Self-built gaming PC having BSODs and freezes; can't pinpoint cause.

[Dem0nGam3r]

Nope, I haven't tested the memory one module at a time yet (I did run memtest+ for over 18 hours with both sticks still in place quite a few weeks ago). I still plan to test one stick of memory at a time, as well as swap this video card with an old GT220 from my old desktop so I can rule out the graphics card and memory as much as possible once and for all.

You said that an overheating graphics card would impact the performance of the computer, but what about a hardware issue with the CPU or RAM (or a non-heat related video card issue), would that noticeably impact performance as well (at least in most cases)? If so, as I said before there are no discernible performance issues, aside from the machine up and crashing at seemingly random times performing random tasks.

I know you can't possibly know anything for certain about the origins of the issues I'm having, but I'm just hoping you can speak from experience as you have already. That's all one can really hope for with these cryptic computation boxes, just for the best and most informed guess .

 

[TwoCables]

Nope, I haven't tested the memory one module at a time yet (I did run memtest+ for over 18 hours with both sticks still in place quite a few weeks ago). I still plan to test one stick of memory at a time, as well as swap this video card with an old GT220 from my old desktop so I can rule out the graphics card and memory as much as possible once and for all.

Oh hey, good idea. I was only thinking about the memory. You're on top of it.

You said that an overheating graphics card would impact the performance of the computer, but what about a hardware issue with the CPU or RAM (or a non-heat related video card issue), would that noticeably impact performance as well (at least in most cases)? If so, as I said before there are no discernible performance issues, aside from the machine up and crashing at seemingly random times performing random tasks.

Oh, I'm not sure. :/

I know you can't possibly know anything for certain about the origins of the issues I'm having, but I'm just hoping you can speak from experience as you have already. That's all one can really hope for with these cryptic computation boxes, just for the best and most informed guess .

Yeah, between all of us, I'm confident that we'll get to the bottom of this sooner or later.

 

[x BlueRobot]

===============================================================================
Section 2     : x86/x64 MCA
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Descriptor    @ fffffa8008004138
Section       @ fffffa80080042c0
Offset        : 664
Length        : 264
Flags         : 0x00000000
Severity      : [COLOR="red"]Fatal[/COLOR]

Error         : [COLOR="Red"]Internal timer (Proc 0 Bank 3)[/COLOR]
  Status      : 0xbe00000000800400
  Address     : 0x00003880059231e6
  Misc.       : 0x000000000003ffff

Stop 0x124 points to the CPU, although, since the error was generated by the CPU (Machine Check Exception) the CPU may be blamed. In my opinion, from the Stop 0x117 being generated shortly afterwards, the problem seems to be pointing towards the graphics card so far, but we can shortly find that out soon after the graphics card swap.

Have you updated all your drivers to rule out the possibility of a corrupted driver?

 

[Dem0nGam3r]

So far I've updated my USB, LAN, audio, and graphics drivers, as well as the BIOS.

I updated the USB, LAN and audio after a guy on the Microsoft forums told me to do so, and he made sure to point me to the newest versions (at the time, though I doubt there's been an update in only a few weeks) from ASUS's website.

I always update my graphics drivers soon after Nvidia releases an update; when it still crashed with the latest dirvers installed, I even tried downgrading to an old driver version and it still crashed then.

I updated the BIOS very recently.

Are there any other driver updates for other components that I should be aware of?

 

[x BlueRobot]

Chipset driver?

With the graphics card driver, it's best to install the latest WHQL driver and not the Beta drivers.

 

[TwoCables]

How long did you have your rig put together before this started happening?

 

[Dem0nGam3r]

@BlueRobot I'll check for a chipset driver update, I guess from ASUS's site.

@TwoCables I built the computer around Oct. 9, 2012, and the first time it crashed was on Nov. 30, 2012.

I crashed while I was away a few minutes ago, but it wasn't a BSoD or freeze, it must have restarted itself again (it did the same thing about a week ago). I was hoping there would be some new dump info.

 

[Dem0nGam3r]

I just checked the reliability monitor log on the date my computer first crashed (I don't know why I didn't do that before), and saw that it says "windows failed to start because of missing system files", the other reports being "windows shut down unexpectedly" and "windows stopped working". It crashed next three days after that and reported that Windows was not properly shut down yadda yadda but then it said this: "windows failed to start and we are unable to determine the cause of the problem", and under the technical details it says "Unspecified changes to system configuration might have caused the problem". I doubt that's helpful, but who knows.


I've never seen that message in a log since that first crash, the missing system files thing; do I simply have a corrupted install? I'll punch myself if all I had to do was perform a repair install of Windows.

Let me explain what happened when it crashed the first ever time: I got a blue screen, which was either a MEMORY_MANAGEMENT or IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL, though I can't remember which. Upon reboot, I, when given the option, immediately did a system restore. The restore finished and the system booted normally.

I'm wondering if I rolled back a corrupted update (either drivers or Windows update) with the system restore, and then updated again restoring the corruption. Who knows. It seems like there were a lot of things going on with Microsoft.NET, C++ and security updates around that time.

I'll attach my reliability monitor logs and application event logs to this post so you guys can see if you think anything fits.

 

[x BlueRobot]

Here are some errors which I found:

The driver detected a controller error on \Device\Harddisk1\DR1.

The system has rebooted without cleanly shutting down first. This error could be caused if the system stopped responding, crashed, or lost power unexpectedly.

Shortly afterwards, the bugcheck occurred:

The computer has rebooted from a bugcheck.  The bugcheck was: 0x00000124 (0x0000000000000000, 0xfffffa8008004028, 0x00000000be000000, 0x0000000000800400). A dump was saved in: C:\Windows\MEMORY.DMP. Report Id: 040113-22869-01.

What were the results of the hard-drive tests? I don't think you completed all the tests.

 

[Dem0nGam3r]

So far I only ran chkdsk, and I don't know what the results were because I never found out where the logs save (if it saves any logs, that is). I'll let you know once I've run the other hard drive tests and/or when I get another BSoD.

What do you make of that first crash I got? Does it look more like a software or hardware problem to you?

I was thinking maybe something went wrong with one of my Windows updates or something (I think at some point I encountered some weird errors with a Windows update, though I may be confusing a later occurrence with that one) and when I did a system restore it fixed the problem, only to return upon reinstallation of said updates.

 

[x BlueRobot]

Here's how to upload chkdsk results:

• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/96938-check-disk-chkdsk-read-event-viewer-log.html

If you mean the two BSODs you mentioned, then they are commonly related to Memory and Device Drivers, although from the other information you have provided, it seems to be a hard-drive issue.

 

[Dem0nGam3r]

Here's the chkdsk results.

 

[x BlueRobot]

I couldn't see any errors, and thanks for uploading.

 

[Dem0nGam3r]

I tried doing a repair install of Windows, and once it finished I started to install Windows updates. It froze during the Windows updates and I had to crash the computer.

Now, this seems to pretty much rule out the possibility of corrupt system files (I think), but how could the crashes be unrelated to the alleged corrupt/missing system files? That's the reason it started crashing in the first place, and it hasn't stopped since. I don't see how it could have started out as a simple system error and then the hardware just magically deteriorated in the meantime.

Unless one of you knows what's wrong from putting all the info together I suppose the only thing to do at this point is catch up on my troubleshooting (I was hoping the problem would be fixed upon repairing Windows). I'll just have to follow-up on the GPU, RAM and hard drive tests and then draw more conclusions from there.

I thought I'd ask this in case y'all can offer some personal advice; would I be better off handing the PC over to a repair shop? Generally, do most repair shops have better means of troubleshooting than the average consumer, or do they just simply try the same kinds of tests that I can do here at home? Just thought I'd ask.

 

[TwoCables]

Hmm. I recommend trying your luck at Overclock.net instead of allowing a repair shop to touch it.

 

[x BlueRobot]

I thought I'd ask this in case y'all can offer some personal advice; would I be better off handing the PC over to a repair shop? Generally, do most repair shops have better means of troubleshooting than the average consumer, or do they just simply try the same kinds of tests that I can do here at home? Just thought I'd ask.

I wouldn't go to a repair shop, they usually replace hardware which isn't causing the problem, so hopefully you will visit their store again and then charge you again.

 

[Dem0nGam3r]

Thank you both for your opinions.

There's a local shop nearby that offers a diagnostic for a $35 flat fee, and once they find the cause of your problem you can optionally have them fix it, but you don't have to. However, I talked to one of the guys who runs the shop, and from what he said he pretty much will do what I have already done/can do (swapping GPU's, testing one stick or RAM at a time, probably run some similar or the same diagnostic programs etc.), so I have a feeling they can't help me much further anyway.

If I ever stop procrastinating , it would narrow down the possible causes if I would swap the GPU and test the RAM. Truth be told, I simply hate messing with my hardware (and that gt220 is stuck tight). :huh:

I'll get around to that soon, and I'll let y'all know when I do (or when I get another BSoD).

Oh, and what do you guys make of the "missing system files" thing? I still can't get over it, I was sure that that was the core problem.

Thanks for everything so far!

 

[x BlueRobot]

Have you tried a http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html?

 

[Dem0nGam3r]

I already said I did before, didn't you see that post? I said:

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"I tried doing a repair install of Windows, and once it finished I started to install Windows updates. It froze during the Windows updates and I had to crash the computer.

Now, this seems to pretty much rule out the possibility of corrupt system files (I think), but how could the crashes be unrelated to the alleged corrupt/missing system files? That's the reason it started crashing in the first place, and it hasn't stopped since. I don't see how it could have started out as a simple system error and then the hardware just magically deteriorated in the meantime.

Unless one of you knows what's wrong from putting all the info together I suppose the only thing to do at this point is catch up on my troubleshooting (I was hoping the problem would be fixed upon repairing Windows). I'll just have to follow-up on the GPU, RAM and hard drive tests and then draw more conclusions from there."

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I should note, my computer seems to be running significantly slower since the repair (not too bad, but annoyingly so), but maybe I just need to reinstall a few drivers that got rolled back from the repair? I hope I didn't mess something up . I followed the same tutorial you linked.

Also, I got another blue screen a few minutes ago, but the dump file didn't save. In fact, the minidump folder seems to be missing since the repair. How do I correct this?

 

[TwoCables]

One of the reasons I recommended Overclock.net is so that you have more than one community helping you. I have been a full-time member of Overclock.net for over 4 years, and I swear by them for helping fix almost any computer problem.