Persistant BSoDs, crashes, and driver malfunctions for several months

[Lolrider]

I realize the title of this thread is a little out there, I wasn't quite sure how to best describe what I've been dealing with but, yes, I have been dealing with this issue for multiple months at this point. Anyway, it occurred to me that being able to read dump files might give me some more insight into the problems I've been having. However, try as I might, I have found no resources on how to actually read and decipher these files for myself, just a lot of blog posts and videos about how to generate dump files or read the BSoD as it's actually happening, which is extremely unhelpful, as you might have experienced yourself. So, I decided to bite the bullet and actually make a post on the forums here.

I suspect that the issue is related to my GPU. It's one of the "founding members" of my rig, so to speak, so it's been chugging along for around four and a half years at this point, and I've had some issues over time, so I wouldn't be surprised if it was the problem. Plus, it probably ought to be replaced at this point anyway. But, just in case, I decided to triple check and make sure I wasn't buying something I didn't need. I'd hate to get a new GPU only to still have the same problems, or worse, end up having whatever is causing these problems now ruin my brand new tech.

I'm uploading two different files, I suspect that they are the same but I don't know that for sure. I noticed when I was creating these .zip folders that the DM Log Collector couldn't access the minidump files for some reason, even though I know they are there. I don't know how important having access to those is, but if anyone has any ideas I'd love to hear them.

I know this is kind of a sparse request, but I'd appreciate any help I can get. If possible, I'd like to hear how to read these files for myself, or what program to use, but I understand if that's inconvenient to anybody.

Regardless, thanks for your time.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Hello and welcome Lolrider mate I cannot see any BSOD dump files in what you have posted so can you follow these please
Dump Files - Configure Windows to Create on BSOD
&
Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) Posting Instructions

Now while we are waiting for those personally I would be dumping the McAfee it is in my mind a piece of rubbish whoever owns it now.

If you want a free AV in the meantime should you dump it see the real time section in here
Free Windows Desktop Software Security List | Gizmo's Freeware
just ignore the AVG McAfee and Comodo (awful nagger) Avast and MSE good as any.

There is more to try but we need those BSOD files first.

 

[Lolrider]

I've followed all of those steps before, which was how I got the .zip folder in the first place. I mentioned that for some reason the DM Log Collector wouldn't or couldn't access my minidump file, but I'm still not sure what is causing that. My computer was already configured to create dump files, though, so I'm going to try some troubleshooting.

I'm wondering if it might not be related to my system locale; I'll keep you updated.

*Edit: does not appear to be related to system locale, and I am the administrator of this machine. Very perplexing. It won't even let me copy the minidump file to my desktop or anything of that nature. Even when I try to open the .dmp file with notepad, it absolutely does not let me view the file. This should not happen, as far as I am aware.

**Edit: I discovered that the properties of the file itself were not set to allow an administrator to do, well, anything with them, just the system. I still was not able to view the file directly in the folder, but this seems to have allowed the DM Log Collector to access the file, which is what I need for the time being. I'm writing this down for future reference.

This should be the most relevant and recent log created. If this doesn't have the right information I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong at this point. I don't know if the .dmp file is supposed to look like that or not, but that's what I have at the moment. I'll see if I can't recreate another BSoD for comparison.

 

[torchwood]

Hi Lolrider,
i look at other bits not explicitly BSOD.

You have 2 AV's running Avira and McAfee
ONLY USE 1, run the AV's own uninstaller, not your MS remove program option
Your windows update system is not runnng correctly, Troubleshoot it please.
can you also turn OFF MS driver update option, go to MSI for updates.

Roy

 

[Lolrider]

Hi Lolrider,
i look at other bits not explicitly BSOD.

You have 2 AV's running Avira and McAfee
ONLY USE 1, run the AV's own uninstaller, not your MS remove program option
Your windows update system is not runnng correctly, Troubleshoot it please.
can you also turn OFF MS driver update option, go to MSI for updates.

Roy

Avira is a new edition I downloaded yesterday to check for Malware, in case that was the issue (I don't think it was). McAfee is provided through my IP, which is why I use it. I don't really like it so I agree with your earlier statements about it, but it feels like a waste not to use it, y'know?

I'm not sure I fully understand your instructions, but I will try my best nonetheless. Does MS stand for Microsoft? Also, do you have anymore instructions for troubleshooting Windows Update. When you say it's not working, to me that means the updates aren't installing, which doesn't seem to be the case, as far as I can tell.

 

[torchwood]

Hi Lolrider,
The choice of AV is yours, BUT only 1, they end up conflicting with each other.
MS does stand for Microsoft.
The windows Update report error comes from the logs you provided,
2016-11-30 11:18:05:596 1036 16f0 Setup WARNING: SelfUpdate is in an error state
see screenshot for troubleshooter

Roy

 

[Lolrider]

Hi Lolrider,
The choice of AV is yours, BUT only 1, they end up conflicting with each other.
MS does stand for Microsoft.
The windows Update report error comes from the logs you provided,
2016-11-30 11:18:05:596 1036 16f0 Setup WARNING: SelfUpdate is in an error state
see screenshot for troubleshooter

Roy

I appreciate the help. I ran all of the options under System and Security. The "Fix problems with Windows Update" found nothing. I even ran it as Administrator using the Advanced options and didn't find anything.

However, in regards to the MS updates and such, I did disable automatic updates in the settings menu for Windows Update, and set it to "Check for updates but let me choose whether to download and install them." I haven't found any downloads on the MSI website, or anything of that nature, but hopefully that was what you were asking me to do.

Would disabling automatic updates make the SelfUpdate error irrelevant?

*Correction, I found a page for downloads on the MSI page for my specific motherboard. I assume that's what you are talking about. Many of them are quite old, with the exception of the Utility downloads. Like, 2012 and 2013 old. I've had the motherboard for four and a half years, so maybe that's expected?

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Hello mate sorry late reply well I did look at some of the other stuff like Roy does but I focus more on things like problem devices for example as I don't fully understand some of the more than basic stuff.

Pleased Roy also picked up there were two AV's - something i did miss how I must have taken my eye off the ball. As for the dump files for BSOD do you use CCleaner and Windows Disk Cleanup regularly because they will clear those files?

Anyway I hope the McAfee is gone now even though unless I am terribly mistaken owner by another AV company it is still crap and even if it wasn't as we have said two AVs not a good idea.

Now not wanting to influence you in any way I also have reservations about Avira it is good but I would pick Avast over it and if you are willing to pay for one Kaspersky is my pet AV and it costs me approx $0.035 per day on a 3PC 2 year licence - a no brainer in my mind but the choice is yours.

If you got rid of the McAfee did you use the dedicated tool? and even so I always check the HKEY,s LOCAL_MACHINE and CURRENT_USER > Software - scroll down the listings for remnants of what I have just uninstalled and right click them and delete - pedantic yes but total clearance - yes. Now as a rule before I do that I do this Registry - Backup and Restore as a by the by I always do this after a clean install but I digress.

I will leave the update stuff for Roy because they are a bit of a misnomer to me because on my 7 machines it really is a hit and miss often the latter :sarc:

 

[Lolrider]

Hello mate sorry late reply well I did look at some of the other stuff like Roy does but I focus more on things like problem devices for example as I don't fully understand some of the more than basic stuff.

Pleased Roy also picked up there were two AV's - something i did miss how I must have taken my eye off the ball. As for the dump files for BSOD do you use CCleaner and Windows Disk Cleanup regularly because they will clear those files?

Anyway I hope the McAfee is gone now even though unless I am terribly mistaken owner by another AV company it is still crap and even if it wasn't as we have said two AVs not a good idea.

Now not wanting to influence you in any way I also have reservations about Avira it is good but I would pick Avast over it and if you are willing to pay for one Kaspersky is my pet AV and it costs me approx $0.035 per day on a 3PC 2 year licence - a no brainer in my mind but the choice is yours.

If you got rid of the McAfee did you use the dedicated tool? and even so I always check the HKEY,s LOCAL_MACHINE and CURRENT_USER > Software - scroll down the listings for remnants of what I have just uninstalled and right click them and delete - pedantic yes but total clearance - yes. Now as a rule before I do that I do this Registry - Backup and Restore as a by the by I always do this after a clean install but I digress.

I will leave the update stuff for Roy because they are a bit of a misnomer to me because on my 7 machines it really is a hit and miss often the latter :sarc:

No worries, I appreciate any and all help I can get, so long as it's actually relevant and helpful.

I must confess, a lot of this is Greek to me, so I'm just stumbling along trying to learn as I go. I'm not having a lot of success, honestly. I'm checking out chipsets and stuff like that right now and just not having a great time, it doesn't seem like any of the information I have access to matches anything online, so I'm at a bit of a loss.

I don't think those are the causes of my problems, but I'd like to know what I'm doing at the very least.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Ok mate I know where you are coming from it took me (with no grounding in IT) a while to get my head round some stuff. I usually like hardware stuff rather than software although it is getting little clearer. Bur please don't get disheartened something is wrong and sooner or later we shall find what the problem is the main issue for us is getting those BSOD dumps if we can.

Now you did mention in your first post you suspected the GPU now lets start by updating the driver for it Drivers | GeForce and lets do these
SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker
Disk Check < if necessary include the /f and /r in the command line as per Option2

NB SFC best run for about three runs
SUPERAntiSpyware | Remove Malware | Remove Spyware - AntiMalware, AntiSpyware, AntiAdware!
Malwarebytes | Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Premium
AdwCleaner Download
ADW download from bleeping computer delete any rubbish found with the malware scans
(NB If one is running Kaspersky security it may rant about ADW - just ignore it or disable Kaspersky while the ADW is being used)

This is very basic stuff I know but what are you going to lose at least it can rule out some stuff

 

[Lolrider]

Hey all, I've done most of those steps before, but I went ahead and did them again just to be thorough. I also ran a Junkware cleaner and C-cleaner. Did find some issues, but nothing that I would imagine would cause these problems. Granted, it's entirely possible that I could be wrong, but it hasn't solved the problem, nonetheless.

So, either the problems caused permanent damage, or the cause is something else.

A question, though. Is there any risk for me installing a new GPU at the moment? I imagine if there's something like an electrical problem, it might short a new GPU. I guess I want to know if you think there's a significant risk, or should I go ahead and replace my GPU and see if that's the problem.

 

[Lolrider]

Just got my new GPU in the mail today, I think I should be fine with the warranty either way, but I'd still like your opinions.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Now if you are worried about the new GPU and power you can check either physically using a digital meter the power to the GPU or you can just check the PSU out using this
Using HW Info
PART A:
You can test the volts on the PSU with HW Info HWiNFO, HWiNFO32/64 - Download < download the right bit version and close the right hand window select Sensors and scroll down to the power section where you will see what the volts are doing see my pic. In my pic the section (Nuvoton) with VBATT is a dead give away you are in the section for the rail voltages. There are other section titles and one that pops up often is ITE
Now the voltage on the different rails have to be within 5% =+/- of what is required or the machine will not work properly if at all.
IE
12v = 11.4v min to 12.6max
5v = 4.75v min 5.25v max
3.3v = 3.135v min to 3.465v max
See this for the rail voltage info
PSUs 101: A Detailed Look Into Power Supplies (Section 2.)
The original right hand window shows the machine running and is handy for that but for looking at the components in some detail close it and use the main left hand side panel
FOR OTHER COMPONENTS
PART B:
Open each small square with + in it on the section the components are in and then click on the individual component/s (it will highlight in blue) - in the right hand side will appear all sorts of details including brands speeds and other essential info that particular device. See pic for example.

 

[Lolrider]

I will try that when I get home. I have already installed the new GPU and run some tests, and everything seems to be running alright so far. I've been using something called... OCPPTC? Something like that. But, up until just recently, my PC would crash running any kind of tests, regardless of whether it was for the GPU or the PSU or anything like that. So the fact that I was able to run a test--any test--to completion is a definite improvement.

Tentatively hopeful that the problem is solved.

 

[Lolrider]

Oh. Oh! God, that took longer than it probably need to. This looks similar to what you've marked in your example. I was trying to find specific voltage numbers, but I guess I only really need to make sure that 12v is operating at 12v, etc.

Hopefully this is what you were talking about. Unless I'm missing something, it looks like everything is operating as planned.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Sorry late reply mate been busy and yep the volts look ok as long as they fall within those limits I posted in the ditty I wrote up. Now all voltages are important not just the 12v as they all play specific parts in the system.

 

[Lolrider]

Sorry late reply mate been busy and yep the volts look ok as long as they fall within those limits I posted in the ditty I wrote up. Now all voltages are important not just the 12v as they all play specific parts in the system.

Cool. I guess for now, then, the problem is solved. I'll keep the thread open for a little while as I test things for the next few days, but hopefully this will be the last you hear from me.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Ok mate well keep us posted and in any case you may be able to take part in some of the discussions every little bit helps and I found my way around from having problems getting others to help me through it and then see someone with a similar problem to what I had could have some input. It is very fulfilling I find especially when you get something right

But that is just my take on it you possibly have better things to do