Random BSODs on Startup

ThumbWarrior · Aug 15, 2011

I was having a problem for a few weeks with BSODs on startup somewhat randomly but occuring more and more frequently. The whole system would freeze randomly as well forcing me to turn power off with the switch. The system also was noticeably slower then before these issues arose. So I ran a memory test and it found no errors. I then ran Disk Check which found a few problems which it repaired, except one that it could not. There also weren't any notations for the time when stability started declining in the event viewer. I Did full scans with malwarbytes and avast and found nothing. These issues also never manifested while in safe mode, which I spent a fair amount of time in in the last week or so before I chose to reinstall.

So I reinstalled Vista a few days ago and the problem seemed to go away. Yesterday I had a BSOD on startup, and two today. The latest BSOD gave me a IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL message. Unlike last time however I haven't had any crashes once I'm in windows, and the system is not slow. If someone could help me out that would be great, I really have no idea what the cause is.

Requested reports are in the attached .zip file.
Requested system information below
- x64
- This is a reinstall of Vista Home Premium, the 1st reinstall to date.
- Don't know if it's OEM or Retail, I bought it separate from the rest of
the components from newegg.

All components are about 2 years old, from when I built it.
Just reinstalled a few days ago, prior to that the original install was on for about 2 years.

patch41 · Aug 18, 2011

I just took a quick look through the files, I would run a check disc,
start, Left click Computer,right click on your drive probably C, tools, check disc,
then turn on your UAC control,
start, control panel, user accounts, then turn on UAC, restart, patch41

ThumbWarrior · Aug 21, 2011

I ran check disk from the command prompt with chkdsk /f /r C:
C is the drive I have windows installed on. My other drives are just storage. The last time I ran it, before I re-installed it named specific files which were repaired, and one which could not be repaired. As for UAC, I don't like it and do not wish to use it.

I have not had more problems at boot since my initial post however I did have the pc lock up twice and become totally unresponsive while in windows, forcing me to reset with the button on my tower.

Here are the results

Code:

Log Name:      Application
Source:        Microsoft-Windows-Wininit
Date:          8/21/2011 5:53:38 PM
Event ID:      1001
Task Category: None
Level:         Information
Keywords:      Classic
User:          N/A
Computer:      TheCmmndCntr-64
Description:
 
 
Checking file system on C:
The type of the file system is NTFS.
 
A disk check has been scheduled.
Windows will now check the disk.                         
  277376 file records processed.                                  
 
  987 large file records processed.                            
 
  0 bad file records processed.                              
 
  0 EA records processed.                                    
 
  44 reparse records processed.                               
 
  343500 index entries processed.                                 
 
  0 unindexed files processed.                               
 
  277376 security descriptors processed.                          
 
Cleaning up 14003 unused index entries from index $SII of file 0x9.
Cleaning up 14003 unused index entries from index $SDH of file 0x9.
Cleaning up 14003 unused security descriptors.
CHKDSK is compacting the security descriptor stream...
  33063 data files processed.                                    
 
CHKDSK is verifying Usn Journal...
  35667512 USN bytes processed.                                     
 
Usn Journal verification completed.
CHKDSK is verifying file data (stage 4 of 5)...
  277360 files processed.                                         
 
File data verification completed.
CHKDSK is verifying free space (stage 5 of 5)...
  49501786 free clusters processed.                                 
 
Free space verification is complete.
CHKDSK discovered free space marked as allocated in the
master file table (MFT) bitmap.
Correcting errors in the Volume Bitmap.
Windows has made corrections to the file system.
 
 312568831 KB total disk space.
 114062384 KB in 174069 files.
    106576 KB in 33066 indexes.
         0 KB in bad sectors.
    392723 KB in use by the system.
     65536 KB occupied by the log file.
 198007148 KB available on disk.
 
      4096 bytes in each allocation unit.
  78142207 total allocation units on disk.
  49501787 allocation units available on disk.
 
Internal Info:
80 3b 04 00 29 29 03 00 66 c7 05 00 00 00 00 00  .;..))..f.......
1b 01 00 00 2c 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  ....,...........
30 c7 b0 77 00 00 00 00 50 23 3c ff 00 00 00 00  0..w....P#<.....
 
Windows has finished checking your disk.
Please wait while your computer restarts.
 
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
  <System>
    <Provider Name="Microsoft-Windows-Wininit" Guid="{206f6dea-d3c5-4d10-bc72-989f03c8b84b}" EventSourceName="Wininit" />
    <EventID Qualifiers="16384">1001</EventID>
    <Version>0</Version>
    <Level>4</Level>
    <Task>0</Task>
    <Opcode>0</Opcode>
    <Keywords>0x80000000000000</Keywords>
    <TimeCreated SystemTime="2011-08-21T22:53:38.000Z" />
    <EventRecordID>1379</EventRecordID>
    <Correlation />
    <Execution ProcessID="0" ThreadID="0" />
    <Channel>Application</Channel>
    <Computer>TheCmmndCntr-64</Computer>
    <Security />
  </System>
  <EventData>
    <Data>
 
Checking file system on C:
The type of the file system is NTFS.
 
A disk check has been scheduled.
Windows will now check the disk.                         
  277376 file records processed.                                  
 
  987 large file records processed.                            
 
  0 bad file records processed.                              
 
  0 EA records processed.                                    
 
  44 reparse records processed.                               
 
  343500 index entries processed.                                 
 
  0 unindexed files processed.                               
 
  277376 security descriptors processed.                          
 
Cleaning up 14003 unused index entries from index $SII of file 0x9.
Cleaning up 14003 unused index entries from index $SDH of file 0x9.
Cleaning up 14003 unused security descriptors.
CHKDSK is compacting the security descriptor stream...
  33063 data files processed.                                    
 
CHKDSK is verifying Usn Journal...
  35667512 USN bytes processed.                                     
 
Usn Journal verification completed.
CHKDSK is verifying file data (stage 4 of 5)...
  277360 files processed.                                         
 
File data verification completed.
CHKDSK is verifying free space (stage 5 of 5)...
  49501786 free clusters processed.                                 
 
Free space verification is complete.
CHKDSK discovered free space marked as allocated in the
master file table (MFT) bitmap.
Correcting errors in the Volume Bitmap.
Windows has made corrections to the file system.
 
 312568831 KB total disk space.
 114062384 KB in 174069 files.
    106576 KB in 33066 indexes.
         0 KB in bad sectors.
    392723 KB in use by the system.
     65536 KB occupied by the log file.
 198007148 KB available on disk.
 
      4096 bytes in each allocation unit.
  78142207 total allocation units on disk.
  49501787 allocation units available on disk.
 
Internal Info:
80 3b 04 00 29 29 03 00 66 c7 05 00 00 00 00 00  .;..))..f.......
1b 01 00 00 2c 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  ....,...........
30 c7 b0 77 00 00 00 00 50 23 3c ff 00 00 00 00  0..w....P#&lt;.....
 
Windows has finished checking your disk.
Please wait while your computer restarts.
</Data>
  </EventData>
</Event>

usasma · Aug 22, 2011

Since you've experienced repeated errors with CHKDSK, I'd have to suspect the hard drive(s).
Any of the hard drives on the system can cause this problem - not just the OS volume.

Please run CHKDSK /R /F on ALL of your hard drives (to include any USB drives also).
Then run these free, bootable diagnostics. I suggest starting with the Hard Drive diagnostics as that's the most likely problem that you'll encounter. Please remember to test ALL of the hard drives

I suggest starting all troubleshooting with the following diagnostic tests. They'll save you a lot of time and heartache if there is a hardware failure, and you'll have the disks on hand in case you need them in the future:

H/W Diagnostics:
Please start by running these bootable hardware diagnostics:
Memory Diagnostics (read the details at the link)
HD Diagnostic (read the details at the link) - Test ALL of the hard drives.

Also, please run one of these free, independent online malware scans to ensure that your current protection hasn't been compromised: Free Online AntiMalware Resources (read the details at the link)
There are also free, bootable antivirus disks at this link: Free Online AntiMalware Resources - Bootable Disks

Click to expand...

Only one memory dump in the attached reports. Please don't use cleaning tools on the system while we're troubleshooting, they often remove the data that we need for our analysis'

The perfmon report shows that your F: drive only has 8% free space. Please maintain 15% free space on all hard drives as Windows uses the free space for some operations and low free space may slow the system down (I doubt that this is the cause of your slowdowns tho').

The systeminfo report shows 147 Windows Updates installed. Most Vista SP2 systems show 210 to 250 updates. Please visit Windows Update and get any available updates.

MSINFO32 only shows one memory dump also - and it blames your Avast security program. Please uninstall/reinstall Avast. Also, please use one of the free scans on this page to double check your system for infections:

Also, please run one of these free, independent online malware scans to ensure that your current protection hasn't been compromised: Free Online AntiMalware Resources (read the details at the link)
There are also free, bootable antivirus disks at this link: Free Online AntiMalware Resources - Bootable Disks

Daemon Tools is known to cause BSOD's on Win7 systems - but I don't know if the same is true of Vista. Just in case, please uninstall it and then use this free tool to ensure that the sptd.sys driver is removed from your system: DuplexSecure - FAQ - Remove 64 bit sptd.sys Feel free to reinstall the latest version after we're finished troubleshooting.

MSI Afterburner is also known to cause BSOD's on Win7 systems - but I don't know if the same is true of Vista.
If you are overclocking the system, please restore the system to stock values while we're troubleshooting.
Please uninstall the MSI Afterburner program also (feel free to install the latest version once we've finished troubleshooting.

BSOD BUGCHECK SUMMARY

Code:

[font=lucida console]
Loading Dump File [C:\Users\FUBAR\_jcgriff2_\dbug\__Kernel__\Mini081511-01.dmp]
Built by: 6002.18484.amd64fre.vistasp2_gdr.110617-0336
Debug session time: Mon Aug 15 15:35:29.609 2011 (UTC - 4:00)
System Uptime: 0 days 0:00:11.312
*** WARNING: Unable to verify timestamp for aswSP.SYS
*** ERROR: Module load completed but symbols could not be loaded for aswSP.SYS
Probably caused by : aswSP.SYS ( aswSP+c9bc )
DEFAULT_BUCKET_ID:  VISTA_DRIVER_FAULT
BUGCHECK_STR:  0xA
PROCESS_NAME:  System
FAILURE_BUCKET_ID:  X64_0xA_aswSP+c9bc
Bugcheck code 0000000A
Arguments 00000000`00000000 00000000`0000000c 00000000`00000001 fffff800`020db3ca
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨``
  
  [/font]

ThumbWarrior · Aug 22, 2011

I'll run the check disk on my other drives, and clear some space off of the F drive. As for Vista updates I have all important updates installed, what I don't have are 18 optional updates installed, some of which look like they may override drivers I prefer to use such as those from Nvidia, but if you think I should install them I can. These optional updates for my Nvidia devices also don't have a page from the "More Information" link in windows update like most do explaining what the update does.

I'll re-install Avast and run those tools you suggested as soon as I can. I'll also remove Daemon Tools until were done. Afterburner was installed after I started having the problem so I don't think it is the cause, I don't overclock I just use it to control the fans since 8800GTs run hot. There probably would have been more dumps, but I had my paging file off, I turned it on once I started having the problem again for the purpose of getting the memory dumps. Thanks for the help btw I really appreciate it.

usasma · Aug 22, 2011

While you may not be overclocking, the problematic driver from Afterburner is still loading.
I'd still suggest uninstalling it as it's easy to reinstall it later on.

Thanks for explaining about the updates. I don't install drivers from Windows Update either - but in general the drivers won't even offer to install if your currently installed drivers are newer than those in Windows Update.

I think that the hard drive diagnostics are the most important thing right now - because you've had repeated errors when using CHKDSK. CHKDSK checks the file system on the hard drive, the diagnostics check the physical parts of the hard drive.

patch41 · Aug 22, 2011

Hi ThumbWarrior, you got some really good advise from usama, Much more knowledgeable and experienced than i am, I am going to put some of them sites in my favorites, and run them myself,also a good tool to use is sfc /scannow, I think you are in good hands with usama good luck, Patch41.

ThumbWarrior · Aug 27, 2011

I ran Disk Check on my data drives (D, and F) as well and found no errors. I ran the hard drive diagnostics from Seagate and Western Digital on the appropriate drives, they passed all diagnostics (short, extended, and smart). I also freed up space on my F: drive which no longer has a red bar.

AVG rescue cd did find one virus and removed it. Trend Micro house call found nothing. Avast (uninstalled and reinstalled) scan found nothing. Anti-Malwarebytes came up clean. All drives should be virus free.

I have uninstalled Daemon Tools and used the tool to remove sptd. I also uninstalled Afterburner.

I ran memtest86 while I slept, so for about 8 1/2 hours, it did not find any errors.

I also haven't had any BSODs since the one in the dump. I haven't had any lockups in Windows for maybe 5 or 6 days. So unless you want me to try anything else I can post back in a week or so and let you know if I have anymore BSOD's or lockups. Once I go a week without any problems I'm gonna install Afterburner again and see how that runs. After I give Afterburner a couple weeks to produce problems, and if not; I'll reinstall Daemon Tools (unless you know of a free alternative). It might be Daemon Tools that caused the problem, I had it installed on my previous installation of Vista. I also installed everything (all the programs I use) immediately after updating windows on this new install. So Daemon Tools has been installed during every occurrence of a BSOD or a lockup.

patch41 · Aug 27, 2011

Hi ThumbWarrior, Glad to hear everything seems to be working, I would leave daemon tools off for a couple of weeks,and if you have no problems and you would like to reinstall it, Try it then, and if the problem reappears its a good chance its daemon, maybe conflicting with another program, good luck, Patch41

usasma · Aug 29, 2011

Hurricane yesterday
No power yet
Surgery today
Will be back on after power is restored
Likely tonight/tomorrow

ThumbWarrior · Sep 6, 2011

Well hope everything went okay with your surgery, so glad I'm not in Florida anymore having to deal with hurricanes. D*** Nature, you scary.

Okay it has been a week and yesterday and today my PC locked up in windows and had to be restarted with the reset button on my tower. I thought I was out of the woods but I guess not. I have not had any BSOD however, so I guess that much is good at least. One of the lockups my PC wasn't doing anything, I left the room to get a drink and when I came back it had locked up. The second time it locked up about 15-20 seconds after I had just watched a video from YouTube locally. Any ideas what may be causing my PC to freeze randomly?

ThumbWarrior · Sep 10, 2011

Today I noticed in explorer that my DVD burner was missing. My 3 hard drives were listed but my DVD burner was not there. I pushed the button on the tower to open it, and got no response. So I went into Device Manager and scanned "Disk drives" for hardware changes and my computer froze, and I had to reset via the button on my tower. After rebooting just now my DVD burner is still missing from explorer. Could this be the cause of Vista randomly freezing.

It has been freezing now about twice a day since my last post. Assuming that the Drive is bad/dead, could it cause this to happen? Or if not the drive, if the Sata cable were bad that hooks up the DVD drive to the mobo could that cause the freezing issue? This issue has been around on and off the entire time I've had problems with Vista freezing, but it never crossed my mind as a possible source of the problem.

patch41 · Sep 11, 2011

Hi ThumbWarrior,click on to this c-net link it will give you some good suggestions on freezups.
PC shut down & Freezing - CNET Computer newbies Forums,
Also about the dvd drive i dont think that would cause the freezeups, It seems like it could be an overheating problem, I have had that problem with the dvd-drive in the past and i have unplugged it, waited a few minutes then plugged it back in and it reconized it.

Random BSODs on Startup

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