BSOD New Hardware (MB, CPU, RAM, Video Card), error 0x000000C4

[kisile]

Hello all,

A couple of days ago, I upgraded the hardware on a video editing machine running Windows 7 Ultimate x64. I was able to get the computer up and running, with all new hardware recognized. Yesterday, though, I encountered three BSOD's: REFERENCE_by_POINTER; IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL; and one saying "A device driver attempting..." The last one occurs every time I get to the welcome screen: i am not even able to log in. Please help!

 

[koolkat77]

Disable Driver Verifier.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/101379-driver-verifier-enable-disable.html

 

[kisile]

Ok, after I posted my problem, I booted from LAST KNOWN GOOD CONFIGURATION, and I had no BSODs or other problems. However, earlier this morning, I finally disabled Driver Verifier, and immediately, my computer started having memory problems...I booted into Windows, and it says 8.00 GB installed (3.99 usable)...I have a legit copy of Windows 7 64-bit, and I don't know what to do.

 

[koolkat77]

Take memtest. Run for 8 passes and test each stick in a know good slot for an additional 6 passes.

• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/105647-ram-test-memtest86.html

The goal is to test all the RAM sticks and all the motherboard slots.

Check your motherboard manual to ensure the RAM sticks are in the recommended motherboard slots. Some motherboards have very specific slots required for the number of RAM sticks installed.

If you get errors, stop the test and continue with the next step.

1. Remove all but one stick of RAM from your computer (this will be RAM stick #1), and run Memtest86 again, for 7 passes.

*Be sure to note the RAM stick, use a piece of tape with a number, and note the motherboard slot.
​

If this stick passes the test then go to step #3.

2. If RAM stick #1 has errors, repeat the test with RAM stick #2 in the same motherboard slot.

*If RAM stick #2 passes, this indicates that RAM stick #1 may be bad. If you want to be absolutely sure, re-test RAM stick #1 in another known good slot.
​

*If RAM stick #2 has errors, this indicates another possible bad RAM stick, a possible motherboard slot failure or inadequate settings.
​

3. Test the next stick of RAM (stick #2) in the next motherboard slot.

*If this RAM stick has errors repeat step #2 using a known good stick if possible, or another stick.
​

*If this RAM stick has no errors and both sticks failed in slot#1, test RAM stick #1 in this slot.
​

4. If you find a stick that passes the test, test it in all the other motherboard slots.

If Part 2 testing shows errors, and all tests in Part 3 show errors, you will need to test the RAM sticks in another computer and/or test other RAM in your computer to identify the problem.

In this way, you can identify whether it is a bad stick of RAM, a bad motherboard, or incompatibility between the sticks.

   Information

Errors are sometimes found after 8 passes.

   Tip

Do this test overnight, before going to bed.

 

[kisile]

Ok, am formatting a drive now to run memtest; i will run it ASAP as I can use my laptop for other tasks. Will check back.

 

[Arc]

Post a screenshot of the full screen resource monitor window.

• Click Start button.
• Type " resource monitor" without quotes.
• Click the resulting link. It will open with the "memory" tab opened. If not, click the memory tab.
• Make the resulting window full screen.
• Take a snip shot using snipping tool ; it is in Start> All programs> accessories.
• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/9733-screenshots-files-upload-post-seven-forums.html

We need to see it to judge the situation that you are stating.

 

[kisile]

So here's the Resource Monitor, Arc

Koolkat, the first time I tried to run memtest from usb, it said boot error. I booted back into windows to try and give some info to Arc, and am trying memtest again

 

[kisile]

Koolkat, oddly enough, I'm having trouble booting from usb. I've gone into the BIOS and set the first Boot device to be the USB, but it continuously overrides the USB device. Any suggestions?

 

[Arc]

View attachment 247558
This is your motherboard?
Explain how have you distributed all the RAM in the black and blue DIMMs. Have you tried putting both the sticks in the black DIMMs?

In my guess, either the RAM modules you have are not compatible with all the slots, so it is being read, but not being accessed, as a result there is a large amount of hardware reserved memory, ot it may be a faulty DIMM slot, that you will come to know by following the steps of memtest koolkat77 described to you.

Let us know the results.

EDIT: Make it sure that you made the stick bootable at first, and attach the USB stick to a USB port at the back side of the computer.

 

[kisile]

Yeah, the motherboard manual says to install the modules in the blue slots, and the crazy thing is that it was utilizing all 8 GB, until this morning, when I disabled driver verifier. BTW, im having trouble even running memtest right now

Edit: Burned memtest to cd, and am now running the tests. Will check back later with results.

 

[kisile]

Ignorant me, I ran a Memtest with both sticks of RAM, even though only one was being tested, and I have no way of knowing which one. I let it run all day yesterday, and through the night - after 23 passes, no errors were found. The first Memtest was thus a fail of sorts; I took one of my DIMM's out, rebooted the computer, and the monitor would not turn on: the card was spinning, but the display never worked. Shut the computer back down, moved the DIMM to every slot on the mobo: nothing. Restored the removed stick, and the video card was able to display the computer. So I removed the suspicious stick, leaving only the functional stick, and moved that stick into each DIMM slot: everything worked fine. Thus, I believe one of my RAM sticks is bad: I can't test it in this computer though, because when I use that DIMM, the monitor doesn't turn on, so I can't see Memtest run, if it's running at all. Also, I don't have another computer using DDR3 RAM, so I guess I'm stuck there.

 

[Arc]

Good. One stick is not working, for sure. And that is added to the "Hardware Reserved" category.

If it is a new one, get it's replacement. Otherwise, buy new RAM or use a single stick, there will be no problem at all.

 

[kisile]

Definitely...4 GB won't be enough to run Premiere Pro, After Effects, and Maya. I'll RMA this stick of RAM, and hope that that's the last of my troubles. Thanks