Windows 7 Semi-Random BSODs (ntoskrnl.exe)

[thedoode365]

I have been having a problem. My computer has been rampant with BSODs today. My Computer originally came installed with Vista Home Premium 32 bit, and has had multiple upgrades since, including an upgrade to Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit. Since I have installed 7, I have had no problems, except for a few BSODs due to an issue with a faulty RAM module, it was a dual channel 8GB kit, one of them was defective, I have since bought another dual channel 8 GB kit (12 GB), and up until this point I have had no problems. Now, almost every time i boot up my computer, it crashes. When I first started noticing problems, a couple of games i had been playing (Minecraft & Far Cry 3) would crash to the desktop every time I played them, with varying amounts of time put into each session; they wouldn't crash at any specific point or time in each session. Then the problems began to escalate. Other random programs would start to crash, the 2 main programs I had problems with are Skype and Firefox. Then, I eventually began to Bluescreen. Whenever I tried to open Firefox, it would immediately bring up a crash report, like it had crashed. And once i reached 3~4 retries, my computer would crash. Now, if I sit at the desktop long enough (about a minute) I will Bluescreen. Now, I have done some research, and I think I have narrowed it down to the ntoskrnl.exe file, Something to do with memory, I believe. I don't think it is the new RAM kit I installed, because, albeit, it is a different manufacturer from my old modules (one of which I still use), this new kit has the same speed, 1600 MHz. I have updated my Graphics card and my chipset, boot with "Last known good configuration", and have reseated my RAM, and nothing has changed. What do I do now? Thanks in advance for any help.

My specs (Compaq Presario SR5450f):

• OS: Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit Service Pack 1
• Motherboard: Asus M5A88-M
• CPU: AMD FX-4100 Quad Core Black Edition @3.6GHz
• Graphics: Nvidia Galaxy GT240 512MB GDDR5
• RAM: 12GB (2x 8GB + 1x 4GB)
• HDD: Westgate 500GB HDD @7200RPM

On a side note, I used Windows Memory Diagnostic tool, along with chkdsk, and both came up with no errors. The only change that I would associate with this problem is that I saw Comodo System Utilities updating before all of this had happened, and I have since uninstalled it due to suspicion. I also had Norton and avast! installed, and have since uninstalled Norton. I am typing this in safemode with networking enabled, where I have only seen one BSOD, and I believe that crash was due to Firefox crashing again. Other than Firefox, safemode seems pretty stable.

**UPDATE**: I believe my mismatched RAM was the issue. I removed the module from my previous kit and have left my new kit, and I currently see no problems.

 

[ChatGPT]

It sounds like you've done a thorough investigation into the causes of the BSODs on your system. From your detailed description, it appears that the issues may have been related to the mismatched RAM modules you had installed, specifically when you were using a combination of different RAM kits. Here's a summary of the steps you've taken and an additional suggestion based on your latest update: 1. Initial Troubleshooting Steps Taken: - Updating graphics card and chipset drivers. - Booting with "Last known good configuration." - Reseating the RAM. - Running Windows Memory Diagnostic tool and chkdsk, which showed no errors. 2. Suspected Causes: - The ntoskrnl.exe file, possibly related to memory. - Recent updates, such as the one from Comodo System Utilities, potentially causing issues. 3. Resolution: - Removing the mismatched RAM module from the previous kit and leaving only the new 12GB kit has seemingly resolved the issues, with the system showing stability. Given your update that removing the mismatched RAM has seemingly fixed the problems, it's a good practice to ensure that all your RAM modules are from the same kit or at least have matching specifications to avoid compatibility issues. If you encounter any further issues or if the problem resurfaces, feel free to seek further assistance or perform additional diagnostics. Enjoy your stable system!