Solved seemingly random bsod, more often when gaming (WoW)

[h47f4c3]

I built the wife a computer she would use primarily for her facebook/pintrest nonsense as well as Sims/WoW/Diablo3 and whatever else she chooses to play. From day one she has been getting random BSODs. Sometimes weeks in between, sometimes multiple times a day. Lately it has been multiple times every day (last 4 or 5 days). So here I am asking for help.
Specs
CPU: amd phenom II 965black
MB : ASUS m5A97 LE R2.0
Ram: Patriot Viper (2x4)
SSD: Patriot Pyro 120gb
HDD: WD Blue 1TB
GPU: Radeon HD 5750
Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit

I have attached the DM log collector zip, there are multiple dump files, but i believe the most relevant one will be from 10/23/2014, but i could be wrong.

thanks for taking a look! look forward to some feedback

 

[essenbe]

h47f4c3, welcome to Seven Forums. I will see if I can help. You have 5 dump files. one recently, the others are at least 3 months old and one is dated 12/31/07. What's that about? Windows 7 was released to the public in 2009.

the only recent dump was 10-23-14 and it says

asmtxhci
start             end                 module name
fffff880`04b0b000 fffff880`04b75000   asmtxhci T (no symbols)           
    Loaded symbol image file: asmtxhci.sys
    Image path: [COLOR=red]asmtxhci.sys[/COLOR]
    Image name: asmtxhci.sys
    Timestamp:        Fri Aug 16 14:28:42 2013 (520E7D6A)
    CheckSum:         0006EE09
    ImageSize:        0006A000
    Translations:     0000.04b0 0000.04e4 0409.04b0 0409.04e4

That is the ASmedis USB 3.0 driver. look on the motherboard's web site and see if there is a more recent version. if not, you can try ASMedia Technology Inc. ????

When finished with that

Open a elevated command prompt ( click start, type cmd in the search box, right click on the cmd entry and select run as administrator) in the black box that opens, copy/paste sfc /scannow. If you decide to type it, notice the space between the sfc and the /. It is a system file checker which will scan your system files and attempt to correct any missing or corrupt files. What we want are the results to say windows found no integrity violations. If it says files were found but could not be repaired, close the box, reboot and run it again, after opening the administrative command prompt. You may have to reboot and run it three times for it to repair all system files. If it can't repair them after 3 reboots, let us know.

 

[h47f4c3]

The older dump files were from a bad cmos battery (that was causing time to reset to that date) with a bad stick of ram causing BSOD. The new one is after i got Patriot to RMA the bad ram, computer was running well for a couple days, then this new BSOD. I'm going to go get those drivers straightened out and run the scan. Is that scan the same as running Error-checking from drive's property menu? If so I have already run those. I appreciate your fast reply and I will let you know how it turns out.

 

[essenbe]

No, this is a system file checker that checks protected system files and attempts to replace missing files or repair corrupted files. What you ran was something else.

Also, given the problems you just told me about, it would be wise to run memtest.

Please Run Memtest86+

   Information

Please download from this site only http://www.memtest.org/ in the middle of the page are the Download links, you can download the ISO.zip or the Auto USB Flash Drive installer.zip

Extract the Zip file. If you chose the ISO image, burn it to a CD using Windows Disk Image Burner or any Image burner you may have. If you downloaded the Auto USB installer, extract it, insert your USB 2.0 Flash Drive and take note of the drive letter. Run the installer, select the Flash Drive Letter, check the format box and press next. It will install memtest86+ to a flash drive. You can use either V4.20 or V5.01. Boot from your selected media. If you use V5.01 it will tell you to press certain buttons at the start, please press no buttons. The test will begin on it's own and continue to run until you stop it. It needs to run for 8 complete passes or until you receive an error. If you receive an error, stop the test. Even 1 error is a fail. Each pass tests a different part of the ram and each of the 10 tests in each pass tests something different. It takes a minimum of 8 passes to completely test the ram, more passes are better. It is quite a long test and will take several hours depending on how much ram you have. Due to the time length it is best to run overnight. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask​

 

[h47f4c3]

Got the driver installed and ran the scan in command prompt. Computer froze about 20 minutes later. I'll run memtest tonight and post my findings. Thanks again!

 

[essenbe]

No problem, just let us know. be ready, it will take you around 20 hours to run 8 passes, but that's what's necessary, all run at one time or until you get an error. Any error and you can stop the test.

 

[h47f4c3]

Ran memtest+ 5.1, when I woke up this morning, 9 passes, zero errors. I'm going to have the wife game and see if we can get another BSOD, hopefully with new information. Any other tests you might recommend in the meantime?

 

[essenbe]

Before you do, make sure your system is set to create Small Memory Dumps.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/174459-dump-files-configure-windows-create-bsod.html

 

[h47f4c3]

I have, thats why there were three months in between the dumps I originally posted, I accidentally turned them off months ago. Thanks for looking out!

 

[essenbe]

No problem. That's what I'm supposed to do. I forget sometimes though.

 

[h47f4c3]

So wife was able to get around to trying the machine out again. She got about 5 minutes into gaming (WoW) and the screen froze. Waited for about two hours with no BSOD, screen still just displays her character frozen in it's environment. I'm sure this makes it hard to diagnose without seeing, but if you have anymore input I would greatly appreciate it as I'm just sitting here scratching my head.

Edit: No keyboard command is responsive. ctrl/alt/delete, ctrl/alt/esc, alt/tab. nada

 

[essenbe]

Try reinstalling the drivers, just try this method. Do not install anything you do not use. No 3D drivers/audio/HDMI drivers as they are not needed or useful. You already have audio drivers and adding more can conflict with the motherboard drivers. So, all you really need is the Display Driver unless you are using other functions or multiple displays or something. Do it this way.

I am going to give you some links that will help you get a good clean install and not have any drivers you don't need that will conflict with other drivers. Download a WHQL driver from http://www.sevenforums.com/graphic-cards/329659-latest-amd-catalyst-video-driver-windows-7-a.html . Once you have them downloaded, uninstall you current driver from control panel. next clean up any left over drivers from following this tutorial http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/83814-drivers-clean-left-over-files-after-uninstalling.html and select only ATI Display Drivers. After you have done that and rebooted, install the new driver, only select custom install and install only what you have to. Very few people need most of what they include. You do not need the audio/HDMI drivers as you already have that in your Motherboard drivers. Unless there is some reason you need them, the only thing you really need is the Display Driver.

If you installed Motherboard drivers from the Driver DVD, uninstall all of the Motherboard utilities such as Asys AI Suite. Go to the web page for your motherboard and install any newer versions of drivers there that you use. Never install drivers from the DVD disk, there are always newer versions on the web site. Almost all of the Motherboard utilities, no matter which Manufacturer are BSOD causers and cause a lot of problems and are near impossible to get completely rid of. It is strange that some people use them with no problems and others have a terrible time with them.

If you don't already have them, install utilities to monitor the GPU temps and CPU temps. I want you to always know what the temps are. Use a utility that will allow a custom fan profile for the GPU and an On Screen display so you can put temp and fan speed on screen while you game. I always do.

After that let me know how it works. Also go to device manager and tell me if there are any Yellow icons there or icons with a grey exclamation point on them.

 

[h47f4c3]

Awesome. I will get on this tonight when I get home from work and update you tomorrow. I use CPUID and coretemp to monitor temps, as well as Catalyst control center for GPU fan speed. My wife knows to keep an eye on these like the gauges in her car. One fault with the motherboard is that is will not recognize fan speed for the cpu fan, so i disable it's monitor so i dont get prompted for fan failure at every startup. The fan seems to operate as normal, and the CPU temps are always favorable (stock clock amd phenom II 965 black, temps always under 40c). I assume the fan is doing it's job with those temps.

 

[essenbe]

MSI Afterburner will allow you to set a custom fan profile and on screen display if you want to do that MSI Afterburner It is really an overclocking utility, but it is also a useful monitoring tool. Don't try overclocking with it.

 

[h47f4c3]

Finally just got around to working on the computer. I downloaded the current catalyst control center and the driver cleaner. Then uninstalled the existing catalyst control center and rebooted into safe mode. Ran the cleaner and rebooted back into normal mode. Re-installed the catalyst center (Display driver only), rebooted. Double checked all the Motherboard drivers vs. current versions, all are up to date. Do I need Asus AI suite or were you recommending just getting rid of it?

Checked devise manager for any yellow icons or gray exclamation points, none.

As soon as she puts it through the paces I'll post an update of where we are at.

As always thank you so much for your time!!

 

[essenbe]

No, No AI Suite get rid of it. And see if you can find a Ai suite remover. I believe there is a program to remove it on the Asus ROG forum.

EDIT: http://rog.asus.com/forum/showthread.php?28319-AI-Suite-II-uninstall-cleaner

 

[h47f4c3]

I'll remove the AI suite next time i get to the machine. She was able to run one two hour session with no issue. We will put it through the paces again tonight, I'll report back this evening, hopefully all will be well.

 

[essenbe]

OK, as long as you are having no issues, just leave as it is. If it's not broke, don't fix it.

 

[h47f4c3]

The system ran strong yesterday, a couple hours of gaming with no problems. 20 minutes into gaming this evening, a new BSOD. I have attached the dump files. Good luck.

 

[essenbe]

here you go

atikmpag
start             end                 module name
fffff880`04400000 fffff880`04492000   atikmpag T (no symbols)           
    Loaded symbol image file: atikmpag.sys
    Image path: atikmpag.sys
    Image name: atikmpag.sys
    Timestamp:        Mon Sep 15 16:59:06 2014 (5417612A)
    CheckSum:         000964D0
    ImageSize:        00092000
    Translations:     0000.04b0 0000.04e4 0409.04b0 0409.04e4

Which is your graphics driver, but I suspect it was a victim and not a cause.

asmtxhci
start             end                 module name
fffff880`04991000 fffff880`049fb000   asmtxhci T (no symbols)           
    Loaded symbol image file: asmtxhci.sys
    Image path: asmtxhci.sys
    Image name: asmtxhci.sys
    Timestamp:        Fri Aug 16 14:28:42 2013 (520E7D6A)
    CheckSum:         0006EE09
    ImageSize:        0006A000
    Translations:     0000.04b0 0000.04e4 0409.04b0 0409.04e4

That is the ASMedia extensible host controller interface, (USB 3.0) driver. Update that and remove AI Suite completely.
Then open a elevated command prompt ( click start, type cmd in the search box, right click on the cmd entry and select run as administrator) in the black box that opens, copy/paste sfc /scannow. If you decide to type it, notice the space between the sfc and the /. It is a system file checker which will scan your system files and attempt to correct any missing or corrupt files. What we want are the results to say windows found no integrity violations. If it says files were found but could not be repaired, close the box, reboot and run it again, after opening the administrative command prompt. You may have to reboot and run it three times for it to repair all system files. If it can't repair them after 3 reboots, let us know.

See if that is any better