BSOD on Custom Arcade Machine PC

[Rallyace]

Hi, My PC in my arcade machine has been running fine for a couple of years and in the last few day has started to BSOD. It is running custom graphics card drivers that output 15Khz picture to an old arcade monitor. These driver have been working fine. Any help appreciated. Thanks

 

[axe0]

Hi Rallyace,

As a first step, make sure that you update Windows!

Hotfix(s):                 170 Hotfix(s) Installed.

 

[Rallyace]

This pc is not connected to the Internet or a network. It is running stand alone in an arcade machine. Everything was working perfectly since setup 2 years ago. I don't need to do windows updates as I don't want any updates messing with the setup / custom drivers as this is outputting a 15khz signal i.e. low resolution to an arcade monitor. I just need to know why it has suddenly started to BSOD.

It the machine running Robocop in this video

https://youtu.be/RxMCBe0EcgI

 

[axe0]

You need to install those updates, they contain several fixes for security, bugs and improvements, not installing them allows criminals to take over the system more and more easier in a matter of time, taking over a system doesn't require a network connection if you were thinking that.

Those crashes occured because the display drivers didn't respond anymore and the recovery mechanism was unable to recover the drivers. It is however currently impossible to say what the root cause is,

• outdated drivers,
• missing Windows Updates,
• BIOS,
• graphics card,
• PSU not proper anymore?
• etc.

if you won't attempt to try suggestions.

You can say what updates Windows needs to install, any drivers you won't want to install you can choose to not install.

 

[Rallyace]

@axe0

I'm sorry, but I don't agree. A stand alone PC that is not connected to a network and does not have Wifi or Bluetooth enabled is not going to get taken over by criminals. They would need physical access to the PC and would find nothing but a bunch of arcade games on it. This is a stand alone PC with no personal data and is purely running arcade games. I don't need the updates as nothing needed fixing with the way it was running pre BSOD. I have PC's for regular use that are fully updated.

I don't even run security software on the arcade PC's as I want the CPU fully available for emulation. It had worked perfectly for two years without updates or security. Outdated drivers and missing Windows Updates are not the cause of my problem.

 

[axe0]

I can't help if you won't try suggestions...

It doesn't matter if you do or don't agree to it, it is the truth, there is no physical access required to hack a pc nor a wifi connection or bluetooth.

 

[Rallyace]

How can a PC be hacked without access? No network access, no wifi, no Bluetooth and no physical access?

A trojan would need a way of getting onto the PC in the first place.

 

[axe0]

That isn't the topic about, I only mentioned it because it is relevant for security, I'm not going to explain how, you can read hundreds of sites about that.

 

[Rallyace]

The security risks are minimal and I have no personal data on this pc, so accept those risks. In the past updates and security software have actually cause me problems on PC's being used for this purpose. i.e. if it running fine don't introduce unnecessary changes.

Fortunately I had a backup of the drive I made when I built the PC. Switching to that drive appears to have resolved the issue.

Would still be interested to know, what was actually causing the BSOD's.

 

[axe0]

I already said why those crashes occured in post #4
As I also already said, it is impossible to tell the root cause due to all the updates your machine is missing.

if it running fine don't introduce unnecessary changes

Without most of those changes many users would have thrown away their pc's, mobiles and other stuff due to the many vulnerabilities that would be exploited.

I wouldn't want to attempt to change your mind, but if you don't try my suggestions then I can't help, what I said about the cause is the description of the BSODs you've had, the true cause can be something else which again would be impossible to determine until you try suggestions.

 

[Rallyace]

Installing the backup drive I made when I built the machine has fixed the problem, and also ruled out all the things you suggested in post #4.

I would not run my normal PC without it being fully updated and with updated security software, but the usage of this PC does not warrant it. In fact many doing the same thing, actively discourage it, often using stripped down versions of the OS.

I'm really sorry to keep pushing this point, but problem solving and fixing PC does not solely rely on performing updates.

 

[axe0]

I'm really sorry to keep pushing this point, but problem solving and fixing PC does not solely rely on performing updates.

That is not what I'm saying at all!

I say that installing a single missing update can solve a problem, but I don't say that it is the only solution, in post #4 I mention some root causes but with missing critical updates it can lead to something looking like a solution while it in reality is the opposite and then you'll have more serious problems than just BSODs.