Blue Screening Like Crazy

[Caleb SF]

Over the past few months my computer has been Blue Screening relatively often. It usually happens when I'm closing/ opening a lot of applications at a time. (I have two monitors so you can imagine that most of it is for multitasking.) The most common and most annoying is when trying to get into a csgo match. It will start fine but once I join a game (mostly competative), while loading the map I will crash with a blue screen!

 

I'm almost certain it is the hard drive. This hard drive has been through three computers. I've kept it for so long because of the windows on it and game files. I keep trying to defrag and run virus scans, but they only help for a couple days before it starts again. On average I'll have maybe 1-2 blue screens a day. It keeps getting worse.

 

Any recommendations on what to do? I was thinking of buying a SSD for the Operating System but didn't know if i could transfer the OS onto it.

 

PC Specs:

https://pcpartpicker.com/b/HFPscf

[Sn4tchBandicoot]

Over the past few months my computer has been Blue Screening relatively often. It usually happens when I'm closing/ opening a lot of applications at a time. (I have two monitors so you can imagine that most of it is for multitasking.) The most common and most annoying is when trying to get into a csgo match. It will start fine but once I join a game (mostly competative), while loading the map I will crash with a blue screen!

 

I'm almost certain it is the hard drive. This hard drive has been through three computers. I've kept it for so long because of the windows on it and game files. I keep trying to defrag and run virus scans, but they only help for a couple days before it starts again. On average I'll have maybe 1-2 blue screens a day. It keeps getting worse.

 

Any recommendations on what to do? I was thinking of buying a SSD for the Operating System but didn't know if i could transfer the OS onto it.

 

PC Specs:

https://pcpartpicker.com/b/HFPscf

 

I have found that Blue screens are generally caused by hardware failure rather than viruses or spyware. Run a memtest and a disk test to make sure that they com back clean first then go from there.

[RossMadness]

I have found that Blue screens are generally caused by hardware failure rather than viruses or spyware. Run a memtest and a disk test to make sure that they com back clean first then go from there.

 

Good advice. I would also download Bluescreenview from Nirsoft and run that. It will show you what the Stop (BSOD) error code is and that can help speed the troubleshooting process along.

[Caleb SF]

Good advice. I would also download Bluescreenview from Nirsoft and run that. It will show you what the Stop (BSOD) error code is and that can help speed the troubleshooting process along.

the blue screenviewer isnt doing anything... I've crashed with it and nothing showed up for it.

[Caleb SF]

I have found that Blue screens are generally caused by hardware failure rather than viruses or spyware. Run a memtest and a disk test to make sure that they com back clean first then go from there.

Just had a BAD_POOL_HEADER blue screen, did a memtest and it came back with no problems, now what?

[stconquest]

Just had a BAD_POOL_HEADER blue screen, did a memtest and it came back with no problems, now what?

 

How many RAM sticks do you have?  Remove all but one... test...replace with one other.

 

By testing I mean try to make it crash.

[Caleb SF]

How many RAM sticks do you have?  Remove all but one... test...replace with one other.

 

By testing I mean try to make it crash.

I have 2x 8gb of RAM. I did the memtest and it came up nothing, so would there really be a point in taking each stick out seperately? Once again I believe it is the harddrive that is having issues. I'll try and blue screen again and see the error title but I don't think it is usually the BAD_POOL_HEADER.

[stconquest]

I have 2x 8gb of RAM. I did the memtest and it came up nothing, so would there really be a point in taking each stick out seperately? Once again I believe it is the harddrive that is having issues. I'll try and blue screen again and see the error title but I don't think it is usually the BAD_POOL_HEADER.

 

In my experience, memtest does NOT always catch errors in faulty RAM.  Physically testing each stick is much more effective.  I have run memtest with bad RAM modules and after dozens of passes it still fails to find the error.

 

What do you have to lose?  Take the sticks out, put one back in the first DIMM slot.  Do your normal computing and see if anything changes.

 

I just RMA'd my 2x8GB set last month, one stick started causing errors after 2.5 years of use.  I did not even run memtest, I have that little confidence in it.  I took them out, put one back in and viola... all the crashes and BSODs stopped.  I ran it for 24 hours (no crashes) then replaced it with the other.  2 minutes later, the crashes started again. 

 

Simple.

 

I did continue to test each of the four DIMM slots with the good RAM stick... for thoroughness.

[Caleb SF]

In my experience, memtest does NOT always catch errors in faulty RAM.  Physically testing each stick is much more effective.  I have run memtest with bad RAM modules and after dozens of passes it still fails to find the error.

 

What do you have to lose?  Take the sticks out, put one back in the first DIMM slot.  Do your normal computing and see if anything changes.

 

I just RMA'd my 2x8GB set last month, one stick started causing errors after 2.5 years of use.  I did not even run memtest, I have that little confidence in it.  I took them out, put one back in and viola... all the crashes and BSODs stopped.  I ran it for 24 hours (no crashes) then replaced it with the other.  2 minutes later, the crashes started again. 

 

Simple.

 

I did continue to test each of the four DIMM slots with the good RAM stick... for thoroughness.

I have no way to gaurentee the bluescreen, i havent had as many blue screens as when i posted this and ive changed nearly nothing.

[evilarceus]

Did your computer have no problems before the said "few months"?

[Caleb SF]

Did your computer have no problems before the said "few months"?

If i remember correctly I had blue screens on my previous rig (using the same harddrives as I do now). I didn't have them as often but I'm pretty sure I had them.

[evilarceus]

If i remember correctly I had blue screens on my previous rig (using the same harddrives as I do now). I didn't have them as often but I'm pretty sure I had them.

Yeah, might wanna reinstall Windows. Using the same hard drive through multiple rigs can cause problems. Just backup your files on a separate hard drive (if you have one) and install Windows on an SSD or something. I do not believe you can transfer your OS to your SSD (correct me if I'm wrong) so you'll need to reinstall Windows on there.

[stconquest]

Yeah, might wanna reinstall Windows. Using the same hard drive through multiple rigs can cause problems. Just backup your files on a separate hard drive (if you have one) and install Windows on an SSD or something. I do not believe you can transfer your OS to your SSD (correct me if I'm wrong) so you'll need to reinstall Windows on there.

 

Pfff, Windows install to SSD is like 5 minutes.  The backing up of files can take time, but not really needed as you can just access the drive later to clean it up.

[evilarceus]

Pfff, Windows install to SSD is like 5 minutes.  The backing up of files can take time, but not really needed as you can just access the drive later to clean it up.

I never said it takes a long time to install Windows on an SSD. Hell, I can install it on a 5400 rpm hard drive in 7 minutes.

[stconquest]

I never said it takes a long time to install Windows on an SSD. Hell, I can install it on a 5400 rpm hard drive in 7 minutes.

 

I did not imply that you did.

 

I was merely saying that a fresh install is a good idea and not very time consuming.  It eliminates potential software problems that might be causing instability.

 

I remember my 7200 RPM drives doing win7 64 in about 12 min... why you so fast???

[evilarceus]

I did not imply that you did.

 

I was merely saying that a fresh install is a good idea and not very time consuming.  It eliminates potential software problems that might be causing instability.

 

I remember my 7200 RPM drives doing win7 64 in about 12 min... why you so fast???

Idk lol, it is a horrible computer too (Intel Core i3 380m)