Windows 7 Sony VAIO VPCF2290X random BSOD

[treaz]

Hi,

I find myself in front of a very hard problem... random BSOD. I've had it for a long time now (changing HDD or RAM did not help).

Specs:
win7 x64 home premium sp1
avg free edition 2014.0.4259
ZoneAlarm Free Firewall version: 11.0.780.000


The funny thing is that I get the BSOD when doing medium intensity activity (working on docs and browsing), I NEVER got the BSOD when playing games.

And, unfortunately, I don't know how to read the damn dump file (I've opened it with dumpchk, but I don't understand what exactly I should be looking for).

I've just had one BSOD tonight, I hope someone can figure it out.

 

[kemical]

Hi,
please read the thread found here and post the results:
Link Removed

 

[treaz]

Hi kemical,

I have no idea why the file did not get uploaded in the first place.
Thanks for your fast reply

 

[kemical]

*******************************************************************************
*                                                                             *
*                        Bugcheck Analysis                                    *
*                                                                             *
*******************************************************************************

Use !analyze -v to get detailed debugging information.

BugCheck C9, {23e, fffffa80081c32c0, fffff9800eed0e10, 0}

*** WARNING: Unable to verify timestamp for PxHlpa64.sys
*** ERROR: Module load completed but symbols could not be loaded for PxHlpa64.sys
Probably caused by : PxHlpa64.sys ( PxHlpa64+35dd )

Followup: MachineOwner

Hi,
the above file the dmp mentions is a CD/DVD driver belonging to one of these apps:

RecordNow!
ESSSONIC
Sonic RecordNow!/Sonic_PrimoSDK
Dell Media Experience
Pioneer RecordNow DX
Sonic MyDVD/RecordNow!/RecordNow DX/MyDVD Plus/PrimoSDK
Microsoft Plus! Digital Media/Digital Image Suite
Corel Photo Album
HP RecordNow/DigitalMedia Archive
IBM RecordNow!
Roxio Easy Media Creator/RecordNow Copy/Drag-to-Disc/Creator Basic v/Media Manager/CinePlayer
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom
Yahoo! Music Jukebox or Roxio
Napster Burn Engine
1CLICK DivxToDVD
OLYMPUS muvee theaterPack
by Sonic Solutions (www.sonic.com) or VERITAS Software, Inc (Link Removed).

If you own any of the above please uninstall to test.

BIOS Version: American Megatrends Inc. R1190V3, 05/09/2011: Update available please update:
http://esupport.sony.com/US/p/model...te_id=1&region_id=1&tab=download#/downloadTab
The above Bios update is specifically for shutdown issues amongst other things.

I checked your laptops website and you have several driver updates pending. Especially important is the USB3 drivers as the version you have is known for causing bsod. Please go through the drivers and update as necessary:
http://esupport.sony.com/US/p/model...te_id=1&region_id=1&tab=download#/downloadTab

SFEP.sys Fri Aug 03 06:35:53 2007: Sony Firmware Extension Parser driver - 2007 version has BSOD issues in Win7. Please update:
http://esupport.sony.com/perl/select-system.pl

sptd.sys Sat Mar 03 16:45:52 2012: SCSI Pass Through Direct Host - Daemon Tools (known BSOD issues with Win7). Please uninstall.

Please post any new dmp files after updating the above

 

[treaz]

Ok, let me try again. I've updated to win8.1 (same hardware configuration as before) and I still have these issues.

I'm quite sure this is not related to software, but I'd love to have that confirmed before I decide to throw away this laptop that costed me a fortune.

Edit: I realize now that this should be on a different forum. Should it be moved there (win8 bsod)?

Cheers.

 

[kemical]

*******************************************************************************
*                                                                             *
*                        Bugcheck Analysis                                    *
*                                                                             *
*******************************************************************************

Use !analyze -v to get detailed debugging information.

BugCheck 1E, {ffffffffc0000005, fffff8039aeb19c5, 0, 41}

Probably caused by : win32k.sys ( win32k!UserProcessDwmInput+168 )

Followup: MachineOwner

Hi,
win32k.sys can often appear when there is a hardware issue or fault with a process/driver.

BIOS Version: American Megatrends Inc. R1190V3, 05/09/2011: Update available please update:
http://esupport.sony.com/US/p/model...te_id=1&region_id=1&tab=download#/downloadTab
The above Bios update is specifically for shutdown issues amongst other things. Make sure I have the correct make/model.

Check your HDD for broken sectors:
Link Removed

Check your RAM. Run Memtest86 for at least a few passes:
http://www.memtest.org/

The more dump files I see the easier it is to diagnose your issue so send any new dump files.

 

[treaz]

Hi, another bsod, more dumps.

Regarding your previous comments:
There is no upgrade for my BIOS version unfortunately:
http://esupport.sony.com/US/p/model...te_id=1&region_id=1&tab=download#/downloadTab

HDD check was completely ok.

I'll run memtest86 tonight.

 

[kemical]

The Bios update is definitely there.. You have to look under windows 7:

File Description
UPDATE BIOS Update Utility
Release Date 7/19/2012
Version R1013H5File Size 5.69 MB

This utility updates the BIOS to version R1013H5 to resolve the following issues:

• A critical battery dialog box appears after restarting the computer that forces the computer to enter hibernation mode
• The computer intermittently does not charge the battery
• The computer may randomly shutdown

Let me know how the memtest scan goes..

 

[treaz]

The only problem is that the link that you are giving me is for VPCZ2290X and I have VPCF22290X.
When I'm trying to install that one I'm getting an error saying the computer model is not compatible with the update.

I forgot to start the scan last night I'll surely run this night.

 

[kemical]

Aah ok... Apologies for that and good job on spotting my mistake. The above dump file was same again:

*******************************************************************************
*                                                                             *
*                        Bugcheck Analysis                                    *
*                                                                             *
*******************************************************************************

Use !analyze -v to get detailed debugging information.

BugCheck 1E, {ffffffffc0000005, fffff8039aeb19c5, 0, 41}

Probably caused by : win32k.sys ( win32k!UserProcessDwmInput+168 )

Followup: MachineOwner

See how you go with the scan and post any new dump files.

 

[treaz]

Well, now, this doesn't look good. Does it?
I'm a bit ashamed that I didn't think of running memtest before. (i knew about it and ran it several times before).

I'm buying new memory now and will report back in a month from now (hopefully) with the results.

 

[kemical]

At least you now know the culprit. Good luck with the purchase.

 

[treaz]

Well, memory arrived today. I installed it and got my first crash after 3 hours
I'll be running memtest86 tonight on it.

Kemical, any clues?

 

[kemical]

*******************************************************************************
*                                                                             *
*                        Bugcheck Analysis                                    *
*                                                                             *
*******************************************************************************

Use !analyze -v to get detailed debugging information.

BugCheck 1E, {ffffffffc0000005, fffff8039aeb19c5, 0, 41}

Probably caused by : win32k.sys ( win32k!UserProcessDwmInput+168 )

Followup: MachineOwner

Hey,
unfortunately it's just the same. If you run memtest86 and see errors it might be the actual slot thats in error.

rimssne64.sys Thu Oct 21 02:33:06 2010: RICOH Memory Stick driver please update:
http://esupport.sony.com/US/p/model...te_id=1&region_id=1&tab=download#/downloadTab

Good luck with memtest run and post any new dump files.

 

[treaz]

Hi, after almost 12 hours of running memtest on 16gb (3 passes) there were no errors, so that excludes the RAM.

I've updated the RICOH Memory Stick driver to the latest version I could find on the website. (http://esupport.sony.com/US/p/swu-download.pl?mdl=VPCF2290X&upd_id=7887&os_group_id=24)

If you feel I need to submit more information or enable some debugging features on the laptop, let me know, I am knowledgeable about computers in general.

If it will crash again, I will put the dump files.

 

[kemical]

Hope all goes well but if not I'll be here..

 

[treaz]

So it happened again. What do we do next?

 

[treaz]

I'm productive today

 

[kemical]

*******************************************************************************
*                                                                             *
*                        Bugcheck Analysis                                    *
*                                                                             *
*******************************************************************************

Use !analyze -v to get detailed debugging information.

BugCheck 1E, {ffffffffc0000005, fffff8039aeb19c5, 0, 41}

Probably caused by : win32k.sys ( win32k!UserProcessDwmInput+168 )

Followup: MachineOwner

Same again.

HECIx64.sys Wed Oct 20 00:33:43 2010: Intel management please update:
Link Removed

If the bsod continues try removing all but one stick of RAM. Keep trying different sticks until one doesn't bsod. Also what is your actual RAM ? Manufacturer ect..

 

[treaz]

Attached picture with my new RAM specs.

Also installed the latest driver for Intel® Management Engine Interface from here: http://esupport.sony.com/US/p/swu-download.pl?mdl=VPCF2290X&upd_id=6625&os_group_id=6

I'm stopping the computer now to remove one of the memory sticks.