Various BSOD crashes on new computer

[ethomas]

I believe I have the same issue, although on an ASUS. Win 64 bit, GeForce GTX260, SoundMAX Integrated audio. Brand new computer with no modifications. After 15-20 minutes the audio starts to stutter, break up and sounds very robotic. Performance gradually degrades until audio is extremely distorted, eventually resulting in a crash. Seems to happen with graphics-intense video games, but lowering the video quality settings doesn't seem to make a difference so I don't think it's stress-related. When I quit the game, I check the temperature settings and everything seems normal. Restarting the computer seems to make the problem go away, although I can't say for sure it's 100% effective. Drivers and BIOS are all up to date. Memory check returned no problems. Would be very curious to know if you've had any progress on this issue.

 

[Grangel]

The tech at Gateway reports he is still looking into it with the engineers. I'm currently trying to let my computer remain in standby when I'm not using it, seeing as it normally crashes soon after my first boot of the day. I'll try that for a week, then post again with the results.

 

[Grangel]

Ok...less than 30 minutes after my last post, I got my first crash after attempting to just leave my computer in standby.

 

[zigzag3143]

Without even looking I will bet you all have 64bit and you all have more than 4 gigs fo ram.

 

[abbychia]

possible answer ???

I posted earlier about having the same issues with the same computer bought from the same place. When I got into my system logs and and sorted events by type, i could see that ALL the big ERRORs corresponded in time with each shutdown/recovery (i'd kept my own log of dates/times). All of them referred to a SideBySide error/issue which I initially read was a virus but subsequently found is related to Visuall C++ issue. (see my first post http://www.sevenforums.com/crashes-debugging/69698-since-new-repeated-recovered-fr-unexpected-shutdown.html

INTERESTINGLY, the first note of the SideBySide error went all the way back to Nov. 2007 (a full two years before I bought the computer!!) and corresponded to when it was first started up.

Anyway, my sidebyside error tracked to communication issues with AdobeAir so I uninstalled that and haven’t had the unexpected shutdown since. (It’s been a couple of days now.) However it’s not completely fixed since I do get an error in my system scans.

LedFloyd sent me this: sidebyside error can mean that you are missing some Microsoft Visual C++ 2005. you can get it here and your error will stop. Download details: Visual C++ 2005 Redistributable Package (x64) <---this is the 64 bit versioin but the other are on the same site

I’m going to do this and hope/expect that it will solve not only my issue, but many others experiencing the same. It might be this common communication issue.

 

[Grangel]

I have 6GB of RAM...how might that affect things?

 

[ethomas]

@zigzag - yup, 64 bit and 9 GB of RAM.

 

[gooster]

RAM

I too have 6 GB of RAM; i am guessing there is some issue with > 4 GB of RAM and 64 bit Windows 7. (Note: My current problems are just plain old fashioned freezes, not BSOD. This changed after I swapped out the graphics card and drivers)

 

[anglerno1]

I have 6 gigs of ram as well....what's the problem with that? The whole point of going with 64 bit is to have more than 4 gigs or ram...

 

[ethomas]

For the past few days, I've been testing something out. Each time I start my computer for the day, I immediately restart it once. This has very reliably prevented the stutter/crash issue from occurring. Would also like to clarify that I don't actually get a BSOD, instead my computer gets gradually worse and worse with the audio/video stuttering and distortion until it just shuts off.

Zigzag, looks like you're pretty busy with other posts but it sounds like you have some info about this topic related to RAM quantity so any additional help on this particular one would be appreciated. Alternatively, is there another thread where this has already been discussed? I've searched around but couldn't find one. Thanks

 

[Darkademic]

I think I'm experiencing a similar issue.

Sometimes my PC will go for a full day without any problems, whereas today it happened within an hour or so of booting up.

It happens most frequently when playing games, but it also does it when watching a movie or listening to music.

The audio and video will stutter slightly at first, and the mouse cursor will jump.

When I notice it I now just go to desktop and try to keep making consistent circles with the mouse, and it will noticeably jump every 5-10 seconds.

If I ignore it, the stuttering will gradually get worse, sometimes taking less than a minute, sometimes maybe 10 minutes.

Eventually the computer will either freeze, with stuttering audio looping, or it will get a BSOD. Either way I have to shut down.

A restart makes everything fine again until the next time.

Temperatures and voltages seem fine.

 

[Tews]

[1 - Novice] How to ask for help with a BSOD problem

 

[Grangel]

Here is my update:

After sending my computer back to the manufacturer for the 3rd time, they eventually decided to just replace it. The tech I was in contact with reported they were in the process of figuring out what the problem was, but he didn't want to wait until they could fix it, so the replacement was shipped.

I have to say they compensated me pretty well. THe replacement unit is a Gateway FX6830-01. It's not as sleek, slim, small and fashionable as my last unit, but it is specced better than the last one (it's actually a gaming PC), and that is, of course, what's key.

As of right now, I have been using the computer for a week and a day without any problems. I'm assuming that it is good to go, and I'll probably be installing the rest of my key programs this weekend, barring any major problems that may occur between now and then.

 

[YakSipper]

If there is more than 4 GB ram, then most likely memory remapping or similar setting must be on in the bios (set to yes.)

Good one, Ken.

 

[Nuahaun]

Has anyone made any progress on this particular issue, or determined a root cause? I have the exact same problem (steady audio degradation leading to a crash at the start of each gaming session), but with a custom-built computer (Win 7 64 bit, Core i7, ATI 4890, 6GB RAM). I've just installed the Visual C++ fix recommended earlier, so I'll see if that prevents subsequent crashes.

 

[Blueshift]

sx2802 problem solved (for now)

Hello everyone,

Like many of you I have the sx2802; mine is the sx2802-07 model. And like many of you I have had the Audio stuttering, Bsod's and freezes. I have had two distinct problems that i believe I have fixed.

1. in games (especially certain games) after a random amount of time (usually longer than 5-10 minutes) my screen will black out for a second and come back on without any audio. Then after some more time I will eventually get either a freeze,bsod, or default back to windows with the game showing a "not responding" message in task manager.

2. On the windows desktop or using firefox, winamp, other apps or simply none at all, I would get stuttering audio and mouse. the gui would become choppy and most of the time would evetually halt and bsod freeze etc.

Now the first problem I fixed was number 2. For that I simply restored the windows image I had. That windows image however, did not have all the windows updates on it and didnt have an updated video driver.

I am led to believe that either a windows update(s) is causing these stuttering and crackling issues or that the updated video driver is causing some issues.

The video driver i updated because either the drivers windows 7 had were not supporting opengl or that they supported it really badly. after i updated the video drivers some games started showing artifacts. ( though opengl seemed to work alot better)

Now I couldn't just revert back to the old drivers (it still had artifacts) (and perhaps this is cause I am not really schooled in completely removing drivers) Never the less reverting back to the original windows 7 video drivers and minus the updates has seemed to fix artifacts and audio stutters/bsods.

now the solution for problem one was still not solved. I still had the video cut for a second and come back up with no audio. then random freezes. I set the process priority of the games i was having problems with to "High". I have since then made a batch file to start the game in high priority and have never had problems since.

Possible Solution for games: setting game process priority to High

Possible Solution for random crashes, stuttering, and bsods,: not
having windows updates(disabling auto updates), or updated video drivers. (caution: disabling windows updates could make your system less secure or stable)

It is a bad thing if it is the windows updates, as we need updates to make our system more secure. Perhaps someone could isolate which particular update it is , if it is infact an update. I don't have any time right now but hopefully I might lead someone in the right direction.

 

[Grangel]

Just to reiterate, my computer experienced the same problems regardless of whether or not I installed the Windows updates. On my last re-install, I did not install any additional programs or allow any updates of any kind, and I experienced the exact same crashes.

Also, in regards to the RAM issue, my replacement computer is a Gateway FX series with the same or more RAM, and it has worked more or less perfectly since buying it.

Has anybody else had absolutely no success fixing their crashing, and had to send their unit back?

 

[abbychia]

crash fix that worked for me

I posted earlier that I had bought bought a new Gateway SX2802-03 with windows 7 installed and a short while after I bought it, I began to notice random BSODs which no one could seem to solve until i saw this posting from Otis the Cat on another forum:

"I have solved my problem and the solution may apply to those who are experiencing a similar one. ... it is related to the computer going into sleep mode, or least some elements of the computer going into sleep mode and not waking properly when required. The most likely reason being that the motherbaord does not support the functionality configured as standard in Windows 7 Power Options.


My solution was to go to open the 'Control Panel' and open 'Power Options'. Under' Balanced' select 'Change Plan Settings' and then 'Change advanced power settings'. You should be presented with a list of power setting that can be configured by the user. Go down to 'Sleep' and open 'Allow hybrid sleep' and change the setting to 'Off'. I changed other settings as well but this appears to be the most likely cause of the problem.
Good luck and please post the result on this forum so others can see whether this is a generic solution or whether it works only for me. Since I made the change my system has been rock solid." reference Win 7 64 bit - critical error event ID 41 kernel power - task (63)

I followed Otis the Cat's directions and have not had to deal with the BSODs since! Hallelujah. They were occurring every 1-2 days otherwise. Hope this helps someone else!!!