Solved Various BSOD errors every hour or so

Hey guys!

I'm using a 6 years old MSI GX620 notebook with 32bit Windows 8.1 Pro.

For the last 2 days, I'm getting constant BSODs. There are multiple error codes:

KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED (the most common)
NTFS_FILE_SYSTEM (NTFS.SYS)
DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL

The error first occured while I was watching a movie, now it can occur at any time. Additionally, I got 2 more freezes without BSOD: one while loading my Warcraft III save, and another while checking my emails (this one made everything freeze, the computer didn't respond to mouse and keyboard, ctrl+alt+del, nothing.

Chrome tabs also tend to die randomly (usually Facebook).

What I've tried so far:

1. Refresh drivers. This wasn't an easy task, because my system crashed while downloading a driver. I installed what I could in Safe Mode with Network, and what I couldn't, I managed to install normally.

2. Perform a GPU test with FurMark. The test ran at a very low framerate, but I but there wasn't any distortions. I ran the test for a good 10 minutes, when the temp stagnated at 93 degrees Celsius. I'll try it later with lower res or something, so it can run smoother.

3. Use Verifier. Oh boy. It crashed instantly on startup, multiple times, I couldn't even log in. I managed to boot into Safe Mode to write this post.

Next stop will be Memtest86, but I'm 99% sure that a driver is causing the issue (the instant crashes with Verifier make me believe this).

I attached the dump files, I'll update them as they happen (not every BSOD produced a dump file, sadly).

I tend to get stupid, so I don't have any System restore points, for some reason I didn't enable it. I also don't have an install disk. (Long story short, kind of off-topic: my original HDD died 2 years ago, I had to replace it. The mechanic lent me his copy of Win8, which I activated with my own key which I got from Dreamspark Premium, the benefits of studying IT. Again, me being dumb, I didn't download a copy instantly from Dreamspark. I tried to, this spring, but my cheap-ass of a university stopped paying for the premium account, and the key vanished from my inventory. Great. I tried to kindly ask the Dreamspark support staff to give me access to my code, but meanwhile I graduated so uni e-mail got terminated and now I can't even verify my account.)

EDIT: Uploaded the DM Log collector file.

EDIT#2: I can't run memtest, since I cannot boot from USB. There is simply no option. BIOS doesn't let me change the device priority ("View mode only"). I don't have Secure Boot, only Quick Boot, which I have disabled. I don't have a UEFI Firmware Options button in the Advanced Options UI. Any ideas? My Windows wasn't preinstalled, I did a clean install when I bought the current HDD.

axe0 said:

BSOD Posting Instructions

Click to expand...

Updated as per request, could you take a look?

Please boot into safe mode for a couple of hours to see if the crashes persist
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2757-safe-mode-start-windows-8-a.html

Some dumps are pointing to the hardware which might be ruled out with safe mode.

axe0 said:

Please boot into safe mode for a couple of hours to see if the crashes persist
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2757-safe-mode-start-windows-8-a.html

Some dumps are pointing to the hardware which might be ruled out with safe mode.

Code:

Probably caused by : memory_corruption

Code:

DEBUG_FLR_IMAGE_TIMESTAMP:  0

IMAGE_VERSION:  6.3.9600.17550

[COLOR=#FF0000]MODULE_NAME: hardware

IMAGE_NAME:  hardware[/COLOR]

FAILURE_BUCKET_ID:  IP_MISALIGNED

BUCKET_ID:  IP_MISALIGNED

Click to expand...

I'm using it in Safe Mode every evening for 2-3 hours. There are usually no problems in Windows, sometimes Chrome tabs (again, especially Facebook) die though (you know, the Aw, snap! page). Additionally, I can watch movies in normal mode. Today it was running during the day in normal mode (scheduled maintenance was running), and it was stipp operating when I got home. But as soon as I do something internet-related, or open up a game, it can crash any second. In Safe Mode, I can browse just fine. I attached an updated Log collector file below.

Definitely the GPU, but it isn't clear if it is the GPU itself or the drivers.

I would disable the faulty GPU and notify the manufacturer to find out what it is.

axe0 said:

Definitely the GPU, but it isn't clear if it is the GPU itself or the drivers.

I would disable the faulty GPU and notify the manufacturer to find out what it is.

Click to expand...

Well, before I try that, something came to my mind. I went through all drivers on the manufacturer's site again, and noticed that I missed one: the WLAN driver. The Win7 version didn't start, so I searched for Windows 8, and Intel stated that this model is not supported in Windows 8/8.1 (Intel WiFi Link 5100 series). So I basically don't have any WLAN driver right now. Could it be at fault? I'm using WiFi even now, by the way.

Also, the tool you linked - does it have a free trial?

Please get your drivers from your manufacturer MSI, other drivers won't work properly.
Manufacturers alter their drivers which makes that you are forced to install their drivers for normal functionality.

I gave 2 links, both are 'how to' tutorials and everything is 100% free. My question is what tool you mean that isn't free?

Wow. I opened the forum in IE (no adblock...), and there was a link to a site (TweakBit Driver Update), like it was a legit comment. Since it asked for activation, it seemed fishy as hell, so I didn't do anything with it. After I asked that question, I searched for reviews and I'm glad that I didn't do anything about it., since it's a scam. I thought this forum was safer than this...

Back to the topic, I can't install my manufacturer's WLAN driver, since it's only for XP/Vista/7. Neither of the installers launches on 8.
And about notifying the manufacturer...The machine is 6 years old, their newest driver is from 2011, lol. I doubt they can do anything about it.

What exactly is the reason for upgrading to Windows 8.1?

Have you tried instaling in Windows 7 compatibility?

I honestly am kinda surprised your laptop is still working after 6 years.

axe0 said:

What exactly is the reason for upgrading to Windows 8.1?

Click to expand...

Curiosity? Plus the repairman suggested it when my HDD died. I didn't think about driver compatibility at the time, since the transition between Vista and 7 was pretty smooth, I assumed it would be the same (it kind of was, since I had no problems for 2 years, and even now it's probably not compatibility-related).

Have you tried instaling in Windows 7 compatibility?

Click to expand...

Yes, it resulted in the same message. Sometimes you just can't trick the system.

I honestly am kinda surprised your laptop is still working after 6 years.

Click to expand...

Me too, it really is a terrible piece of engineering. But the components are/were good, so it held out.


Anyway, I'll upload one final collector file, but now I'm 90% sure it's hardware related. Now I get BSOD even in Safe Mode. Sometimes it takes 4 or 5 times to boot properly. I don't think it's the GPU because FurMark runs without problems, I think it's the MOBO just because there are just so many messages. It might be RAM. I'll start testing the components next week or so, when I'll have more time. Is there a way to test RAM in Windows?

Here's the list of BSODs I got:
KMOD_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED
KMOD_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED (tcpip.sys)
KMOD_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED (npfs.sys)
KMOD_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED (rdyboost.sys)
KMOD_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED (win32k.sys)
NTFS_FILE_SYSTEM (ntfs.sys)
DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL
IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL
PAGE_FAULT_IN_NON_PAGED_AREA
ATTEMPTED_WRITE_TO_READ_ONLY_MEMORY
(there might have been even more)

And I have one final concern. Is it possible that a virus can cause these? I just want to eliminate this possibility. Windows Defender and Malwarebytes didn't find anything, but you can never be too sure. Maybe I'm being too careful, but I don't buy anything online or log into my bank account for now. I'd like to however (especially on Black Friday), so I'm interested in your opinion about this.

Finally, I'd like to thank you for your help. I think we did everything we could at this point. I'll close the thread after a bit of hardware-testing.

Lets just rule out Malware as far as possible.
I haven't yet looked at the files, will do that tomorrow.

Please scan your system with Adwcleaner, Kaspersky TTDSKiller, ESET Online Scanner and SuperAntiSpyware

Please boot into the boot options, choose Diagnostics Tests and let it run.
Prefered as extensive as possible.

Turns out it WAS the GPU after all. It's disabled now, and the system runs fine. Thank you again!