Windows 7 Troubleshooting Random Freezes and BSODs on Windows 7 with Atheros Driver Issues

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Seren

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Hey,

I have been having some problems with my Windows 7 Professional x64 on an Asus N71Jq (bought 2 months ago or so). (with an Atheros AR9285, Driver 8.0.0.351, Running Symantec Endpoint Protection)
Like a month ago I encountered several random lockups/freezes where my screen freezes. Meaning I can't move the mouse/use keyboard. After that I had to do a hard-reboot.
After searching for a while I did 2 things after which it seemed to have been fixed:
Install new Atheros driver from windows update catalog
Install hotfix KB2265716

Then last week I had 2 BSOD's concerning athrx.sys (included in zip) after which I did an optional update for Broadcom - Bus controllers and ports - BT-270. Then had another freeze. restored windows till before the update, but unfortunately had another freeze. Decided to reinstall the hotfix, which seemed to work again, until like an hour ago.

All the freezes seem quite random, from watching an internet page to opening the configuration screen, so don't know what to do anymore..

I already ran memtest a months ago with no errors and obviously checked for virusses/malware.

Hope anyone can help,
Thanks in advance,
Seren
 

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T
Never update drivers through Windows Update nor the device manager.

100% of the time through manufacturers' websites.

The most important things for you to do right now are:

1) Visit the manufacturer's site of your wireless adapter. Download/install the latest driver from there.

2) Uninstall sptd.sys with the installer/uninstaller found here. Do not update with it - rather uninstall - there's a choice:

Link Removed

3) If issues persist, post new crash dumps so we can check em out.
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Hey, had another BSOD today, again with athrx.sys
Just uninstalled Symantec after it... and installed MSE.
Is there a chance there is a problem in Alt.Binz 0.31.6
Just noticed that during the BSOD's that program was downloading every time. Although it's on quite alot, so not sure if it can cause the problem (obviously downloading using the wireless card and therefor athrx.sys, so might be just the wireless use and not especially the program)

(minidump included again)
 

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Yep, wireless driver is bugging out. Great that you removed Norton (in safe mode with the tool I hope.) It is the very likely cause.

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Not causing crashes at all, but you would do well to update:

1) NEC USB 3.0 driver from motherboard website:


2) Realtek HD Audio:

RTKVHD64 RTKVHD64.sys Tue Apr 20 04:46:52 2010

Link Removed

3) AMD video driver:

atikmdag atikmdag.sys Tue Jul 06 21:37:28 2010

Link Removed
 
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Hey, thanks again,

I didn't do it in safemode to be honest, but did ran the removal tool, should I run that one again in safe mode to be sure it got rid of everything?

As for the NEC USB 3.0 driver, neither ASUS nor Intel have an update for it at the moment, can't find any on NEC's site itself, and none newer in microsoft update catalog,

anyway, will post again if it crashes again, but hopefully not

PS: as for the ASMMAP64.sys (/BAK), do you know what it does? besides the fact it has something to do with the F/Fn buttons. although there are 3 more pre-installed programs like it; ATK Hotkey; ATK Media & ATKOSD2 and all my hotkeys seem to work fine. I still wonder if it isn't doing something important which I just don't trigger (much) or if it can hurt to not have the driver, but still have the service, even though it isn't started.
 
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Yeah, ASUS has it. Find it on a different motherboard page from them if you need to. They're all the same driver for all boards. The latest is from April or even newer, of this year.

Yes, run the tool in safe mode to be sure it's all gone.
 
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Thanks, did find one now, although it isn't a NEC driver anymore, it changed the listing of the device to Renesas (or something), seems the 2 componies fused, and the driver name therefor changed.

As for ASMMAP64.sys. I usually have my touchpad turned off through Fn+F9, and it would stay off if I reboot the laptop. Now it doesn't do so anymore, so I guess the driver saves some settings like that.
 
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Update the Suyin Camera driver from this link:

sncduvc sncduvc.SYS Mon Dec 29 04:14:26 2008

Link Removed

Also from the link, update the Atheros lan driver:

L1C62x64 L1C62x64.sys Sun Dec 20 22:46:06 2009

According to the link, there is no Atheros wireless on your machine. Perhaps that's why the wireless is crashing on you. Try installing either the Intel or other wireless they have shown there.
 
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Hey, thanks for the quick reply,

I tried to install the webcam driver, but it didn't allow me to install it, after checking in devince manager it showed I have the following installed:

Version v5.8.54000.0

Description Azurewave Camera Driver
Azurewave Camera Driver for Win7
(which comes from the same link you gave me)

LAN driver is updated now...

I tried to install the intel wlan driver, but couldn't run the install file, then tried the azurewave ones, the following one worked:
Version V8.0.0.238
Description Azurewave Wireless Lan Driver and Application

I noticed that in device manager it still shows atheros AR9285, and that this azurewave driver also uses athrx.sys (from 2009 though: version 8.0.0.238).

So does this mean I actually don't have an atheros wlan card installed, but an azurewave one? and the fact it also uses an athrx.sys causes it to show up like atheros? So it looks like the driver updates while I was trying to fix the freezing issue before posting here got mixed up or so because device manager showed it was an atheros AR9285?


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Link Removed
Found this topic where the last post explains a little. It seems the cards asus uses are made by azurewave, but use the chipsets from atheros, which obviously causes device manager to see it as the atheros one I guess? Seems though that I need to check with azurewave for updates and not with atheros? (assuming using this newly installed azurewave driver solves the problem, which I think it will)
 
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Alright yeah, you have the Azurewave then. It uses the licensed driver from Atheros because it has their chip. Keep your fingers crossed, hopefully it will stay well now.

You're welcome.
 
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