Need help with constant, random BSOD

[willyj73]

I've been experiencing a BSOD for almost a year now. I am not exactly sure what precipitated the crashes. I do remember they started to occur after a Windows Update. I think I may have changed my CPU cooling device around the time as well--I can't remember if I did this before or after the crashes. I am not very computer literate--I know a few things, but not much.

The BSOD occurs randomly. It occurs if the PC is idle. It occurs while surfing the web or watching a video. For clarity, I will note that I have a dual boot system. Windows 7 is on a Samsung 850 Evo ssd. Unbuntu is on another drive. For some reason, when I updated some files in Unbuntu, my Windows 7 system did stop crashing for a few weeks. The crashes came back after another Windows update.

I've ran chkdsk on my disks--no problems were reported. I used Windows to check for the latest drivers on my PC. While in Safe Mode, I scanned my PC for viruses using Norton Security and for malware using Malwarebytes. One scan of Norton did find and correct a virus. I've also ran Memtest86 for a few passes with no errors reported. What is odd is that my PC crashed one time in Safe Mode as well.

I do have backups that are over a year old. I could revert to a previous working version--I haven't tried this yet, but I have saved my updated photos, documents, songs, etc. I would loose a few game saves. I really don't know what else to do. I Googled BSODs and performed the operations that I could. I found this forum through the search. So, I'm asking for help here. I don't know how to read Windows error log files, but did save a zip file as recommended.

My system is: Windows 7 64 bit HE, Asrock z77 Extreme 4 mobo, 2x8gb G.Skill sniper series, Samsung 850 Evo (500gb), Cougar EX 1050 power supply, Sapphire radeon HD7950 (I don't know the specific model, but can look if needed). ***I just had a BSOD occur while typing this. Fortunately, the text was saved somehow when I restored my session on Chrome*** I also have an ASUS PC AC56 wireless adapter, SAMSUNG 591 Series C27F591 monitor (FreeSync enabled), Corsair H60 cpu cooler, and a few internal/external hard drives for storage.

Not sure if this is important. My PC doesn't consistently keep the correct time. This occurred around the same time as the crashes. I did change the CMOS battery on my motherboard, and the PC still randomly displays the wrong time.

Attached is the recommended zip file.

 

[Snick]

Hi willyj73,
Welcome to SevenForums!
Here's a BlueScreenView snippet of your dump file.

View attachment 403709

Here's a link to Arc's post on it. Follow Arc's recommendations, except, substitute your computer components for the ones listed. Google is your friend!

 

[willyj73]

Ok, I've done most of the tests from Arc's post except for Windows Defender Offline. I burnt Windows Defender Offline to a CD--using a different PC as recommended on the Windows site where I got the download. My version of Windows Defender doesn't have the option for Defender Offline (on the MS Windows site with the Offline download, Windows Defender shows an option for "Offline" in the walk through). I ran the anti-rootkit utility TDSSKiller which found no problems. I did Memtest86 using seven passes which found no problems with my memory (I just reread Arc's post and saw 8 passes recommended. When I looked for info online about Memtest86, 7 passes was recommeded; hence the reason I did seven rather than eight). I used "Heaven" rather than "Furmark" and found no problems (I can use Furmark if that is better). I am still going to try using Windows Defender while in Safe Mode to do a full system scan. If I need to do any tests over, I will (I did not follow his directions 100%).

I did visit Asrock's website to check for driver updates. I updated a few things, but most of the drivers/downloads are dated 2012 as the most recent dates. For the audio, Asrock only lists Realtek ALC898 Audio Codec. I was going to update my Realtek driver from Realtek's site, but the site isn't very descriptive. I don't know if the ALC898 Audio Codec is what I should keep (i.e. I don't know if my MOBO requires an older codec, and I don't know if the ALC898 is an older codec that needs updated). I did update a few Intel drivers. Most of the drivers I checked in Device Manager had dates of 2012 or earlier. When I used the Device Manager to update drivers from the web, I was informed that I had the most current drivers. I will note that Device Manager shows I have: AMD High Definition Audio Device, HD Pro Webcam C910, Intel(R) Display Audio, and Realtek High Definition Audio.

 

[Snick]

Instead of Windows Defender, (not very good at prevention/real time or detection) use:
Malwarebytes
HitmanPro 3.8 (64-bit)
leave default setting on both. Delete anything they find.
BTW: if you uninstall HitmanPro, if you use the trial version to remove malware, you can use Revo Uninstaller, either free or portable free, advance mode, to remove cookie for trial period.

If you continue to have issues after exhausting ARC's recommendations/suggestions head over to Sysnative Forums and post there. They have trained experts in all areas of computer woes. I'm in the process of obtaining training from them on several specific subjects pertaining to Windows.

Wishing you the best!

Nic

ps post back on this forum, this thread, if Sysnative resolves your issue. Always interested in solutions to computer problems!

 

[willyj73]

I just had a BSOD during shutdown too. I think that happened once or twice so far.

 

[Snick]

If you install BlueScreenView, you can drag dump file(s) into window, right-click log, 3 google search options.

View attachment 403728

 

[willyj73]

I installed BlueScreenView. I'm not exactly sure, but I'm thinking maybe my Asus PCE AC56 wireless adapter is causing the BSOD. The driver is bcmwl664.sys. This file is listed in the dump files. I hadn't noticed, but bcmwl664.sys appeared in the description of the crash during the BSOD. Last night, I updated the driver from Asus website. But, I'm still having crashes. Tomorrow, I might remove the adapter and uninstall the driver and software to see if I continue to get BSODs.

 

[willyj73]

I disabled the Asus wireless pce adapter and am using an older USB stick for wireless networking. The errors pointed to Broadcomm drivers (the Asus adapter uses a Broadcomm chip). I checked my Event Viewer, and all of the critical errors ended after I disabled my adapter. Most of the errors stated that a system file cannot be identified or the system could not find the file. PCASp60 NDIS Protocol Driver and BCM42RLY were the cause of the critical errors according to the event viewer. I'll see if I have any more BSODs with the Asus adapter disabled.

 

[willyj73]

I haven't had a BSOD since I disabled the Asus wireless adapter. Still using an older USB wireless adapter.