PC randomly restarts - no error detected on event viewer

[jw71291]

Hi everyone

 

For the last few weeks I've had an issue where my PC suddenly restarts. I've tried looking for clues in event viewer but all I can find are the following:

 

The system has rebooted without cleanly shutting down first. This error could be caused if the system stopped responding, crashed, or lost power unexpectedly.

 

Spoiler

 

A TCG Command has returned an error.
Desc: AuthenticateSession
Param1: 0x1
Param2: 0x60000001C
Param3: 0x900000006
Param4: 0x0
Status: 0x12

 

The previous system shutdown at 15:00:36 on ‎19/‎02/‎2021 was unexpected.

 

svchost (14244,R,98) TILEREPOSITORYS-1-5-18: Error -1023 (0xfffffc01) occurred while opening logfile C:\WINDOWS\system32\config\systemprofile\AppData\Local\TileDataLayer\Database\EDB.log.

 

 

 

 

I'm on windows 10 - 64bit version 1909

Have 16gb of ram. AMD Ryzen 7 2700x process. GTX 2070 Nvidia. PSU is Corsair TX850M 850 watts. 

The BIOS is outdated 08/08/2018 though am reluctant to update as I'm not too sure how to. Though I can if it's advised.

 

Each time it restarted I was doing something different. Today I was playing a game, yesterday I was on a Zoom call and the time before that it was idle on the desktop. 

 

I tried using the free version of WhoCrashed which summarised the following:

Spoiler

On Mon 05/08/2019 13:49:36 your computer crashed or a problem was reported
crash dump file: C:\WINDOWS\LiveKernelReports\PoW32kWatchdog-20190805-0402.dmp
This was probably caused by the following module: ntkrnlmp.exe (nt!WheaConfigureErrorSource+0x5B2E)
Bugcheck code: 0x1A1 (0xFFFFA384C0D7B040, 0x0, 0x0, 0x0)
Error: CUSTOM_ERROR

The crash took place in the Windows kernel. Possibly this problem is caused by another driver that cannot be identified at this time.

 

Though what's interesting is that the time my PC restarted was in fact 15:15, not 13:49. 

 

At this point I'm wondering if this is a hardward issue. Maybe the PSU? I have it plugged into a surge protected extension, but none of the other electronics plugged in have this issue. 

 

If there's anything else I can add, please let me know and thank you in advance.

 

 

 

[Dedayog]

Surge protector isn't an issue, I'd say your PSU is failing if I had to guess.  It can be other things, like a GPU, but you're not consistently under load which leads me to rule that out for now.

 

Can you get another PSU to test the system?

[jw71291]

10 minutes ago, Dedayog said:

Surge protector isn't an issue, I'd say your PSU is failing if I had to guess.  It can be other things, like a GPU, but you're not consistently under load which leads me to rule that out for now.

 

Can you get another PSU to test the system?

Thanks for the reply. That's where I'm leaning towards. I don't have a spare PSU sadly but mine is still under warranty so maybe worth requesting a replacement from Corsair. 

 

Is there anywhere else I can find information as to why it's crashing other than event viewer? That's the frustrating part, not knowing quite why this is happening.

[jw71291]

So it just restarted again. Again I was idle. I forgot to mention that there's a pattern to it as well. It appears to always happen in the afternoon, I work from home so it is on a lot, never had a problem in the day or night. It also appears to always restart twice in the day, with each event being within an hour of each other. 

 

Perhaps formatting and reinstalling W10?

 

EDIT: So doing a bit more digging on event viewer, a pattern in the error just before it restarts is:

 

A TCG Command has returned an error.
Desc: AuthenticateSession
Param1: 0x1
Param2: 0x60000001C
Param3: 0x900000006
Param4: 0x0
Status: 0x12

 

I've checked over 3 restart events and this is the error that has preceeded it each time.

[Dedayog]

Are you using a VPN or remote desktop session when working form home during the day?

 

 

[jw71291]

I have one installed, Citrix Gateway, though I don't use it. Should I uninstall?

 

There is of course Express VPN. Though neither are open or active when the PC restarts.

[Dedayog]

The "AuthenitcateSession" sounds like a connection problem, but I don't have much experience with VPN or remote desktops.  Hopefully someone else can help, to see if that can cause a reboot or is just coincidence.

 

I'd uninstall anything you don't use, as a general rule tho.

 

Possibly reinstall Windows to get everything clean and rule out software.

[jw71291]

Thanks, I think I'm going to format and reinstall my PC tomorrow. It's long overdue anyway. I'll update this post if anything changes or if the problem still occurs after a reinstall.

[jw71291]

Just to update. I purchased an NVMe and formatted my PC. The SSD is now backup storage and touch wood my PC has been fine since. The TCG error seems to be specific to Crucial and what's interesting is that the error only appears on event viewer when I'm actively using the drive. I suspect now that Windows isn't installed on it however that it's fine. 

 

Can't say for sure if the TCG was the issue but it was the consistent error that showed up just before my PC shutdown. I didn't use my SSD at all today and no error has showed up and my PC hasn't switched off despite being on since 9am. 

 

No solution to fixing it appears to be found so I'm just keeping away from Crucial for now.

[jw71291]

Okay, sadly last night and today it did the same exact thing. I can rule out Windows as I formatted it and the harddrive as I installed a new one and took out the old. Still no errors on event viewer and no minidump exists. I made sure to switch off the option of the PC automatically resetting and instead to show BSOD but nothing.

 

I'm now convinced this is another hardware issue. I'm running Memtest86 at the moment, currently it passed the first 13 tests but am going to let it do it 4 times just to be sure. Am I right in thinking it also tests the CPU too? If so, is there anything recommended to test the graphics card or PSU?

[Dedayog]

7 minutes ago, jw71291 said:

Okay, sadly last night and today it did the same exact thing. I can rule out Windows as I formatted it and the harddrive as I installed a new one and took out the old. Still no errors on event viewer and no minidump exists. I made sure to switch off the option of the PC automatically resetting and instead to show BSOD but nothing.

 

I'm now convinced this is another hardware issue. I'm running Memtest86 at the moment, currently it passed the first 13 tests but am going to let it do it 4 times just to be sure. Am I right in thinking it also tests the CPU too? If so, is there anything recommended to test the graphics card or PSU?

CPU failings are exceedingly rare.  I'd look at the PSU but have you updated that BIOS yet?  I know you are reluctant but it needs to be done to rule out any fixes contained in more recent BIOS's.

 

IT's easy, just follow the instructions on the manufacturer's page.

[jw71291]

Just now, Dedayog said:

CPU failings are exceedingly rare.  I'd look at the PSU but have you updated that BIOS yet?  I know you are reluctant but it needs to be done to rule out any fixes contained in more recent BIOS's.

 

IT's easy, just follow the instructions on the manufacturer's page.

I haven't yet, but once the memtest is over I will be sure to do so. Nothing to lose at this point. I'm leaning back towards the PSU. Because if it were the graphics card, would there not be graphical issues displayed on the screen? I don't know how it works, so far the ram is looking good. If it were the CPU then my guess is that the PC wouldn't run at all right?

[Dedayog]

2 minutes ago, jw71291 said:

I haven't yet, but once the memtest is over I will be sure to do so. Nothing to lose at this point. I'm leaning back towards the PSU. Because if it were the graphics card, would there not be graphical issues displayed on the screen? I don't know how it works, so far the ram is looking good. If it were the CPU then my guess is that the PC wouldn't run at all right?

Pretty much right about the CPU.  But for the GPU, and why I mentioned it above... The GPU can act in various ways, artifacting as you say can happen of course, but if for example the GPU has a voltage module failure then under load it will try to pull outside of parameters for the PSU, causing it to trip protections and reboot.

 

Hopefully I explained that right.  It's similar how breakers trip in your house.

 

 

[jw71291]

Yeah that makes sense. Is there a software I can use to test the graphics card or even the PSU? RTX 2070 isn't the cheapest as you know haha.

[Dedayog]

3 minutes ago, jw71291 said:

Yeah that makes sense. Is there a software I can use to test the graphics card or even the PSU? RTX 2070 isn't the cheapest as you know haha.

When mine went bad, it was consistently crashing in Ark: Survival Evolved.

 

I was hoping we could duplicate your crashing and a pattern would emerge.  But yours seems to crash when idle and under load.  This leads me to believe it's the PSU.

 

No software I know can test them for stability.  GPU tests are more for FPS performance.  And not a big deal since you crash at idle too.

 

I'd grab a new PSU (any with enough wattage) and test it.  Return it after if you want.

 

But at this point, a $100 PSU is less than the frustration you're feeling I bet.  

[jw71291]

Yeah good point. I'll let the memtest finish. Update the bios and look into a new PSU and will update in a day or so. Thanks! 

 

I did try a game out and there were no FPS concerns, 30-60 FPS throughout on ultra settings 4K.

[Dedayog]

2 minutes ago, jw71291 said:

Yeah good point. I'll let the memtest finish. Update the bios and look into a new PSU and will update in a day or so. Thanks! 

 

I did try a game out and there were no FPS concerns, 30-60 FPS throughout on ultra settings 4K.

Also, your current PSU should be under warranty?

[jw71291]

19 minutes ago, Dedayog said:

Also, your current PSU should be under warranty?

Yes, in the process of contacting Corsair and just purchased a new PSU to test out. 

[Mark Kaine]

IF you ever update BIOS make sure it actually supports your cpu, newest BIOS might not, or not fully. 

 

 

PS: sure you can try another PSU, but I doubt that's it, sounds more like software issue, *maybe* RAM. 

[Dedayog]

1 hour ago, jw71291 said:

Okay, sadly last night and today it did the same exact thing. I can rule out Windows as I formatted it and the harddrive as I installed a new one and took out the old. Still no errors on event viewer and no minidump exists. I made sure to switch off the option of the PC automatically resetting and instead to show BSOD but nothing.

 

I'm now convinced this is another hardware issue. I'm running Memtest86 at the moment, currently it passed the first 13 tests but am going to let it do it 4 times just to be sure. Am I right in thinking it also tests the CPU too? If so, is there anything recommended to test the graphics card or PSU?

 

8 minutes ago, Mark Kaine said:

IF you ever update BIOS make sure it actually supports your cpu, newest BIOS might not, or not fully. 

 

 

PS: sure you can try another PSU, but I doubt that's it, sounds more like software issue, *maybe* RAM. 

I thought possibly software too but he says he has a clean Windows install now.  

[Mark Kaine]

Just now, Dedayog said:

 

I thought possibly software too but he says he has a clean Windows install now.  

right, but no BIOS Update seemingly? I'd really try that, and then run with default BIOS settings for a bit before replacing the PSU.

[jw71291]

25 minutes ago, Mark Kaine said:

right, but no BIOS Update seemingly? I'd really try that, and then run with default BIOS settings for a bit before replacing the PSU.

Possibly. I think the ram is good. Currently on pass 3 test 9 and not a single error so far. 

 

Once it's finished I'm going to try updating the bios. The PSU is coming tomorrow so can just return it if needed. Interesting that it might be the bios as it's been fine as is all this time.

[jw71291]

Just updated my bios. So will see how it goes. 

[jw71291]

Restarted again even with an updated bios.

[Dedayog]

3 minutes ago, jw71291 said:

Restarted again even with an updated bios.

Okay, so that's ruled out.  PSU update next.

 

Welcome to trial and error and the scientific method of testing