Windows 7 Alienware Aurora (Win7, 64bit) - Random Freezing, Quick flash of BSOD

[Dedmonds27]

Hi all

I've got a problem where the screen of my Alienware Aurora randomly freezes (usually within the first 15 mins of startup). The fans seem to run faster when it does freeze. Ctrl-Alt-Del doesn't not work and a hard shut down (power button) is required to get it off.

Once in a while it runs PERFECTLY...Can play games, music and do whatever I want with it and theres no sign of slow down or lesser performance in general. Last night it ran perfectly after about 5 attempts. Then today when trying to start it up it couldn't get past the 'Starting Windows' which always flashed a BSOD in the blink of an eye. It appears when I turned off my computer last night, a windows update had been installed (or at least attempted to install)

I ran System Restore through the BIOS settings on Start-Up to a restore point yesterday (when it worked totally fine) and it gets through Start-Up now...now its just back to the freezing during idling or within use.

I mainly use my computer for playing on Steam (only Team Fortress 2), going on YouTube and generally browsing news websites.

I don't know whats triggered it but all I know is its been like this for the best part of 10 days.

Hope I've explained everything and help is greatly appreciated.

Heres the log from the SF Diagnostics tool. Thanks!

 

[GeneralHiningII]

Although you did attach dmp files and the .nfo, it's better if you just compress them using these instructions:
http://windows7forums.com/blue-screen-death-bsod/38837-how-ask-help-bsod-problem.html so it's easier for debuggers to download and it saves a bit of server space.

Analysis:

Analysis:Built by: 7600.16988.amd64fre.win7_gdr.120401-1505
Debug session time: Sat Oct 20 22:13:31.943 2012 (UTC + 11:00)
System Uptime: 0 days 0:04:21.036
BugCheck 7F, {8, 80050033, 6f8, fffff80002ecde93}
*** WARNING: Unable to verify timestamp for win32k.sys
*** ERROR: Module load completed but symbols could not be loaded for win32k.sys
Probably caused by : [COLOR=#ff0000]ntkrnlmp.exe ( nt!KiDoubleFaultAbort+b2 )[/COLOR]
BUGCHECK_STR:  0x7f_8
PROCESS_NAME:  [COLOR=#ff8c00]System[/COLOR]
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨``

Ntkrnlmp.exe is a very important part of your OS (it stands for NT Kernel Multiprocessor) as it pretty much oversees all the low-level commands of your system.

[QOUTE]ntkrnlmp.exe ( nt!KiDoubleFaultAbort+b2 )[/QUOTE]

A Double Fault occurs when an exception is unhandled or when an exception occurs while the CPU is trying to call an exception handler. Normally, two exception at the same time are handled one after another, but in some cases that is not possible. For example, if a page fault occurs, but the exception handler is located in a not-present page, two page faults would occur and neither can be handled. A double fault would occur.The saved instruction pointer is undefined. A double fault cannot be recovered. The faulting process must be terminated.

My guess is, seeing since both ntkrnlmp.exe AND the double fault error point to some error in the CPU, it's probably a hardware related problem.
First of all, run these two programs: Memtest86+ - Advanced Memory Diagnostic Tool and http://www.mersenne.org/freesoft/
Memtest checks your RAM and Prime95 checks your CPU.
Download and install both, and run them - post screenshots back here.

Another thing - if it's an Alienware PC, it was DELL's responsibility to install the parts correctly - HOWEVER: According to this article Link Removed - Invalid URLr You won't void your warranty if you do some tinkering inside your case. HOWEVER do this AFTER you run the previously said programs (ie: run both programs, post results, see what we say, if we can't offer solution do the following steps).
Forewarning: Not my fault if you kill your PC by doing this - I have done this before, but it doesn't mean you should (unless you're willing to take the risk)

Physical RAM Test:
Take out the plug from the computer, and hold down the power button for about 20 seconds.
Then open the case, and locate your DIMMs (RAM Slots). Record: the slot numbers which the RAM sticks are installed in [eg: 1 & 3/2&4/1, 2 & 4 etc.] and the number of RAM sticks installed.
Now to do the test. Take out all the sticks except for one. Reboot your computer and run Memtest. If, after about seven passes, it shows no errors, that means that the current RAM stick is working well.
Repeat the above with each stick - if you find one faulty, don't put it back in - instead, put in the other working RAM sticks in, and reboot the computer. Run Memtest once more to make sure.

Physical CPU Test:
Unless you're planning on getting heat-glue-tape-thing and regluing the heatsink after taking the CPU out, nevermind.

I have also found some pretty outdated drivers - update them, including your Antivirus.

3rd Party Drivers:
Drivers in red should be updated or removed.

[B][COLOR=#ff0000]SiWinAcc.sys                Fri Jun 15 10:02:02 2007 (4671D6FA)[/COLOR][/B][B][COLOR=#ff0000]SiRemFil.sys                Thu Jun 21 05:42:10 2007 (46798312)[/COLOR][/B]
[B][COLOR=#ff0000]SI3132.sys                  Thu Oct  4 04:39:29 2007 (4703E1E1)[/COLOR][/B]
[B][COLOR=#ff0000]000.fcl                     Fri Sep 26 23:11:22 2008 (48DCDF7A)[/COLOR][/B]
[B][COLOR=#ff0000]intelsmb.sys                Wed May 13 17:31:00 2009 (4A0A7734)[/COLOR][/B]
[B][COLOR=#ff0000]AWOPFilterDriver.sys        Thu Jun 25 23:54:47 2009 (4A4381A7)[/COLOR][/B]
[B][COLOR=#ff0000]IOCBIOS.SYS                 Fri Jul 10 03:47:22 2009 (4A562D2A)[/COLOR][/B]
intelppm.sys                Tue Jul 14 09:19:25 2009 (4A5BC0FD)
[B][COLOR=#ff0000]k57nd60a.sys                Fri Oct 16 21:29:38 2009 (4AD84B12)[/COLOR][/B]
[B][COLOR=#ff0000]RTKVHD64.sys                Tue Feb  2 21:36:50 2010 (4B680042)[/COLOR][/B]
[B][COLOR=#ff0000]iaStor.sys                  Thu Mar  4 13:51:31 2010 (4B8F2033)[/COLOR][/B]
amdxata.sys                 Sat Mar 20 03:18:18 2010 (4BA3A3CA)
[B][COLOR=#ff0000]mfehidk.sys                 Thu Mar  3 03:38:02 2011 (4D6E726A)[/COLOR][/B]
[B][COLOR=#ff0000]mfewfpk.sys                 Thu Mar  3 03:38:16 2011 (4D6E7278)[/COLOR][/B]
[B][COLOR=#ff0000]mfenlfk.sys                 Thu Mar  3 03:38:26 2011 (4D6E7282)[/COLOR][/B]
[B][COLOR=#ff0000]mfeapfk.sys                 Thu Mar  3 03:38:39 2011 (4D6E728F)[/COLOR][/B]
[B][COLOR=#ff0000]mfeavfk.sys                 Thu Mar  3 03:39:02 2011 (4D6E72A6)[/COLOR][/B]
[B][COLOR=#ff0000]mfefirek.sys                Thu Mar  3 03:42:01 2011 (4D6E7359)[/COLOR][/B]
[B][COLOR=#ff0000]cfwids.sys                  Thu Mar  3 03:42:51 2011 (4D6E738B)[/COLOR][/B]
nvlddmkm.sys                Wed Oct  3 04:21:13 2012 (506B3099)

SiWinAcc.sys Fri Jun 15 10:02:02 2007 (4671D6FA)
Silicon Image driver - comes with package for the SIxxxx drivers
Driver Reference Table - SiWinAcc.sys

SiRemFil.sys Thu Jun 21 05:42:10 2007 (46798312)
Silicon Image driver
Driver Reference Table - SiRemFil.sys

SI3132.sys Thu Oct 4 04:39:29 2007 (4703E1E1)
Silicon Image driver
Driver Reference Table - SI3132.sys

000.fcl Fri Sep 26 23:11:22 2008 (48DCDF7A)
CyberLink FCL Driver
Driver Reference Table - 000.fcl

intelsmb.sys Wed May 13 17:31:00 2009 (4A0A7734)
Intel System Management Bus (SMBUS) 2.0 Driver
Driver Reference Table - intelsmb.sys

AWOPFilterDriver.sys Thu Jun 25 23:54:47 2009 (4A4381A7)
Alienware Optical Drive Filter Driver
Dell Update

IOCBIOS.SYS Fri Jul 10 03:47:22 2009 (4A562D2A)
Intel Extreme Tuning Utility - Desktop Control
Driver Reference Table - IOCBIOS.SYS

intelppm.sys Tue Jul 14 09:19:25 2009 (4A5BC0FD)
Intel Processor driver
Driver Reference Table - intelppm.sys

k57nd60a.sys Fri Oct 16 21:29:38 2009 (4AD84B12)
Broadcom NetLink Gigabit Ethernet NDIS6.x Unified Driver
Driver Reference Table - k57nd60a.sys

RTKVHD64.sys Tue Feb 2 21:36:50 2010 (4B680042)
Realtek High Definition Audio Function Driver
Driver Reference Table - RTKVHD64.sys

iaStor.sys Thu Mar 4 13:51:31 2010 (4B8F2033)
Intel Storage drivers
Driver Reference Table - iaStor.sys

amdxata.sys Sat Mar 20 03:18:18 2010 (4BA3A3CA)
AMD storage controller driver - usually from the Windows 7 DVD
Driver Reference Table - amdxata.sys

mfehidk.sys Thu Mar 3 03:38:02 2011 (4D6E726A)
McAfee Host Intrusion Detection Link Driver
Driver Reference Table - mfehidk.sys

mfewfpk.sys Thu Mar 3 03:38:16 2011 (4D6E7278)
McAfee
Driver Reference Table - mfewfpk.sys

mfenlfk.sys Thu Mar 3 03:38:26 2011 (4D6E7282)
McAfee
Driver Reference Table - mfenlfk.sys

mfeapfk.sys Thu Mar 3 03:38:39 2011 (4D6E728F)
McAfee
Driver Reference Table - mfeapfk.sys

mfeavfk.sys Thu Mar 3 03:39:02 2011 (4D6E72A6)
McAfee Anti-Virus File System Filter Driver
Driver Reference Table - mfeavfk.sys

mfefirek.sys Thu Mar 3 03:42:01 2011 (4D6E7359)
McAfee
Driver Reference Table - mfefirek.sys

cfwids.sys Thu Mar 3 03:42:51 2011 (4D6E738B)
McAfee
Driver Reference Table - cfwids.sys

nvlddmkm.sys Wed Oct 3 04:21:13 2012 (506B3099)
nVidia Video drivers
Driver Reference Table - nvlddmkm.sys

 

[usasma]

The biggest problem that I see here is that you don't have SP1:

Installing Windows 7 Service Pack 1
1. Visit the PC manufacturer's website and update ALL drivers. DO NOT use Windows Update or the "Update drivers" function of Device Manager.
2. Check Device Manager for any unknown/disabled devices - if there are unknown/disabled devices, fix them with the latest drivers from the device manufacturer's website (not the PC Manufacturer)
3. Visit Windows Update and get all updates (may take repeated visits)
4. Visit Windows Update and get Service Pack 1 (usually under Important Updates). Read these notes for installing SP1: Steps to follow before you install Windows 7 SP1 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 from the Microsoft Download Center
5. Visit Windows Update and get any other available updates. May take repeated visits, but keep it up until you get several "Windows is updated" results.
If you're having difficulties with installing a Service Pack, please use the SURTool from this link: What is the System Update Readiness Tool?
Also, check out this troubleshooting link from Microsoft: Troubleshoot problems installing Service Pack 1 (SP1) for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2

I have had limited success in installing updates/Service Packs when using a "clean boot". I suspect that I'm just bypassing the problem - and that it can come back to bite me in the butt later on.

If the fans run faster before it freezes, then you may have an overheating problem:
- blow out all vents with canned air (DO NOT USE an air compressor or a vacuum as they can damage components)
- keep the system on a hard surface (and use a cooling pad).
- monitor temps with this free utility: HWiNFO, HWiNFO32 & HWiNFO64 - Hardware Information and Analysis Tools

If overclocking, please stop while we're troubleshooting. Feel free to resume the overclock once the BSOD's have been stopped.

Many outdated drivers. Visit the Alienware website and install ALL drivers from there (it'll be easier than flitting around the web looking for a bunch of different drivers).