bios update
- Thread starter bully
- Start date
The reason i asked is because i am having bsod's.
I have analysed with windbg that the first bsod's (which were regular),were to do with rapport and the via audio driver.I have uninstalled rapport and i am using the inbuilt windows 7 audio driver,as i am struggling to find a newer one for windows 7.The bsods stopped for a week and a half,then i had one two days ago.
I analysed the crash dump with windbg which blamed the windows kernel (false positive),so i used driver verifier to stress test the drivers and thy're fine.Upon further analysis i noticed that the dump mentioned idle loops,which is strange as the laptop screen dimmed when the bsod kicked in.
I read somewhere that the haswell cpus have a big voltage drop when idle,which can upset windows.Maybe a bios update could fix this,hence why i asked.
regards bully
I have analysed with windbg that the first bsod's (which were regular),were to do with rapport and the via audio driver.I have uninstalled rapport and i am using the inbuilt windows 7 audio driver,as i am struggling to find a newer one for windows 7.The bsods stopped for a week and a half,then i had one two days ago.
I analysed the crash dump with windbg which blamed the windows kernel (false positive),so i used driver verifier to stress test the drivers and thy're fine.Upon further analysis i noticed that the dump mentioned idle loops,which is strange as the laptop screen dimmed when the bsod kicked in.
I read somewhere that the haswell cpus have a big voltage drop when idle,which can upset windows.Maybe a bios update could fix this,hence why i asked.
regards bully
ubuysa
The BSOD Doctor
Rapport shouldn't cause BSODs on it's own, I've run it for years and never had an issue with it. It sounds more like you either have some sort of hardware issue or a major problem with Windows and/or drivers.
The first thing I'd suggest is that you unplug all external peripherals to be sure they aren't causing a problem (unlikely but worth eliminating).
It's always worth running Memtest overnight with BSODs, flaky RAM causes all sorts of problems.
If Memtest runs without errors I would suggest you next backup your user data and do a clean re-install of Windows and all the drivers that PCS sent you. Then run Windows update until there are no more updates. Don't install any other software and run with vanilla Windows for a while, if you still get BSODs then you almost certainly have some sort of hardware error and you need to call PCS for help.
If it works ok after the Windows reinstall then you can gradually reinstall your third-party software checking each time to see whether one of those is your problem.
I would only be looking at the BIOS as a last resort.
Let us know how you get on, there are lot of very knowledgeable and experienced people on here who can help.
The first thing I'd suggest is that you unplug all external peripherals to be sure they aren't causing a problem (unlikely but worth eliminating).
It's always worth running Memtest overnight with BSODs, flaky RAM causes all sorts of problems.
If Memtest runs without errors I would suggest you next backup your user data and do a clean re-install of Windows and all the drivers that PCS sent you. Then run Windows update until there are no more updates. Don't install any other software and run with vanilla Windows for a while, if you still get BSODs then you almost certainly have some sort of hardware error and you need to call PCS for help.
If it works ok after the Windows reinstall then you can gradually reinstall your third-party software checking each time to see whether one of those is your problem.
I would only be looking at the BIOS as a last resort.
Let us know how you get on, there are lot of very knowledgeable and experienced people on here who can help.
i rarely have anything plugged in,and the first i did was test the ram with memtest with 5 passes and no errors.
I know that crash dumps that involve things like the kernel and windows components are usually the victim and not the cause,hence the stress testing using verifier i used.Which i ran for a day on all non-microsoft drivers,and there was no bsod's.
I was considering a fresh install of windows 7 again,as i have a feeling that some installing and uninstalling of drivers may have caused possible corruption.
I usually do a bios flash as a last resort myself,but was curious as to whether there was any and where there available.
The bugcheck was 50 by the way.
I know that crash dumps that involve things like the kernel and windows components are usually the victim and not the cause,hence the stress testing using verifier i used.Which i ran for a day on all non-microsoft drivers,and there was no bsod's.
I was considering a fresh install of windows 7 again,as i have a feeling that some installing and uninstalling of drivers may have caused possible corruption.
I usually do a bios flash as a last resort myself,but was curious as to whether there was any and where there available.
The bugcheck was 50 by the way.
There's absolutely nothing wrong with the ram,as I've run memtest overnight and windows memory diagnostic.I am still getting random bsods with driver verifier on but the mini dumps which i analyse with windbg are all pointing at windows components.
The last one was the kernel and the most recent is direct x (dxgmms.dll),.
Driver verifier is supposed to stress test the drivers to make an unanalysable crash into one that is.So i am still none the wiser to which driver it is (if it is).I have now stress tested all 3rd party drivers as well.
I think the only option i have is to reinstall win 7 and just install the drivers and not install much to see if it's a hardware problem.By the way i have even checked to see if there is an update for the ssd (ocz vertex 4),as i know they have caused bsods on laptops i have repaired in the past,but that hasn't helped
The last one was the kernel and the most recent is direct x (dxgmms.dll),.
Driver verifier is supposed to stress test the drivers to make an unanalysable crash into one that is.So i am still none the wiser to which driver it is (if it is).I have now stress tested all 3rd party drivers as well.
I think the only option i have is to reinstall win 7 and just install the drivers and not install much to see if it's a hardware problem.By the way i have even checked to see if there is an update for the ssd (ocz vertex 4),as i know they have caused bsods on laptops i have repaired in the past,but that hasn't helped
Well i have done just that and reinstalled,and pretty much straight away a bsod.
I used my windows debugger to analyse the crash and it tells me analysis inconclusive and no bug check code to go with it.I'm thinking whether to give windows 8 a run to see if that works and to finally rule out a hardware issue.
Trouble is i really don't get on with windows 8 and would rather use windows 7.
I used my windows debugger to analyse the crash and it tells me analysis inconclusive and no bug check code to go with it.I'm thinking whether to give windows 8 a run to see if that works and to finally rule out a hardware issue.
Trouble is i really don't get on with windows 8 and would rather use windows 7.
ubuysa
The BSOD Doctor
Save your time, if you get a BSOD with a clean install of Windows 7 then Windows 8 isn't going to be any better. I think you almost certainly have a hardware issue of some kind. I suggest you call PCS in the morning.
Is there anything in the Event Viewer related to the recent BSOD? That might help pin down the component.
Sorry, I know that's not what you wanted to hear...
if it was a driver it would of flagged itself up when running driver verifier eventually,but the fact the crashes are always related to windows parts is a little worrying.
I wouldn't of thought reseating the ram would make difference either as that would of shown in memtest i would have thought.
I wouldn't of thought reseating the ram would make difference either as that would of shown in memtest i would have thought.
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Well after some more bsod's with win 7 that pointed to either the kernel or direct x,i went ahead and gave windows 8 a try (just to exhaust my options).I installed the chipset drivers then the intel integrated gpu driver,then bam! another bsod.
I definitely think it's a motherboard issue and I am now awaiting a courier monday.
Thanks for your help ubuysa!
I definitely think it's a motherboard issue and I am now awaiting a courier monday.
Thanks for your help ubuysa!
ubuysa
The BSOD Doctor