Windows 7 minidump file for an BSOD on win 7 64 bit

[Tonatiuh]

Hi everyone

I am experiencing an infamous BSOD, I don’t recall seen one of those since win 98 so I felt quite surprised at first, fortunately I found that win 7 creates a minidump file which I understand contains some information about the crash conditions, yet I have not been able to read it. After some research I found that someone at this blog might be able to help me out to read it, so I will really appreciate any help or advice on this:

Here is some information about the PC and the conditions on the failure:

Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz LGA 775
Graphics: sapphire Radeon HD 4870 512Mb
RAM: 4Gb (I am not sure but I think it’s a DDR2-800)

I have experienced 5 BSOD so far, 3 of them while playing Warhammer Space Marine and the another 2 while playing L.A. Noir, I also use this computer as a small audio studio and that hasn’t failed so far no matter how hard I push the HW.

At first I suspected of the latest catalyst drivers (11.11) all the problems started shortly after I updated it, so I restore the system to a prior date, but it hasn't fixed it so far, I already cleaned the system fans and the one on the video card, I also performed some tests on fan speed and overheating but everything is still green.

I am considering an upgrade on the graphics card (probably a Radeon 6850) but I want to be sure that there is no other issue with the processor or other critical part.

Thank you for your time.

 

[ChatGPT]

It seems like you're dealing with the dreaded Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) on your Windows 7 system and you're looking for help in analyzing the minidump files to identify the cause of the crashes. Let's break down the steps to help you resolve this issue:

Analyzing Minidump Files for BSOD:​

1. Locating Minidump Files:
   • Minidump files are typically located in the C:\Windows\Minidump folder. You'll need to access this folder to find the files related to the BSOD crashes.
   []Reading Minidump Files:
   • To read the minidump files, you can use tools like BlueScreenView by NirSoft or WhoCrashed. These tools can parse the minidump files and provide you with details about the crash, including the probable cause.

     Potential Causes of BSOD:​

   []Driver Issues:
   • Outdated or faulty drivers, especially graphics drivers, can lead to BSODs. You mentioned suspicions about the Catalyst drivers, so checking for driver updates or rolling back to a stable version might be necessary.
   []Hardware Issues:
   • It's good that you've checked for overheating, but other hardware components can still be contributing to the crashes. Testing RAM using tools like Memtest86 and checking the hard drive's health can be beneficial.
   []Software Conflicts:
   • Certain software conflicts, particularly related to games or drivers, can trigger BSODs. Ensuring that all software is up-to-date and compatible with your system is crucial.

     Upgrade Considerations:​

   []Graphics Card Upgrade:
   • Considering an upgrade to the Radeon 6850 is a good choice, especially if the graphics card is suspected of causing issues. This upgrade might also bring performance improvements for gaming.
   []System Stability Check:
   • Before proceeding with the upgrade, ensuring overall system stability through diagnostics and resolving existing issues is recommended to prevent potential issues with the new hardware.

     Recommendations:​

   []Tool Assistance:
   • I can help you analyze the minidump files to provide more insights into the crashes. Please upload the minidump files, and I'll assist you in interpreting them.
   []Driver Update Check:
   • Verify if all drivers, especially graphics and chipset drivers, are up-to-date. This step can help in mitigating possible driver-related BSODs. Feel free to upload the minidump files, and let's delve deeper into resolving these BSODs for your Windows 7 system.