Solved Numerous BSODs with different error codes

[ValerieVendetta]

Hi everyone, thought i might post here and try to get some advice. This problem is making me want to tear my hair out in frustration. Forgive me if i leave out any information.

I upgraded some components of my computer recently. Namely - i7 4770, 840 Evo SSD, Z87-D3HP, FSP 750W PSU. I installed Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit cleanly from a new CD.

Everything was going fine for a few days before i started getting various kinds of errors. Some were BSODs with various kinds of errors (like dxgmms1.sys) and sometimes my computer would just freeze. Games like Final Fantasy XIV and programs like iTunes/Teamspeak would quit unexpectedly, with Windows telling me they stopped working. This happens every hour or so and is getting more frequent.

I have updated all my nvidia drivers and Creative drivers for my USB sound card. Am pretty sure it's not a RAM issue as well. Hoping i can get some help on figuring out what this is so that i can fix it. Feel free to let me know what kind of information would be helpful and how i can upload it online.

Examples of an error in Event Viewer:

The system has rebooted without cleanly shutting down first. This error could be caused if the system stopped responding, crashed, or lost power unexpectedly. Kernel Power Event ID 41 Critical

 

[Arc]

Versatile types of issues. Checked the latest four .... two are storage failure, one is display failure and one is network failure. Whereas the display and network drivers are up-to-date.

Make it sure that the Samsung 840 SSD is running with the Up-to-date firmware.

Free up the startup. Windows does not need any other program to auto start with it, but the auto start programs often conflicts and causes various problems including BSODs.

1. Click on the Start button
2. Type “msconfig (without quotes), click the resulting link. It will open the System Configuration window.
3. Select the “Startup” tab.
4. Deselect all items other than the antivirus.
5. Apply > OK
6. Accept then restart.

Test your RAM modules for possible errors.
How to Test and Diagnose RAM Issues with Memtest86+
Run memtest for at least 8 passes, preferably overnight.

If it start showing errors/red lines, stop testing. A single error is enough to determine that something is going bad there.

Stress test the Graphics Card using Furmark.
Video Card - Stress Test with Furmark

Uninstall Norton and all Symentec products using Norton Removal tool. At least as a test. You may install it back after the tests are over. Use Microsoft Security Essentials as your antivirus with windows inbuilt firewall, and free MBAM as the on demand scanner.
Download, install and update those, and then run full system scans with both of them, one by one.

The display driver .... install the 314.22 WHQL only.

• Uninstall All nvidia items in Control Panel > Programs and features
  • 3D Vision Control Driver
  • 3D Vision Driver
  • Graphics Driver
  • HD Audio Driver
  • PhysX
  • nvidia Update
  (Are you using nvidia chipset drivers? If so, dont uninstall anything other than those are listed).
• Now follow Drivers - Clean Left over Files after Uninstalling
• Download 314.22 WHQL. While installing, Select Custom (Advanced) install. In the next page, follow this settings:
  
  

Scan the system for possible virus infection with the following programs.

• Anti-rootkit utility TDSSKiller
• Windows Defender Offline

Let us know the results.

 

[ValerieVendetta]

Hi Arc, thanks for the reply, really appreciate your input.

SSD is on latest firmware.
Startup has been cleaned up.

I will conduct the various tests over the next few days and let you guys know the result. In one night, i've had 2 more BSODs. I am seriously considering reformatting and doing a clean install of Windows.

Do you think this could be a hardware fault though? Judging by how the errors are so diverse. I was thinking that it might be a motherboard fault.

 

[Arc]

Do you think this could be a hardware fault though? Judging by how the errors are so diverse. I was thinking that it might be a motherboard fault.

Seeing the crash dumps and the versatility there, I also thought in the same line, but there are some limitations of remote assistance. As the motherboard cannot be tested, we cannot blame the motherboard at its own.

First we need to take the proper steps for the failing drivers. If it behave the same despite of all those, we can concentrate on the hardware slowly. You may notice that you are already suggested to test two hardware components

 

[ValerieVendetta]

Do you think this could be a hardware fault though? Judging by how the errors are so diverse. I was thinking that it might be a motherboard fault.

Seeing the crash dumps and the versatility there, I also thought in the same line, but there are some limitations of remote assistance. As the motherboard cannot be tested, we cannot blame the motherboard at its own.

First we need to take the proper steps for the failing drivers. If it behave the same despite of all those, we can concentrate on the hardware slowly. You may notice that you are already suggested to test two hardware components

Hi Arc,

I've done all of the above excluding the Memtest and video card test (can't find the time to leave the computer running for hours straight). In addition, i have re-seated all the RAMs and PSU plugs into DVDRW/HDD/SSD/motherboard. For 2 days i have not seen a BSOD (YET) and i have absolutely no idea what was wrong.

MABM came back with nothing significant as well.

I have a second 560GTX Ti as well as a Creative Soundblaster XFi USB Soundcard that i have removed from the system after all the BSODs and i still haven't worked up the courage to plug that back in. Should i still continue to monitor the situation and then find time for the RAM/VGA stress test?

 

[Arc]

So if it working good after a dismantle, let it run.

If it goes problematic again, start troubleshooting again

 

[ValerieVendetta]

So if it working good after a dismantle, let it run.

If it goes problematic again, start troubleshooting again

Ok i think i jinxed it. I stepped out of the room and when i came back, the computer was in the midst of restarting into Windows. As i was writing a post, the entire computer hung - Chrome stopped responding, then Windows, then the mouse stopped too.

These are the entries i pulled from Event Viewer:

Warning
Custom dynamic link libraries are being loaded for every application. The system administrator should review the list of libraries to ensure they are related to trusted applications.

Error
The DgiVecp service failed to start due to the following error:
The system cannot find the file specified.

Critical
The system has rebooted without cleanly shutting down first. This error could be caused if the system stopped responding, crashed, or lost power unexpectedly.

Error
The previous system shutdown at 2:49:04 PM on ‎10/‎16/‎2013 was unexpected.

Error
The DgiVecp service failed to start due to the following error:
The system cannot find the file specified.

Error
The computer has rebooted from a bugcheck. The bugcheck was: 0x0000000a (0xfffffc8003169610, 0x0000000000000002, 0x0000000000000001, 0xfffff8000386fcfe). A dump was saved in: C:\Windows\MEMORY.DMP. Report Id: 101613-7332-01.

 

[ValerieVendetta]

And another one:

Error
The description for Event ID 14 from source nvlddmkm cannot be found. Either the component that raises this event is not installed on your local computer or the installation is corrupted. You can install or repair the component on the local computer.

What's the best way to extract information for you guys to have a look?

 

[Arc]

Error
The computer has rebooted from a bugcheck. The bugcheck was: 0x0000000a (0xfffffc8003169610, 0x0000000000000002, 0x0000000000000001, 0xfffff8000386fcfe). A dump was saved in: C:\Windows\MEMORY.DMP. Report Id: 101613-7332-01.

Post it following the Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) Posting Instructions.

 

[ValerieVendetta]

Ok i ran Memtest for close to 24 hours on my 4x4GB sticks and i have 4 errors (from what i think i see). I have uploaded a picture of the test screen. Any idea which sticks they might be that are causing trouble? So that i know which to remove to continue testing with Memtest.

 

[Arc]

Any idea which sticks they might be that are causing trouble?

You have to frame the idea yourself.

Now follow the "Part 3: If You Have Errors:" of How to Test and Diagnose RAM Issues with Memtest86+

Errors/red lines means one or more RAM is faulty. But the fault may occur due to a faulty DIMM slot, too, which is a motherboard component. Using memtest86+, you can discriminate between a faulty RAM and a faulty motherboard.

How? Say you have two RAM sticks and two DIMM slots. You obtained errors at the test with all RAM sticks installed. Now, remove all the sticks but one. Test it in all the available slots, one by one. Continue the same procedure for all the available sticks.
How to make the inference that is it a RAM issue or it is a motherboard issue? Suppose you have got the result like that:

test|Slot1|Slot2
RAM1| Error | Error
RAM2|Good|Good

It is a RAM, a bad RAM.

But if you have got a result like that:

test|Slot1|Slot2
RAM1| Error |Good
RAM2| Error |Good

It is a motherboard issue. The particular slot is bad.

 

[ValerieVendetta]

I'm in the midst of testing the RAM. It might take a few days as i have 4 sticks of 4GB. Will report my findings once the tests are done!

 

[Arc]

Its ok, take your time

 

[ValerieVendetta]

I have 4 sticks of RAM of 2GB each and 4 RAM slots.

RAM 1
RAM 2
RAM 3
RAM 4

Slot A
Slot B
Slot C
Slot D

I've ran Memtest for more than 7 passes for each of the following combinations:

RAM 1 and 2 in Slots A and C
RAM 1 and 2 in Slots B and D
RAM 3 and 4 in Slots A and C

The weird thing is i have no errors for any of the combinations thus far.

 

[Arc]

4x4 means a lot of combinations

I think one RAM only one by one in all DIMMs one by one should be a nice check. It will straightly identify the failing one.

 

[ValerieVendetta]

4x4 means a lot of combinations

I think one RAM only one by one in all DIMMs one by one should be a nice check. It will straightly identify the failing one.

Yeahh gonna do that after finishing up 2 sticks combinations. Gonna take a while.

Thanks for being so patient with me hehh.

 

[ValerieVendetta]

I have tested the RAM quite extensively and i have not had any errors. The only time i had errors was when i used them 4x4GB (all 4 sticks together).

Does this point to some motherboard fault? Because i am currently using 2x4GB and it's been stable for days.

 

[Arc]

I have tested the RAM quite extensively and i have not had any errors. The only time i had errors was when i used them 4x4GB (all 4 sticks together).

Does this point to some motherboard fault? Because i am currently using 2x4GB and it's been stable for days.

It seems to be.

 

[ValerieVendetta]

I have tested the RAM quite extensively and i have not had any errors. The only time i had errors was when i used them 4x4GB (all 4 sticks together).

Does this point to some motherboard fault? Because i am currently using 2x4GB and it's been stable for days.

It seems to be.

Thanks, I'll try to get that RMA-ed then.