Solved CPU spikes culminating in BSOD, no sign of crash dump.

[mariocat]

About a week ago, seemingly at random, I started getting lag spikes, where my audio would distort and mouse movement would be slowed, and basically everything would slow down for a few seconds. This has persisted over the last week, not always starting as soon as the PC would be turned on (I was doing troubleshooting of my own last night, which required the PC to be restarted several times, and I could recreate the lag from startup, whereas today it was only hours into use that it began). It seems to be when something is loading, mainly, but can also be while idle. I've been using DPC latency checker to monitor it (DPC claims it's a driver issue, but I've attempted to pinpoint it by disabling one by one with little results).

This eventually culminated in a BSOD, but not like I was used to. It was as if my computer was shutting down. My browser and all my programs shut themselves down, I got a couple of errors about my program's services being stopped while in use, which I clicked through, and only once nothing but my wallpaper was onscreen (no toolbar or anything) did the BSOD pop up. I was obviously worried, but relieved I'd have a crash dump to investigate. At the time I had it set to a kernel memory dump, but nothing has been generated. I have now switched to a Small Memory dump, but am unable to recreate the BSOD. I'm able to recreate the lag once it has started by itself, but before it starts I'm unable to recreate it.

I hope I've provided enough information/posted this in the correct place. I'm more than happy to provide more as I'm really struggling at the moment. I consider myself relatively computer savvy, but it's time to admit I'm out of my depth here.

Thanks in advance

 

[Arc]

Hi mariocat. Seen these in your even logs .....

Event[34336]:
Log Name: System
Source: iaStor
Date: 2013-08-09T13:15:52.014
Event ID: 9
Task: N/A
Level: Error
Opcode: N/A
Keyword: Classic
User: N/A
User Name: N/A
Computer: Lewis-PC
Description:
The device, \Device\Ide\iaStor0, did not respond within the timeout period.

Get rid of intel rapid storage. First uninstall it from Control Panel > Programs and Features. Then Uninstall the driver from device manager.

1. Right click on "my computer" icon and click "manage" on the context menu.
2. It will open the "computer management" window.
3. Select "Device Manager" in the left pane, It will list all the existing devices up.
4. Expand "IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers" by clicking on the triangle in front of it.
5. Select one Intel device item under it, right click, uninstall.
6. Continue the process for all Intel items under "IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers"
7. Now restart the computer. At restart, windows will auto configure the appropriate native system driver.

Another recurring error event:

Event[34086]:
Log Name: System
Source: Service Control Manager
Date: 2013-08-08T13:03:49.629
Event ID: 7026
Task: N/A
Level: Error
Opcode: N/A
Keyword: Classic
User: N/A
User Name: N/A
Computer: Lewis-PC
Description:
The following boot-start or system-start driver(s) failed to load:
JSWPSLWF

It is JumpStart Wireless Filter Driver (c:\windows\system32\drivers\jswpslwfx.sys). It is said to be issued by Atheros, but there is no Atheros in your system, byt NetLimiter. Uninstall it, as a test at least, coz we have seen NetLimiter is causing issues in many a cases.

Your network adapter is actually TP-Link, which uses the atheros drivers. May ve JumpStart one too? Update TP-LINK 150Mbps Wireless N PCI Express Adapter from Download - Welcome to TP-LINK.
Another one ....

Event[33374]:
Log Name: System
Source: Service Control Manager
Date: 2013-08-07T10:29:19.630
Event ID: 7031
Task: N/A
Level: Error
Opcode: N/A
Keyword: Classic
User: N/A
User Name: N/A
Computer: Lewis-PC
Description:
The avast! Antivirus service terminated unexpectedly. It has done this 1 time(s). The following corrective action will be taken in 5000 milliseconds: Restart the service.

When Avast behaves in this way, it BSODs. Uninstall Avast using Avast Uninstall Utility. Use Microsoft Security Essentials as your antivirus with windows inbuilt firewall, and free MBAM as the on demand scanner.
Download, install and update those, and then run full system scans with both of them, one by one.

Let us know the results. Also .... follow it: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/174459-dump-files-configure-windows-create-bsod.html
Go to Option Two, Point 2. Download the .reg file and merge it in registry by double clicking it.

Now wait for another BSOD. When it occurred, search the .dmp files manually in the default path: C:\Windows\Minidump or %SystemRoot%\Minidump. See if the crash dump is recorded or not (hopefully it will be recorded).Post it following the Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) Posting Instructions.

 

[mariocat]

Making those changes now, will report back with results soon!

 

[mariocat]

I have done all of the above now. I removed Intel rapid storage from the programs and features menu, but in device manager there were no Intel devices under IDE/ATA ATAPI controllers, so I just deleted everything under there anyway, and since then windows has successfully reinstalled the same drivers.

I removed the jswpslwfx.sys file too, and I have long been using MSE and Malwarebytes, I just hadn't used the Avast removal tool before, so I did so and it still found stuff to remove.

The good news is there have been no CPU spikes as seen before, and definitely no BSODs. The bad news is that I'm now having further problems. My disk drives are on the fritz now. Sometimes it will be slow when trying to access files on my f: drive (I have an extensive steam library that wouldn't fit on my OS HDD). Sometimes it will stop recognising it in the middle of use, i.e. several hours after switching on my computer, my F: drive just dissapears from my computer, and all shortcuts and such wont work. Steam, and any other program running from F:, crashes. I also have just spent 2 hours actually trying to get the bloody thing working. I was starting it at first, getting a "no boot device" sort of error, and then when i finally got it to boot it wasn't recognising the F: drive from the beginning! After restarting again I just repeatedly got stuck on the "Starting Windows" splash-screen and had to restart a few times (not getting the option for safe mode or startup repair like I have before when restarting the computer from that screen). I finally got startup repair to show up, and then that froze after the loading screen as well! I checked and rechecked my SATA connections, and after a final firm wiggle I have everything working again. That in mind, this is the only successful boot this evening, so that might not be the case once I turn everything off tonight. I have checked and rechecked my harddrives for errors, turning nothing up. I will attempt some new SATA cables in the morning but I have little hope. I have a horrible feeling its my mobo. Any ideas?

Thanks again for the help before!

 

[Arc]

If you think the BSOD issue is over, please close this thread and open a new thread in the appropriate section with your present issue.

 

[mariocat]

Of course, thanks again for your help!

 

[Arc]

You are welcome mate. Let us know for any further issue