Frequent BSOD 0x000007A error and mini dumps not getting saved

[suhaskabra]

Hi,

I have a Dell Vostro (Core i5) installed with Windows 7 32 bit, MS Office 2010 Professional, MS Security essentials and other softwares. There are two problems I am facing

1. My system crashes frequently (almost daily) and reports 0x000007A error. As instructed I have uploaded the SF folder. Initially I thought it might be due to faulty installation of MS Office, as the crashes would occur when MS Excel file would be load with a heavy pivot or had too many formulas in it. So I reinstalled MS Office, however, to no use in resolving the BSOD prevention

2. To save the crash records in mini dump files, I changed the settings (Start--->Control Panel--->System--->System Properties--->Advanced--->Settings button under 'Startup and Recovery') to save the mini dump file. But this is not working as my computer did crashed a couple of times over the last few days and there are no mini dumps for it.

Please advise.

Regards,
Suhas

 

[koolkat77]

Welcome, Do you get BSOD's in safe mode?

This can be either Bad RAM or a Bad HDD. Do the following>

Upload a screenshot using:

CrystalDiskInfo​

:tip: For how to upload a screenshot or file, read here

Test your Hard Drive by running:

Hard Drive Diagnostic Procedure​

Use the System File Checker tool and Run Disk Check:

Repair Windows 7 System Files with System File Checker

Run Disk Check in Windows 7 for Bad Sectors & Errors​

Test and Diagnose RAM Issues with Memtest86+:

RAM - Test with Memtest86+​

:info: Pay close attention to part 3 of the tutorial "If you have errors"

   Tip

• :tip: Test the RAM with Memtest86+ for at least 7-10 passes. It may take up to 22 passes to find problems. Make sure to run it once after the system has been on for a few hours and is warm, and then also run it again when the system has been off for a few hours and is cold.

Post only after you have completed the steps above.

 

[suhaskabra]

Hi Koolkat77,

Thank you for your response. I have never run my system in safe mode, so not aware of it. Second, I have run the diagnostic tools which come with the Dell system (as the Dell support guys always insist on the result from these tools before commenting for a solution, even for warranty claims) and all the tests show the system to be healthy. I will complete the tests recommended by you and share the results.

Once again thank you for your support.

Regards,
Suhas

 

[suhaskabra]

Hi KoolKat77,

Please find the crystal disk info screenshot.

Regards,
Suhas

 

[koolkat77]

Any new BSOD's? Have you run RAM test?

 

[suhaskabra]

Hi Koolkat77,

Please find attached the RAM test screen shots. As recommended, I run the test twice (1-heated system, 2-cold system) and for minimum of 21 cycles. In both the cases, there was no error reported.

In between, the system did crash 2 or 3 times. But somehow, the crash report didnt get saved.

Please advise on the next steps.

Regards,
Suhas

 

[Arc]

Hello Suhas .... A plan to update the BIOS to Version A08 (dated 9/12/2012) will be a worthy try. It is available at Drivers & Downloads | Dell India.

System Model    Vostro 1450
BIOS Version/Date    Dell Inc. A05, 10/14/11

   Warning

BIOS Updates are somehow risky. If you dont have proper idea about what you are going to do, take help of a person who knows about it or consult a technician. Whatever you are doing is at your own risk.

 

[YoYo155]

During the past three weeks, was the PC stable?


When you say the system crashed, what happened?
Did the PC just shut itself down?
How much time roughly into the tests did the crashes occur?
Were you able to turn the PC back on right away?

 

[suhaskabra]

Hi Arc and Yoyo,

On the bios upgrade, is it a simple process? As I am a novice level technician.

On the questions asked by Yoyo, below are my answers

During the past three weeks, was the PC stable? - crashed twice
When you say the system crashed, what happened? - initially it froze and then a blue screen appeared with 0x000007A error code
Did the PC just shut itself down? Yes and then restarted on its own
How much time roughly into the tests did the crashes occur? The first crash after 4 days and second after a week or so
Were you able to turn the PC back on right away? yes. on both and the earlier occasions, I had the following softwares running on my system (I was working on them)
- Google Crome with multiple tabs
- IE9.0 with multiple tabs ~10 tabs
- MS Excel - a heavy file with pivots and formulas
- MS Powerpoint - more than one file with charts and smartarts
- MS Outlook

Initially I thought it might be due to faulty installation of MS Office, so I did reinstalled it, but to no success.

Please advise.

Regards,
Suhas

 

[YoYo155]

Hi Arc and Yoyo,

During the past three weeks, was the PC stable? - crashed twice
When you say the system crashed, what happened? - initially it froze and then a blue screen appeared with 0x000007A error code
Did the PC just shut itself down? Yes and then restarted on its own
How much time roughly into the tests did the crashes occur? The first crash after 4 days and second after a week or so


Please advise.

Regards,
Suhas

I suspect the storage solution, did you test it eventually?


Testing the HDD:

1. Perform a Disk Check | http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/433-disk-check.html
2. Then Post the results following | THIS METHOD
3. Download SeaTools for Windows if you don't want to use a CD to test the HDD you can use YUMI – Multiboot USB Creator to create a bootable USB (instructions are found at the bottom of both page).