BSOD even with nothing running

[svnft]

Hi all,

I've been getting some nasty BSOD lately. I've gotten them randomly for months every week or so, but now I can't go a few hours without it crashing.
I can just turn on the computer and walk away and get a BSOD.


Here are my details and attached are my zipped files.

System is a 2 year old ASUS G73JH Laptop
Windows 7 Professional
Full retail version
Reinstalled OS yetserday hoping to fix these BSOD
Reinstalled all my drivers fresh off the ASUS website for my laptop
Updated the OS with all current patches


The one driver I couldn't get to load was for Microsoft Virtual WiFi Miniport Adapter. And even if I disable it, I still get BSOD. I also tried uninstalling it and reinstalling it.

Hope you can shed some light on this issue.

thanks.

 

[writhziden]

The following drivers are out of date and should probably be updated:

ATK64AMD	fffff880`02c16000	fffff880`02c1e000	Fri Oct 27 06:45:25 2006 (4541ff65)	0000f651		ATK64AMD.sys
btwl2cap	fffff880`042f2000	fffff880`042fe000	Fri Apr 03 18:28:45 2009 (49d6a9bd)	00009866		btwl2cap.sys
athrx	fffff880`02c41000	fffff880`02d99000	Tue Jun 09 12:06:49 2009 (4a2ea4b9)	0015fe99		athrx.sys

The first one appears to be part of the ATKACPI driver and hotkey-related utilities for your laptop.
The second one is BlueTooth
The third one is your Atheros LAN driver.


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.

 

[svnft]

So I'm almost done with everything suggested, but another problem just cropped up that I wanted to mention.

I have 2 hard drives. One with the C and E drive. And one with the D and F drive. My D and F drive keep disappearing. Sometimes they are there on start up and I'll be able to run a program, but after a while the program will crash and when i try to reopen it I'll get the error: "The drive or network connection that shortcut .lkn refers to is unavailable. Make sure the disk is properly inserted or the network resource is available, and then try again."

I'll check and sure enough the drives are gone. Looks like this thing is dying.

Edit: It's not showing up in Device Manager or Explorer.

 

[writhziden]

I would recommend checking the cabling. A cable is a lot cheaper to replace than a hard drive. As a simple test, you could swap your two cables and see if you get the same problem with the other drive instead.

As you add and remove hardware and/or connections, 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.

 

[svnft]

It's a laptop. I was going to swap them tonight though to see if that tells me anything. The good news is I have eveything backed up that was on that hard drive. I've been wanting a SSD, so maybe this is just the thing to push me to buy it.

I'll finish my remaining steps too (SEA Tools for DoS & Memtest86+) and post my results. So far SEA Tools for Windows long test was my only issue found.

Thanks for the help.

 

[writhziden]

You're welcome. Let us know if/when (hopefully when) you find a solution.

 

[svnft]

OK, here's my lastest update. I did everything you mentioned and the one that failed was the Seagate Tools. I had ordered a new SSD, so instead of trying to repair these, I just took both of my hard drives out and installed the SSD. I reinstalled Windows 7 which got a BSOD at the end, however, after the reboot I didn't have any issues.

Until today when my computer just restarted and loaded my Bios setup without me having to mash the delete key. I looked at the Boot options and my SSD isn't even listed. I changed the Boot option to my CD drive and restarted with my Windows 7 disk. I tried to repair the OS, but it's not seeing the hard drive either.

The common theme here is my hard drives just keep disappearing. This sounds like a mother board issue correct?

 

[svnft]

And a followup. I moved my hard drive to my laptops other drive bay and it started up fine and ran for a couple of hours. I just got another BSOD and during the restart ChkDsk was recommended. These are the results.
Photo Album - Imgur

After the system restarted Windows tried to load but it just stops at a black screen with a mouse cursor. Things are getting worse.

I tried Windows 7 install disk Repair, but it found nothing wrong.
I then tried a system restore, but that didn't work.
I'm now running the Memory Diagnostics Tool in Extended mode. It's taking forever.
If this doesn't find anything, I'm going to try reinstalling Windows, but I really don't see how this is going to fix the issue long term.

Are there any things out there that test my Mother Board?

 

[writhziden]

There are really no motherboard tests, unfortunately.

For your 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, make sure the drivers are up to date from the Intel site or Marvell site and not from your motherboard/vendor support site.

Also, make sure your SSD is being seen by the system properly: Try doing a power cycle of the SSD. The following steps should be carried out and take ~1 hour to complete.

1. Power off the system.
2. Remove all power supplies (ac adapter then battery for laptop, ac adapter for desktop)
3. Hold down the power button for 30 seconds to close the circuit and drain all components of power.
4. Reconnect all power supplies (battery then ac adapter for laptop, ac adapter for desktop)
5. Turn on the system and enter the BIOS (see your manual for the steps to enter the BIOS)
6. Let the computer remain in the BIOS for 20 minutes.
7. Follow steps 1-3 and physically remove the SSD from the system by disconnecting the cables for a desktop or disconnecting the drive from the junction for a laptop.
8. Leave the drive disconnected for 30 seconds to let all power drain from it.
9. Replace the drive connection(s) and then do steps 4-8 again.
10. Repeat steps 1-4.
11. Start your computer normally and run Windows.

The above steps were a result of: Why did my SSD "disappear" from my system? - Crucial Community

While that may not be your drive, a power cycle should be the same on all SSD drives. See how the system responds after the SSD power cycle.

 

[svnft]

I'll gladly do this tonight, but my old SATA ST9500420AS hard drives had the same issue. Last night it was working fine for a while. I shut it down and a Microsoft update was applied. This morning when I turned it on, it ran Chkdsk and found a bunch of bad sectors ~140. After it restarted it didn't see my SDD, even in the BIOS. Very annoying.

I haven't gone to the latest BIOS for my motherboard because of issues I've read about, but I think it's time to take the plunge.

Thanks again for the advice.

 

[writhziden]

You're welcome. Let us know how updating the BIOS goes. Also, never interrupt a BIOS flash as it can render the system completely unusable.

 

[svnft]

Well here's my last update. I update the BIOS of my Asus G73JH laptop to version 213 and it bricked it. As I mentioned earlier, I had read about this happening to others before and I avoided doing it.

This computer had to be sent in to ASUS 4 times for various issues while I have owned it. Basically these things are junk. Of course these issues started happening 1 week after I was out of warranty so I now have a small boat anchor.

 

[F5ing]

Without going through the posts in this thread in any sort of detail, and based solely on your last post, I think I'd have to let Acer know something about it at least one more time...

 

[writhziden]

Well here's my last update. I update the BIOS of my Asus G73JH laptop to version 213 and it bricked it. As I mentioned earlier, I had read about this happening to others before and I avoided doing it.

This computer had to be sent in to ASUS 4 times for various issues while I have owned it. Basically these things are junk. Of course these issues started happening 1 week after I was out of warranty so I now have a small boat anchor.

I am very sorry to see that happened. I also think ASUS should hear about it.


I agree with F5ing that ASUS needs to be contacted even if your warranty is out. That is not good at all.

 

[svnft]

I called them. They said the warrantly ran out on May 19th and asked me if I wanted them to fix it at my cost. I'm not giving this company another dime. Unfortunately, as it is with laptops I have perfectly parts that I can't use in a new one.

Thanks for the help though. I learned quite a bit.

 

[F5ing]

That was after you reminded them that you've already had to deal with warranty issues four times prior, and each time you're without the use of the laptop until it finally returned? Heck, you still might be within warranty if they would allow you to append the period of time they had the machine to the normal warranty end date.

I wonder if the board has a replaceable BIOS chip. I also wonder if your BSOD problem could've been caused by a failing BIOS chip.

I think I would at least pull the memory and the hard drive out for reuse. Maybe the screen too.

 

[svnft]

I asked about extending the warranty for the ~2 months I was without the laptop. The best they do is give you 90 days more from the last fix. So you could get 2 years 3 months if it broke on the last day of the warranty. I found a local ASUS certified support center that will reflash the bios for me and run a diagnostics check on everything for $75. I'm thinking I'll do it and at least see what's up. I'll probably just sell it even if I get it working. No matter what, I'm buying a Macbook Pro in Deleware tomorrow during my drive home to NY. No sales tax will save me $250. I'll still be running Windows 7 on it too