Where do I retreive a core dump and how do I analyze it?

[StupidUser]

My PC keeps crashing with the blue screen of death. The BSOD dumps my physical memory somewhere. I assume that's so we can figure out what went wrong. Where is the physical memory dump? How do I analyze it (or, more accurately, who can analyze it for me)?

The (important part of the) BSOD's message is:

"A clock interrupt was not received on a secondary processor within the allocated time interval"

Technical Information: 0x0000000000000101 (0x0000000000000031, 0x0000000000000000, 0xFFFFF88002F64180, 0x0000000000000002)

Note that my PC passes all of the hardware tests that the manufacturer (Lenovo) included.

 

[Golden]

To get help, follow instructions here:
http://www.sevenforums.com/crashes-debugging/96879-blue-screen-death-bsod-posting-instructions.html

 

[x BlueRobot]

Follow Goldens link, and preferably upload a Kernel dump, as the Processor Control Block addresses can be analyzed, Stop 0x101 can be linked to a faulty processor.

 

[StupidUser]

I may have created these wrong. I had trouble understanding the utility, so I deleted everything and started over. If the info is different with each time you run (e.g., it clears out some information that was dumped), then this info may not be right.

I noticed that SystemInfo.txt was empty. I also noticed that the SF Diagnostic Tool opened a System Info utility. So I added a new file called SI.txt with the information from that utility.

I attached the zip file. I couldn't tell when the SF Diagnostic tool was complete. Please confirm that everything necessary is in the zip file.

 

[x BlueRobot]

[COLOR="Red"]BugCheck 101[/COLOR], {31, 0, fffff88002f64180, 2}

Probably caused by : Unknown_Image ( ANALYSIS_INCONCLUSIVE )

Usual causes:  Device driver, BIOS bug, hardware defect

Follow these steps here:

• http://www.sevenforums.com/crash-lo...0x101-clock_watchdog_timeout-troubleshtg.html

Install Service Pack 1:

Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate [COLOR="Red"]6.1.7600 Build 7600[/COLOR]

Service Pack 1 has introduced many security and stability updates for Windows 7, and therefore not installing Service Pack 1 can make your system more vulnerable to crashes and forms of malicious software.

• Learn how to install Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1)
• Service Pack Center - Microsoft Windows

Install all the latest Important and Optional Windows Updates, as there has been many additional security and compatibility updates for Windows 7 since the release of Service Pack 1.

Start rb: > Type: Windows Update > Select and Install Windows Updates/Scan for new Windows Updates

:info: Install Service Pack 1 before continuing with the other steps.

Uninstall AVG:

Start Menu\Programs\AVG 2011

• AVG Official Uninstaller

Uninstall Spybot:

Start Menu\Programs\Spybot - Search & Destroy

Uninstall Wise Registry Cleaner Free:

Start Menu\Programs\Wise Registry Cleaner Free

Registry cleaners do not improve the performance of Windows 7, and tend to cause more damage to your system then providing any usefulness; I recommend uninstalling Wise Disk Cleaner Free also.

Perform full scans with:

• Microsoft Security Essentials | Free Download
• Malwarebytes Anti-Malware | Free Download
• Anti-rootkit utility TDSSKiller

:info:These programs are more stable and work better with Windows 7, although AVG and Spybot may not be the root causes for the BSODs, they are better to use when trying to diagnose your issue due to their better stability.

You may also want uninstall Windows Defender when MSE is installed, since Windows Defender is not really needed, and may clash with MSE and cause crashes and conflicts in your system.

Remember to install the free version of Malwarebytes not the free trail ; untick the free trail box during installation.

Run some hard-drive and file system checks (will scan for corrupted system files):

• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/139810-sfc-scannow-run-command-prompt-boot.html
• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/433-disk-check.html

:warn: Running stress tests will place extreme load on components, and will cause failing or misconfigured hardware to produce errors and overheating; please follow the steps carefully.

Use hardware temperature monitoring programs when running the stress tests:

• CoreTemp
• CPUID HwMonitor

CPU:

• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/100352-hardware-stress-test-prime95.html

Graphics Card:

• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/100356-video-card-stress-test-furmark.html

I would also run Driver Verifier to check for missing or corrupted drivers, run for least 24 hours, stop the test if any BSODs occur before this time frame.

• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/101379-driver-verifier-enable-disable.html

Please post back results

 

[StupidUser]

Thanks, BR. This will take me some time. I want to put aside some time to do what you suggest all at once - at the moment, I'm doing some important school work. In the meantime I have uninstalled the Wise Cleaners and Sypbot. I won't uninstall AVG until I can sit down and do the whole thing at one time (because I will be unprotected without AVG). I will also use this opportunity to switch to Kaspersky, which I've heard good things about and wanted to try (and is the same price - free!).

Also, note that I have not been able to upgrade to SP1 in the past. I assumed whatever has been causing my BSOD was the issue preventing me from upgrading. Your post indicates the reverse.

I will return to this thread, though. Probably in a few days.

 

[x BlueRobot]

You can try following these steps and suggestions by Microsoft:

• Troubleshoot problems installing Service Pack 1 (SP1) for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2

 

[StupidUser]

Regarding solving this issue (not worried about security for the moment), is upgrading to SP1 the most important one you suggested? Is that the one I should try first?

 

[x BlueRobot]

It is highly recommended, but you can uninstall those other programs and then run full scans with the AV programs I suggested.

 

[StupidUser]

I took it to a repair shop (who is the machine's manufacturer's partner - for whatever that's worth). They cannot find any hardware issues, though they did find some malware.

How did they find malware if I have been running antivirus protection? why might they not be able to find a hardware problem when i am experiencing so many hardware issues (I am having lots more problems than listed in this thread - too many to ever remember at one time) which are all getting worse by the day? Can malware cause BSOD's?

Thanks for any insight.

P.S. some of the problems I have:

• windows update does not complete for certain updates
• gadgets don't retain settings and need to be restarted sadhu time I start win
• get message that I'm running out of memory which is getting more frequent by the day
• the above core dump
• extremely poor ssd performance
• more

Could malware cause all of these issues?

 

[x BlueRobot]

Malware can cause many problems and can you upload a SystemInfo.txt file using the SF Diagnostic Tool?

Scan for any malware or rootkits using:

• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/166445-windows-defender-offline.html

Scan for any missing, modified or corrupted protected Windows files with:

• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html