BSoD x024, hal.dll+12a3b

[PepperidgeFarm]

Ok, so this is actually the third time I've posted here. I keep getting BSoD about once a week, I post here, someone suggests a driver update, I update that driver, then everything seems fine. Then about a week later it crashes again. I don't overclock my system, nothing is over-heating, and at this point I think I've updated all my drivers and Bios. I could be wrong though. I apologize if I'm just an idiot or something and am missing something obvious, but any help would be appreciated. Please see attached .zip file.

 

[Boozad]

1: Avast is causing issues.

fffff880`0a1f5818  fffff880`03e2b7fbUnable to load image \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\aswSnx.sys, Win32 error 0n2
[B][COLOR=Red]*** WARNING: Unable to verify timestamp for aswSnx.sys
*** ERROR: Module load completed but symbols could not be loaded for aswSnx.sys[/COLOR][/B]
 aswSnx+0xe7fb

:ar: Uninstall Avast and Install MS Security Essentials and MalwareBytes.

   Note

Make sure you uncheck the 'Enable Free Trial' box when installing.

2: Your ATI driver is old and needs updating.

0: kd> lmvm atikmdag
start             end                 module name
fffff880`0482b000 fffff880`05341000   atikmdag T (no symbols)           
    Loaded symbol image file: atikmdag.sys
    Image path: \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\atikmdag.sys
    Image name: atikmdag.sys
    Timestamp:        [B][COLOR=Red]Wed Dec 19 20:38:55 2012[/COLOR][/B] (50D225DF)
    CheckSum:         00AC6529
    ImageSize:        00B16000
    Translations:     0000.04b0 0000.04e4 0409.04b0 0409.04e4

:ar: Download the 13.9 driver from here then use AMD Uninstall Utility to remove all traces of your current driver, CCC etc. Reboot and install the 13.9 driver.

   Note

When installing choose 'Advanced' or 'Custom' (whichever option is available, just not Express) and uncheck everything except the video driver.

3: You've also received a few 0x124s which denote a hardware issue, but none of them are giving anything away as to what the issue actually is. Some of your other STOPs are pointing towards possible memory corruption though, so before we go into the full catalogue of hardware checks to stress your system follow the tutorial below to test your RAM first.

1: kd> !analyze -v
*******************************************************************************
*                                                                             *
*                        Bugcheck Analysis                                    *
*                                                                             *
*******************************************************************************

WHEA_UNCORRECTABLE_ERROR (124)
A fatal hardware error has occurred. Parameter 1 identifies the type of error
source that reported the error. Parameter 2 holds the address of the
WHEA_ERROR_RECORD structure that describes the error conditon.
Arguments:
Arg1: 0000000000000000, Machine Check Exception
Arg2: fffffa8007aab028, Address of the WHEA_ERROR_RECORD structure.
Arg3: 00000000b60e4000, High order 32-bits of the MCi_STATUS value.
Arg4: 0000000000000135, Low order 32-bits of the MCi_STATUS value.

:ar: Download and run MemTest86+ to test your RAM.

   Note

Run MemTest86+ for at least 8 passes. Ideally set it off before you go to bed and leave it overnight, we're looking for zero errors here. A single error will show something's going bad with your RAM.

It's possible your BIOS may be causing issues as it's quite old and may need updating, however we'll leave that until very last as flashing your BIOS does carry a substantial amount of risk which could lead to you turning your PC into a potato.

Did you actually update your BIOS in between some of these dumps occurring?

1: kd> !sysinfo machineid
Machine ID Information [From Smbios 2.5, DMIVersion 0, Size=2420]
BiosMajorRelease = 8
BiosMinorRelease = 15
BiosVendor = American Megatrends Inc.
BiosVersion = 0211   
[B][COLOR=Red]BiosReleaseDate = 07/08/2009[/COLOR][/B]

1: kd> !sysinfo machineid
Machine ID Information [From Smbios 2.5, DMIVersion 0, Size=2420]
BiosMajorRelease = 8
BiosMinorRelease = 15
BiosVendor = American Megatrends Inc.
BiosVersion = 2105   
[B][COLOR=Red]BiosReleaseDate = 07/23/2010[/COLOR][/B]

 

[PepperidgeFarm]

Dear Boozad,

Thanks for all the solid advice! I did update it. Or at least, I thought I did. I downloaded and installed a new BIOS. The latest version might just be 2010. I'll do this other stuff and reply tomorrow.

 

[Boozad]

No problem, let us know how it goes.

Your BIOS did successfully update according to your dump files. There is a BIOS version from 2012 but like I say that's a last resort, we've other avenues to explore after the steps listed before we even start thinking of that.

 

[PepperidgeFarm]

When you say to "uncheck everything except the video driver", do you mean the AMD display driver? Because it shows that it's already v14.1 on my computer.

 

[Boozad]

Yes, the AMD Display Driver. That version is causing bugchecks so I advised downgrading to 13.9 as it's known to be more stable.

 

[PepperidgeFarm]

Uh, one more quick question, at the risk of sounding ignorant. How...exactly do you run these memtest files?

 

[Boozad]

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