Bsod

Okay, long and short of this is, I would like help figuring out why my computer has been freezing.

Specs:

PSU: Corsair 1000W power supply
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+
MB: GA-K8N-SLI
GPU: Nvidia GTX 465
Sound card: HT Omega CLARO
I have a PCI USB hub card (4 USB 2.0 ports) installed
2 500GB HDDs

I've installed some recent programs, the biggest one being WoW (World of Warcraft). WoW installation was over 2 months ago, this issue started a week ago or so? Although I did only have the original WoW installed, and updated to the Wrath of the Lich King around the time all of this started. The computer will run fine sometimes, the mouse will lag severely sometimes, and it will simply freeze at random times, with a hard shutdown or restart being the only thing to unfreeze it. I have 167GB free space on my system drive, so I know that's not an issue.

I thought it was WoW at first, except that I'd been running that fine before... I've checked temperatures, they're fine (GPU under 80C, CPUs in high 30s, low 40s C, HDDs running normal temps, etc.) using Everest Ultimate.

BSOD information:

http://lookpic.com/c1/i2/2419/xE3mOYU.jpeg

Again, sometimes the computer will run for hours and hours, sometimes for 15 minutes before freezing. Any help would be appreciated.

ALSO... I remember reading somewhere on this forum, but can't find it, what's the best way to read .dmp files? I know it had to do with a program, and I'm sure I have the program... just can't remember!

 

Let me get this straight, so your machine freezes and does not produce the blue screen with the info? If so, then you won't get a .dmp file. There's a sticky in software by Adrynaline in how to read .dmp files.

Have you OC'd the CPU? If so, bring it back to stock. Also, remove all your extra cards like sound and hub and see what happens when you run OCCT, this will stress your machine to the hilt! I have an X2 3800+ and it was never that cool under full load. Anyways, start with getting rid of anything that you don't need hardware wise to boot.

 

Thanks for the info... I was hoping for a more minimal approach, since I'm leaving for awhile starting tomorrow and the wife needs a working computer (I'm taking the other computer, a laptop, with me). I'm familiar with hardware troubleshooting... again, I was hoping for an easier fix. Maybe when I Google the error code(s).

I'm using Windows 7 Ultimate x64, security app is Comodo Internet Security free x64 beta (it's been running fine since I installed it).

Also, apparently my BSOD information picture isn't loading on my end for some reason... if I get time later, I'll do as suggested and attach the event log info. I figured this still counted as a BSOD since the message is titled BSOD... anyway, I've noticed more problems with more graphics-intensive applications (including Facebook games) versus things like Google searches and using MS Word.

All drivers are up to date, CPU isn't OC'd, I've ran OCCT before on the machine... unfortunately, I don't have time to babysit the computer while OCCT runs before I leave on this trip.

Thanks for Adryn's guide link, I thought it was in the Software section myself, but it obviously got moved.

 

I'm on the troublesome bastard now. Last time it froze, my wife was on Facebook (so it's not WoW). No issues in Device Manager. By the way, yeah the MB and GFX Drivers are kosher, they're either from MS Update or original media.

The BSOD error message is a 124 stop code, which is hardware.

I have a few events in the event viewer that don't look too wonderful:

I have a few hundred of these in a row: (Warning) An error was detected on device \Device\CdRom0 during a paging operation.

After those, there's this: The computer has rebooted from a bugcheck. The bugcheck was: 0x00000124 (0x0000000000000000, 0xfffffa8003a028f8, 0x0000000000000000, 0x0000000000000000). A dump was saved in: C:\Windows\Minidump\093010-29234-01.dmp. Report Id: 093010-29234-01.

I'm attaching that dump file.

This one as well: A corrected hardware error has occurred.

Reported by component: Processor Core
Error Source: Machine Check Exception
Error Type: Unknown Error
Processor ID: 1

Shortly after that one, this one: A fatal hardware error has occurred.

Reported by component: Processor Core
Error Source: Machine Check Exception
Error Type: Unknown Error
Processor ID: 1

I'm also noticing quite a few hard disk errors along with the DVD drive errors (not at the same times). I know my MB has some issues (doesn't always complete POST without a few hard resets, etc.), but is it dying? Sigh.

EDIT: Apparently can't attach dump files, had to ZIP it.

 

I lied... the CPU is overclocked 3%. Here's a few screenshots from Everest:

http://i51.tinypic.com/2rnbf45.jpg

http://i53.tinypic.com/ab1210.jpg

Also, I've included all the copyable contents of the Event Viewer's log of the stop in the attached text file.

 

Okay... I used BlueScreenView to view the minidump file, and it's saying the stop code is from hal.dll. In fact, all 4 minidump files I have right now have that exact message.

From my quick Google search, hal.dll isn't exactly super specific... apparently it has to do with memory, CPU, and internet settings? So can I rule out hard drive, GFX, etc.?

 

Hardware Abstraction Layer. Anything hardware or driver-related might trigger this event.

Get all your drivers updated, starting with the chipset.

Zip and upload all your dmp files, if I get time later, I'll check through them.

 

Well, now WoW won't run... has to be reinstalled (yay, only a 5+ hour process).

Here's the minidump files, thanks.

EDIT: By the way, HDD SMART status is good on all drives.

 

Nothing helpful leaping out at me

Check and doublecheck all hardware connections and seatings, clean any fluff/dust, etc., ensure all fans are running.

BIOS - update it to the latest version, make sure nothing is overclocked, preferably set it to defaults or optimized defaults.

Ensure that you are using the correct RAM timing settings and voltages, check with the makers that it will work 100% with your 'board.

Update ALL drivers for each piece of hardware installed, WHQL drivers preferred. Start with the motherboard and chipset.

Thrash it and upload the System Event logs (as zipped +.evt files) so I can check if there's anything else going on.

 

I appreciate your helpfulness, but my time's running out (leaving tomorrow for a month). I swapped the motherboard with an identical one I bought off of eBay awhile back when I was having unresolvable mouse/keyboard issues (I ended up getting a different keyboard and mouse) and suspected the motherboard. I've been suspecting this motherboard's a culprit in a few computer crimes on my machine.:cool

I only wish swapping motherboards was as easy as it sounds! My CPU got brand new thermal paste though, and obviously I removed any dust and all the connections were double-checked. At first, the "new" MB wouldn't post, so I unseated all 4 sticks of RAM and tried adding them one at a time... was on my way to Windows but I'd scheduled a CHKDSK... so that's running (on the system 500GB drive... taking a bit). I hope the issue goes away, but I'm still kinda mad that I have to reinstall World of Warcraft... it takes AGES!:cry

Anyway, if it's still having issues when I get back, I'll resurrect this thread/start a new one about it. Thanks for the help thus far!

I'm normally not a smiley person... just trying to distract myself from this whole stress ball.

 

Update: I thought everything was going to be kosher... hah. No.

I believe the component to blame for my recent issues is my graphics card... it must be defective.

I believe this based on: I've already uninstalled all programs I'd installed around/since the time these issues started, nothing's OCed at all ("new" motherboard is set at normal defaults for everything), and...

The first thing I went to do is put a movie (MKV file) on. About 10 minutes into it, the display froze but the sound from the movie kept playing. Mouse/keyboard appeared unresponsive, but I believe the video display was the only thing frozen, hence why a BSOD wouldn't appear as well! Because the display is frozen, it wouldn't display anything once the display froze. Also, before the computer froze, mouse movement appeared choppy at times as well (an issue I was having along with the freezes).

I had the mouse/keyboard issue before I installed this graphics card, so I'm sure swapping out the motherboard wasn't completely in vain. I'm just not too happy that I have to deal with getting my graphics card replaced (it's still under warranty, but the process will take ages since I'm military stationed overseas... it takes a week to ship Priority mail each way).

Can anyone confirm that contacting MSI regarding the graphics card is the next logical step to this dilemma? Or is uninstalling/reinstalling drivers worth a shot?

EDIT: Actually, not sure that messing with the drivers would help, because one time it even froze while on the CHKDSK screen. That can't be a driver issue, can it?