BSOD and no idea what is causing it

I was getting BSOD's periodically for the last 4 or so weeks. Not REALLY often, but once every other day.

I have no idea what could possibly be causing this. Most of time time, it happens when...im not doing anything at all.

Like I had a BSOD just an hour ago, and I was expecting the same win32k.sys file error that it normally is, but it wasn't this time... again, my computer was pretty much idle at the time. (I had Firefox and a few sites open, but they were minimized.)

I reformatted my computer just last night, hoping that would fix my BSOD problem, but I don't think it has, or maybe it is just my copy of windows...(which would suck because I would rather not go and torrent a new Windows 7 ISO just because my disk is messed up...I do have a LEGIT key.)

Current version of windows... Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit (no updates)

Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.

 

You should at least install SP1 to get the newest drivers.

What is the error code you get on these BSOD screens?

 

I actually just got done with updates...I am completely up to date now. (I think so anyways, nothing new is found when I tell it to search.)

And I don't know what the error says :/ its a long string of randomness. I just know its not the normal win32k.sys error I am used to seeing.

 

Hate to double post, but this is really a pain to trouble shoot because...its not like this happens when I do something specific. One time, it happened when there was really nothing going on. (nothing even open on idle, the computer just started and I hadn't done anything on it yet.) It sat there for like an hour, and when I came back to my computer after being gone, it said it recovered from a critical failure. (which I would assume is BSOD.) And then other times it happens when im under load.. (10 or so tabs open up on Firefox, actively using all of them. I know I am crazy.) Or it happens when im watching a youtube video sometimes...or it waits till I am done with a gaming session on Borderlands 2. (before, and after I did a recent format.)

 

half-bump half-update.

I took out the extra hard-drive I had in the computer .Last time I had similar issues it was because my extra hard drives were having a problem. And I didn't get these problems until I plugged that second hard drive in. Hopefully this solves the problem, if no, then maybe my main drive is corrupt? I hear a weird click from inside my computer periodically...

 

Clicking is bad.

You may want to clone your system drive, just in case...

 

A bit of an update..

I removed that other hard drive from my computer, and it kind of seems to have fixed the problem, but I am not entirely sure about that yet. I'll give it a few more days, and then call it good. If it messes up, this is the hard-drive I was looking to get, as a replacement. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...ark=&IsFeedbackTab=true&Page=3#scrollFullInfo

 

Never mind, I just had another BSOD. the problem this time was with...

nvlddmkm.sys I think...

Any ideas? :/

 

Tripple post, so sorry. This is a picture of what it looks like (Found somebody else with the problem, and they got a picture of it.)
http://i44.tinypic.com/rap6df.jpg

 

That would be related to nVidia, and graphics related.

 

Yeah that was the information I had gathered .I am guessing the only way to solve this would be to uninstall my drivers, and re-install updated ones?

 

Greetings, disk00...

Pardon the interruption. Yes - reinstalling your graphics drivers might help. If it's a discrete video card, you might also physically reseat the card and insure that any cooling fans / heatsinks are clean and running properly...

If a driver reinstall doesn't do the trick, if you will zip and attach a few of your most recent minidumps, I (and/or someone else here) will take a look at them, maybe help find your culprit(s).

 

I don't know where the mini dumps are...however, I litterally just restarted from a BSOD. and I was able to take a picture of it with my phone before it went away.... the drivers didn't do anything... please tell me this is my hard-drive messing up ... its the only part I can actually afford to replace :/

http://i.imgur.com/A0vNm.jpg

 

Here's a quick guide for saving minidumps...

Is this an OEM machine, or did you build it yourself? Any hardware specs that you can provide may help.

 

I found something that lets me look at the BSOD errors actually, I don't know if this will be helpful, but here they are.

Also by the way I custom build this machine. The version of Windows 7 on it, unfortunately I had to torrent it as I lost my original disk. But it is legitly activated with the key from my bought copy. (The pictures are attached to this post I hope.)

 

Here are my minidumps by the way.

 

I'm still seeing nVidia indicators. Is this a discrete card or motherboard graphics? If it's a discrete card, you might switch to onboard graphics as a troubleshooting step.

 

discrete...? You mean like a dedicated card? (I am not on a laptop, just letting you know.) It is a nVidia GTX260 Also, from what i can say, that one BSOD was the only one caused by the graphics card. The other 3 seem to be caused by something else completely.

edit- Nevermind, 2 of them were from the graphics card. However the other 2, had nothing to do with it. And the recent one, wasn't from my card.

 

If you're getting system-wide blue screens, then it may be time to start checking power supply, RAM, overheating, etc.

Also, even though you stated that you've recently formatted/reinstalled Windows, I'd suggest booting to Safe Mode for a while just as a troubleshooting step, see if there's any change...

 

Shortly I am going to run a RAM diagnostic once this file finishes downloading. Also, I said before it is hard to trouble shoot this problem because it seems to happen randomly. I can't specifically trigger it. (If I can, I don't know how..)

 

Intermittent problems can be amongst the toughest to troubleshoot - good luck...

 

I'm thinking RAM writing bad data over here.

 

Okay so, I ran a RAM diagnostic. Took like 5 freaking hours to complete EVERY test. But it came back with no errors! So that is good.

I ended up re-formatting my computer, the same day as my final reply.

It lasted from then, till about 10 minutes ago. Another BSOD.

Win32k.sys is the culprit this time. ._. I am beginning to think it IS my hard-drive considering sometimes I hear a rather loud click....

 

(screenshot of the minidump)

 

Good morning...

Loud hard drive clicks can't be good.™

You might consider heading over to the Drive Utilities section and downloading / running your hard drive manufacturer's diagnostics software.

You might also heed the mekanic's earlier warning about cloning your drive and/or salvaging any important data.

 

I'll take a look at the minidumps shortly.

Given that there is one dump where NTFS is blamed and that (as others have said) there appears to be a likelihood of a hard drive problem, ensure your data is copied away from that machine.

 

A quick check gives me 3 potential areas for concern if the BSOD's are all from the same cause: bad RAM, bad Virtual Memory (ties in with the bad HDD/data) and interference by DaemonTools.

Priority one: get your data safe.

Test the hard drive with the tools suggested or supplied by your HDD maker or use the Seagate tool, it should work on most drives.

Test each RAM stick individually for 7+ passes of Memtest86, do this in the #1 slot for each. If all sticks pass with zero errors, test in Slot #2, then #3 then #4 with a good stick, 7+ passes each time.

Uninstall Daemon Tools, check their site for specific uninstall instructions.

 

Thank you for the replies. I am incline to think it IS the Hard-Drive. Luckily enough for me, I don't have anything really that important saved to this hard-drive. (It's all on my 1TB external..)

I did run RAM diagnostic programs already so I believe that I am good on that for now. (Or so I would hope.) Right now just trying to isolate what part I will have to replace. New hard-drive wont be so hard to do.

Again, thanks for the replies.

 

are you kidding me.... ._. I replaced my hard-drive. This one doesn't click. Only now, again, FRESH INSTALL OF WINDOWS. I've had 2 blue screens within 10 minutes...and guess what, its still that SAME FILE. EVERY FREAKING TIME.

So, does this mean its not my hard-drive, but possibly my ram then?.....

 

Again, picture of the dump files...(I can probly just give them to you again if you want to look at them..)

 

Clean install of Windows or a clone/image?

Yes, zip and attach the latest dumps please.

 

Clean install of Windows 7, yes...wasn't even turned on for 10 minutes after it finished up...2 Blue screens... T_T for some reason its not doing it now...and speaking of which i just heard ANOTHER click comming from inside my computer...maybe its not my hard-drive doing it....

 

Firstly, it appears that the computer is overclocked, please check and return CPU and memory to stock settings in the BIOS and turn off any turbo settings.

If the same 0x1a BSOD occurs, set the memory speed manually in the BIOS as per the data for the specific memory installed.

For the fresh install, did you force Windows setup to wipe the drive and perform a full format?

 

I had the set up wipe the drive, and then install windows. (just letting you know, there are 2 hard-drives involved in this now, both have the same error, so i am pretty sure its not THAT now..) I just did a reset on my bios....though I doubt that actually fixed anything. I had an idea though, since I've been dinking around the inside of my computer...switching hard-drives and whatnot. Could it be possible I hit one of my ram sticks and now its crooked? like taking the stick out, and putting it back in, would that maybe help?

 

It's possible for almost any 'slotted' component to 'creep' or for dust etc. to slowly build up; following my earlier suggestion about Memtest86 will check all sticks and all slots individually; to clean contacts on the RAM sticks, use a clean pencil eraser to rub them gently.

 

Thanks for you help. I am running Memtest86 right now. (replying from my phone.) Would rubbing alcohol clean it? (The contact points I mean) Or should I just use the eraser? (I don't know if I can find one right now, ill probly need to get one.)

How will I know if its tested all 4 slots? or at least the 2 sticks I have in there?

 

If you have 2 sticks fitted, memtest will need 12+ passes to be pretty sure the RAM/slots are good, with one stick, 7+ is normally enough. Testing single sticks is preferable, if you hit an error testing with 2, you then need to check them singly anyway, to be certain which stick/slot is bad.

Good isopropyl alcohol is fine, 90% or higher is preferred, allow it plenty of time to dry before refitting; any other type or a lower % might leave unwanted residues.

 

Right now I am at 6 passes. No errors yet.

I have 4gb of memory. 2 x 2gb sticks. 4 slots total, only 2 taken up.

I was planning on letting this run all night, that won't have any negative effect will it?

 

I am now at 14 passes right now. So far...no errors. Could it possibly be something OTHER than my ram and hard-drive?

 

After 21 passes. No errors were found. This is very confusing now...

 

Resetting the clock settings from the previously overclocked ones may have fixed it, use the machine as normal until you hit another BSOD.

 

Augh, turns out one of my 2gb ram sticks went bad. It finally just stopped booting up till I removed one of the sticks....that figures. Oh well, hopefully problem solved.