Solved random BSOD when browing directories

[sar23]

Hi

I have an issue with my PC whereby it randomly crashes with BSOD after constantly browsing through several directories for between 5-15 mins using windows explorer. More specifically, I produce music, and when browsing through my samples library on my hard drive, and randomly listening to the sound files, after roughly between 5-15mins of browsing, I will double-click on a directory, and my PC will freeze momentarily and then crash showing BSOD. This only happens when I've double-clicked on a directory (folder icon). This has also happened when I just browsed through folders (without listening to any soundfiles). However this is happening very randomly. I have two HDDs in my PC and this happens when browsing through both individually. I have refrained from browsing through files/directories using windows explorer for several days now and my PC hasn't crashed once. I have also selected a slower CPU setting within my BIOS, everything seems to be stable for now.

The BSOD show various information and then reboots my PC, when back into windows I am able to view the following info in dialogue box:

[FONT=&quot] OS Version: 6.1.7601.2.1.0.768.3[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Locale ID: 2057[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Additional information about the problem:[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] BCCode: 3b[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] BCP1: 00000000C0000005[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] BCP2: FFFFF80002EA4BC0[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] BCP3: FFFFF8800D9F1EB0[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] BCP4: 0000000000000000[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] OS Version: 6_1_7601[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Service Pack: 1_0[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Product: 768_1[/FONT]

Within the BSOD it mentions that cause may be due to the file: ews88wdm.sys, which I have researched, and found that this is related to my Terratec Phase 88 soundcard. However, I have no other problems occuring with the soundcard or PC. I checked IRQ assigned to this soundcard and found that it is shared:

View attachment 171026

I am unable to manually allocate a different IRQ for my soundcard as the option to change it (within the properties/resources tab) is 'greyed-out'. Could this be related?

I am suspecting that it is an issue relating to my soundcard, I have updated my driver, and tried older driver versions however this has not made any difference. However I am unsure as to whether it is a hardware failure or software related failure.

Please see attached file: related files.zip for further details. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

System Spec:
Windows 7 Home Premium x64
This is the original installed OS, full retail, I built my PC and then installed it (only once) roughly six months ago, have never re-installed it. All hardware except for my soundcard is 6months old, soundcard is 5+years old but seems to be working fine.

Here is the full list of hardware:
Antec 300 Three Hundred Gaming Midi Tower Case
Asus P8P67 Pro Intel P67 (Socket 1155) Motherboard - B3 Revision
Intel Core i7 2600K Unlocked, 1155, Sandy Bridge, Qd Core, 3.4 GHz, GPU 850Mhz, 8MB Cache, 95W, OEM
Be Quiet! Dark Rock Advanced CPU Cooler
G.Skill Rip JawsX 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C7 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (F3-12800CL7D-8GBXH)
XFX Pro Series 650W 80+ Bronze Certified Single Rail
1TB Seagate ST31000524AS Barracuda 7200.12, SATA 6Gb/s, 7200rpm, 32MB Cache, 8.5ms
Samsung HD103UJ SpinPoint F1 1TB 3.5" SATA-II Hard Drive
Pioneer BDR-206DBK 12x Blu-Ray Recorder
Be Quiet! Silent Wings USC Quiet Case Fan 120mm
Scythe - 140 mm Fan - 065 CFM - 23 dB - Slip Stream - 1200 RPM - SM1425SL12SL
DEMCiflex 120&140mm Black Dust Filters
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium Edition 64-Bit
Sapphire Radeon HD5450 1GB DDR3 PCI-E
Terratec Producer Phase88 PCI soundcard

 

[Dwarf]

Hi sar23 and welcome to W7 Forums

There are a number of things you can try. First of all, if you are overclocking (or even underclocking), try returning to the default settings. Secondly, do you have another PCI slot to insert the card?

It could, of course, be a driver issue. That is quite an old soundcard you have. See if these drivers help (you might need to install in compatibility mode).

TerraTec - Driver & Support - TerraTec

 

[sar23]

Thanks for the pointers! I will give those a try and post the outcome

 

[sar23]

I have tried to do the above but it hasn't made any difference, this is what I have done:

- set CPU to default speed, i.e. no overclocking or underclocking
- moved my soundcard into another PCI slot
- reinstalled drivers (latest version from Terratec weblink above)
however Terratec only supply you with driver files, not an executable program and therefore compatibility mode
cannot be applied to the driver files
- moved HDD sata cables onto different sata ports on motherboard

The PC crashed in the same way as stated in my original post.

Does the additional info in my original post give an indication as to what is happening? i.e. the BCCODE, BCP1, BCP2 etc. I'm unable to find any reference info on the web or Microsoft website.

 

[sar23]

Thanks for the help, I've just bought a new soundcard instead, hopefully there will be no more BSODs

 

[sar23]

There have been no more BSODs with my new soundcard. I bought a MOTU audio express, and would recommend it to anyone whose budget is around £300. Everything is running very stable.

I have a feeling that the cause of the BSODs was due to the Terratec soundcard being very old and therefore not stable when running with Windows 7 x64.