Question BSOD/freezes or App crashing occur when playing game

[PE061]

Hello everyone,

I read other threads related to the similar issue I am having, but unsuccessfully.

I built my own PC a few years ago for the first time, and it works fine unless I play a game (and the only game I play is The Sims 4).

Almost each and every time I play, I either experience (in order of frequency):

• PC freezing, to the point that I have to manually reboot
• BSOD but not always the same one and, checking WhoCrashed, mostly "ntoskrnl.exe" related
• AppCrash (i.e. the game itself crashes)

This is my PC config:

OS: Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
BIOS: 12/04/15 20:19:28 Ver: 04.06.05 (type: BIOS)
Processor: AMD FX-8320E Eight-Core Processor (8 CPUs), ~3.2GHz
Memory: 16384MB RAM DDR3 (dual channel)
Available OS Memory: 16338MB RAM
Page File: 3369MB used, 15906MB available
Motherboard: ASRock 970A-G/3.1
VideoCard name: 2048 MBATI AMD Radeon R7 360 Series (Sapphire/PCPartner)
HDD: 465GB Seagate ST3500413AS ATA Device (SATA)
931GB Western Digital WD Elements 1042 USB Device (USB (SATA)
Audio: Realtek High Definition Audio
PSU: Thermaltake 530W modular

For the record, I don't have 3rd party antivirus

And this what I already tried to find a solution:

• sfc /scannow: no integrity violations
• chkdsk: no errors
• DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
• Windows clean boot
• Checked RAMs, with both Windows diagnostic tool and MemTest86, and both didn't show any error
• Updated Windows (Windows updates are always enabled by the way)
• Updated GPU drivers
• Uninstalled GPU driver with DDU.exe and reinstalled. It was even worse, hence I uninstall it again with DDU.exe
• Checked both Reliability Monitor and Event Viewer. When the PC freezes, Reliability Monitor doesn't show anything helpful, while the Event Viewer shows the error ID 6008 "The previous system shutdown at __ on ‎__ was unexpected " 30/40 minutes before the freeze occurs, but at the same time of the error I am still actually playing.

Other attemps I made, game related: repaired the game, updated the game, removed and replaced the Mods folder by folder, played in a clean user data folder. But I honestly don't think the game is the original cause of the issue by now.

This is the link to the last 5 minidumps: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1ToDnE9-kc2m2eZRFuBoSCESpZHMRTkAe

The only thing I have yet to try is a BIOS update, because it scares me and because I am using my PC for working remotely, hence I am afraid that if something bad happens I have no other way to work (my country is in lockdown due to COVID-19).

I also started to think that maybe could be my PSU? But just because I am running out of ideas.

Thanks so much in advance for any help provided.

 

[PE061]

Ok @Colif, thank you so much for the suggestions you gave me so far.
In any case I just realized that, even though SysNative didn't save a zip file, I can see the folder SysnativeFileCollectionApp in my docs and all the files SysNative generated. If I manually zip the folder and attach it here, would that be the same (or similar, at least)?

 

[Colif]

Worth a try

 

[PE061]

Here it is!

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1gICmFTZEm9rqrydi1yKPuc3CaGhYJQ9w

 

[gardenman]

Here's 5 of the previous dump files (from the SysnativeFileCollectionApp) that I think I we've missed. Full results here: https://tunableapple.htmlpasta.com/

Spoiler

File information:	050820-46421-01.dmp (May 8 2020 - 04:55:29)
Bugcheck:	IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL (A)
Probably caused by:	memory_corruption (Process: System)
Uptime:	0 Day(s), 0 Hour(s), 51 Min(s), and 35 Sec(s)

File information:	050720-44687-01.dmp (May 7 2020 - 11:21:40)
Bugcheck:	UNEXPECTED_KERNEL_MODE_TRAP_M (1000007F)
Probably caused by:	memory_corruption (Process: The Universim.)
Uptime:	0 Day(s), 1 Hour(s), 58 Min(s), and 10 Sec(s)

File information:	050720-44296-01.dmp (May 7 2020 - 12:34:49)
Bugcheck:	IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL (A)
Probably caused by:	ntkrnlmp.exe (Process: The Universim.)
Uptime:	0 Day(s), 1 Hour(s), 12 Min(s), and 31 Sec(s)

File information:	043020-54593-01.dmp (Apr 30 2020 - 10:06:19)
Bugcheck:	IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL (A)
Driver warnings:	*** WARNING: Unable to verify timestamp for atikmpag.sys
Probably caused by:	dxgmms2.sys (Process: System)
Uptime:	0 Day(s), 21 Hour(s), 17 Min(s), and 27 Sec(s)

File information:	042320-55015-01.dmp (Apr 23 2020 - 05:47:26)
Bugcheck:	IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL (A)
Probably caused by:	memory_corruption (Process: TS4_x64.exe)
Uptime:	0 Day(s), 3 Hour(s), 25 Min(s), and 14 Sec(s)

I see one obvious crash from the video card driver.

I'm sure Colif will look though some of the other files in the SysnativeFileCollectionApp file.

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[Colif]

nice to have an obvious one. rest could all be gpu drivers too, I can't tell.

the sysnative report was not overly helpful, I see you installed https://www.nirsoft.net/utils/application_crash_report.html cause it crashed as well. 90% of the report mentions universim crashing.

i think we need to check that gpu in another PC and see if it has same behaviour.

 

[PE061]

Thank you @gardenman and @Colif.
Unfortunately, I have no chance to test the GPU in another PC... is there any other way I can test it?
While searching for more diagnostic tools, I run into GSmartControl, to furtherly check the state of my HDD as well. I run the test and even though it passed the basic health check, the tool found out an "End-to-end Error", which apparently "indicates discrepancy of data between the host and the drive cache" with the following warning: "the drive has a failing old-age attribute. Usually this indicates a wear-out. You should consider replacing the drive."
Now, my previous tests on the HDD didn't show any error... do you gyus think this tool is reliable? And if so, it may be the cause of what is happening?

 

[Colif]

Did i ever get you to run https://www.seagate.com/au/en/support/downloads/seatools/seatools-win-master/ as that would be who i believe first, although taking multiple tests isn't a bad thing.

Gsmart just takes the values of SMART and displays them . https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S.M.A.R.T. All modern drives support the scores, though each maker has different ways they score drives, some count down, other count up

it could be cause, unusual but I have seen weirder answers

 

[PE061]

I will run the Seagate test, thanks for the suggestion @Colif .

Meanwhile, something new happened: for the first time I experienced a BSOD, and then a freeze, while simply navigating internet, hence I was NOT playing... which is even more worrisome, I guess.
This is the latest minidump: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1GmTQKGipE9Tklev_rdMUt_WJhOEHxtUq

 

[gardenman]

I ran the dump file through the debugger and got the following information: https://brashiercake.htmlpasta.com/

File information:	051320-59390-01.dmp (May 13 2020 - 12:37:42)
Bugcheck:	KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED (1E)
Probably caused by:	ntkrnlmp.exe (Process: CyberGhost.exe)
Uptime:	2 Day(s), 1 Hour(s), 31 Min(s), and 09 Sec(s)

This information can be used by others to help you. Someone else will post with more information. Please wait for additional answers. Good luck.

 

[Colif]

wish i could tell you something. Since it crashed a VPN I would normally guess LAN and i have been getting a rash of lan drivers causing BSOD this week, so maybe

May 28 2019

rtwlanu.sys

Realtek WLAN USB NDIS Driver

Feb 12 2020

rt640x64.sys

Realtek NICDRV 8169 PCIe GBE Family Controller driver

are you wireless or wired?
the wired link is here - https://www.realtek.com/en/componen...0-1000m-gigabit-ethernet-pci-express-software
need to find the other - what adapter do you have?

 

[PE061]

wish i could tell you something. Since it crashed a VPN I would normally guess LAN and i have been getting a rash of lan drivers causing BSOD this week, so maybe

May 28 2019

rtwlanu.sys

Realtek WLAN USB NDIS Driver

Feb 12 2020

rt640x64.sys

Realtek NICDRV 8169 PCIe GBE Family Controller driver

are you wireless or wired?
the wired link is here - https://www.realtek.com/en/componen...0-1000m-gigabit-ethernet-pci-express-software
need to find the other - what adapter do you have?

My wifi adapter is TP-Link Archer T3U.

Meanwhile, I run the tests with the Seagate diagnostic tool. I run them all except for the repairing one and the Advanced Test (because a warning showed up that it could ruin the HDD itself). Hence, it checked SMART, the unity fast test, and both the fast and the the full generic tests. They were all succesful. I guess it means the HDD is still in ok condition?
Is there any other way I can test the GPU?

 

[PE061]

Yesterday I experienced another random freeze (no BSOD) and the only software working was Firefox. Yes, ther were something like 10 tabs open, but still.
I am really running out of ideas.
Do you guys think that upgrading my hardware (GPU, PSU, maybe a SSD instead of HDD) could change/improve the current situation?

 

[Colif]

Firefox could be lan drivers again

http://en.techinfodepot.shoutwiki.com/wiki/TP-LINK_Archer_T3U
Chipset: Realtek RTL8812BU;RTL8812BU, H6E89P4, GH28;
interesting, your driver is newer than the date on this - https://www.realtek.com/en/component/zoo/category/rtl8812bu-software

and newer than this one - https://www.tp-link.com/au/support/download/archer-t3u/#Driver

which makes me wonder... how?
it doesn't appear to be on the windows update catalog. Have you ever run any 3rd party driver updaters?

Graphics card. Only way to "test" them is run benchmarks and see if you get BSOD. Don't run these at same time
https://geeks3d.com/furmark/

https://benchmark.unigine.com/heaven

Upgrades only help if you lucky and get the part causing problem. I would find problem before upgrading as otherwise it will just come along for ride. Same thing happens when upgrading windows

ssd instead of hdd ALWAYS improves things

 

[PE061]

Firefox could be lan drivers again

http://en.techinfodepot.shoutwiki.com/wiki/TP-LINK_Archer_T3U
Chipset: Realtek RTL8812BU;RTL8812BU, H6E89P4, GH28;
interesting, your driver is newer than the date on this - https://www.realtek.com/en/component/zoo/category/rtl8812bu-software

and newer than this one - https://www.tp-link.com/au/support/download/archer-t3u/#Driver

which makes me wonder... how?
it doesn't appear to be on the windows update catalog. Have you ever run any 3rd party driver updaters?

Actually yes... Driver Booster. It was a bad idea, right?

Upgrades only help if you lucky and get the part causing problem. I would find problem before upgrading as otherwise it will just come along for ride. Same thing happens when upgrading windows

ssd instead of hdd ALWAYS improves things

So, SSD will definitely take the place of my current HDD in the future!

As for GPU and/or PSU, I guess you're right: unless I am 100% sure one or the two is causing the issue, upgrading them it doesnìt make a lot of sense.

Meanwhile, I will test the GPU and will give an update. Thank you @Colif!

 

[Colif]

I would uninstall the Wifi drivers and use either the ones on realtek site or TP Links.

Problem with 3rd party driver updaters is they get it wrong sometimes and can mess things up. I have used driver booster, it installed the wrong sound drivers on PC and I lost it all. The only upside to program is it creates a system restore point before installing any drivers and so i could roll back. I now advise people to avoid them.

Fixing lan driver could make other problems go away too.

 

[PE061]

Ok, so I uninstalled the previous WiFi drivers and installed the TP Links ones.

I also run both tests for GPU.

1) Heaven Benchmark: I first run the benchmark test, with no issues. Then I enabled the tassellation test and, after awhile, a BSOD occured: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1x8x-EZJWY-OUZzJZH97Ec57sOli53JvY
I subsequently run again the benchmark + tassellation enabled and the test ended with no apparent issues. The results are the following:

Unigine Heaven Benchmark 4.0

FPS:	59.0
Score:	1485
Min FPS:	14.4
Max FPS:	113.6

System

Platform:	Windows NT 6.2 (build 9200) 64bit
CPU model:	AMD FX-8320E Eight-Core Processor (3214MHz) x4
GPU model:	AMD Radeon (TM) R7 360 Series 26.20.15029.15007 (2048MB) x1

Settings

Render:	Direct3D11
Mode:	1280x720 fullscreen
Preset	Custom
Quality	High
Stereo	Interlaced
Tessellation:	Moderate

2) Funmark: I let it run for awhile. No BSOD occured.
I made a screenshot of the test running: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1ba2_RfMIKpVOxXlK8XzcfsXjxUUsDujM

What do you think?

EDIT: Another BSOD while I was simply on Google Chrome, trying to open a link in a new tab by right-clicking on it: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1rg9B24U5ocaKmpG_rTKsMusWIJPhZluE
And after awhile another one, but according to BSOD this time caused by Wdf01000.sys: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1KfA2z16OBZyjVhGFFJzIE1UzmRY8pbJN

 

[gardenman]

I ran the dump files through the debugger and got the following information: https://insipidstudent.htmlpasta.com/

Spoiler

File information:	051720-72984-01.dmp (May 17 2020 - 13:15:09)
Bugcheck:	UNEXPECTED_KERNEL_MODE_TRAP_M (1000007F)
Driver warnings:	*** WARNING: Unable to verify timestamp for rtwlanu.sys
Probably caused by:	memory_corruption (Process: System)
Uptime:	0 Day(s), 3 Hour(s), 59 Min(s), and 53 Sec(s)

File information:	051720-68812-01.dmp (May 17 2020 - 09:14:44)
Bugcheck:	IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL (A)
Probably caused by:	ntkrnlmp.exe (Process: UninstallMonit)
Uptime:	0 Day(s), 5 Hour(s), 14 Min(s), and 58 Sec(s)

File information:	051720-55718-01.dmp (May 17 2020 - 03:57:20)
Bugcheck:	KERNEL_SECURITY_CHECK_FAILURE (139)
Probably caused by:	ntkrnlmp.exe (Process: Heaven.exe)
Uptime:	0 Day(s), 17 Hour(s), 27 Min(s), and 20 Sec(s)

The first crash was possibly caused by:

Feb 12 2018

rtwlanu.sys

Realtek WLAN USB NDIS Driver https://www.realtek.com/en/

But sometimes drivers get blamed when the issue is actually hardware so it's hard to say for sure. Maybe Colif will have more ideas.

 

[PE061]

Thank you @gardenman

 

[PE061]

A new BSOD in similar conditions (i.e., no playing, just regular use of my PC), but this time apparently the culprit is dxgmms2.sys (yesterday was Wdf01000.sys).

I also tried to run DebugDiag.exe. I saved the report in the same file of the latest dump: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Opoj-sb2Jr_mje2WZ9Hlj4CTXV73XYXZ

 

[gardenman]

I ran the dump file through the debugger and got the following information: https://sorriestmain.htmlpasta.com/

File information:	051820-48921-01.dmp (May 18 2020 - 08:27:31)
Bugcheck:	DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL (D1)
Probably caused by:	memory_corruption (Process: System)
Uptime:	0 Day(s), 6 Hour(s), 15 Min(s), and 14 Sec(s)

This information can be used by others to help you. Someone else will post with more information. Please wait for additional answers. Good luck.

 

[Colif]

Wdf01000.sys = Windows Driver Framework. The error that mentions it actually also mentions the realtek wifi driver

The last bsod appears to be GPU drivers
dxgmms2!VidSchiUpdateContextStatus+0x311

so 2 constant problems. LAN driver and GPU driver

Maybe trying installing latest AMD drivers since as far as I know you are on the ones from windows update still.

I don't know which source you used for last Wifi drivers as they show as

Feb 12 2018

rtwlanu.sys

Realtek WLAN USB NDIS Driver

and newest on realtek site are from July - https://www.realtek.com/en/component/zoo/category/rtl8812bu-software

2 years ago, around Feb, a whole bunch of wifi drivers justy stopped working and at time I theorised maybe MIcrosoft just drop support for drivers after a certain time frame if they haven't received updates. Now I wonder if same thing is happening again as you not only person who has problems with wifi drivers right now, so I wonder if they done it again.

 

[PE061]

I had some issues with my WiFi that last 2 days, which ar enow solved.
I also re-installed the WiFi driver from the RealTek links you provided, and I also installed the latest GPU driver from AMD.

Monday 05/18 has been the last day I experienced a BSOD, but today I run again into some freezing (with manual reboot).
Is there any other test I should try? Maybe I already asked this question, but is there a way to test PSU without switching it?
Finally, do you guys think I should buy a new PSU anyway? What would you do in my place?

 

[PE061]

And hours later, a new BSOD: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1s1P8FGHgFe6aTv9csr-upiFhAxFkgxrZ

😢

 

[Colif]

Power supply tests
the paper clip method - https://forums.tomshardware.com/threads/what-is-the-paperclip-method-of-testing-a-psu.1336402/

or multimeter,

or in the BIOS to check the +3.3V, +5V, and +12V. - https://www.lifewire.com/power-supply-voltage-tolerances-2624583

I don't like suggesting people replace anything without proof as I don't want to waste your money. There are no guarantees, in a normal world I would suggest getting PC repaired by a store but now isn't normal.

I myself would do as many tests as I can find the try to remove things from blame. Have you clean installed win 10 (you may have, I didn't look at previous posts today) as that would maybe refresh all the drivers as its always possible something else is causing the errors.

 

[gardenman]

I ran the dump file through the debugger and got the following information: https://huffiestpast.htmlpasta.com/

File information:	052420-60015-01.dmp (May 24 2020 - 12:49:32)
Bugcheck:	CRITICAL_STRUCTURE_CORRUPTION (109)
Probably caused by:	Unknown_Image (Process: csrss.exe)
Uptime:	1 Day(s), 0 Hour(s), 41 Min(s), and 20 Sec(s)

This information can be used by others to help you. Someone else will post with more information. Please wait for additional answers. Good luck.