Solved Random BSoD for atikpmag.sys or atikdmag.sys

[galaxytwirl]

Hi everyone! Recently, I have been getting BSoD screens randomly when I am using my Asus F8V laptop. I have re-formatted the computer, thinking that it may be a software conflict, but this problem crops up from time to time.

This problem occured suddenly and has recurred since last Friday, when the first BSoD related to atikpmag.sys or atikdmag.sys surfaced. After the BSoD, my computer will automatically restart, but the screen goes black, and I can only read via an external monitor (thank goodness my VGA port was still working).

I booted into Safe Mode and disabled the "ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3400 Series" driver and rebooted the computer and my screen lit up normally as usual and my computer is working fine now (except that the words are a bit blurry), and the maximum resolution I can set to is 1024X768.

I am suspecting my graphics card to be faulty, since a reformat does not seem to resolve the problem, and my laptop is about 6 years old, as its manufacturing year was 2009.

I have attached a .zip folder in this thread and hopefully, my problem can be resolved (without buying a new graphics card). HAHA!

Thank you very much to everyone who has helped me. As this is the first time I am posting in this forum, please do forgive me if I had done anything incorrectly.

Thank you once again!

 

[axe0]

Hi galaxytwirl,

Welcome to the 7forums.

Please use the tool again and upload the zip file.
There are lots of files missing.

 

[galaxytwirl]

Hi axe0. Thank you for your reply.

Oh dear. I can't seem to find the .dmp files in my minidump folder. I think I may have accidentally cleared them while using CCleaner or Disk Cleanup.

I'm so sorry about this.

If my computer BSoDs again, I shall post the files here again. I am really sorry about this.

Thank you!

 

[galaxytwirl]

My computer BSoD-ed again in less than 2 hours after I have posted the above.

My screen become a warp of colors, though it is mostly black blocking most parts of my Chrome browser, so much that I cannot make out anything on my screen. My mouse hanged too, and the display tried to restart itself for a few times before my computer gave up and issued a BSoD.

I have uploaded the zip again at the bottom.

Thank you once again!

 

[axe0]

Please move some files from D partition to increase the free space to at least 10-15%.
Every partition needs at least 10-15% free space so Windows can do its thing in the background.

   Warning

Less free space could cause BSOD's

.

Please remove every item from the startup except for your AV
How to remove items from startup - Windows 7 Help Forums
These programs could interfere with the boot process giving you trouble.

Please check your manufacturer for AMD driver updates.
The AMD Video driver has been flagged.

1: kd> lmvm atikmdag
start    end        module name
92038000 9254d000   atikmdag T (no symbols)           
    Loaded symbol image file: atikmdag.sys
    Image path: \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\atikmdag.sys
    Image name: [U]atikmdag.sys[/U]
    Timestamp:        [COLOR="Red"][U]Tue Aug 18 05:03:58 2009[/U][/COLOR] (4A8A1A1E)
    CheckSum:         004CDCF2
    ImageSize:        00515000
    Translations:     0000.04b0 0000.04e4 0409.04b0 0409.04e4

 

[galaxytwirl]

Thank you, axe0.

I have updated my ATI drivers using the AMD Auto Detect Utility, and freed up some space on my D: drive by moving some files to my other partition.

I shall observe my computer for the next 7 days and see what happens.

Thank you very much, once again, for your help.

 

[axe0]

You're welcome

Let me know how it goes

 

[galaxytwirl]

Hi axe0 and users of the forum. I am back, with bad news.

My com BSoD-ed again with atikmdag.sys. I shall post the zip file again later when I return home as I am working on an important now and I cannot afford my computer to fail me (at least for now) and I don't have an external monitor to save me. So sorry about this.

However, I observe some weird things on my computer, but I am not sure if it is due to a failing graphics card or monitor screen on my laptop.

1. Sometimes when I start my computer, everything boots normally except for the screen, which remains black.

2. I have to restart my computer several times before I can get the screen to be turned on, but sometimes my screen looks really weird, as seen from the images below. For privacy reasons, I have cut out my name from the login screen.

3. The problem of having a black screen at startup seems to be occuring much more frequently as of today, as even when I have disabled my ATI HD 3470 graphics driver, I still have the issue of not getting my screen to turn on when my computer starts.

4. I have tried to remove my graphics card and start the laptop, but my laptop hangs a short while after booting it up.

I shall attach images of both the BSoDs and weird features on my screen. Please do help me diagnose my problems! I am really worried because I really can't have this computer fail me. Thank you so much!

 

[axe0]

Please note the temperatures of your GPU when idle and under load.

You have updated your driver via the AMD update program, came this from your manufacturer?
Because you have a laptop, it is very important to update via your manufacturer.

 

[galaxytwirl]

I see. Thank you.

May I ask, how do I check the GPU temperature when under load?

Oh dear. I think I updated it through the main ATI website. It may be why I am experiencing this problem.. Hmm.. Maybe I can uninstall and reinstall the drivers. :/

I have disabled my ATI graphics card and according to Speccy, the temperature of my motherboard is about 67 to 70 Celsius, while my CPU temperature is about 57 to 60 Celsius. My hard disk is about 47 Celsius.

I will re-enable my graphics card when I get home and update here again.

Thank you!

 

[axe0]

You might want to try HWMonitor also.

The problem with laptops is that their manufacturers modify the drivers so that you are forced to use their drivers.

Although, I wouldn't say it is such a problem, because you don't have to check regularly for driver updates.

 

[galaxytwirl]

Hi axe0! I think my problem may have been solved!! I think my BSoDs were due to me not installing the graphics drivers from my manufacturer and I wrongly used the latest version of the graphics drivers from ATI.

I will continue to monitor my computer for now and update here again should anything happen again!

Thank you very much once again.

I shall close this thread if no BSoDs recur after 7 days.

<Update>: Oops. Sorry for missing out on your latest post. Hmm.. I see. I have learnt something new today too! Thank you! Next time I should just take drivers from my manufacturer no matter how old they are. :X (By the way, the graphics driver I got installed now was published in 2009. Gosh.)

 

[galaxytwirl]

Hi axe0 and everyone! I'm back. It's been barely 3 days and my computer went BSoD again. I have attached the file here for your reference, and hopefully I will be able to diagnose my computer.

After restarting my computer manually after BSoD, the computer screen refuses to light up, and I had to connect it to an external monitor via VGA cable to know what is going on in my computer. For now, I have disabled my graphics card, and my screen is back to normal.

Thank you!

 

[axe0]

It appears the dumps are from last month.
Please check {windows partition}\windows\minidump and check if there are any dump files from this month.
Please make sure your pc is configured for small dump files How to configure minidump | Windows 7 tutorial

 

[galaxytwirl]

Oh dear. I'm sorry. >< This is weird. I have never touched my settings for dump files. I shall post here again should I get a BSoD again. Thank you!

Just wondering, if I use a Kernel Memory Dump, will it affect your analysis of my BSoD?

 

[axe0]

The difference with the memory dumps
I cannot say if it will affect my analysis.
I haven't done that many, that I was aware of, to notice any difference myself.

 

[galaxytwirl]

I see. It's okay. I shall use Kernel Memory Dumps for now.

Thank you!

I have re-enabled my graphic card and my computer is working fine now. I shall post here again when my computer goes berserk and BSoDs again. :X

Thanks again!

 

[galaxytwirl]

Hi axe0, and everyone. My computer BSoD-ed a few times in the morning while I was trying to boot the system up with the graphics card enabled. I have attached the dm log collector files here in this post.

Thank you very much!

 

[axe0]

For this test we need the graphics card enabled

Please boot into safe mode, uninstall everything of AMD using Display Driver Uninstaller and install new drivers from your manufacturer.

Diagnostic test

 GPU TEST

Run Furmark to test your GPU. Furmark tutorial

   Note

Run Furmark for around 30 minutes

   Warning

Your GPU temperatures will rise quickly while Furmark is running. Keep a keen eye on them and abort the test if temperatures rise too high

safe mode

• Search "msconfig" (without quotes) and press enter
• Go to the Boot tab
• Check safe mode
• Click apply > ok
• Reboot if asked

 

[galaxytwirl]

I see. Thank you. I will run the above when I am free, perhaps during the weekends.

Just wondering, if I install the latest graphic drivers from AMD instead of from my manufacturer, will it cause a conflict or problems in my system? This is because ever since I have installed the graphics driver provided by my laptop vendor, BSoDs became less common.

Thank you.