Solved Random BSODs While Not Playing Games or Surfing Internet

[SickOfTheBSOD]

Hello all.

True to my username, I am sick of these BSODs. I've been keeping a log this time around and I've been plagued by a couple within the past week:

4/03/16
-0x3B
-0x19

4/10/16
-0x1A

4/12/16
-0x4E
(Doing a System Backup with EaseUs)
(Bubbles Screensaver playing during backup)

So, to make this quick, my first BSOd happened on 4/03/16 and was followed by the second one listed. This gave me an inaccessible computer as I got stuck in a boot loop and the Pc wouldn't even get pass a boot up. Just kept shutting off and turning back on.

I update my video drivers and Alienware Command Center (firmware?) and things seem to be going fine. Then I get another BSOD several days later. I have not yet run my RAM through testing but will do that if suggested.

Fast forward, now I run into another BSOD after trying to make a full system backup through EaseUs Backup program. I was able to get one done after this very crash. I have reason to believe EaseUs might be the cause of the more recent BSODs but I need confirmation on that.

Other than these BSODs, my computer runs fine. In fact, it's fine ATM I'm typing this message. For some reason, it has no problem running games or surfing the Internet. It's when I idle it or I open up certain software, I BSOD. I have dealt with this fine BSOD team before and you have helped me prolong this PC farther than it's warranty ever could. I'd like to seek your assistance once more.

Things I have tried to do to fix these BSODs:
-Update video/graphics driver
-Update Alienware Command Center (which handles I/O commands)
-change my screensaver (Bubbles seems to make it BSOD or I'm just being screwy)

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Hello mate the dump files are giving up something to of with the Avast system

*** WARNING: Unable to verify timestamp for [COLOR="Red"]aswMonFlt.sys[/COLOR]
*** ERROR: Module load completed but symbols could not be loaded for aswMonFlt.sys
Probably caused by : [COLOR="red"]aswMonFlt.sys[/COLOR] ( aswMonFlt+9dea )

MODULE_NAME: [COLOR="red"]aswMonFlt[/COLOR]

IMAGE_NAME:  aswMonFlt.sys

DEBUG_FLR_IMAGE_TIMESTAMP:  56378f80

FAILURE_BUCKET_ID: [COLOR="red"] X64_0x1a_5003_aswMonFlt+9dea[/COLOR]

I am not sure of quite what this means but maybe disabling it might be worth trying and even a reinstall.


Edit mate I have just seen you have MuckAfee on the machine as well - not a good idea to have more than one AV at a time so get rid of it as it is in my mind not much good.

 

[SickOfTheBSOD]

Hello mate the dump files are giving up something to of with the Avast system

*** WARNING: Unable to verify timestamp for [COLOR="Red"]aswMonFlt.sys[/COLOR]
*** ERROR: Module load completed but symbols could not be loaded for aswMonFlt.sys
Probably caused by : [COLOR="red"]aswMonFlt.sys[/COLOR] ( aswMonFlt+9dea )

MODULE_NAME: [COLOR="red"]aswMonFlt[/COLOR]

IMAGE_NAME:  aswMonFlt.sys

DEBUG_FLR_IMAGE_TIMESTAMP:  56378f80

FAILURE_BUCKET_ID: [COLOR="red"] X64_0x1a_5003_aswMonFlt+9dea[/COLOR]

I am not sure of quite what this means but maybe disabling it might be worth trying and even a reinstall.


Edit mate I have just seen you have MuckAfee on the machine as well - not a good idea to have more than one AV at a time so get rid of it as it is in my mind not much good.

Wait?!! WHAT? Dude; both of those have been deleted. Are you sure you are getting the most recent readouts? I used DM Log Collector. Did you make a new version of it?

EDIT:

Probably some leftover files didn't completely get removed. Do you have any idea where I can find this .sys file? Which one from McAfee is still around?

 

[axe0]

The dumps that have been analyzed are old, the latest crash according to the logs is from 2 months ago where the last one didn't create a minidump. This is the reason for the suggestion about McAfee & Avast.

Please visit Windows Update and install every update available, it may take a couple of times to get them all.

Hotfix(s):                 N/A

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Do as axe asks mate and I thought incorrectly of course you had those two AV's as they are still listed in your system specs too

 

[SickOfTheBSOD]

The dumps that have been analyzed are old, the latest crash according to the logs is from 2 months ago where the last one didn't create a minidump. This is the reason for the suggestion about McAfee & Avast.

Please visit Windows Update and install every update available, it may take a couple of times to get them all.

Hotfix(s):                 N/A

Now when you say "every" do you mean the Optional ones as well? I've mostly been installing the Recommended ones.

Do as axe asks mate and I thought incorrectly of course you had those two AV's as they are still listed in your system specs too

No problem. I knew something wasn't right when you said Avast and McAfee. I uninstalled those during my last BSOD diagnoses.

@axe , @ICIT2LOL , I have noticed something quite peculiar though lately. If and when my system does BSOD, it either takes an extremely long time to generate a dump or it doesn't create one at all. Do you have any ideas what could be causing this? This is probably why you can't see my most recent crashes. Ugh!

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Ok mate sounds like you are having a pain of a time with this and well I would start with these in safe mode and it may be taking a long time simply because there are a lot of them

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/433-disk-check.html < if necessary include the /f and /r in the command line as per Option2

if there is no problems then run these in "straight" mode

SUPERAntiSpyware | Remove Malware | Remove Spyware - AntiMalware, AntiSpyware, AntiAdware!
Malwarebytes | Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Premium
AdwCleaner Download
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)

Am suggesting these to rule out any issues there and the SFC you do need to run it sometimes for three or more goes.

 

[axe0]

Now when you say "every" do you mean the Optional ones as well? I've mostly been installing the Recommended ones.

I mean them all, including optional ones because they contain fixes and improvements as well, however you may skip the Windows 10 update

When a dump isn't created, it is either due to improper settings, or the hard drive is the problem because it can't be saved on bad sectors or the memory is too damaged to save a dump from. That are at least the most obvious possibilities, please try below tests. You may have run the tests already in the past but please run them again.

Diagnostics Test

 System File Check

Please try following:

• Open an admin command prompt
• Copy/paste "sfc/scannow" (without quotes) and press enter
• When it finished reboot your system
• Open again an admin command prompt
• Enter sfc/scannow again

If sfc/scannow says "Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them" after the second SFC, please upload the cbs.log file located at {windows partition}\Windows\Logs\CBS\, if the file is too large try a 3rd party uploader like dropbox, onedrive, google drive, mediafire etc.
System File Check(SFC a.k.a. Windows Resource Protection) needs to have your system rebooted in order for sfc to try to fix the problems that it finds.

Diagnostics Test

 HDD TEST

Run SeaTools to check the integrity of your HDD. SeaTools for DOS and Windows - How to Use - Windows 7 Help Forums
Run following tests

1. Short Drive Self Test
2. Short generic
3. Long generic

If the short generic fails, no need for the long generic.

   Note

Do not run SeaTools on an SSD as the results will be invalid.

Run chkdsk
Disk Check - Windows 7 Help Forums

Run HDTune to

• scan for errors, no quick scan but full scan
• check the health,
• benchmark.

It may take some time, but please take the time you need to perform it properly.
Let me know what the results are

• of the error scan,
• make a screenshot of the health of every hard drive and post the screenshots,
• post screenshots with the benchmark of the
  • transfer rate,
  • access time,
  • burst rate,
  • cpu usage.

Diagnostic Test

 RAM TEST

Run MemTest86+ to analyse your RAM. MemTest86+ - Test RAM - Windows 7 Forums

   Note

MemTest86+ needs to be run for at least 8 complete passes for conclusive results. Set it running before you go to bed and leave it overnight. We're looking for zero errors here. Even a single error will indicate RAM failure.

Addition:
If errors show up you can stop the test, remove all sticks but 1 and test this single stick in each slot for 8 passes or until errors show, switch sticks and repeat.
If errors show up and you see them a lot later, no problem, the errors don't affect the test.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

I'll leave this one with axe mate as I did ask for the scans but never mind.

 

[axe0]

Oops, I didn't see your post ICIT2LOL

 

[ICIT2LOL]

No worrries mate we are on the same page at least

 

[SickOfTheBSOD]

OK. I'll get around to doing all this and will update in time. I've installed all RECOMMENDED updates but will update the OPTIONAL ones as well.

Thanks again for the help. If all else fails, do you suggest a clean/reinstall of OS?

 

[axe0]

Given that the latest BSODs weren't saved or logged it could be due to hardware problems if the updates don't help, if that is really the case then a clean install won't help.

 

[SickOfTheBSOD]

Windows Resource Protection Results (SFC /SCANNOW)

After running it twice:

"Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations."



I will update you with more info as I go.

 

[SickOfTheBSOD]

HDD Test (SeaTools)

ShortDST - Pass
Test Status
100%

Short Generic - Pass
Test Status
100%

Long Generic - Pass
Test Status
100%



That's all I'm doing for tonight.

 

[SickOfTheBSOD]

CHKDSK Results (chkdsk /f /r)

CHKDSK is verifying files (stage 1 of 5)...
333312 file records processed
2570 large file records processed
0 bad file records processed
0 EA records processed
47 reparse records processed

CHKDSK is verifying files (stage 2 of 5)...
406154 index entries processed
Index verification completed
0 unindexed files scanned
0 unindexed files recovered

CHKDSK is verifying files (stage 3 of 5)...
333312 files SDs/SIDs processed
CHKDSK is compacting the security descriptor stream
36422 data files processed
CHKDSK is verifying USN journal
35557560 USN bytes processed

USN journal verification completed

CHKDSK is verifying file data (stage 4 of 5)...
333296 files processed
File data verification completed

CHKDSK is verifying free space (stage 5 of 5)...
152029297 files completed

...

(the rest was too quick to type up)
(Does it leave behind a log file?)

Onto next step...tomorrow.

 

[SickOfTheBSOD]

SuperAntispyware, MalwareBytes, and AdwCleaner Logs

Successfully ran all three programs and generated logs.

 

[SickOfTheBSOD]

HDTune

Ran the program successfully and produced the following screenshots.

How am I looking so far, @axe0 ?

 

[SickOfTheBSOD]

Additional BSOD + Info

Before I could complete these tests, I encountered another BSOD.

4/22/16
-0x1A

(0x0000000000005003, 0xFFFFF70001080000, 0x0000000000001129, 0x0000112700002272)

My HDD came up clean though, but I have yet to run the memory diagnosing.

 

[axe0]

You did have some pup's/(mal/ad)ware, but it was an extension from Chrome and a driver update program.

For now it looks good with the tests