BSOD random intervals Windows 7 sony VAio Stop: 0x000000F4

[ebbitten]

x86 (32-bit) or x64 ?
64
- the original installed OS on the system?
yes
- an OEM or full retail version?
OEM
- OEM = came pre-installed on system - Full Retail = you purchased it from retailer - What is the age of system (hardware)?
Purchased december 2009
- What is the age of OS installation (have you re-installed the OS?)
Reinstalled July 2011

 

[writhziden]

Problematic Software:

Start Menu\Programs\DriverBoost	Public:Start Menu\Programs\DriverBoost	Public

• We do not recommend automated driver update software. It often finds drivers for devices similar to but not exactly the same as the hardware actually on the system. This can lead to conflicts and blue screen crashes. If you need help finding driver updates for a certain device, please start a thread in Drivers - Windows 7 Forums instead of using software. Driver updates are not always necessary and some updates can actually decrease system stability rather than increase it, so it is usually better not to update unless a device or its driver is causing problems with the system. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

The above is especially true for laptops. Laptop drivers should only be downloaded from the vendor: Sony. Downloading them from other sources provides drivers that may or may not work with the power scheme your vendor created for the system.


The most recent .dmp file you had was from February. The BugCheck code you give indicates a hard disk related problem. 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, make sure the drivers are up to date from the Intel site or Marvell site and not from your motherboard/vendor support site.
  
  
• 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.

 

[ebbitten]

I've followed all the different tests and while a couple of them found a few things (malwarbytes removed a couple files) there didn't seem to be anything critical/could not resolve. I've attached the chkdsk logs. Since I've started this process I have not gotten a single crash, although the crashes were so intermittent before that I'm hesitant to say that I'm completely in the clear at this point.
Thanks so much for the help

 

[writhziden]

Disk check looks clean. Anything found by Malwarebytes may indicate something causing crashes. We'll have to wait and see.

 

[ebbitten]

After several days of completely clean performance it crashed again. This was while I was playing Civ ii ( a game I installed after all of these procedures). And has since been crashing during random times seemingly regardless of what is running. The crashes have been less frequent, at about one every two hours but they have returned

 

[writhziden]

Please provide the latest reports: http://www.sevenforums.com/crashes-debugging/96879-blue-screen-death-bsod-posting-instructions.html

 

[ebbitten]

I've attached the latest reports

 

[writhziden]

Update your Atheros Wireless Network Adapter driver from Sony eSupport - Electronics.


To fully re-install your Atheros Network Adapter driver, use the following steps.

1. First, download the latest Atheros Network Adapter driver. Then do the next steps.
2. Click Start Menu
3. Right Click My Computer/Computer
4. Click Manage
5. Click Device Manager from the list on the left
6. Expand Network adapters
7. Right click the Atheros Network Adapter device
8. Click Uninstall (do not click OK in the dialog box that pops up after hitting Uninstall)
9. Put a tick in Delete driver software for this device and hit OK
10. Do not restart your computer.
11. Install the latest driver for the Atheros Network Adapter device.

Alternatively:

1. Login as an adminstrative user.
2. First, download the latest Atheros Network Adapter driver. Then do the next steps.
3. Click Start Menu
4. Click Control Panel
5. Click Hardware and Sound
6. Click Device Manager (the last link under Devices and Printers)
7. Expand Network adapters
8. Right click the Atheros Network Adapter device
9. Click Uninstall (do not click OK in the dialog box that pops up after hitting Uninstall)
10. Put a tick in Delete driver software for this device and hit OK
11. Do not restart your computer.
12. Install the latest driver for the Atheros Network Adapter device.

 

[ebbitten]

Thats done and it did remove the little yellow caution sign. Thanks!

Another BSOD stop 0xf4 thing happened. I've redone the scans and attached the latest resultsView attachment 217615

 

[writhziden]

Update your wireless driver with Sony eSupport - VGN-NW270F - Drivers & Software

1. Click Start Menu
2. Right Click My Computer/Computer
3. Click Manage
4. Click Device Manager from the list on the left
5. Expand Network adapters
6. Right click the Atheros network device
7. Click Uninstall (do not click OK in the dialog box that pops up after hitting Uninstall)
8. Put a tick in Delete driver software for this device and hit OK
9. Do not restart your computer
10. Install the downloaded driver for the Atheros network device.

Alternatively:

1. Login as an adminstrative user.
2. Click Start Menu
3. Click Control Panel
4. Click Hardware and Sound
5. Click Device Manager (the last link under Devices and Printers)
6. Expand Network adapters
7. Right click the Atheros network device
8. Click Uninstall (do not click OK in the dialog box that pops up after hitting Uninstall)
9. Put a tick in Delete driver software for this device and hit OK
10. Do not restart your computer
11. Install the downloaded driver for the Atheros network device.

Update your Sony Firmware Extension Parser (SFEP) driver: Sony eSupport - VPCEH290X - Drivers & Software

The above SFEP driver is not for your laptop model, but it will work with your model.

 

[ebbitten]

I've tried that and it seems to temporarily work but whenever I plug in my eGPU setup it always goes back to some sort of error.

 

[writhziden]

My apologies; I am not familiar with eGPU devices. I will see if I can find you some assistance from other experts.