BSOD within 5 mins of startup; runs fine in safe mode

[whiskeyguy]

Hi all,

I get a BSOD within 5 mins of startup. It happens whenever the computer has to do a more complicated task, such as opening many windows, formatting something in Word, etc. Sometimes there is no BSOD--it will simply restart and I'll be left with a bootable drive not found error. The computer does not crash while in safe mode.

Spybot found no viruses. My msinfo is zipped and attached.

Thank you in advance for any help!

 

[Dsprague]

Pleas follow the Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) Posting Instructions

 

[whiskeyguy]

Thank you. Attached is the right file. Please let me know if you need anything else.

 

[whiskeyguy]

Using clean boot, I believe I narrowed the problem program down to one of six Sophos programs listed in the msconfig application. With these 6 unchecked, the computer seems to run stable. Does this seem right?

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[Dsprague]

Sorry for the late response had a bit of a crazy day so far. But had a look over your files and it looks like the issue is a video TDR error now lets start with the simplest thing here the video drivers. Had a look at the time stamps on them and they are rather out of date, please update them:

*******************************************************************************
*                                                                             *
*                        Bugcheck Analysis                                    *
*                                                                             *
*******************************************************************************

Use !analyze -v to get detailed debugging information.

BugCheck 116, {fffffa800a420010, fffff880040e244c, 0, 2}

Unable to load image \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\atikmpag.sys, Win32 error 0n2
*** [COLOR=Red]WARNING: Unable to verify timestamp for atikmpag.sys[/COLOR]
*** ERROR: Module load completed but symbols could not be loaded for atikmpag.sys
*** WARNING: Unable to verify timestamp for win32k.sys
*** ERROR: Module load completed but symbols could not be loaded for win32k.sys
[COLOR=Red]Probably caused by : atikmpag.sys [/COLOR]( atikmpag+744c )

Followup: MachineOwner
---------

kd> lmvm atikmpag
start             end                 module name
fffff880`040db000 fffff880`0412b000   atikmpag T (no symbols)           
    Loaded symbol image file: atikmpag.sys
    Image path: \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\atikmpag.sys
    Image name: atikmpag.sys
    Timestamp:        [COLOR=Red]Thu Jun 09 22:38:00 2011[/COLOR] (4DF18388)
    CheckSum:         0005482F
    ImageSize:        00050000
    Translations:     0000.04b0 0000.04e4 0409.04b0 0409.04e4

you can update them from here: http://support.amd.com/us/Pages/AMDSupportHub.aspx

To answer your question about a clean boot helping with stability, it is entirely possible that it would make your system more stable, often times machines like alienware will come with a ton of factory installed bloatware that can cause instability or long start up times.

 

[whiskeyguy]

Thank you! Ill do this as soon as I'm home from work and report back then.

 

[Dsprague]

I do hope that it works out.

 

[whiskeyguy]

Thank you.

In the meantime, I should mention that after disabling through msconfig Sophos antivirus and 5 related Sophos programs, my computer is stable in normal mode. I left it on over night while it ran programs and no BOSD or restart, which is the stablest it has been in over a week.

 

[Dsprague]

Then in that case I would recommend removing Sophos and replacing it with MSE and Mbam Tip: uncheck the box asking to start a free trial when installing Mbam.

 

[whiskeyguy]

Then in that case I would recommend removing Sophos and replacing it with MSE and Mbam Tip: uncheck the box asking to start a free trial when installing Mbam.

Thank you. Now that Sophos is uninstalled I have not had a BOSD yet. PC is running smoothly and seems stable. I've installed MSE and Mbam without problems. Looking to update my video drivers now.

Thank you!

 

[whiskeyguy]

I spoke too soon. Tonight while running in normal mode my computer crashed. While I didn't get a BSOD, I did get an error that I frequently received along with BSODs--the computer would return to a black screen and read "PXE-MOF Exiting Intel PXE Rom; No bootable device-insert boot disk and press any key." Fortunately in this situation if I restart the computer by holding the power button my computer will boot back up again.

I'm worried that my hard drive is about to go out. Should I just spend a hundred bucks on a new one and see if that resolves the problem? I'm happy to upload more data or provide more information if you think it will help resolve this--just ask. Thank you!

 

[Dsprague]

It does indeed sound like your hard drive is getting ready to go, though you could just to be sure check and make sure that the data and power cables are seated properly by opening the case unplugging them at both ends (in the case of the data cable) and then plugging them back in. for actual hard ware testing see this tutorial: Hard Drive Diagnostic Procedure

 

[whiskeyguy]

Thank you, I will try that. If that doesn't fix it, should I simply take it to a repair shop and ask them to install a new hard drive for me? We have a reputable repair shop on campus.

 

[Dsprague]

If you feel that they are a good place and you trust them then, yes unless you would rather install the hard drive yourself.