Windows 7 Critical Kernel-Power ID 41 Task 63 Crash

[DrScythe]

After experiencing an unexplainable Kernel-Power 41 (63) crash at random seemingly unconnected intervals I decided to reformat my HD and start from scratch to try and fix the issue. Unfortunately my problem still exists. My computer hangs and will loop the last 0.1s of audio until I reach for the restart button.

I have updated all my drivers and Bios to their latest versions also all to no success

Ive searched multiple other sources online and have tried things like disabling certain windows squeduled tasks and disabling multiple audio devices in the device manager. Nothing has been successful so far. Any help would be much appreciated

My system is
XFX 790i Ultra
Intel 2.83 Quad Core
DDR3 2G stick (Cosair)
Nvidia GTX260

EDIT: Also it shouldn't be my Power supply as i am running an Odin 800W

 

[DrScythe]

Alright attached is my diagnostic-performance event log.

 

[Agent Data]

okay here what is notable:

File Name : explorer.exe
Friendly Name : Windows Explorer
Version : 6.1.7600.16385 (win7_rtm.090713-1255)
Total Time : 9321ms
Degradation Time : 4321ms


"Background optimizations (prefetching) took longer to complete, resulting in a performance degradation in the system start up process:
Name : BackgroundPrefetchTime
Total Time : 41613ms
Degradation Time : 9582ms
Incident Time (UTC) : ‎2010‎-‎04‎-‎15T06:22:15.671600000Z"



File Name : hon.exe
Friendly Name : Heroes of Newerth
Version : 0, 1, 54, 0
Total Time : 7081ms
Degradation Time : 2081ms

001 8:31:07 AM Microsoft-Windows-Diagnostics-Performance 203 Shutdown Performance Monitoring "This service caused a delay in the system shutdown process:
File Name : CryptSvc
Friendly Name : Cryptographic Services
Version : 6.1.7600.16385 (win7_rtm.090713-1255)
Total Time : 5884ms
Degradation Time : 1884ms

Monitoring "This service caused a delay in the system shutdown process:
File Name : WinDefend
Friendly Name : Service Module
Version : 6.1.7600.16385 (win7_rtm.090713-1255)
Total Time : 8505ms
Degradation Time : 4505ms


Warning 14/04/2001 3:11:06 AM Microsoft-Windows-Diagnostics-Performance 501 Desktop Window Manager Monitoring "The Desktop Window Manager is experiencing heavy resource contention.
Reason : Graphics subsystem resources are over-utilized.
Diagnosis : A sharp degradation in Desktop Window Manager responsiveness was observed."
Warning 14/04/2001 3:11:06 AM Microsoft-Windows-Diagnostics-Performance 500 Desktop Window Manager Monitoring "The Desktop Window Manager is experiencing heavy resource contention.
Scenario : The Desktop Window Manager responsiveness has degraded."
Warning 14/04/2001 2:13:10 AM Microsoft-Windows-Diagnostics-Performance 500 Desktop Window Manager Monitoring "The Desktop Window Manager is experiencing heavy resource contention.
Scenario : Video memory resources are over-utilized and there is thrashing happening as a result. Reducing number of running programs and open windows may help resolve this condition."
Warning 14/04/2001 1:57:43 AM Microsoft-Windows-Diagnostics-Performance 501 Desktop Window Manager Monitoring "The Desktop Window Manager is experiencing heavy resource contention.
Reason : Graphics subsystem resources are over-utilized.
Diagnosis : A sharp degradation in Desktop Window Manager responsiveness was observed."
Warning 14/04/2001 1:57:43 AM Microsoft-Windows-Diagnostics-Performance 500 Desktop Window Manager Monitoring "The Desktop Window Manager is experiencing heavy resource contention.
Scenario : The Desktop Window Manager responsiveness has degraded."


"This application took longer than usual to start up, resulting in a performance degradation in the system startup process:
File Name : msnmsgr.exe
Friendly Name : Windows Live Messenger
Version : 14.0.8089.0726
Total Time : 8939ms
Degradation Time : 3939ms


looks to me you have ram stress - the system overall behaves a bit draggy watch the degradation times > 1 sec (1000ms). Somehow your box is hogging. My suggestions:

1) cleanup ram/background processes
2) make sure latest chipset/hdd/audio drivers are installed
3) video driver got some issues - sweep the driver then reinstall
4) win defender? - install MSE instead
5) Heroes of Newerth seems a hog too

maybe add another 2GB ram for better performance - your system hdd is stressed! Good idea to run a malware checker or once MSE is installed run a full scan.

Broome your box, buddy, then things will improve.

 

[DrScythe]

Thanks for that.

Yea i used to have 4Gb of ram in the machine but the second stick died on me. Was gonna replace it when funds allow.

Shouldn't be any malware issues as i reformatted last week.... but will check anyway

All drivers have been updated. Will try uninstall/reinstalling the video card drivers tho.

Will get MSE in a minute as well and scan with that

Yea Heroes of Newerth has a few reported problems with 7 hogging resources. Hopefully theyl fix those issues soon

Will post back with updates after trying some of these suggestions

EDIT: how do i go about cleaning up my ram?.....

 

[DrScythe]

Alright im working on lowering my memory usage.

The key things that are standing out to me right now is one of the svchost.exe is using anywhere between 60-100mb or memory. Also MsMpEng.exe which is the process for MSE which i just installed is consuming a whopping 150mb of memory while not in use.

My computer while idling with MSN / Chrome and some system monitors open is using 50% of my 2GB ram. Doesnt exactly leave much room for games and stuff like hon and whatnot to run....

Any strategies for reducing this memory usage?

 

[Agent Data]

Thanks for that.
......

EDIT: how do i go about cleaning up my ram?.....

depending on your experience level go into the task manager/processes tab and see what processes are active probably pointing to old software supposed to be uninstalled (debris)

try to minimise active software to what you really use and uninstall everything you forgot about . remove hogs where possible. skim through Programs & Features (CP) and get rid of everything unnecessary by uninstalling it.

The key things that are standing out to me right now is one of the svchost.exe is using anywhere between 60-100mb or memory. Also MsMpEng.exe which is the process for MSE which i just installed is consuming a whopping 150mb of memory while not in use.

that svchost ~ 100MB belongs to the audio processor if I am not mistaken - it's normal!
MsMpEng.exe here is using ~70MB not sure why it takes double the ram on your box

...
Any strategies for reducing this memory usage?

simple, get more ram! sorry could not resist
you would sail much smoother with 4GB or more ram

 

[Mitchell_A]

Also, the svchost.exe is actly what it says to be: A service host.
It hosts more than half the running services, all with different parameters.

4 GB of RAM would definitely fix that problem.

 

[DrScythe]

haha so overall my problem is that im flat broke

alright ill look into getting a second stick again soon

 

[Mitchell_A]

Just for clarification, do the crashes still occur?

 

[DrScythe]

Yea they are still occurring.

 

[Agent Data]

Yea they are still occurring.

sure, there is no magic until you fix it, no?

 

[DrScythe]

yea i was just clarifying for mitchell_A

 

[maestro]

Heat Problem???

I have the failures on startup at times. The system has not started to heat up at that point. It happens when nothing is being done. Very random.

 

[Mitchell_A]

Do you have the MOST up-to-date BIOS?
Check your manufacturers website for the latest update.

 

[Agent Data]

just wait until the failing hardware dies - then you know what it is!

 

[Mitchell_A]

Those are some very positive words of encouragement

 

[Mitchell_A]

Do you have the latest BIOs updates?
Check your manufacturers website.

 

[Agent Data]

Those are some very positive words of encouragement

I am not a sales person you know

 

[DrScythe]

Alright despite the fact i cant afford it i went and got two new sticks of ram and took the old one out.

Been running the system for around 24 hours now and no crash yet.

Hopefully it stays that way

 

[Mitchell_A]

Great, keep us posted

 

[Agent Data]

Alright despite the fact i cant afford it i went and got two new sticks of ram and took the old one out.

Been running the system for around 24 hours now and no crash yet.

Hopefully it stays that way

Probably a smart idea to run a repair install to fix up possible data corruptions on the disk - just to be on the safe side.