Challenged X201: persistent BSOD

[joX201]

Hello,

Since I bought my X201 direct from Lenovo, it has been having big BSOD issues (often more than once a day). I suspect it has to do with the sleep functionality, but now BSODs seem to happen also during boot-up. This is very annoying.
Needless to say, I have spent countless hours with Lenovo's diagnostics and phone tech support. I decided to try ask for some help here as last resort before getting rid of it.

The configuration is exactly as I got it from Lenovo:

• X201 with Intel i7 CPU M620 @2.67 GHz
• Windows 7 Professional 64-bit
• 8GB RAM
• Intel SSD (160 GB)

Very grateful if anyone can help... Thanks !

JoX201


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I am not an IT professional, just a user trying to figure out what is wrong who got a problem that's too tech for him.

 

[MvdB]

Hello Jox, welcome to SF!

Strange as it might sound, part of your problems might be caused by interrupted Windows Updates.

Please go to your Maintenance Center and check the Windows Update status. Make sure you are up to date, do them one by one manually if needed.
For help or reset see: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/91738-windows-update-reset.html

If, after updating, you still have issues, start in Safemode to test.
Safe Mode - Windows 7 Forums

Post back any results please

 

[joX201]

Hi MvdB,

Thanks for your rapid reply. I just performed the steps you indicates, very straighforward. Now I'll use the computer for a while and see if the BSODs are gone.
In fact, I had a windows update that did not want to execute correctly for a while. I had tried to fix it (install manually), ignore it, etc but it always came back. The bat-scripts you pointed me to are a really useful trick.
Thanks a lot !

Jo

 

[MvdB]

My pleasure! Hope it remains stable!

 

[joX201]

Hi... Unfortunately, the BSODs persist. I really think they have to do with the sleep condition: typically, it goes blue after I leave the pc for a while. Just did it again now.

Do you suspect any other potential causes ?

I'm really grateful for any help. This thing is driving me up the wall (and back to my old XP machine).
Thanks,

Jo

 

[MvdB]

Well, sleep/hibernate etc settings combined with powersaving mechanisms can cause problems.

As a test... turn off all powersaving please? Also, don't let it sleep. I know it might be a drag but for testing purposes, let's find out if these settings have something to do with it... So the test is, during a day or 2, to see if you have any BSOD's if you use the system normally, on full power and a manual shutdowns when you leave it for a longer period of time...

Sometime in between, let it run this test during a night (5-6 hours):
Download a copy of Memtest86 and burn the ISO to a CD using Iso Recorder or another ISO burning program.

Boot from the CD, and leave it running for at least 5 or 6 passes.

Just remember, any time Memtest reports errors, it can be either bad RAM or a bad motherboard slot.

Test the sticks individually, and if you find a good one, test it in all slots.

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

 

[joX201]

Hi MvdB,

Thanks for your tips. I already started running Memtest, and so far one night no errors found. I will let it run another while in the next days, let's see what happens.
Speak soon, thanks for your support !

Jo

 

[MvdB]

Up to 7 passes of memtest should be sufficient....
Hope it remains stable so we can check what powersaving settings caused this...

 

[joX201]

still no progress: BSOD 0x0000003b

So, I reinstalled the X201 multiple times from scratch, tried to send it in for service to Lenovo (which denies all responsibility: they make hardware, the problem is Microsoft's... never mind the laptop did BSODs since day 1... go buy yourself a Lenovo next time!) Microsoft blames Lenovo or some hardware component manufacturer, drivers, and other crap... usual offloading of responsibility (including during warranty!)... whatever.
Problem comes up even when the machine is running Ubuntu (which leads me to think it's possibly hardware-related... Lenovo?)

Let's see if anyone here can help... I decided to give it one last try before I set this $1600 piece of junk (sorry laptop) alight.

Every time I use the computer, not one hour goes by without a BSOD. Now error is 0x0000003b (I uploaded the output of the SevenForums diagnostic tool). Hopefully some kind soul can give me a hint of how to fix this.

Thanks in advance!

Jo

 

[koolkat77]

AFAIK, MvdB is no longer active here.

ACPI thermal zone ACPI\ThermalZone\THM0 has been enumerated.             
_PSV = 364K             
_TC1 = 5             
_TC2 = 4             
_TSP = 60000ms             
_AC0 = 0K             
_AC1 = 0K             
_AC2 = 0K             
_AC3 = 0K             
_AC4 = 0K             
_AC5 = 0K             
_AC6 = 0K             
_AC7 = 0K             
_AC8 = 0K             
_AC9 = 0K             
_CRT = 373K             
_HOT = 0K             
 
 
_PSL - see event data.

Upload a screen shot using speccy or HWMonitor:

How to Upload and Post a Screenshot and File in Seven Forums
Speccy System Information
HWMonitor

You might as well want to remove "Lenovo HDD utility driver (part of the IBM Thinkpad Active Protection System)" if you have it.

• Download and install Revo Uninstaller free from here: Download Revo Uninstaller Freeware - Free and Full Download - Uninstall software, remove programs, solve uninstall problems

• Opt for "Advanced Mode" and uninstall the software (also delete the leftover registry entries) then, reinstall the latest version available from the mfg website or a good source like filehippo.com

fffff880`08b32d68  fffff880`01d1dd9eUnable to load image \SystemRoot\System32\DRIVERS\Apsx64.sys, Win32 error 0n2
*** WARNING: Unable to verify timestamp for Apsx64.sys
*** ERROR: Module load completed but symbols could not be loaded for Apsx64.sys
 Apsx64+0x3d9e