Driver power state failure, System service exception, among others.

[natebot88]

Hi everyone. As the title suggests, I'm having trouble with blue screens (several). As the frequency of these have risen to roughly once a day, I've finally had enough. Most of these BSODs will happen at random times, like browsing the internet, playing a game, watching a video, you name it (aside from driver_power_state_failure, this occasionally happens when trying to sleep/ shut down). I've had this custom PC for around 2 years, and at first it worked alright, then it started crashing more and more...

Anyway, I've done several prerequisite tasks attempting to troubleshoot.

1. Reinstalling Windows
2. sfc/ checknow
3. Windows memory diagnostic
4. Checking for bad sectors
5. Updating all drivers
6. Ensuring the PC is running at an OK temp (more specifically the GPU).
7. Ensuring both CPU and GPU are not overclocked.
8. Looking around the internet for potential solutions.

And I wouldn't be surprised if I missed one or two thing I've done.

Attached is the DM Log Collector .zip. You'll notice that there are quite a few dmp files in there. Because I've taken a few pictures of blue screens, I can say that: "System_service_exception" occured on 7/31, "memory_management" occured on 8/3, and "driver_power_state_failure" occured on 8/10.

Please let me know if I've forgotten anything, if you need any files, of if I should start separate threads for each BSOD. Thanks!

 

[Arc]

Avast is contributing to the issue.

fffff880`031baaf8  fffff880`03f34f15Unable to load image \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\aswSnx.sys, Win32 error 0n2
[COLOR=Red]*** WARNING: Unable to verify timestamp for aswSnx.sys
*** ERROR: Module load completed but symbols could not be loaded for aswSnx.sys[/COLOR]
 aswSnx+0x60f15

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.

And display, too.

fffff880`0f0e4000 fffff880`0fff4000   atikmdag T (no symbols)           
    Loaded symbol image file: atikmdag.sys
    Image path: \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\atikmdag.sys
[COLOR=Red]    Image name: atikmdag.sys
    Timestamp:        Fri Apr 18 07:43:16 2014[/COLOR] (53508A3C)
    CheckSum:         00EAEEE6
    ImageSize:        00F10000
    Translations:     0000.04b0 0000.04e4 0409.04b0 0409.04e4

Uninstall your installed version of the display driver.

• How-To Uninstall AMD Catalyst Drivers From A Windows Based System

Then clean up any possible leftover.

• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/83814-drivers-clean-left-over-files-after-uninstalling.html

Then install version 13.9 WHQL only.

• Previous AMD Catalyst? Display Drivers

When done, Stress test the Graphics Card using Furmark.
Video Card - Stress Test with Furmark

Also, as there are multiple issues, better you test your RAM modules for possible errors.
How to Test and Diagnose RAM Issues with Memtest86+
Run memtest for at least 8 consecutive passes.

If it start showing errors/red lines, stop testing. A single error is enough to determine that something is going bad there.

Let us know the results.

Your issue may need a time to have a workaround.

 

[natebot88]

First of all, thank you so much for having a look into this! I was suspecting nobody would reply.
Also, sorry for the lateness, I was on vacation.

I've done everything you've asked. I am now running 13.9 WHQL with no leftover drivers, my GPU was fine for 15-20 minutes of burn-in, and I did 7 and 1/2 consecutive passes (which took around 10 hours, mind you) and no errors whatsoever.

I guess I'll update you guys if I am to get another BSOD?

 

[Arc]

I guess I'll update you guys if I am to get another BSOD?

Yes, do it.

 

[natebot88]

Surprise! It crashed again. While I was gaming. Wonderful.

About 15 mins prior to this, the display driver "crashed and successfully recovered", leaving me with a crashed game and lost progress. Then I tried to start the game again, black screen.

So I reboot, windows updates something, I go to play again, windows crashes and I get, "The video memory manager has encountered an unexpected fatal error". I've attached the minidump file. What do you think?

 

[Arc]

About 15 mins prior to this, the display driver "crashed and successfully recovered", leaving me with a crashed game and lost progress. Then I tried to start the game again, black screen.

Like this?

​

Generally it is a hardware issue. But before blaming the hardware it is better to apply another version of the display driver.

Which is already done. You had CCC 14.4 installed. Due to display issue I suggested you to use CCC 13.9 which is the most stable driver version released by AMD lately. And the issue continues.

So there is no scope to wait for anything else. It is the GPU that is throwing the issue. And the issue is so random that a GPU stress test might not be able to find the issue.

I would suggest you to replace the GPU.

But that may not be the end of your BSODs, as yours is a multifold issue. All the BSODs look the same blue, but they are very different to each other.

So change the GPU, and let us know how the computer is running. Dont be frustrated. It may take a time and effort, but ultimately it will be over.

 

[natebot88]

Ouch. I was hoping it wouldn't be that serious an issue but OK. As you know, I have the Radeon 6970 right now, and seeing as how I'm 16 and won't have a job after school starts next week, I'm on a budget.

I'm having a look at the Gigabyte R7 260X and the GTX 750. Would you happen to know how those stack up against my current card? It may be lower-end, but my current card is from 2011, so that may offset it.

 

[Arc]

No problem mate. If buying a GPU is not possible at this moment, there is an alternative, the Integrated Graphics Processor. Use the onboard graphics. Apply the display cable (VGA output support : HDMI port) to the port of the back panel of the computer .......

View attachment 330951
​

And then go to Intel Download Center. Take the Intel® Driver Update Utility to update Intel(R) Graphics Accelerator and all are done.

 

[natebot88]

Ok then. Thank you so much for your help!