Windows 7 Crashing Repeatedly

[Wishmaster]

just seen this in the event viewer - "Performance power management features on processor 1 in group 0 are disabled due to a firmware problem. Check with the computer manufacturer for updated firmware."

Any ideas what driver/firmware it refers to?

This error usually is typically nothing to worry about
It means that SpeedStep or C1E are disabled in the bios.

But aren't these by default enabled?

Considering there's no overclocking being done or attempted, this seems odd. AS this is normally done to stabilize overclocks, or find a max FSB


Perhaps there's some bios settings are out of whack as well.
Unless I'm totally missing something.

 

[liquidshokk]

Can the bios be defaulted easily to take this out of the equasion. Also is it worth me looking into upgrading the bios, could the bios version be the issue despite the crashing happening when in windows?!

I have just ran memtest. 1 pass completed successfully with the 1gb mem in slot 00 so i changed to 01 and the pc crashed whilst running a test, I hard rebooted the pc and ran the test again and it completed successfully, is currently still running with 3 passes done with no errors. I know for a fact that the pc has crashed with the memory in the other slot too.

can we remove windows 7 as a culprit as the pc still crashed outside of windows?

 

[Wishmaster]

I would run that 1 stick at least 3 passes preferably 5.
Sometimes you can pass with just 1 pass, yet still have a problem.

If its stable 3-5 passes then move to other slot.

If its passing 3-5 completes passes in 1 one slot, chances are the RAM is OK and we can rule it out for now.
if it fails rather quickly in the other slot ...
It would point to the RAM being OK and a likely problem with the board itself.

Please try this and let us know the results.


As far as resetting the bios to default that's easy enough.

In the main page of you bios screen you should have a option;
"Reset to Optimized Defaults" or similar
You may need to press a key such as F7 (it should be marked however)


Im thinking we're looking at hardware here, possibly the MB itself, and not Windows 7. At any count perhaps we can pinpoint it.

Bios update is a risky procedure, even more so if you unfamiliar with a bios flashing. Depending on your bios, and method you must use to flash them.
A bad flash will "brick" your board, or render it in-operable.
I wouldn't do it just yet , unless absolutely necessary, which it may be.

 

[usasma]

This is a STOP 0x124 error - there is no guarantee that anything that you do will fix it. It may just flat be unfixable.

Start removing hardware and see if any of that fixes it. Make sure to remove the drivers as you remove the hardware.

 

[liquidshokk]

I dont understand why it has only started happening since installing the full release of windows 7 though. RC1 was fine.

I tried removing the tv card, firewire card and disconnected the card holding the usb/SD ports on the front earlier but the crashing still continued.

The PC failed to boot up earlier. when i pressed the power button the fan started but the screen did nothing. every 5 seconds or so there was a ticking noise but that was it. hard reboot and then powering up went into windows ok only to crash 15 mins later

 

[usasma]

Changes in the code between the RC and the RTM can cause this. Decisions on what to support and what not to support can affect this. There are lot's of stories around the web about changes in the code causing this behavior.

If you strip out all non-essential hardware and the STOP 0x124's still occur - then there's an issue with an essential piece of hardware (which means buying a new, compatible piece). Deciding which piece(s) to buy is up to you.

 

[Wishmaster]

This is a STOP 0x124 error - there is no guarantee that anything that you do will fix it. It may just flat be unfixable.

Start removing hardware and see if any of that fixes it. Make sure to remove the drivers as you remove the hardware.

I agree. Also the fact hes having issues outside of windows.

Im wondering if the PSU may be dying. I know a dying PSU will give very similair symptoms to what we are seeing here, although I'm unsure if it would possibly generate that STOP code.
Perhaps someone else may know.

I would do as usasma suggested, even going so far as to disable onboard sound at some point.

The fact one RAM slot works, and other will not makes me wonder if the Mem. controller/NB itself is going bad. Pure speculation at this point however.

 

[liquidshokk]

well things have now got worse. I bought the pc to work with me this morning and it failed to boot up. Just whirred every 5 seconds or so (think it was the dvd drive). I took everything out to brush off the dust as there was lots of it and reinserted everything. Now the pc fails to boot. (didnt remove the heatsink btw) At one point since reinserting everything i got the packard bell logo up, then the warning about CMOS date/time being incorrect but more importantly said underneath 'overclocking failed, enter setup to configure'... Im not overclocking though?! The pc then crashed and since then I am unable to get anything on the screen at all with the memory in either slot (also changed out the stick of memory), harddrives connected/disconnected or anything. Seems the motherboard has finally died. Or maybe as you say the power supply could be at fault, however the fan is still spinning quite happily on it.

I have warned my brother that it looks like a new pc is required. Will forever baffle me why this problem only happened since installing the full version of windows 7. damn shame as the difference from xp on the machine was phenomenal.

Sadly the only other PSU i have doesnt have the power cable that connects next to the cooling fan so I didnt dare power it up without that connected.

conclusion = Dead pc!?!???

 

[Wishmaster]

That is odd. When you said you weren't overclocking, thats why the power management error grabbed my attn.

This is a common error in the logs for overclockers who disable these features.
It is however not common for those running at factory specs with everything set to default.

Curious, did you try and set bios to optimized default?

With the Overclock failed msg, it is quite possible something was over-volted and fried.

Also, with such a message, you may try to reset the CMOS. Although it may be to late now sadly.

 

[liquidshokk]

I set the bios to defaults but the CE1 option was set to disabled by default so i enabled it (as you said it should be enabled by default) I had managed to get into windows since setting that option but now I cant even get to the packard bell screen so think the pc has slowly died.

Cant find the exact motherboard anywhere but have seen this one on ebay and pretty sure it is suitable, can anyone confirm please;

ASUS A8M2N-LA Motherboard HP Compaq OEM NodusM3 GL8E PC on eBay (end time 26-Jan-10 03:21:39 GMT)

Would you advise to just get a new pc over ordering this and just assuming its the motherboard?!

 

[liquidshokk]

actually, I have found the exact motherboard online for 30 quid. Will most likely just buy that and replace it. thats assuming its the motherboard!!

Will I be able to reinstall windows 7 ok though?

 

[liquidshokk]

I'm a bit worried that if I replace the motherboard the same thing could happen again when I install windows 7 again?

Should there be any issues with the pc spec and minimum requirements, should I be checking voltages etc in bios?

Thanks in advance