BSOD playing games(UT3, Tribes:Ascend etc) Graphics or hardware issue?

[Shauner]

Hi,

These are the system spec for my Alienware M15x, just to check
-Windows 7 x64 Home Premium (Preinstalled, but has been reinstalled around 8 months ago). The hardware is around 2 years old now
-nVidia GeForce GTX 260M
-Intel i7 Q 740 1.73 GHz Octacore
-4.00 GB RAM

The issue I have is that whenever I start a game, such as Unreal Tournament 3 or Tribes: Ascend the game launches fine, however 5-10 minutes into a game, the display crashes and freezes. This happens almost 100% of the time, on other occasions I can play the game peacefully but this is very rare.
From time to time, the computer gets a BSOD, and I have attatched the dump files to this post.

I have checked and now am certain that I have the latest graphics driver for my graphics card, and I have also recently installed the latest version of Microsoft Visual C++ and Framework 4.0

The question I have regarding this issue is:
1. What kind of issue am I having?
2. What is causing the issue to begin with?
3. Whether or not there a way to fix this issue, and if so how?

I would really appreciate your help, I hope that somebody could help me out with this as quick as possible!
Thank you for your assitance in advance

 

[HonorGamer]

It looks like your NVIDIA drivers are out of date. Go ahead and update those here: Drivers - Download NVIDIA Drivers

 

[Shauner]

It looks like your NVIDIA drivers are out of date. Go ahead and update those here: Drivers - Download NVIDIA Drivers

Like I said, I am certain I have the latest driver
But I went over to the site and checked once again, and used the automatic detection option, and I do in fact have the 301.42 version of the driver for 64-bit which they say is the latest version. Or are you trying to say I need to install the 32-bit version?

 

[HonorGamer]

I apologize, I wasn't reading it correctly. Try uninstalling the drivers, then Reinstall them with the latest update. It is possible that they weren't installed correctly.

 

[Shauner]

No problem
I have tried doing clean installs of the graphics driver several times, by uninstalling, restarting the computer, and installing the latest graphics driver (which I currently have) and finally rebooting the laptop once the install had finnished.

The issue had still persisted even after the reinstallation of the driver.

 

[HonorGamer]

When did these problems start?

 

[Shauner]

I'd say the crashes/freezes started 12-14 months ago. It was the reason why I tried reinstalling Windows 7. But as you can probably tell, even a full reinstall of the OS didn't do much to solve the problem.

 

[HonorGamer]

And this only happens when you play games?

 

[Shauner]

I remember there being a few occasions where it happened when I was just simply using the laptop with several programs open, but that was only once or twice.
So yes, its mainly when I play games

 

[Shauner]

So any idea whats causing all this?

I tried playing a couple of games again today, caused the computer to crash though, no bluescreens this time around. The computer freezes and the display locks, the computer is unresponsive to any input from keyboard or mouse...
One thing I noticed is that if I have a music track playing in the background in iTunes the track continues to play even when the crash occurs, but doesn't move onto the next track. So I guess the computer doesnt COMPLETELY crash...

Anyway, I really appreciate your help over here, thank you.

 

[karlsnooks]

Shauner,

Step 1: Carry out following. I recommend using SPECCY.

Update your SevenForums System Specs
User CP (located on the top menu bar) |
Your Profile | Edit System Spec (left-hand column)

To gather info, use Speccy (my favorite) or SIW or System Info

In the System Manufacturer Block, enter:
Manufacturer and Model and
ADD the word laptop, desktop, netbook or tablet.
For example:
Toshiba Satellite L305D notebook.

Provide full windows version info, for example:
MS Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 64-bit

Use the “Other Info” block for Optical Reader,
Mouse, touchpad, wifi adapter, speakers, monitor, etc

Scroll down and click on SAVE CHANGES.

You will find that in Speccy, you can select info from the display
using your mouse/touchpad and then paste that info into your specs.

SIW is a marvelous program, but the free version does not offer
this capability.

===============================================
===============================================

Step # 2. Now that you have SPECCY installed, minimize to the task bar, and while a game is playing, glance at the temps to see how they are behaving.

=======================================================
=======================================================

Step #3. Carry out folliowing which will help at gaining insight into possible problems.

Install CCleaner:
CCleaner - PC Optimization and Cleaning - Free Download

list of STARTUP PROGRAMS

CCleaner | Tools icon | Startup button | Windows tab |
click on Save to text file button (bottom right side) |
accept Startup.txt as file name | SAVE button

list of SCHEDULED TASKS

CCleaner | Tools icon | Startup button | Scheduled Tasks tab |
click on Save to text file button (bottom right side) |
enter Scheduled Tasks as File name | Save button

List of INSTALLED PROGRAMS

CCleaner | Tools icon | Uninstall button |
click on Save to text file button (bottom right side) |
accept install.txt as File name | Save button


UPLOAD, as an attachment, the startup.txt file
UPLOAD, as an attachment, the Scheduled Tasks.txt file
UPLOAD, as an attachment, the install.txt file.

HOW TO UPLOAD
Post a File or Screenshot in Seven Forums

================================================
================================================

Step #4.

Complete Steps 1,2, and 3 and post back the results.
I'll await those results.

 

[Shauner]

Here are the files you requested.

I took a look at the temperatures while running a game, but they were around the 50-60℃ mark for most of the time, or is that unusual for a laptop?

 

[karlsnooks]

I'm back in action. Need to catchup on some easy ones. Will be back with suggestions re those 3 files.

Thanks for filling in specs. I've seen several cases where updating the bios and the chipset driver on Alienware laptops cured the problems.

We can look at that later.

 

[karlsnooks]

Shauner,
The temps are ok.

Why does DELL say that the the M15x is not available?

WIN | type MSCONFIG | ENTER | STARTUP tab |
Uncheck ALL except for:

MSC    Microsoft Corporation    "c:\Program Files\Microsoft Security Client\msseces.exe" -hide -runkey
SynTPEnh    Synaptics Incorporated    %ProgramFiles%\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPEnh.exe

REBOOT!

You have just told Win 7 to not run unchecked programs at start up time.

You have not disabled the programs. They will be run when needed.

WIN = key with the Microsoft logo on top

 

[karlsnooks]

CCLEANER | TOOLS icon | STARTUP tab | SCHEDULED TASKS tab |
Use DISABLE button to disable ALL except for:

CCleanerSkipUAC    Piriform Ltd    "C:\Program Files\CCleaner\CCleaner.exe" $(Arg0)

Close CCleaner.


REBOOT!

You have not disabled any programs. You have disabled the scheduled running.
Later, after your system is running smoothly, you may reenable desired programs.

 

[karlsnooks]

UNINSTALL

BitTorrent    BitTorrent Inc.            7.6.1
Bonjour    Apple Inc.    02/11/2011    2.00 MB    3.0.0.10
Downloader                
OSD Setup    MyOSD    02/11/2011    5.43 MB    1.1.3
PerformanceTest v7.0 (64-bit)    Passmark Software    25/02/2012        7.0
PFPortChecker 1.0.39    Portforward.com            1.0.39
System Requirements Lab            
Yontoo 1.10.02    Yontoo LLC    07/01/2012        1.10.02
サマーウォーズクロック

REBOOT

REMOVAL OF P2P PROGRAMS

There are signs of one or more P2P (Peer to Peer) File Sharing Programs on your computer.

As long as you are using any form of P2P networking to download files, you can anticipate malware infestations.

References citing the risk of using P2P programs:
How cyber criminals infect victims via P2P with pirated software on Vimeo
Malware: Help prevent the Infection
Perils of P2P File Sharing
How to Prevent the Online Invasion of Spyware and Adware
The Hidden Security Risks of P2P Traffic


I strongly recommend that you uninstall:
µTorrent
BitTorrent
Vuze

 

[Shauner]

Dell stopped producing the M15x around a year ago, that is most likely why they say it is "unavailable".

I understand that the BIOS update could cause issues, but I can tell you the problems I described in this post existed BEFORE the update too, so I wouldn't think that was the problem.

I have done as you instructed, I'll try running a few games to see if the situation is any better, and I'll post the results of the runs.

 

[karlsnooks]

also post an updated set of those three files please.
thanks,
karl

 

[Shauner]

I'm not too sure if the changes resolved the problems, it crashed a few times to begin with even after the changes, and then now games run just fine.

But that was after me realising that the graphics card section of the laptop was getting really hot, so I placed a coolant beneath that section of the laptop which gave more space between the fan intake area and my desk...

I checked the temperatures again but they're at the 53 or 54℃ mark most of the time.

I'll try testing again without the coolant, but can those temperatures be what's causing the display crashes?

 

[karlsnooks]

I guarantee you that the changes made to date have made your system more stable, run better and have less BSODs.

You may still have more problem sources, but all steps to date have done nothing but improve your system.

Take a can of compressed sir.
Blow the air into any all openings on your computer, including the keyboard, the speakers, the connectors. Remove any battery, ram covers, disk covers and blow those areas out.

Be sure to turn the laptop upside down and bang on the bottom with the cover open for two reasons: one to dislodge and particles and another to loosen any dust.

Reinstall battery, covers. Power back up.

After another hour, with power and battery removed, blow compressed air into every opening, paying special attention to the fan area.

Never put your laptop on your lap. Here my compliments to Apple. They didn't put vents on the bottom to be blocked and their laptops run much cooler.

Your laptop is great and also a great heat generator. I recommend directing a tabletop, desktop, or floor fan directly at your laptop. I have one blowing on my laptop at the very moment. I do not "game" and am rather much a plain-vanilla user and CoreTemp shows my present CPU temps as 50,50 with jump to as high as 58,58 while running an MSE virus scan. This laptop has always run warm-hot.

I'll take a look at the files here in about 30 minutes.

karl