Crashing

[huskylives]

Hey folks -- I have the 64-bit version of Windows 7, completely legit copy that I installed fresh by myself. The system is a little over a year old with the exception of a newer hard drive. I recently re-installed the OS on the new hard drive.

Prior to the reinstall and getting the new hard drive, I let my brother install "Dragon Age: Origins". I wasn't having any problems with the computer, but he played it and kept getting BSOD, or sometimes just a freeze, or a sudden restart. I soon after purchased the new hard drive and re-installed Windows 7, and he re-installed his game. I thought that might fix his problem, but the freezing persisted. I kept messing around with advice from "Dragon Age" forums to try to get it working. I wasn't too concerned because it NEVER crashed when I was working on it. I figured it was a bug in the game.

Well, starting today, now I'm getting the BSOD all the time. I can barely stay in Windows long enough to post this. Once it restarts, it sometimes doesn't even go through Windows startup -- it'll freeze up on the Asus startup screen, or restart once I choose "start Windows normally." I tried the driver verifier program today for the first time but was in over my head, so I've included the required files for BSOD questions here, though I will note the stupid system crashed on me while I was running the analysis software. Hopefully everything is there that is needed. I'd definitely appreciate any help!

Hunter

 

[Wallonn7]

Hi huskylives and welcome to SF!
Let's start updating these drivers:

AsIO     AsIO.sys     Thu Oct 14 06:53:21 [B][COLOR=Red]2004[/COLOR][/B]

ASACPI   ASACPI.sys   Sun Mar 27 23:30:36 [B][COLOR=Red]2005[/COLOR][/B]

secdrv   secdrv.SYS   Wed Sep 13 10:18:38 [B][COLOR=Red]2006[/COLOR][/B]

Here is how we recommend updating drivers:

- search Google for the name of the driver
- compare the Google results with what's installed on your system to figure out which device/program it belongs to
- visit the web site of the manufacturer of the hardware/program to get the latest drivers (DON'T use Windows Update or the Update driver function of Device Manager).
- if there are difficulties in locating them, post back with questions and someone will try and help you locate the appropriate program.
- - The most common drivers are listed on this page: Driver Reference
- - Driver manufacturer links are on this page: Drivers and Downloads

Uninstall / Reinstall nVidia GPU driver and update DirectX.
Let us know the results.

 

[huskylives]

Thank you very much! I'll take a crack at these tomorrow and see how it goes!

 

[Wallonn7]

Thank you very much! I'll take a crack at these tomorrow and see how it goes!

Keep reporting...

 

[huskylives]

Hey there -- I have downloaded the latest driver I need for ASACPI.sys (which is apparently a common BSOD-generator). However, I can't figure out how to load them! The download came with a setup file but every time I run it it briefly pops up a command prompt and then shuts back down. Sorry if I sound stupid -- I'm not a newbie at this but by no means not an expert either...

 

[Wallonn7]

Hey there -- I have downloaded the latest driver I need for ASACPI.sys (which is apparently a common BSOD-generator). However, I can't figure out how to load them! The download came with a setup file but every time I run it it briefly pops up a command prompt and then shuts back down. Sorry if I sound stupid -- I'm not a newbie at this but by no means not an expert either...

Have you used "AsusSetup.exe" to run installation?... Anyway, try this:

ATK ACPI for 64-bit
ATK ACPI for 32-bit

1. Uninstall the software (Asus Suite) that this driver is associated with.

2. Create a restore point. Using Windows Explorer, do a search for this driver. Rename it to asacpi.bak. Reboot.

3. Try to install it one more time. If it does not work, try to update it through Device Manager.

And you're not stupid!

 

[huskylives]

Hey -- just wanted to say still working on things. I realized when you wrote this that I had never actually installed any Asus drivers when I reinstalled Windows 7 on my new hard drive. So what I have just done is reinstall the original files from the disk.

As for updating them, I have never installed Asus Suite on my computer (just double-checked), and Windows 7 is telling me that "SYSTEM" is not allowing me to rename the older ASACPI.sys driver, and Device Manager insists I have the most recent drivers already installed. However, I've also noticed that since installing from the manufacturer disc that my computer hasn't crashed. At all. Would it be possible it's fixed?

I'm going to assign my brother to play his dragon game in the morning. If anyone can make it crash he can.

 

[Wallonn7]

Hey -- just wanted to say still working on things. I realized when you wrote this that I had never actually installed any Asus drivers when I reinstalled Windows 7 on my new hard drive. So what I have just done is reinstall the original files from the disk.

As for updating them, I have never installed Asus Suite on my computer (just double-checked), and Windows 7 is telling me that "SYSTEM" is not allowing me to rename the older ASACPI.sys driver, and Device Manager insists I have the most recent drivers already installed. However, I've also noticed that since installing from the manufacturer disc that my computer hasn't crashed. At all. Would it be possible it's fixed?

I'm going to assign my brother to play his dragon game in the morning. If anyone can make it crash he can.

Glad to hear it didn't crash anymore!
Let's play the game!!!
Keep reporting.

 

[huskylives]

So... this is kind of unrelated, but is there any way the minidumps I posted could have somehow contained credit card information from online purchases? Because, unfortunately, I found out my card has been hacked and some gamer has been making lots of online purchases.

 

[Wallonn7]

No. Minidumps do not contain personal information. As suggestions:

1. contact the administrator of your credit card and report the problem.
   
2. Run a full scan with your antivirus, download Malwarebytes, install it and keep it updated. Run regular scans.
   

After being sure that the system is pests free, change all your passwords, from email to Internet banking accounts.
I'm sorry you have been a victim.

 

[huskylives]

Thanks again for all your help! I had already contacted and cancelled the card. I think what happened was that prior to posting here I had downloaded some program that scanned drivers on my system to see which ones were out of date. I knew nothing about the program when I installed it; knew it wasn't smart but did it anyway. I think it scanned my system for things other than just drivers. Anyway, I have changed my passwords, just wanted to check and make sure.

I'll let you know if my brother's dragons crash the machine!

 

[Wallonn7]

Thanks again for all your help! I had already contacted and cancelled the card. I think what happened was that prior to posting here I had downloaded some program that scanned drivers on my system to see which ones were out of date. I knew nothing about the program when I installed it; knew it wasn't smart but did it anyway. I think it scanned my system for things other than just drivers. Anyway, I have changed my passwords, just wanted to check and make sure.

What driver updaters?...

I'll let you know if my brother's dragons crash the machine!

Good luck!

 

[huskylives]

Hey there -- well I've updated what drivers I could, but I don't think I got them all. I'm not sure where to go to get the Asio one, for example. At any rate, it's still crashing. I'm going to run my minidumps again this evening; would you take a look at them and tell me what I've missed?

 

[Wallonn7]

Please answer all questions below.

Run a full scan with your antivirus, download Malwarebytes, install it and keep it updated. Run regular scans.

You ran the scan or not?

Thanks again for all your help! I had already contacted and cancelled the card. I think what happened was that prior to posting here I had downloaded some program that scanned drivers on my system to see which ones were out of date. I knew nothing about the program when I installed it; knew it wasn't smart but did it anyway. I think it scanned my system for things other than just drivers. Anyway, I have changed my passwords, just wanted to check and make sure.

What driver updaters?...

( ... ) would you take a look at them and tell me what I've missed?

Of course.

 

[huskylives]

I'll get you the name of the driver updaters ASAP. I actually do run regular Malwarebyes and antivirus checks, and they have all come up clean.

However, I noticed on the most recent crash that the computer tried to boot up... and failed. And kept trying. So I turned it off, and tried turning it back on. It froze on the Asus screen -- i.e., before even getting to loading drivers. It made me start to think maybe this is a RAM problem. The RAM is over a year old, so I'm fairly certain it's compatible, but I removed the RAM and reseeded it. Still crashed. So, I decided to run memtest86. I got over a million errors on my first run. So then I tried removing each stick (I have 4, 2gb apiece, ADATA gaming series) one at a time and running Memtest. It still started popping up thousands of errors every time. So either I have multiple bad sticks, or is it maybe my motherboard that has problems? Or even the CPU? Help.

 

[Wallonn7]

I'll get you the name of the driver updaters ASAP. I actually do run regular Malwarebyes and antivirus checks, and they have all come up clean.

However, I noticed on the most recent crash that the computer tried to boot up... and failed. And kept trying. So I turned it off, and tried turning it back on. It froze on the Asus screen -- i.e., before even getting to loading drivers. It made me start to think maybe this is a RAM problem. The RAM is over a year old, so I'm fairly certain it's compatible, but I removed the RAM and reseeded it. Still crashed. So, I decided to run memtest86. I got over a million errors on my first run. So then I tried removing each stick (I have 4, 2gb apiece, ADATA gaming series) one at a time and running Memtest. It still started popping up thousands of errors every time. So either I have multiple bad sticks, or is it maybe my motherboard that has problems? Or even the CPU? Help.

If you can boot the computer completely, please follow the Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) Posting Instructions again. If you can not start it over, test your RAM sticks in another motherboard. I also suggest the use of a single ram stick in good condition in the current motherboard. This way you will be able to isolate what is damaged.
Stay calm and good luck.
Let us know the results.

 

[huskylives]

Here you go!

 

[Wallonn7]

Hi huskylives.
While I'm debugging, do the following:

1. Download and rename it to "toy.exe" before save it to desktop, install and update Malwarebytes and run a full scan. Reboot when it promps to. Rerun just to be sure your system is clean.
2. Defragment your hdd using Defraggler - Slim.

 

[huskylives]

I'll try to defrag but this is the type of more intense operation that usually crashes my system. (i.e., once I get into Windows, it usually lets me browse the internet, etc. without problem, but if I start running anything more intense it usually crashes). Just out of curiosity, what will this do?

I'll also try to do what you suggested with the RAM in the morning once this is done.

 

[huskylives]

Defrag successful! Starting Malwarebytes again before heading off to work. Thanks again!