The Kiss Of Death

Gigabyte GA-Z87M-D3H LGA 1150 CrossFireX DVI/HDMI mATX
Intel Core i7-4770K Haswell 3.5GHz + Cooler Master Hyper TX3
G.Skill Sniper Series 32GB (4 x 8GB) 240-Pin SDRAM DDR3 2400 (PC3 19200)
GeForce GTX 760 (4GB 256-bit GDDR5)
SanDisk Extreme II 240 GB SATA 6.0Gb/s 2.5" SSD
Pioneer BDR-209DBK 16x Blu-Ray/CD/DVD Writer
Win7Pro x64 SP1

As of this time, my machine will boot and gradually load the OS, but draws windows slowly, the cursor lags, and she eventually seizes up into a sustained freeze or a full blown BSOD within seconds of seeing desktop. This comes on the heels of some high idling and spiking temps which I addressed by cleaning and reapplying a fresh coat of thermal paste, though it's still running hotter than I think it ought to. There were also a string of BSOD issues a ways back (http://forums.majorgeeks.com/index.php?threads/bsod.301083) which were generally on the decline but have recently picked up again. I reset BIOS settings to default, bringing my 4.3 overclock back down to 3.5. Hoping I can get into safe mode and run some diagnostics, but if not, I'm not really sure how to proceed.

Any and all help is greatly appreciated.

 

safe mode w/ networking works. minidump of latest crash attached.

 

Looks like *some driver* interfering with another, specifically the Nvidia graphics driver in memory. Not much to be gleaned from the Stack data. Generally, 3rd party software 'utility' drivers are often at fault.

Some bad/old drivers need removing (uninstall the software) during troubleshooting:
nVidia Streaming Kernel service (NvStreamKms.sys_ can cause BSODs.
Nicomsoft Ltd WINI2C-DDC Kernel Mode Library Driver (DDCDrv.sys April 2008), old enough to be a risk.

Code:

Debug session time: Tue Sep 27 18:16:47.596 2016 (UTC + 1:00)
Loading Dump File [C:\Users\Me\SysnativeBSODApps\092716-10920-01.dmp]
Built by: 7601.18798.amd64fre.win7sp1_gdr.150316-1654
System Uptime: 0 days 0:01:04.424
*** WARNING: Unable to verify timestamp for nvlddmkm.sys
*** ERROR: Module load completed but symbols could not be loaded for nvlddmkm.sys
Probably caused by : nvlddmkm.sys ( nvlddmkm+816e3f )
BugCheck 1000007E, {ffffffffc0000005, fffff8800f850e3f, fffff88003e18698, fffff88003e17ef0}
BugCheck Info: [url=http://www.carrona.org/bsodindx.html#0x1000007E]SYSTEM_THREAD_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED_M (1000007e)[/url]
Bugcheck code 1000007E
Arguments:
Arg1: ffffffffc0000005, The exception code that was not handled
Arg2: fffff8800f850e3f, The address that the exception occurred at
Arg3: fffff88003e18698, Exception Record Address
Arg4: fffff88003e17ef0, Context Record Address
PROCESS_NAME:  System
BUGCHECK_STR:  0x7E
DEFAULT_BUCKET_ID:  NULL_DEREFERENCE
FAILURE_BUCKET_ID:  X64_0x7E_nvlddmkm+816e3f
MaxSpeed:  3500
CurrentSpeed: 3491
BiosVersion = F5
BiosReleaseDate = 05/09/2013
SystemManufacturer = Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.
SystemProductName = Z87M-D3H

3rd party drivers:
DDCDrv.sys Tue Apr 8 08:50:11 2008 (47FB23B3)
Nicomsoft Ltd WINI2C-DDC Kernel Mode Library Driver (also may be included with Lacie's BlueEye Pro Driver) Trial version available here: http://www.nicomsoft.com/products/i2c/ [br] May be available from LaCie here: https://www.lacie.com/support/drivers/driver.htm?id=10169
http://www.carrona.org/drivers/driver.php?id=DDCDrv.sys
intelppm.sys Tue Jul 14 00:19:25 2009 (4A5BC0FD)
Intel Processor driver http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Default.aspx also at
http://www.carrona.org/drivers/driver.php?id=intelppm.sys
amdxata.sys Fri Mar 19 16:18:18 2010 (4BA3A3CA)
AMD storage controller driver - usually from the Windows 7 DVD Windows Update
http://www.carrona.org/drivers/driver.php?id=amdxata.sys
athrx.sys Tue Feb 22 20:17:31 2011 (4D6419DB)
Atheros network adapter driver Official site: http://www.qualcomm.com/drivers [br] Unofficial site: http://www.atheros.cz
http://www.carrona.org/drivers/driver.php?id=athrx.sys
btwl2cap.sys Sat Aug 27 23:58:52 2011 (4E5976AC)
Broadcom Bluetooth L2CAP Servicen http://www.broadcom.com/support/bluetooth/
http://www.carrona.org/drivers/driver.php?id=btwl2cap.sys
btwavdt.sys Thu Mar 1 21:45:18 2012 (4F4FEDEE)
Broadcom Bluetooth AVDT Service http://www.broadcom.com/support/
http://www.carrona.org/drivers/driver.php?id=btwavdt.sys
btwrchid.sys Thu Mar 1 21:46:08 2012 (4F4FEE20)
Bluetooth Remote Control HID Minidriver http://www.broadcom.com/support/
http://www.carrona.org/drivers/driver.php?id=btwrchid.sys
bcbtums.sys Tue Mar 27 22:06:49 2012 (4F722BE9)
Broadcom Bluetooth Firmware Download Filter driver from Broadcom Corporation. http://www.broadcom.com/support/bluetooth/[br][br]http://www.official-drivers.com/installer/?seed=Broadcom&gclid=CJT7vOGkgbECFQFx4AodfBURcg
http://www.carrona.org/drivers/driver.php?id=bcbtums.sys
btwaudio.sys Wed Mar 28 23:34:32 2012 (4F7391F8)
Broadcom Bluetooth Audio Device http://www.broadcom.com/support/
http://www.carrona.org/drivers/driver.php?id=btwaudio.sys
btwampfl.sys Thu Mar 29 19:51:21 2012 (4F74AF29)
Broadcom bluetooth driver None at Broadcom, try laptop manufacturer website
http://www.carrona.org/drivers/driver.php?id=btwampfl.sys
AcpiCtlDrv.sys Tue Jul 17 18:07:16 2012 (50059BC4)
Intel(R) Extreme Tuning Utility Performance Tuning Acpi Control Driver http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Default.aspx
http://www.carrona.org/drivers/driver.php?id=AcpiCtlDrv.sys
ICCWDT.sys Mon Aug 12 18:59:08 2013 (5209226C)
IIntel(R) Watchdog Timer Driver http://downloadcenter.intel.com/
http://www.carrona.org/drivers/driver.php?id=ICCWDT.sys
pbfilter.sys Tue Nov 19 05:56:06 2013 (528AFD76)
Peerblock http://www.peerblock.com/
http://www.carrona.org/drivers/driver.php?id=pbfilter.sys
iusb3hub.sys Wed Feb 12 11:04:30 2014 (52FB553E)
Intel(R) USB 3.0 Hub Driver http://downloadcenter.intel.com/
http://www.carrona.org/drivers/driver.php?id=iusb3hub.sys
iusb3xhc.sys Wed Feb 12 11:04:33 2014 (52FB5541)
Intel(R) USB 3.0 eXtensible Host Controller Driver http://downloadcenter.intel.com/
http://www.carrona.org/drivers/driver.php?id=iusb3xhc.sys
iusb3hcs.sys Wed Feb 12 11:06:11 2014 (52FB55A3)
Intel(R) USB 3.0 Host Controller Switch Driver http://downloadcenter.intel.com/
http://www.carrona.org/drivers/driver.php?id=iusb3hcs.sys
Rt64win7.sys Tue Mar 18 02:27:09 2014 (5327AEFD)
Realtek RTL8168D/8111D Family PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet NIC http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads...d=5&Level=5&Conn=4&DownTypeID=3&GetDown=false
http://www.carrona.org/drivers/driver.php?id=Rt64win7.sys
iocbios2.sys Wed Jun 18 07:48:56 2014 (53A13658)
Intel Extreme Tuning Utility Performance Tuning Driver http://downloadcenter.intel.com/
http://www.carrona.org/drivers/driver.php?id=iocbios2.sys
cpuz138_x64.sys Thu Oct 23 16:03:05 2014 (544918A9)
CPUID CPU-Z Driver Download - http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/cpu-z.html [br] [br] Support - http://www.cpuid.com/contact.html
http://www.carrona.org/drivers/driver.php?id=cpuz138_x64.sys
tap0901.sys Wed Nov 5 13:16:32 2014 (545A2330)
TAP-Win32 Adapter V9 or[br]OpenVPN driver or COMODO http://openvpn.net/index.php/open-source/downloads.html or http://forums.comodo.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=17220.0;attach=17692 Requires registration
http://www.carrona.org/drivers/driver.php?id=tap0901.sys
nvvad64v.sys Thu Dec 17 12:47:18 2015 (5672AED6)
NVIDIA Virtual Audio Driver http://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx?lang=en-us
http://www.carrona.org/drivers/driver.php?id=nvvad64v.sys
NvStreamKms.sys Tue Dec 22 20:53:26 2015 (5679B846)
nVidia Streaming Kernel service - may cause BSOD in Win8.1 systems (found in May 2014). Date/TimeStamp: Tue Apr 29 20:59:44 2014 (53604B00) MAY NOT BE A PROBLEM, this is a tenative posting - Appears that April 29 driver is a problem, July 2014 drivers seem OK From: http://www.eightforums.com/bsod-cra...artup-lid-closed-dpc-watchdog.html#post379761 ) [br] Possible fix: https://forums.geforce.com/default/topic/573811/nvidia-streamer-service-may-be-freezing-your-pc/ [br] Or uninstall the nVidia drivers and then install a fresh copy without the Streaming Kernel Service (uncertain if this is possible)
http://www.carrona.org/drivers/driver.php?id=NvStreamKms.sys
RTKVHD64.sys Fri Jan 22 15:09:21 2016 (56A24621)
Realtek High Definition Audio Function Driver http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/downloadsView.aspx?Langid=1&PNid=8&PFid=14&Level=3&Conn=2
http://www.carrona.org/drivers/driver.php?id=RTKVHD64.sys
nvlddmkm.sys Sat Jan 23 00:12:06 2016 (56A2C556)
nVidia Video drivers http://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx[br]Get from OEM for laptops
http://www.carrona.org/drivers/driver.php?id=nvlddmkm.sys

Code:

 

i'm finding it difficult to impossible to update all of these. i'm also unclear on the extent to which each and every one of them plays a potential role in the problems my machine is experiencing. many of the links are broken or do not contain links to driver downloads. i expect that a good number of these drivers do not have updates.

 

Just uninstall the ones above the Code box during troubleshooting -from Nvidia's Control Panel/uninstaller, uninstall the Streaming KMS and track down the Nicomsoft software (DDCDrv.sys) and uninstall it during troubleshooting.

It's possible that a recent update to a security or 'utility' software is behind this, I see signs of PeerBlock and some utility software with drivers/filters listed (no 3rd party antivirus, though).

 

i've turned off streaming in the nvidia preferences. the DDCDrv.sys i can't trace back to any software sufficient to perform an uninstall. i could just delete it...

 

If you go the delete route, ensure you have at least a recent Restore point, preferably a recent system image.

 

why again am I worried about a driver whose function has not been discussed, which I have no reason so far to suspect is involved in pc hangs, and whose removal may require a system restore?

 

It's called BSOD troubleshooting, remove anything suspect, very old, known to cause BSODs, if there aren't any obvious signs of bad hardware or a 3rd party driver in the Stack text.

It's your PC, your choice.