Looking for help with screen freezing BSOD issues

[Planetspectra]

Hi, I've been getting regular occurrences of my PC simply freezing at random for the last 10 days or so, occasionally a BSOD or two.

I'm at a loss as to what it could be but Firefox has been acting even slower than usual and I've also been having trouble with video playback (vlc & BBC iPlayer)

I suspect I have some kind of infection that Security Essentials has only partially quarantined(?)

Other than (yet again) cleaning house with another full re-install I'm not sure what to do next.

Any suggestions gratefully received!

 

[Wallonn7]

Hi Planetspectra.
Please update these drivers:

[FONT=Book Antiqua][SIZE=3]
ASACPI   ASACPI.sys   Sun Mar 27 23:30:36 [COLOR=Red]2005[/COLOR]

wacommousefilter wacommousefilter.sys Fri Feb 16 16:12:17 [COLOR=Red]2007[/COLOR]

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

pcouffin pcouffin.sys Tue Dec 05 12:39:30 [COLOR=Red]2006[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

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

 

[Planetspectra]

Many thanks for the reply.

wacommousefilter.sys:
I have updated the Wacom drivers from their website.

ASACPI.sys:
I visited the ASUS website but I could not find any information for my motherboard.
I visited the AMD website and found some downloads for the Athlon series but I am not sure which of these, if any I need? [LINK]

secdrv.SYS & pcouffin.sys:
I am unsure how I update either of these. pcouffin is linked to certain disc burning software is that right?

Please advise.

 

[Wallonn7]

Many thanks for the reply.

ASACPI.sys:
I visited the ASUS website but I could not find any information for my motherboard.

ATK ACPI for 64-bit - if setup does not work properly, use device manager do update drivers

secdrv.SYS

Secdrv files - copies of my system

I am unsure how I update either of these. pcouffin is linked to certain disc burning software is that right?

Right. VSO, DVDFab, etc. Determine which of these you have installed, if you even need to keep it ... I recommend that you uninstall the program. Go to "Windows\system32\ drivers\" and delete any "pcouffin .*" file. Use CCleaner Slim to clean related registry entries. Reinstall the program by choosing the custom installation and uncheck the box related to "pcouffin."

Let us know the results.

 

[Planetspectra]

Many thanks.

For now I have completely removed pcouffin and my DVD software.

I'm not 100% convinced that I successfully updated ASACPI.sys but Device Manager says it's up to date when I checked it against the processors.

You gave me two places to install the Secdrv files, alas my system would not give me permission to over write the second of those (C:\Windows\winsxs\amd64_macrovision-protection-safedisc_31bf3.......etc) even though I am administrator.

Any advice on how to overcome this last issue?

 

[Planetspectra]

Additional:

I am still getting the same freezing issues as before. I notice they seem to be happening when I'm using Firefox (was FF4 but FF5 since that was released) so I have also uninstalled it for now.

 

[Wallonn7]

Additional:

I am still getting the same freezing issues as before. I notice they seem to be happening when I'm using Firefox (was FF4 but FF5 since that was released) so I have also uninstalled it for now.

Once we finish what we're doing, we will concentrate on this problem.

You gave me two places to install the Secdrv files, alas my system would not give me permission to over write the second of those (C:\Windows\winsxs\amd64_macrovision-protection-safedisc_31bf3.......etc) even though I am administrator.

Any advice on how to overcome this last issue?

Use System File Replacer. Run it as administrator. See how to use it below. Reboot when it prompts to.

 

[Planetspectra]

OK I tried that but the folder C:\Windows\winsxs\amd64_macrovision-protection-safedisc_31bf3... appears empty to me when using System File Replacer.

 

[Wallonn7]

OK I tried that but the folder C:\Windows\winsxs\amd64_macrovision-protection-safedisc_31bf3... appears empty to me when using System File Replacer.

Use Take Ownership of a File, Folder, Drive, or Registry Key method.

 

[Planetspectra]

Learning a lot today!

OK that's done. I took ownership and pasted your newer version of Secdrv into the folder.

 

[Wallonn7]

Well done. Follow step #23 and change the Owner back to the previous owner.
Assuming you have not applied any third party theme to Windows, do the following:
Run cmd as administrator and type "sfc / scannow" without quotes and hit enter. Let it do its job. Did it find any violation?...
Let us know the results.

 

[Planetspectra]

 

[Wallonn7]

It's perfect.
Now:

1. CCleaner
2. Run cmd as administrator and type "chkdsk /f" without quotes. Reboot if it prompts to
3. Auslogics Disk Defrag / Defraggler / Windows Built-in Defrag... you choose.

Then we'll continue with the remaining steps to solve your problem.

 

[Planetspectra]

Done, done & done.

 

[Wallonn7]

Done, done & done.

Now, I need you to verify if instabilities still persist.
You mentioned freezes while browsing with Firefox. Reinstall it and go to Mozilla Plugin Check.
Certified that all plugins are up to date, describe what types of content cause the issue.

 

[Planetspectra]

I will get right on that.

In the meantime I have noticed I'm getting freezes when playing certain types of video file. I generally use vlc player or my Zune desktop software to watch video podcasts. I have got freezing events when viewing MP4 files whilst using those applications. Other file types mkv, avi may be ok but I doubt I've tested enough to prove that theory outright.

 

[Planetspectra]

I've now reinstalled Firefox 5 and things have gone from bad to worse, I'm still trying to run the plugin checker (some will be out of date I'm sure) before FF freezes my system. It freezes occasionally as FF is booting up but it mostly seems to happen when switching between and closing tabs.

 

[Wallonn7]

This only occurs when using Firefox? If so:

Start Firefox in Safe Mode to check if one of the extensions is causing the problem ( switch to the DEFAULT theme: Firefox ( Tools ) > Add-ons > Appearance/Themes ).

• Don't make any changes on the Safe mode start window.
• https://support.mozilla.com/kb/Safe+Mode

• https://support.mozilla.com/kb/Troubleshooting+extensions+and+themes

Also check for "Corrupt extension files":

• Unable to install themes or extensions - MozillaZine Knowledge Base

Create a new profile as a test to check if your current profile is causing the problems.
See:

• Basic Troubleshooting: Make a new profile

There may be extensions and plugins installed by default in a new profile, so check that in "Tools > Add-ons > Extensions & Plugins" in case there are still problems.
If that new profile works then you can transfer some files from the old profile to that new profile ( be careful not to copy corrupted files )
See:

• Transferring data to a new profile - Firefox - MozillaZine Knowledge Base

Update plugins manually below:

Adobe Flash Player
Adobe Reader X
Adobe Shockwave Player
Microsoft Silverlight
Java Runtime - Offline
Windows Media Player Firefox Plugin

 

[Planetspectra]

OK I will try that.

Freezing also seems to happen when I try to play MP4 video files.

 

[Wallonn7]

Freezing also seems to happen when I try to play MP4 video files.

Any codec package installed?... If so, uninstall it.