Help with reading .dmp from random BSOD

[NipZ]

I built a computer system for a friend to use in his garage as his business computer, but it has always suffered from what seem to be random BSOD. Unfortunately I have yet to see a BSOD with my own eyes but looking through "view reliability history" and the .dmp dates I can see they are to frequent and cause concerns for my friend about loss of data which he had suffered with his old laptop.

I updated the BIOS once before as a newly released BIOS was for "stability" and a ran memtest+ for 24hrs with no errors so I was hoping someone with more knowledge could shed some light on the problem with the use of the dumps.

I downloaded WinDbg to see if I could open the dumps myself, but I have errors telling me symbols aren't loaded and I need a symbols path, I dont understand what this means.

I'm keen to learn more so if anyone can be kind enough to explain how to use the dumps and what software they use the information would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance if someone can help me!

 

[Boozad]

First off you need to run MemTest86+ for at least 8 passes. 24 means nothing if it hasn't completed at least 8 passes.

Second, can you provide the full system specs of the machine in question. It's necessary.

The ATI graphics driver has been flagged as a problem.

fffff880`03132198  fffff880`040f7e8f[B][COLOR=Red]*** WARNING: Unable to verify timestamp for atikmpag.sys
*** ERROR: Module load completed but symbols could not be loaded for atikmpag.sys[/COLOR][/B]
 atikmpag+0x43e8f

They could do with updating.

0: kd> lmvm atikmpag
start             end                 module name
fffff880`040b4000 fffff880`04152000   atikmpag T (no symbols)           
    Loaded symbol image file: atikmpag.sys
    Image path: \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\atikmpag.sys
    Image name: atikmpag.sys
    Timestamp:        [B][COLOR=Red]Fri Aug 30 23:32:32 2013[/COLOR][/B] (52211D80)
    CheckSum:         0009C9D2
    ImageSize:        0009E000
    Translations:     0000.04b0 0000.04e4 0409.04b0 0409.04e4

Also being flagged is the Ralink RT2860 series Wireless LAN Card (you may have a different manufacturer).

fffff800`00b9cab8  fffff880`04360d00Unable to load image \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\netr28x.sys, Win32 error 0n2
[B][COLOR=Red]*** WARNING: Unable to verify timestamp for netr28x.sys
*** ERROR: Module load completed but symbols could not be loaded for netr28x.sys[/COLOR][/B]
 netr28x+0x2d00

This one is really old and needs updating.

0: kd> lmvm netr28x
start             end                 module name
fffff880`0435e000 fffff880`043fd000   netr28x  T (no symbols)           
    Loaded symbol image file: netr28x.sys
    Image path: \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\netr28x.sys
    Image name: netr28x.sys
    Timestamp:        [B][COLOR=Red]Thu Feb 26 03:02:09 2009[/COLOR][/B] (49A60631)
    CheckSum:         000A3BDB
    ImageSize:        0009F000
    Translations:     0000.04b0 0000.04e4 0409.04b0 0409.04e4

The AMD AHCI Compatible RAID Controller driver is out of date as well. This is actually the cause of the majority of the BSODs.

*******************************************************************************
*                                                                             *
*                        Bugcheck Analysis                                    *
*                                                                             *
*******************************************************************************

Use !analyze -v to get detailed debugging information.

BugCheck 9F, {3, fffffa800572e2b0, fffff80000b9c3d8, fffffa8006a564e0}

[B][COLOR=Red]*** WARNING: Unable to verify timestamp for ahcix64s.sys
*** ERROR: Module load completed but symbols could not be loaded for ahcix64s.sys[/COLOR][/B]
Probably caused by : ahcix64s.sys

Followup: MachineOwner

0: kd> lmvm ahcix64s
start             end                 module name
fffff880`01800000 fffff880`0185d000   ahcix64s T (no symbols)           
    Loaded symbol image file: ahcix64s.sys
    Image path: \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\ahcix64s.sys
    Image name: ahcix64s.sys
    Timestamp:        [B][COLOR=Red]Mon Dec 10 08:02:58 2012[/COLOR][/B] (50C59732)
    CheckSum:         00049794
    ImageSize:        0005D000
    Translations:     0000.04b0 0000.04e4 0409.04b0 0409.04e4

 

[NipZ]

Thanks for the reply!

The System is

Asus F2A55-M LE - Motherboard
AMD A6-6400K APU - CPU
AMD Radeon HD 8470D - Graphics
Crucial 4GB DDR3-1333 CT5126BA1339 - RAM
2xWD 500GB Caviar Blue 3.5" Sata-III 7200rpm 16Mb - Hard Drives in Raid 1
Realtek PCIe GBE
Tenda W322P 802.11n Wireless LAN
Realtek High Definition Audio
AMD High Definition Audio Device

I'll look into updating all the drivers you have noted.
Would you recommend going to the manufacturer of the device ie. Asus, Tenda or the manufacturer of the chipset ie. AMD, Ralink for the driver updates?

Thanks

 

[Layback Bear]

Just curious NipZ. What does this mean from your specs?
(Mirrored)

Hard Drives 2xWD 500GB Blue Desktop Drive- Mirrored

 

[NipZ]

Just curious NipZ. What does this mean from your specs?
(Mirrored)

Hard Drives 2xWD 500GB Blue Desktop Drive- Mirrored

That the hard drives are in Raid 1 configuration(mirror, for redundancy). I've reworded it better

 

[Boozad]

Seeing as the RAID setup is causing so many problems wouldn't it be an option to reinstall without RAID and just dedicate a drive for manual backups?

 

[NipZ]

Seeing as the RAID setup is causing so many problems wouldn't it be an option to reinstall without RAID and just dedicate a drive for manual backups?

Yes this is an option I'm going to have to consider, although we already have a backup USB drive and a manual/automated backup of important files in place(he learned the hard way after not having any backup in place and losing months of invoices). The guaranteed up time would have been nice to have if there wasn't an issue with RAID.

Looking in to the driver responsible a lot of people have had similar problems dating back a couple of years and AMD haven't done a lot about it. Luckily there seems to be a work around by modifying a line in the .inf.
Hopefully this will improve matters.

Many Thanks, for the help!

 

[Layback Bear]

Just curious NipZ. What does this mean from your specs?
(Mirrored)

Hard Drives 2xWD 500GB Blue Desktop Drive- Mirrored

That the hard drives are in Raid 1 configuration(mirror, for redundancy). I've reworded it better

Thank you for your reply.
Now you know why I asked the question.
I don't have a elaborate backup method to recommend but their are many members that will probably have many suggestions.
What I do know is by reading many posts that many people have stopped using Raid because of all the problems.

I don't think removing Raid will solve all the problems you and
Boozad are working on but it is something to think on.

Back to watching.

 

[Boozad]

Personally I'd get rid of RAID and backup to the second HDD manually at regular intervals. Add a backup plan to an external HDD so backups are duplicated and run regular Macrium Reflect images.