BSOD Help

[Abhbhandari]

My laptop crashed last night and i have been getting the BSOD during normal startup. Since last night, i have been able to get past the log in screen only twice after the initial crash and the BSOD comes right after. Error is System encountered and unrecoverable hardware error.

System:

Windows 7
64 bit
original OEM operating system. Got the laptop about 6 months ago.
Tried system restore, did not help

Also, i tried the system health report and got the following error:

An error occured while attempting to generate the report.
The system cannot find the path specified.

 

[writhziden]

BugCheck 0x124

You have a 0x124 hardware bugcheck. If the system is still under warranty, I would recommend sending it in to have diagnostic tests done and any bad hardware replaced.

   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 your hardware stop 0x124 crash, read through http://www.sevenforums.com/crash-lockup-debug-how/35349-stop-0x124-what-means-what-try.html and use the following hardware checks to supplement that link.

• If you are overclocking any hardware, please stop.
  
  
• 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, make sure the drivers are up to date from the Intel site or Marvell site and not from your motherboard/vendor support site.
  
  
• Run all but the advanced tests with SeaTools for HDDs.
  SeaTools for Windows
  
  SeaTools for DOS​
  
  
• Monitor temperatures during the following tests.
  
  Use the following programs to monitor the temperatures.​
  • Real Temp is a good CPU temperature monitor.
  • Speccy - System Information - Free Download will monitor all hardware temperatures.
  • HWiNFO, HWiNFO32 & HWiNFO64 - Hardware Information and Analysis Tools can be inaccurate for CPU temperatures, but is a good program for GPU temperature monitoring.
  • Use FurMark: VGA Stress Test, Graphics Card and GPU Stability Test, Burn-in Test, OpenGL Benchmark and GPU Temperature | oZone3D.Net to test the graphics card GPU. Let it run until the GPU temperatures even out or until the GPU temperatures reach a dangerous level (you can find the max temperature for your card on either the nVidia or AMD sites; if you are not sure, ask us). The goal is to get a steady temperature, find out if the GPU is overheating, or to see if there are any artifacts present in the test itself: look for strange pixelated patterns on the screen or colors that do not look like they belong. Then use the |MG| Video Memory Stress Test 1.7.116 Download to test your graphics card memory. Let the memory test run for at least seven passes; the more the better.
    
    
  • Run http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/100352-hardware-stress-test-prime95.html to determine any hardware problems. Run all three tests for a few hours each. If you get errors, stop the test and post back here.
    
    
  • Follow the steps for doing CPU stress test using IntelBurnTest
  
  
• 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).
  
  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.

Remember to read closely through http://www.sevenforums.com/crash-lockup-debug-how/35349-stop-0x124-what-means-what-try.html for the crash.

 

[Abhbhandari]

Okay, So I did the Memtest and it showed no errors.

As for the SeaTools, um, I tried running the Seatools for Windows and got with some .dll missing. Second, Don't know if i was supposed to run Seatools for DOS, but when I did, it said Hard drive missing.

I am now running the Prim95, and forgot the temperature monitoring part so I shall try to do that.

EDIT: On Piriform Speccy, everything except Graphics says:

The service cannot be started, either because it is disabled or because it has no enabled devices associated with it.

On graphics: Cannot initialise SPC dll.

Also, just to clarify, does this test run in safe mode? Because that is all I have access to.

System is under warranty so I will try not to go too far in these diagnostics.

 

[writhziden]

The tests probably will not run in Safe Mode. You may need to rely on Hiren's Boot CD and Ultimate Boot CD to do diagnostics.

Hiren's BootCD 15.1 - All in one Bootable CD » www.hiren.info

Ultimate Boot CD - Overview​

 

[Abhbhandari]

Um..IM completely lost..lol. Which tests should i run? I have the Ultimate boot CD i believe.

Also, I went to some sort of drive list or soemthing in there and the program says no drives found. I believe this is in HDD. Also, while running Seatools for DOS, it says the same thing. Does that have to do with anything?

 

[writhziden]

Hiren's Boot CD comes with Prime95 and SeaTools for DOS. Ultimate Boot CD has a number of hardware testing utilities included. You should read through them and determine which apply to the testing recommended.

 

[Layback Bear]

OP's post #3
System is under warranty so I will try not to go too far in these diagnostics.
Warranty would be my next choice. You paid for it use it.

 

[writhziden]

OP's post #3
System is under warranty so I will try not to go too far in these diagnostics.
Warranty would be my next choice. You paid for it use it.

I also agree with this. All the diagnostics are only going to tell you whether hardware is the issue, and they may not be 100% reliable at that. You are probably better off letting your technical support troubleshoot the hardware for you by using the warranty.

 

[Abhbhandari]

Tech response: software issue.

Is there any way to find out what the culprit is?

Also, if the computer boots in the safe modes but not normally, does it mean its software or driver and not hardware?

 

[writhziden]

A 0x124 crash is rarely software and almost always hardware. To be sure, though, http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorial...ation-conflicts-performing-clean-startup.html and leave only avast! non-Microsoft items enabled and make sure to hide all Microsoft services in msconfig prior to disabling services.

Also, re-install avast! to make sure it is not corrupted.

1. Remove avast! with the avast! Uninstall Utility | Download aswClear for avast! Removal
2. Download a fresh copy of avast! 2012.
3. Install avast! with the freshly downloaded installer.