Freezes & BSODs Even After fresh Windows Install

[m00k]

Hello folks,

I’m having some PC issues and was hoping someone could help me fix them!

Last Friday I swapped an Asus HD 6770 for Gigabyte HD 7850. It seemed to work ok in Windows but crashed / froze in all games, benchmarks and when playing HD video. It would either crash to a black screen, or a green screen with dark green vertical lines. I tested it with the last 5 driver versions inc betas but had the same problems each time.

So since nothing else had been changed, I concluded that the new GPU was at fault and RMA’d it on Wednesday. I then put the HD 6770 back in, uninstalled 13.3 ATI drivers and then re-installed 13.1 or whatever the last non-beta was.

So after reverting everything back to how it was, I still get random freezes and BSODs when doing basic stuff like using Firefox, or even when the PC is idle, not just under 3D load as before.

I tried System Restore, Windows Repair, everything... but all with no luck so last night I re-installed Windows with nothing but mobo drivers and Firefox but the problem still persists! After anything from a few minutes to a couple of hours it will still freeze and either just hang on a unresponsive desktop, or a black screen where I can still move the mouse but nothing else.

I’ve ran Memtest86+, Chkdsk, and sf /scannow, all of which passed with no reported errors. Temps never get too high either.

It has only froze twice since re-installing Windows (once when trying to install Chrome and another randomly), but it didn’t BSOD so unfortunately no minidumps available to analyse at the moment. I may have a few minidumps from the previous Windows install, but I’ll have to wait until later to check as I’m now at work (in zombie mode after being up until 4am trying to sort this damn PC!).

Last thing I did was put the GPU in the other PCI-E socket, swapped the RAM into different sockets and tested all cables and connections. There has been no crashes or BSODs since then but it I’m still thinking something hardware-related isn’t right. I plan on running Intel Driver Update Utility when I get home, although Device Manager tells me all drivers are up to date.

The most frustrating thing is the has PC worked perfectly for over a year until I swapped out the GPU last week!

I know it’s hard to say without any dumps to analyse but does anyone have any idea what might be causing all this? Hope I haven’t fried my mobo!

Here are my system details:

Win 7 x64 SP1
Gigabyte Z68AP-D3 F2
i5 2500K
Arctic 7 Pro
Kingston HyperX Blu 8GB 1600MHz DDR3
Antec TruePower 550W
Asus HD 6770
Crucial M4 64GB SSD (OS drive)
Samsung F3 1TB HDD (media)
WD 160GB (programs)
BD-ROM
DVD-RW

Thanks!

 

[Golden]

Please follow steps outlined here to get BSOD help:

http://www.sevenforums.com/crashes-debugging/96879-blue-screen-death-bsod-posting-instructions.html

 

[m00k]

Please follow steps outlined here to get BSOD help:

http://www.sevenforums.com/crashes-debugging/96879-blue-screen-death-bsod-posting-instructions.html

Thanks for the advice. One of the issues is the recent crashes aren't causing BSOD so I have no dump files at the moment.

I plan to run Driver Verifyer after work, so hopefully that will produce some results.

I will also dig out the minidump files from prior to me re-installing Windows.

My gut feeling is RAM, mobo or PSU problem.

 

[Golden]

How long did you run MemTest86+ for? We recommend a minimum of 8 passes - that is typically overnight.

 

[m00k]

How long did you run MemTest86+ for? We recommend a minimum of 8 passes - that is typically overnight.

It ran for 6 passes, but with both modules installed. I had to end it so I could shut the PC down and go to work.

I have just ordered a Thermaltake Dr Power II Universal ATX Power Supply Tester, and some new RAM. Should arrive tomorrow.

In the mean time when I get home from work I shall do the following:

Reset CMOS (and check all settings are correct)
Memtest each RAM stick separately
Test on-board video
Run Intel Driver Update Utility
Run Driver Verifyer
I'll also test the mobo with only my OS drive connected.