOR=Red]CurrentSpeed: 3893[/COLOR]

As you are getting BSODs, you should stop overclocking and run all the hardware components like CPU, GPU and RAM to their default settings. Also set the BIOS to default, too.
How To Clear CMOS (Reset BIOS)

As most of the BSODs are occurred during gameplay as you said, Stress test the Graphics Card using Furmark.
Video Card - Stress Test with Furmark
Notice if any artifacts are visible. Observe the temperature. If the temperature during furmark test is approaching high over 90 degrees, stop the test manually.

Is the computer hot? Report us the heat of the computer after a couple of hours of your normal usage. Upload a screenshot of the summery tab of Speccy.

How old the build is? Can you dismantle the PC and clean the inside, specially the air vents and fan grills so that it can blow the hot air out easily? When re-seating, dont forget to apply thermal paste to the CPU.

The BIOS is very old.

BiosVersion = 1504   
BiosReleaseDate = [COLOR=Red]12/14/2010[/COLOR]

Update it to Version 160, dated 2013.01.22; from http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/P7P55DE/#support_Download_30.

   Warning

P7P55D-E BIOS 1601
Fixed raid hdd size issue

*Note: Need to updated together with the Driver v10.5.0.1026 for fix the bug（contained the Driver)

BTW, if you are uncomfortable with this update, leave it pending, do it as the last resort.

For some extra precaution, take these tests too .....

Stress test the CPU.
Hardware - Stress Test With Prime95

Test your RAM modules for possible errors.
How to Test and Diagnose RAM Issues with Memtest86+
Run memtest for at least 8 passes, preferably overnight.

Moreover, the display driver is not upto date.

fffff880`0484d000 fffff880`052f4000   nvlddmkm   (deferred)             
    Image path: \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\nvlddmkm.sys
[COLOR=Red]    Image name: nvlddmkm.sys
    Timestamp:        Fri Jan 18 18:52:15 2013 [/COLOR](50F94C87)
    CheckSum:         00A92B69
    ImageSize:        00AA7000
    Translations:     0000.04b0 0000.04e4 0409.04b0 0409.04e4

Apply the latest version of nVidia display driver.
You may download it directly, from our forum link http://www.sevenforums.com/graphic-cards/602-latest-nvidia-forceware-video-drivers-windows-7-a.html; or you may opt for the Option 2 of Drivers- Download NVIDIA Drivers for “Automatically find drivers for my NVIDIA products” (it requires java installed).

Let us know the results.
______________________________________________________________
BSOD ANALYSIS:

*******************************************************************************
*                                                                             *
*                        Bugcheck Analysis                                    *
*                                                                             *
*******************************************************************************

Use !analyze -v to get detailed debugging information.

BugCheck 124, {0, fffffa8008355028, b2000000, 10005}

Probably caused by : GenuineIntel

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

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

WHEA_UNCORRECTABLE_ERROR (124)
A fatal hardware error has occurred. Parameter 1 identifies the type of error
source that reported the error. Parameter 2 holds the address of the
WHEA_ERROR_RECORD structure that describes the error conditon.
Arguments:
Arg1: 0000000000000000, Machine Check Exception
Arg2: fffffa8008355028, Address of the WHEA_ERROR_RECORD structure.
Arg3: 00000000b2000000, High order 32-bits of the MCi_STATUS value.
Arg4: 0000000000010005, Low order 32-bits of the MCi_STATUS value.

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


BUGCHECK_STR:  0x124_GenuineIntel

CUSTOMER_CRASH_COUNT:  1

DEFAULT_BUCKET_ID:  WIN7_DRIVER_FAULT

PROCESS_NAME:  System

CURRENT_IRQL:  f

STACK_TEXT:  
fffff800`048fca98 fffff800`03231a3b : 00000000`00000124 00000000`00000000 fffffa80`08355028 00000000`b2000000 : nt!KeBugCheckEx
fffff800`048fcaa0 fffff800`033f4633 : 00000000`00000001 fffffa80`08358a60 00000000`00000000 fffffa80`08358ab0 : hal!HalBugCheckSystem+0x1e3
fffff800`048fcae0 fffff800`03231700 : 00000000`00000728 fffffa80`08358a60 fffff800`048fce70 fffff800`048fce00 : nt!WheaReportHwError+0x263
fffff800`048fcb40 fffff800`03231052 : fffffa80`08358a60 fffff800`048fce70 fffffa80`08358a60 00000000`00000000 : hal!HalpMcaReportError+0x4c
fffff800`048fcc90 fffff800`03230f0d : 00000000`00000008 00000000`00000001 fffff800`048fcef0 00000000`00000000 : hal!HalpMceHandler+0x9e
fffff800`048fccd0 fffff800`03224e88 : fffff880`0197c5b0 00000000`00000003 00000000`00000000 00000000`00000000 : hal!HalpMceHandlerWithRendezvous+0x55
fffff800`048fcd00 fffff800`032dc52c : 00000000`00000000 00000000`00000000 00000000`00000000 00000000`00000000 : hal!HalHandleMcheck+0x40
fffff800`048fcd30 fffff800`032dc393 : 00000000`00000000 00000000`00000000 00000000`00000000 00000000`00000000 : nt!KxMcheckAbort+0x6c
fffff800`048fce70 fffff800`032e876f : 00000000`00000000 00000000`00000000 00000000`00000000 00000000`00000000 : nt!KiMcheckAbort+0x153
fffff800`048f05e0 00000000`00000000 : 00000000`00000000 00000000`00000000 00000000`00000000 00000000`00000000 : nt!KiProcessExpiredTimerList+0x4f


STACK_COMMAND:  kb

FOLLOWUP_NAME:  MachineOwner

MODULE_NAME: GenuineIntel

IMAGE_NAME:  GenuineIntel

DEBUG_FLR_IMAGE_TIMESTAMP:  0

FAILURE_BUCKET_ID:  X64_0x124_GenuineIntel_PROCESSOR_MAE

BUCKET_ID:  X64_0x124_GenuineIntel_PROCESSOR_MAE

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

 

[tpenr01]

Thanks a bunch for that Arc!

System is around three years old. I generally give the case a good blow out every 3-4 months. Will do so again on the weekend and re-seat the CPU and apply more thermal paste.

I've reset BIOS to default settings, killed all overclocking and updated graphics drivers. I'll update the BIOS over the weekend when I've got a little bit more time and also do the GPU stress test. Have previously run Memtest overnight (no faults) and will also do this again on the weekend.

Once again thank you so much for taking the time to reply! Will post back with any results (or lack of, fingers crossed).

Tristan

 

[Arc]

Best of luck, Tristan
After stopping overclocking, you have got a time to test the situation without overclocking in between ... observe how it is going

 

[tpenr01]

Hey Arc,

Attached is the Speccy summary and also the GPU stress test. Seemed to be fine! Temp topped at 85 degrees and no visible artifacts.

Any advice for updating the BIOS?

Cheers,

 

[Arc]

Temps are fine ... also the temps during the stress test is also fine.

One more thing .... Check if the Power Supply Unit (PSU) supplying adequate power to the computer or not.
eXtreme Power Supply Calculator

Now observe it for a few days.... if it crashes anymore or not. If it still crashes in the existing situation, then we will go for the BIOS update. OK?

 

[tpenr01]

I've got a 750 watt PSU and it recommended 550 watts based on my system so that seems good!

Will keep you updated

Thanks!

 

[tpenr01]

Hey Arc,

Hour after hour on battlefield with no crashes! Seems perfect so far. So it was more than likely the OCing and probably a heat issue. The CPU paste was pretty dry. Have cleaned out the radiator on my Corsair H50 heatsink. so should be back to very cool!

Thanks a bunch for all your suggestions. I think we've hit the jackpot

Would it still be worth updating the BIOS?

Cheers,

Tristan

 

[Arc]

Tristan, as it is running smooth now, let it run. If it troubles again, we will try to fix it again, OK?
Best of luck, mate.