Frequent Blue Screen errors

[nmcmahon]

First of all, apologies if this is in the incorrect forum, I am pretty certain my problem is hardware related and there didn't seem to be single "hardware problem" forum, so I figured that whatever is causing my problems is something plugged into the motherboard!

 

I hope someone can help me with this, as it has been driving me mad for nearly two years now! (I know its been a long time, but I have sort of got used to it).

 

I built the computer in question myself nearly two years ago, and was the first time I had done so. Generally, everything was OK when building it and I got it up and running fine. Soon after, the problems started...

 

Here is my computer's spec before going into the problems:

 

 

• Antec Quattro 850W PSU
  
• ASUS Striker Extreme motherboard
  
• Intel Core2 Quad Core Q6600 CPU @ 2.40GHz
  
• 3 x 1GB Corsair 800MHz DDR2 RAM
  
• Hitachi 250GB HDD
  
• nVidia GeForce 8800GTX GFX card (768MB)
  
• DVD-RW Drive
  
• Arctic Cooler Freezer Pro 7 CPU Fan
  
• Antex P180 Case
  
• Windows Vista Home Premium (32 bit)
  

 

Now, the problems I have are simple multiple blue screen (BSOD) errors. They are seemingly random, ie. are not triggered by a certain event (as far as I know), and are never the same error or file. I have listed the various errors and files I have got on the BSODs below.

 

 

• PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA
  
• MEMORY_MANAGEMENT
  
• APC_INDEX_MISMATCH
  
• KERNAL_DATA_INPAGE_ERROR
  
• BAD_POOL_HEADER
  

 

The top three are generally the most common. I either have no file listed on the BSOD, or either of these two:

 

 

• ntfs.sys
  
• win32.sys
  

 

I am pretty sure it is something to do with my hardware - as far as I am aware, BSODs of this nature usually are. Here is what I have tried so far but to no avail:

 

 

• Someone mentioned it could be due to the computer overheating
  
  • My graphics card is very powerful and gets VERY hot (~70 degrees) - however I have read that it is fine working at this heat, but I thought maybe it was heating up the rest of the PC.
    
  • My case is designed with cooling in mind - the PSU is in a separate compartment to the rest of the motherboard; I have 2 huge fans on full speed, and also the Arctic Cooler Freezer Pro 7, all of which are above the GFX card, which should effectively draw any heat out the back of the case
    
  • When running SpeedFan the PC is usually around 30 to 40 degrees, which is cool or normal according to SpeedFan, and a little higher when playing games (but not so high that the BIOS would cause the computer to shut down)
    
  • I have even tried taking of the side of the case to let all the heat out, but no difference.
    
  • I have found that during the summer months it does crash more often, though.
    

   

 

• I have updated everything on my computer - BIOS, chipset drivers, GFX card drivers, etc.
  

 

• I have a feeling (due to the BSOD errors) that it may be the RAM playing up or is faulty
  
  • I have tried swapping the sticks around, trying different slots, taking some out: they all seem to be fine
    
  • I have tried Windows' Memory Diagnostic Tool, and came back with no errors
    

   

 

Sorry for such a long message, but I wanted to get as much detail as possible down. I have no idea how to fix this, and if someone with more knowledge has an idea, it would save me a lot of trouble - every time the computer crashes and restarts, all my icons and quick launch bar reset, and playing games I have to save every couple of minutes!).

 

Many thanks in advance.

[maynardvdm]

Hi

 

Welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help.

 

Is your Windows up to date with the latest service pack?

[Tootech]

Hi,

 

Have you checked the memory voltage is correct?

 

Check the voltage rating of your Corsair memory - some are 1.85 ish Volts, some are up as high as 2.1 Volts.

 

If your board is running standard say 1.8 Volts on 2.1 Volt memory, that could give you intermittent BSOD's.

[zinglebarb]

Right click my comp and select manage then event viewer and have a look for possible hard drive errors

 

I would download memtest86+ Memtest86+ - Advanced Memory Diagnostic Tool burn to cd and boot from the cd and run a pass or 2

[nmcmahon]

Hi

 

Welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help.

 

Is your Windows up to date with the latest service pack?

 

Yes, it is updated with the latest updates and service pack.

 

Hi,

 

Have you checked the memory voltage is correct?

 

Check the voltage rating of your Corsair memory - some are 1.85 ish Volts, some are up as high as 2.1 Volts.

 

If your board is running standard say 1.8 Volts on 2.1 Volt memory, that could give you intermittent BSOD's.

 

I have checked online and my RAM should be 1.9 volts. I will check this is correct in the BIOS.

 

Right click my comp and select manage then event viewer and have a look for possible hard drive errors

 

I would download memtest86+ Memtest86+ - Advanced Memory Diagnostic Tool burn to cd and boot from the cd and run a pass or 2

 

 

I went into the Event Viewer but I am not really sure what is what in there. I went to Applications and Services Logs > Hardware Events, but there was nothing in there. I then went to Windows Logs > System, and there were a lot of issues, but every so often there was an error. Some of these were hardware related (and were repeated over and over) which I have posted below, I do not know if they are relevant or not:

 

 

• The following boot-start or system-start driver(s) failed to load: PxHelp20
  
• The Parallel port driver service failed to start due to the following error: The service cannot be started, either because it is disabled or because it has no enabled devices associated with it.
  
• Unable to initialize the security package Kerberos for server side authentication. The data field contains the error number.
  
• The previous system shutdown at 07:23:54 on 25/05/2009 was unexpected.
  

 

I will download memtest86+ and try that.

[Plastic Nev]

Hi, in your first post the error reports mention "Page fault in non paged area" and also "Memory management" these are usually associated with the paging files or virtual memory. Have you set them up for a low figure? Ideally it should be system managed.

[nmcmahon]

Hi, in your first post the error reports mention "Page fault in non paged area" and also "Memory management" these are usually associated with the paging files or virtual memory. Have you set them up for a low figure? Ideally it should be system managed.

 

It is currently set as system managed. It is also set as 3GB page file size - I have 3GB RAM on my PC, would this be a problem? If so, what should I set the initial and maxiumum file sizes to?

[Plastic Nev]

Ok, that is about right, so it isn't the virtual memory, it was only a guess, so I will leave it for someone with more ideas.

[Jelly Bean]

I would set the page file to higher than the amount of RAM installed not the same size.

 

Add another gig to the pagefile.

 

Also how much free space do you actualy have left on the HDD?

 

I would run Zingles Memtest.

 

I also wonder if your OS has become corrupt.

 

You are right your GPU is running rather warm there,have you cleaned the internals of the PC and make sure all fans are clean and spinning?

Edited May 25, 2009 by Jelly Bean

[zinglebarb]

70degrees is not hot for a gpu under load

 

@ the OP the 8800GTX isnt that powerfull nowadays and the 768 meg version dates it to the first revision of the 8800 graphics cards ;)

[Plastic Nev]

It has come to my notice, that you are already seeking help with this issue elsewhere BleepingComputer.com > Frequent Blue Screen errors

I suggest you return there, fielding the same question on other forums only finishes up with helpers wasting time on both forums.

I am closing this thread.