WSOD & BlackSOD, recent crashes & other misc problems

[Carpet Man]

As the title suggests my Windows 7 Dell Laptop has been crashing recently.
Last Monday I received a Black screen of death and a white screen of death while browsing the internet.
A quick Google search for help led me to do a System Restore, so I did this, giving back as far as possible without having to re-install any programs (eg Office, Serif, Sibelius, McAffee)
This didn't help at all, since then I've received two more WSODs, one BlackSOD and a flashing black and white screen of death, which occurred while using Sibelius 6 first.
Research shows most people generally have these problems:
A. On startup
B. With an Apple device
or C. With the infamous 'Blue Screen of Death'
Although neither of these fit my case: I am yet to occur a blue screen of death, and all crashes happen between 15 minutes to several hours after startup.

More notes:

-last August I rebooted my laptop after a backup due to a persistent virus problem. I have a feeling this may resolve my current issue but it's an inconvenience to reinstall my software and backup.
-i have had trouble logging into hotmail recently and am resetting my password
-McAffee safesearch plugin for Google Chrome reports some Of my frequently used sites as Red Alerts, such as Facebook and Pokemon Showdown but when I look at the full report they come up as Green or Untested.

Idont know if any of these miscellaneous problems are related to the current issue, but I thought I'd mention them in case.

Anyway, what is the cause of these crashes and what can I do to stop them? Is my laptop infected?
Thanks in advance

 

[koolkat77]

Welcome to SevenForums

McAfee alone is a problem (+BSOD causer) consider uninstalling it with its removal tool and replace with free Microsoft Security Essentials at least to test

• McAfee Removal Tool - McAfee Uninstaller

If you cannot uninstall with the removal tool, try uninstalling using Free Revo Uninstallers Advanced Mode:

• Download Revo Uninstaller Freeware - Free and Full Download - Uninstall software, remove programs, solve uninstall problems

Reboot the system after uninstallation

Recommended antivirus program for Windows 7 based on stability compared to others:-

• Microsoft Security Essentials - Free Antivirus for Windows
• Malwarebytes - The Free version
• http://www.sevenforums.com/system-security/206705-good-free-system-security-combination.html

Do not start the free trial of Malware Bytes; remember to deselect that option when prompted

Run a full scan with both (separately) once downloaded, installed and updated

Run these tools and delete anything they find:

• Anti-rootkit utility TDSSKiller

ESET online scanner:

• Free Online Virus Scanner | ESET

In addition, run the malicious software removal tool and WDO:

• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/24076-malicious-software-removal-tool.html
• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/166445-windows-defender-offline.html

System Specs are always helpful:
__________________

1. Click on User CP on the top right of this page
2. Click on Edit System Spec
3. Fill in your computer specs
   • http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/180324-system-info-see-your-system-specs.html

__________________
Let us know the results of above ^

Run the System File Checker that scans the of all protected Windows 7 system files and replaces incorrect corrupted, changed/modified, or damaged versions with the correct versions if possible:

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

Run Disk Check on your hard disk for file system errors and bad sectors on it:

• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/433-disk-check.html

----

*Are you able to get into your computer in safe mode from http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/666-advanced-boot-options.html?​

Please upload your msinfo32.nfo file. To get this:
1. Click on the Start rb:
2. Type msinfo32 into the Search programs and files box
3. When it opens, go to File, Save
4. Save as msinfo32.nfo and save in a place you will remember
5. Let it finish the process of gathering and saving the system info
6. Right click the .nfo file, click send to compressed (zipped) folder
7. Upload the .zip file here

Keep us posted

 

[Carpet Man]

Hey Koolkat,

I ran the free ESET Scanner and it reported no problems
I also un-installed McAffee using the removal tool, and then installed Microsoft Security Essentials. I ran a full scan with this which reported no problems.

Unfortunately, while it seems to be less frequent, I am still experiencing crashes, and have no idea why. I will get the msinfo32 file soon in the hope this provides more information.

Thanks a lot,
Carpet Man

 

[Arc]

Carpet man, you upload the latest dumps too. It will be helpful for us.

Post following the Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) Posting Instructions.

 

[Carpet Man]

Will do. I have college work to do at the moment but when that is complete I'll upload what information I can ASAP.

 

[Carpet Man]

Okay, I think I've done this right... sorry for the double post.

All the info you need should be in this folder.

 

[Arc]

The dump you uploaded is of 12/09. It will not give the current impression for sure. Still, based on that dump,

► Update display driver.

lmvm atikmpag
start             end                 module name
fffff880`02f71000 fffff880`02fa7000   atikmpag   (deferred)             
    Image path: \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\atikmpag.sys
    [COLOR=Red][B]Image name: atikmpag.sys
    Timestamp:        Wed Mar 24 06:53:51 2010 [/B][/COLOR](4BA969A7)
    CheckSum:         0003F46E
    ImageSize:        00036000
    Translations:     0000.04b0 0000.04e4 0409.04b0 0409.04e4

Its too old. Get it from AMD Graphics Drivers & Software

► Update Atheros network adapter driver

lmvm athrx
start             end                 module name
fffff880`04456000 fffff880`045df000   athrx    T (no symbols)           
    Loaded symbol image file: athrx.sys
    Image path: \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\athrx.sys
    [COLOR=Red][B]Image name: athrx.sys
    Timestamp:        Wed Mar 03 06:15:21 2010 [/B][/COLOR](4B8DB121)
    CheckSum:         00186AC4
    ImageSize:        00189000
    Translations:     0000.04b0 0000.04e4 0409.04b0 0409.04e4

Get it from ATHEROS drivers for Microsoft Windows (Atheros?????)

► Use Microsoft Security Essentials.
Uninstall McAfee Using McAfee Removal Tool.
Use Microsoft Security Essentials as your antivirus with windows inbuilt firewall, and free MBAM as the on demand scanner.

Download and install those, and then run full system scans with both of them, one by one.

► Disc Check:

1. Update your SSD's Firmware (Skip it, if it is not a SSD)
2. Reseat the sata and power.
3. Run chkdsk /f/r, following the option two of the tutorial Disk Check
4. Seatool for dos: SeaTools | Seagate download
   Burn it in a blank cd. boot from the CD, click on "Accept", wait for it to finish detecting the drives, then in the upper left corner select "Basic Tests", then select "Long Test" and let it run.

Let us know the result.

 

[Carpet Man]

That was what the auto grab picked up. I searched for others but I couldn't find any past 2010 :S

 

[koolkat77]

Can you tell us if the crashes are blue screen crashes or some other sort of crash? Please fill in system specs as well.

 

[Carpet Man]

As stated in the original post, they are usually black screens, but I've had a few white screens, and occasionally a grey and white screen. There are some specs in the OP too.

 

[koolkat77]

Sorry but I do not see any system specs.

How old is this laptop? Warranty status?

For monitoring the heat/celsius of the system, use Speccy or HWinfo:

• Speccy - System Information - Free Download
• CPUID - System & hardware benchmark, monitoring, reporting

 

[Carpet Man]

Okay, I downloaded the new AVG Graphics thingy, as I was unable to provide details I used the Automatic selector. It downloaded the installed, and as I was about to finish installation the computer crashed, first I had a black screen of death, then my display came back, but small and in the center of the screen, then it crashed and I had a Windows Error Screen.
It created a dump (attached)
but now my display is stretched and magnified, and not showing things right, so there is an image of that attached also.
Please help!
-Carpet Man

nb it's quite hard to tell from the picture, but it's extended the display, making everything stretched, and I have to scroll horizontally to see all of web pages

 

[koolkat77]

Can you upload a snip of the temperatures of the hardware using speccy?

• Speccy - System Information - Free Download
• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/9733-screenshots-files-upload-post-seven-forums.html

 

[Carpet Man]

Will this do? sorry for being slow in responding to your queries

 

[koolkat77]

Thanks.

Post a snip of the "summary" tab.

 

[Carpet Man]

There you go. The text that is cut off reads: 298GB Western Digital WDC WD32 00BPVT-75ZEST0 SATA Disk Device (SATA) 38 °C (for the hard drive part)

 

[koolkat77]

Does the laptop feel warm during use?? Do you have a cooler for it?

 

[Carpet Man]

Not often. Before I rebooted it some months back it did, though. It's quite warm now as I'm doing a backup, but during normal use it's not noticeably warm.
I'm assuming there's a built in cooler, but if not then no, I don't have one. It's a Dell Inspiron if that helps.

 

[koolkat77]

I suspect a overheating issue because the new .dmp that you uploaded shows a problem with the ATI drivers that you updated as Arc suggested.

Is the laptop under warranty? I'm not sure if I asked this earlier.

 

[Carpet Man]

You did, and I am not sure. If it is, I suspect it has run out, as I've owned it for over 2 years.

New info:
I had severed my laptops internet connection temporarily in the hope it would speed up the backup process, while I read a book. After about 15% into the backup the screen flashed black, then a few minutes later it had a lack screen of death. It felt extremely warm.