Almost constant BSODs and Mozilla Firefox Crashes

Hi all,

I'm having two problems that seemed to start occurring at the same time and have been going on for about a month now; my computer is regularly BSODing with various messages, and my browser of choice, Mozilla Firefox has been constantly crashing numerous times a day.

Photos of at least 3 of the 4 BSODs I've been getting are attached to this post; SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION, and MEMORY_EXCEPTION (I think it was - not photographed) are the most common.

After the one about 'driver has overrun a stack-based buffer' I ran various anti-virus programs and removed one located virus only. I scanned with hijackthis, AVG Free, Malbytes AntiMalware, and my Anti-Virus of choice is ESET Smart Security 6.0.316.0.

I built this computer myself just over a year ago and have had no problems with it until the last month or so. I bought Rome II : Total War and due to poor optimisation I uninstalled and reinstalled various drivers for my PC - I didn't get any problems around then, but this is the only 'significant' change in my PC usage habits that may have triggered these errors that I can think of.

I have tried reinstalling AMD's Catalyst Control Centre and graphics drivers today for my Radeon HD 7870 but am still getting these errors.

I'm not the most tech-savvy person, but with idiot proof instructions I'll post and do what you can suggest to help report what the problem is, and ultimately fix my computer.

I've attached a DxDiag Win 7 64-bit log and hijackthis log below also.

As far as I recall, my specs are:

CPU: Intel 3rd Generation Core i5-3570K CPU (4 x 3.40GHz, Ivy Bridge, Socket 1155, 6Mb L3 Cache, Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0)

CPU COOLING: Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro Rev.2 CPU Cooler

MOBO: ASUS P8Z77-V

RAM: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 1600MHz CL9 XMP

GPU: Sapphire 11199-03-20G HD7870 2GB GDDR5 OC Graphics Card

SSD: Corsair CSSD-F120GBGT-BK Force Series 120GB Solid State Drive

HDD: Western Digital WD1002FAEX Caviar Black 1 TB 7200 RPM Internal Hard Disk Drive

PSU: Corsair Memory 650W Professional Series Gold AX650 High Performance PSU

CASE: Coolermaster Storm Enforcer Mid Tower ATX Case

 

Hi Heskey.

For the best chance of us being able to work out where the problem lies, carefully read and follow the instructions here - then attach the required zip (you may need to split the zip into 2-3 zips) to a reply here.

 

Hi satrow,

Thanks for your reply.

I've followed the instructions on that page to the letter and have attached the requested files to this post.

Below are my answers to Part 5:

· OS - Windows 7
· x64
· What was original installed OS on system? Windows 7
· Is the OS an OEM version (came pre-installed on system) or full retail version (YOU purchased it from retailer)? Full retail 'Windows 7 Home Premium'
· Age of system (hardware) All brand new components ordered in August 2012 and PC self-assembled in September 2012
· Age of OS installation - have you re-installed the OS? Same age as system. Not re-installed

· CPU Intel 3rd Generation Core i5-3570K CPU (4 x 3.40GHz, Ivy Bridge, Socket 1155, 6Mb L3 Cache, Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0) Link
· Video Card Sapphire 11199-03-20G HD7870 2GB GDDR5 OC Graphics Card Link
· MotherBoard Asus P8Z77-V S1155 Intel Z77 DDR3 ATX Link
· Power Supply - brand & wattage Corsair Memory 650W Professional Series Gold AX650 High Performance PSU Link

· System Manufacturer Not Applicable?
· Exact model number Not Applicable?

I will run through Part 6 now and wait for a reply.

 

Re Part 6, I've run Driver Verifier as per the request, but I can't understand the bit about 'To check Driver Verifier status' - that command certainly doesn't seem to do a lot in a run 'cmd' window.

I'm not sure what I'm doing with the HDD diagnosis.

I've downloaded memtest86+ 5.01 and burnt it onto a disc. I'm not sure what I'm doing with it though; I left it running for 6 minutes and it appeared to end up going on a loop, just making the same 'passes' and throwing up the same data just with a +1 on the pass count.

In the last 45 minutes my PC has frozen 3 times by taking what's displayed on my screen and stretching it in alternating 1 inch(ish) squares of vertical and horizontal lines across the screen, freezing my mouse but providing no BSOD and requiring a restart. Images of these crashes are attached.

Ever since before today, when my PC loaded up it didn't matter how many programs I launched right from loading into Windows, my PC didn't stutter. Now it's started to freeze the mouse movement periodically for a few seconds when programs are loaded on start up (such as reopening my browser after a system crash).

I noticed yesterday actually when loading into my character on World of Warcraft that when the in-game minimap opened, it took about 5 seconds for all the map to 'come into focus' in square segments, as if (having a stab at being techy now) my PC was struggling to process and release all that information at once. Possible RAM issue?

 

5 crashes inside 2 days - ouch!

2x of them are NTFS errors, both drives will need thorough checking; the SSD needs checking for a firmware update + run chkdsk on it then SFC /scannow 3x, with a reboot between each run (if SFC comes up clean 1st time, leave it at that), the SSD needs some more free space, best to keep 25%+ free long-term, it's fine to go over that briefly.

There's a known BSOD -causing driver loaded, part of DaemonTools - uninstall it and then remove the sptd.sys driver using the tools/methods here: http://www.duplexsecure.com/en/faq

The Tunngle driver is old, pre -dating SP1. Uninstall it then download and install the latest version, if you really must use it.

That gives you something to do for a while, report back once it's all done.

 

I've attached all the c:\windows\minidump(s) I've ever had since I put this OS on this PC last year. Interestingly, the first one is dated 19th August 2013 with none before then.

 

All the dumps were included in the earlier collection/attachments, I've already done a quick analysis of them.

EDIT: The oddities you are getting currently may be down to the extra stress of having Driver Verifier loaded - get sptd.sys uninstalled before you go any further in Windows.

MemTest86+ must be booted from a CD/USB stick and run for at least 8 full passes, any error logged will need further checking.

 

Hi satrow,

Thanks for taking the time to help me with this. I've run through the instructions posted above as follows and noted them down:

SSD Firmware updated from 5.02 to 5.05 using Corsair SSD Toolbox - this is the current version.

I've uninstalled ArmA II and DayZ from it; it now has 50GB free, almost 50%.

chkdsk completed on SSD but went to have a shower during part 4/5 as it was taking a while; came back and PC was waiting for me at the login screen. No prompts or windows upon loading in.

I've uninstalled DaemonTools and removed sptd.sys using the link you directed me to (64-bit version).

Tuungle removed via Programs and Features with a PC reboot afterwards.

I have run sfc /scannow in an elevated command prompt.

After the first run through, it said "Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them. Details are included in the CBS.Log windir\Logs\CBS\CBS.log. For example C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CBS.log.

I then restarted the system and ran the 2nd sfc /scannow in an elevated command prompt and got the same result.

I then restarted the system and ran the 3rd sfc /scannow in an elevated command prompt and got the same result.

I've attached CBS.log to this post.

I have Memtest86+ burnt onto a CD which boots on loading the PC, but I have no idea how when it ends or what to select to be looking for - it just scanned automatically throwing up loads of red lines, and went up to about Pass 53 before I thought it was just stuck in a loop and exited.

 

I've attached a picture from memtest earlier. It doesn't look good, does it? I don't know what it means, but I can see it doesn't look good!

I thought I'd continue to address the issue later, and went to log on WoW - instantly my PC got those little square boxes across the screen and froze. It's almost as though they have replaced the BSODs. Afterall, I've got no more minidump files in that Windows folder.

So, I thought maybe I'll try an old school method - take out the ram and slot it back in; the good old "try restarting" approach.

What ensued was an hour of panic as the PC would power up for 14 seconds, displaying nothing on the monitor, but illuminating the red LED by my RAM bays, then power off, then power back on again but not send signal or power to my keyboard, mouse, or monitor.

Long story short, I don't think I'd pushed the RAM sticks back into the bays hard enough for the click at the bottom - and my PC certainly didn't like trying to load up with NO RAM in it (continuous error beeps like; beeeeeeeeeeeeep, beep, beep, beep... beeeeeeeeeeeeeeep, beep, beep, beep.)

The PC loads now, but twice in the last 10 minutes as I've tried to post this, the dreaded lines have come across my screen again, as per the screenshot in the attached zip.

Are these being caused by Driver Verifier? It seems to be this problem began after I enabled that. I'm going to disable it for now to see if BSODs can continue, giving us presumably helpful information via minidump files?

 

Definitely a hardware issue here, no point in checking Windows files or drivers at this point.

Try testing 1x stick of RAM at a time with MemTest - in the same slot - if both pass or both fail, test again in the other slot. There are 2x pairs of slots, you can also test them. Let's see if it's a bad stick or bad slot. #8 here: http://www.carrona.org/memdiag.html

 

How long does the memtest take? About an hour, or longer each pass to do all tests? As I'm not familiar with the program I don't know what's "normal" progress for it, or whether to stop it half-way through etc once I can clearly see a lot of errors.

Once it's finished, does it restart the PC, or continue with the boot - and will it save a log anywhere for you to look at, or should I just keep photographing my monitor?

 

It's currently 55 mins in on Pass 1 of RAM 1 in BAY 2 with 0 errors.

Considering cancelling after 2 passes and trying this stick in BAY 4.

God I hope it's only a faulty ram stick and not the bay - the bay will mean I need a new motherboard surely?

 

A full 8 passes could take many hours, recommended to run it as you leave for work or overnight. It continues running until you halt it - or it crashes (a bad sign).

You have 2x sticks and 4x slots, yes? So you should be able to continue with the motherboard for some time. It may only be a bad contact or dust, cleaning it could be tricky though. If it's a stick, they usually have a lifetime guarantee - ensure you replace the pair for best results.

 

Well I've got some goods news mate

I've tried RAM 1 in BAY 2 and BAY 4, both completed a full pass with 0 errors (Bay 2 got 2 passes, Bay 4 got 1 pass + 70%)

I've now tried RAM 2 in BAY 2 and instantly it's started spewing out errors, in the tens of thousands. I'm going to try it in BAY 4 in about 10 minutes; delighted that it appears to be the RAM that's broke and not the bays.

So what normally causes this to happen all of a sudden? I assume in the meanwhile I'll be fine with just the 1 ram stick?

Not sure what guarantee I had on it, I'll have to go and check. Failing that they cost about £20 a stick, so no loss.

I know there's no guarantees, (but I can't read nor understand all those logs you've read through for me), but based on what you've seen, do you think replaced RAM will fix my BSOD problems?

I know you mentioned 2 were NFTS errors but the chkdsk didn't come up with anything alarming.

 

I've got an Express RMA Request from Corsair approved, so for now I'm working on 1x 4GB stick but hopefully in a few days the new stuff will arrive and then I can send back both sticks to them and not get charged. Will continue to monitor my PC for further issues.

 

Sounds like you cracked it, nice work :major

RAM errors often come up as a variety of BSOD types, the NTFS bugcheck being one of them.

I'm pleased you have the RMA sorted, what cost $20 a year ago might be $30-40 now ... volatile memory, volatile prices - especially when a factory fire caused a hike in the interim!

 

Well in the last week I've had no graphic glitches or crashes or BSODs (granted, I've been at work and on my PC less) since removing that corrupt RAM stick.

My new RAM has arrived and I've attached a picture of a fault-less pass using both new sticks, so that seems to have solved the issue.

Thanks very much for all your help satrow. I'd have been very lost without your guidance!

And a big thank you for telling me about lifetime warranties from certain manufacturers. If you'd not have told me that I'd have probably handed over £65 without question for something I've just had replaced for free.

 

Excellent news!

Thanks aren't needed, I'd help out anyway - thank Tim and Jim for hosting a site that allows us to help other users out :major

 

satrow...

Glad this was resolved and great job again. Thanks for the info on RAM and warranties...

Question: Is Crucial covered by a lifetime warranty? Not having a problem, but I have 8 GB of Crucial in this machine I am using presently. I bought it in very good but second hand condition out of a lot of identical PCs. Great deal it was...$50 for a 1st gen i3, ASUS mb, and 8 GB DDR3. :clap

 

As far as I recall, all recent Crucial RAM is covered by a 'lifetime' warranty to the original purchaser.

If it was bought directly from Crucial, just login to their support site, fill out the RMA with your order #; if it was bought through a 3rd party supplier, the first year, possibly 2 years (EU regs.), is covered by the supplier ('fit for use', UK Trading Standards), otherwise I think you'd need the original order # from the supplier, or at least the suppliers' name, to ease your way through Crucial's support/RMA procedures.

Your circumstances may be more tricky (be nice to their Support team ) if they develop a problem - great buy though :major

 

:clap Thanks again Satrow