BSODs, maybe Firefox or Flash

[Microfrost]

Hello!

For the past several months, I have regularly experienced BSODs, between 0 and 5 a day. This is almost always when browsing with Firefox, and might sometimes coincide with Flash activities (like receiving a chat in Gmail).

I have also been getting BSODs when attempting to use FBackup 4.8.286, copying from my C: and E: drives to my G: (external USB) drive.

The only BSOD I managed to grab a picture of contained the following:
IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL
STOP: 0x0000000A (0x0000000000261773,0x0000000000000002,0x0000000000000001,0xFFFFF800034B5939)

I very recently updated my video and motherboard drivers, but this did not help.

This is getting pretty annoying. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[koolkat77]

Hi Microfrost and welcome to seven forums.

It does not look like your new blue screen dumps were collected. Please follow:

   Note

Configure dumps

First, we want to make sure the computer is saving your dump files. Go to Control Panel -> System -> Advanced System Settings -> Startup and Recovery [Settings] Make sure that "Write Debugging Information" is set to Small Memory Dump (256kb) if it is not already.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/174459-dump-files-configure-windows-create-bsod.html
Next, make sure that the folder C:\Windows\Minidump exists. If not, create it (allow permission if asked). Make sure any dumps you want to analyze, whether yours or others', are in this folder. You can ZIP/RAR the files and send them to someone else to analyze as well.

Start up

Keep less stuff at the start-up. Only anti-virus, this helps avoid driver conflicts and improves time to log in to windows.
Troubleshoot a Problem by Performing a Clean Startup in Windows 7 or Vista
How to Change, Add, or Remove Startup Programs in Windows 7

Security App

Avast! can often be a cause of BSOD's please remove and replace with Microsoft Security Essentials to see if it provides more stability. Uninstallers (removal tools) for common antivirus software. Microsoft Security Essentials and Malwarebytes are recommended from a strict BSOD perspective. They do not cause blue screens on the system as other AV products do.

Microsoft Security Essentials, Free antivirus for windows and Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free

   Information

• :warn: Do not start the free trial of MalwareBytes, unselect that option when prompted.
  
  
  
  
  
• :tip: Update and make full scans with both separately.

Kaspersky TDSSKiller - How to remove malware belonging to the family Rootkit.Win32.TDSS (aka Tidserv, TDSServ, Alureon)

ESET online scanner - One-time virus scanner free with ESET online scanner

Hard Drive/Storage

Post disk summary using CrystalDiskInfo software: CrystalDiskInfo Standard Edition

• :info: For how to upload a screenshot or file, read here

Make a hard drive test from the hard drive manufacturers website: Hard Drive Diagnostic Procedure

For errors on your Hard drive(s): How to Run Disk Check in Windows 7

System Temperature

Ensure that there are no heat issues, For monitoring heat of the system use Speccy or HWMonitor

SFC /scannow to check windows for corruption:

How to Repair Windows 7 System Files with System File Checker
1. Click Start

2. In the search box, type Command Prompt
3. In the list that appears, right-click on cmd.exe and choose Run as administrator
4. In the command window that opens, type

sfc /scannow

and hit enter.

Memtest86+

Run Memtest86+ for at least 8-10 passes. It may take up to 20 passes to find problems. Make sure to run it once after the system has been on for a few hours and is warm, and then also run it again when the system has been off for a few hours and is cold. How to Test and Diagnose RAM Issues with Memtest86+

   Note

Pay close attention to part 3 of the tutorial in order to rule the faulty RAM stick out.

   Tip

Do this test overnight.

 

[Microfrost]

Thanks for the reply!

• I have changed back to Small Memory Dump. Sorry, I didn't notice the dates were all old. I have an 828MB memory.dmp file, but even zipped it's still 175MB.
• I have removed a few old/unneeded startup programs. I know I have a lot, but I do use most of them.
• I'd like to rule out other issues before ditching Avast!.
• I have attached screenshots from CrystalDiskInfo. Hopefully they are what you were looking for.
• It hasn't been too long since I've checked the drives for errors (except the USB since I just got it) but I might give that another go.
• Temps are OK. I have SpeedFan and CoreTemp monitoring them.
• I just installed some Windows updates, so I need to reboot, but then I will run SFC.
• I ran Memtest86+ on all my RAM sticks when they were first installed, but I can try that overnight again soon.

 

[koolkat77]

All your hard drives look fine and thanks for the update.

 

[Microfrost]

SFC said "Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them." I saved the (huge) log file it referred to, and will reboot now.

 

[Microfrost]

My system has been a bit more stable, but a couple of times since my last post, I have sat down and found that it had rebooted. I don't have any new minidumps, though, and the event viewer didn't tell me much, just that "The system has rebooted without cleanly shutting down first."

 

[koolkat77]

Did you run SFC scannow later? If yes, what were the results?

Can you post a snip of Summary tab of Speccy or HWinfo?

 

[Microfrost]

SFC said "Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them" and it was after running it that I saw some improvement. No other BSODs that I witnessed, but at least 2 reboots.

If you're looking for voltages and temperatures, see the attachment from SpeedFan. Note: the -12V and -5V rails have never shown the right readings but have been confirmed to be within 10% of spec with a voltmeter.

If you're looking for a list of components, please let me know if you need more than I provided for "My System Specs."

 

[koolkat77]

Looks fine, please go through these links:
Thermal Paste and How To Use It | techPowerUp
Avoid Static Damage to Your PC | PCWorld
Power Supply Information and Selection - Tech Support Forum
Basic computer troubleshooting
How To Clear CMOS
How to clean your PC of dust and dirt
How to clean a computer

 

[Britton30]

It would seem that your PSU is not putting out the correct volts when booted. It could still show OK on a volt meter, how did you check it? The reading should be with +/- 5%, not 10%.
Go to the hardware section of your BIOS and see what voltages it is reporting, I never have trusted Speed Fan.

 

[Microfrost]

It would seem that your PSU is not putting out the correct volts when booted. It could still show OK on a volt meter, how did you check it? The reading should be with +/- 5%, not 10%.
Go to the hardware section of your BIOS and see what voltages it is reporting, I never have trusted Speed Fan.

The valid SpeedFan readings (left column) agree with the BIOS, though I forgot that for this PC, the power supply doesn't output -5V. However, I just re-checked the -12V rail with a volt meter between ground and the ATX power connector pin 14 (blue), and it is -12.21V, well within tolerance. 10% is the correct tolerance for the negative voltage rails only (source).

 

[Britton30]

Note it says" little-used negative supply voltages". The positive volts are more important.
Did you check volts while running an intense game or video coding?