Critical Structure Error and system shutdown

[klequis]

A long story on my computer for the past 6 weeks
1) Screen flashing, temporary black screen in the middle of use
2) Upgraded to Windows 10 - worked fine for a few weeks - no better no worse
3) Increased screen flashing, system got slow and then usably slow
4) Used system restore to go back to Windows 8.1 but got empty hard drive instead so installed from scratch
5) Started system one morning about a week later and only one monitor of 2 would work, than flashing, eventually both came on but then 10 min or so later got blue screen with 'Critical Structure Error.

I have not had any more screen flashing, using just one monitor for unrelated reason, but the system crashes about every 15 min.

I'm not much of a hardware person so not sure how to start diagnosing. Looking for suggestions for that?
I'm wondering about overheating and PSU failure.
System is Dell XPS i5 750, 5.5 year old.

Thanks for any advice you may have.

 

[Kisianik]

Before anything we need your exact model.
Models are XPS 8000, 8100, 8300, 8500 and 8700 listed from oldest to the newest.

Judging by CPU it can be XPS 8000 or 8100, so which one?

 

[klequis]

Before anything we need your exact model.
Models are XPS 8000, 8100, 8300, 8500 and 8700 listed from oldest to the newest.

Judging by CPU it can be XPS 8000 or 8100, so which one?

Before anything we need your exact model.
Models are XPS 8000, 8100, 8300, 8500 and 8700 listed from oldest to the newest.

Judging by CPU it can be XPS 8000 or 8100, so which one?

I no longer have the documentation so am not 100% sure but am pretty sure it is 8100.
I included below some select info on the system.
I found another thread for Critical Structure Error where someone recommended using Malwarebytes to check for virus but I could not keep the system running long enough for Malwarebytes to complete a scan.
I have rebuilt the system using a different hard disk and have not had an error for the past 1.5 days. However, I would still like to know what happened as I need a reliable machine and can't spring for a new one at the moment. So if you have additional suggestions I can boot with the HD that has the problem troubleshoot. Although it crashes every 10 min or more so difficult.

I am concerned at what cause the problem. Until a month ago I used McAfee and never had a virus (that it reported). After rebuild a month or so ago (#4 above) I have been using Windows Defender perhaps a virus snuck in (I read this problem could be a virus).

I'm also concerned about the age of the system in that it may be time to replace some things. In researching my problem someone said PSU is only good for 3 to 5 years. I'm at 5.5 years now. Speccy gives various voltage readings but I don't know what it should be.

Finally, I'm concerned about heat. The machine sometimes seems to output a lot of heat but the fans do not spin up. It also has been very hot in my home. The temperature outside has been near 100 F for days and my A/C is not coping. The room temperature gets to be 85+. I currently have the side of the computer open and blow a fan on it when the room temp goes up. The only thing Speccy showed as too hot (red) is the HDs. The fan seemed to fix that. So to turn that ramble into a question: I'm interested in suggestions for modifying the system to stay cooler.



Summary
Operating System
Windows 8 Pro 64-bit
CPU
Intel Core i5 750 @ 2.67GHz 125 °F
Lynnfield 45nm Technology
RAM
8.00GB Dual-Channel DDR3 @ 664MHz (9-9-9-24)
Motherboard
Dell Inc. 0T568R (CPU 1) 72 °F
Graphics
Acer H274HL (1920x1080@60Hz)
H243H (1920x1080@59Hz)
1024MB NVIDIA GeForce GTS 240 (NVIDIA) 151 °F
Storage
139GB Western Digital WDC WD1500AHFD-00RAR5 (SATA) 119 °F (C: / OS)
1863GB Western Digital WDC WD2002FAEX-007BA0 (SATA) 105 °F
Optical Drives
HL-DT-ST DVD+-RW GH50N
HL-DT-ST DVD+-RW GH50N
ELBY CLONEDRIVE SCSI CdRom Device
Audio
High Definition Audio Device
Operating System
Windows 8 Pro 64-bit
Computer type: Desktop
Installation Date: 9/20/2015 3:11:33 PM

 

[Kisianik]

It is XPS 8100 according to motherboard model, I was close.

So, right now you have no problems so far, fingers crossed, correct? And the only difference in hardware - you used new HDD to reinstall Windows, am I correct?

XPS suppose to have place for a second hard drive, can you connect your previous one and scan it?

Temperatures. It is a huge issue in any Dell PC, as you in particular, have only one, 92mm exhaust fan, and nothing else.

Are you ready to use drill (if you have it) if necessary, or you want to preserve beauty of the original case?

I understand you 100F issue, as I have similar a few weeks ago, but I have my Inspiron in Cooler Master case with bunch of 120mm fans....

Do you have any SMART hard drive monitor software? Your original hard drive could overheat!

 

[klequis]

I think the cause for this issue will remain a mystery but the solutions was replacing the hard drive. That doesn't say the HD was bad. It may be but just as well could have been a virus (at least according to what I read about the Critical Structure Error)

I used to have SMART something or another from Western Digital installed but never needed it 😉. With the rebuilds it is gone.

Since replacing the HD my system has been up for about 18 hours/day without fault. Although I curious what happened to the old HD I probably don't have time to indulge my curiosity so I'll likely wipe that drive and toss it out.

What I will look into is how to better cool the box since Speccy indicates my new HD is getting too hot even though I'm not doing that much with it. Using the floor fan on the open case lowers the temp of the HD about 20 degrees so I'm hoping I can find a way to increase the airflow through the case and lose the floor fan.

Thank you for your help and information sharing.

 

[Kisianik]

Hard Drive possible overheat could be the cause of your problems:

Hard Disk Temperature

Less than 25°C: Too cold

25°C to 40°C: Ideal

41°C to 50°C: Acceptable

More than 50°C: Too hot

Well, I don't think cold temperatures has to do with your issues, however during winter it is something to think about, since hard drive has internal lubricants, which, with cool temperatures increase in viscosity and prevent hard drive operate normally, increasing error count and etc.

For more info regarding more professional hard drives look here https://forums.freenas.org/index.php?threads/wd-red-safe-operating-temperature.17359/

And regarding cheaper, regular hard drives look here http://carlcheo.com/normal-hard-disk-temperature also take a look at SMART gadgets discussed here. I am monitoring SMART for the past 9 years or so, since I lost 1 HDD due to extreme overheat in old Dell PC, I don't remember specific errors, however.

 

[klequis]

Hard Drive possible overheat could be the cause of your problems:

Hard Disk Temperature

Less than 25°C: Too cold

25°C to 40°C: Ideal

41°C to 50°C: Acceptable

More than 50°C: Too hot

Well, I don't think cold temperatures has to do with your issues, however during winter it is something to think about, since hard drive has internal lubricants, which, with cool temperatures increase in viscosity and prevent hard drive operate normally, increasing error count and etc.

For more info regarding more professional hard drives look here https://forums.freenas.org/index.php?threads/wd-red-safe-operating-temperature.17359/

And regarding cheaper, regular hard drives look here http://carlcheo.com/normal-hard-disk-temperature also take a look at SMART gadgets discussed here. I am monitoring SMART for the past 9 years or so, since I lost 1 HDD due to extreme overheat in old Dell PC, I don't remember specific errors, however.

Thanks again. I'll look into all of that. It rarely gets cold here and when it does we have the heat. Hot is another story.