[SOLVED] PC has been freezing, BSODing and crashing frequently over the past month or so ?

[SilverFang]

I know the title sounds like a bunch of really common issues but I still can't figure out what's wrong with my PC. I'll break down everything here clearly.

My first issues started around a month ago where the game I played at the time (Mordhau) would crash relatively frequently. I would get an error mentioning that I have run out of VRAM (I doubt this, some people suggested the error was actually due to RAM not VRAM). Later on, game crashes became less frequent but apps would crash all the time. For example, Discord would just become a black screen and Google Chrome would become unresponsive. At the same time, my desktop was unresponsive, as in I couldn't click on any icons, drag stuff around, or even interact with the taskbar.

I would also frequently get "out of memory" errors in Google Chrome despite using maybe 8/16 GB of RAM. I have since tested both my RAM sticks independently and I still get these issues with both. When I ran Window's memory diagnostic test, no errors were reported. I got this BSOD two weeks ago when only one RAM stick was in. It was also the first one I had gotten. The most recent BSOD happened twice during the same activity: I was playing a game (Phasmophobia) with a friend and I got this BSOD. We tried again and I got the same BSOD again. During this BSOD both RAM sticks were in.

I have tried going into device manager to confirm if all my drivers are up to date but I get an error saying: "This operation has been cancelled due to restriction in effect on this computer."

Most of the time my PC is usable but these errors have been driving me mad recently. I would really appreciate any help here so much.

PC Specs:
CPU: Intel Core i7 6700k
Motherboard: ASUS PRIME B250-Plus
RAM: 16GB DDR4 Corsair Vengeance LPX
GPU: Zotac GeForce RTX 2070 Mini
HDD: 1TB Western-Digital WD10EZEX
SSD: 500GB Transcend SSD370S
SSD: 1TB Mushkin MKNSSDS21TB

Here is a description of an error from the time of the second BSOD (the one while I was playing Phasmophobia) from Windows logs:
Application: IAStorDataMgrSvc.exe Framework Version: v4.0.30319 Description: The process was terminated due to an unhandled exception. Exception Info: System.NullReferenceException at IAStorUtil.SystemDataModelListener.ProcessSystemDataModelChanges() at IAStorUtil.SystemDataModelListener.LoadSavedSystemState() at IAStorDataMgr.EventRelay.<Start>b__0(System.Object) at System.Threading.QueueUserWorkItemCallback.WaitCallback_Context(System.Object) at System.Threading.ExecutionContext.RunInternal(System.Threading.ExecutionContext, System.Threading.ContextCallback, System.Object, Boolean) at System.Threading.ExecutionContext.Run(System.Threading.ExecutionContext, System.Threading.ContextCallback, System.Object, Boolean) at System.Threading.QueueUserWorkItemCallback.System.Threading.IThreadPoolWorkItem.ExecuteWorkItem() at System.Threading.ThreadPoolWorkQueue.Dispatch() at System.Threading._ThreadPoolWaitCallback.PerformWaitCallback()

 

[Colif]

Can you follow option one on the following link - here - and then do this step below: Small memory dumps - Have Windows Create a Small Memory Dump (Minidump) on BSOD - that creates a file in c windows/minidump after the next BSOD

1. Open Windows File Explore
   
2. Navigate to C:\Windows\Minidump
   
3. Copy the mini-dump files out onto your Desktop
   
4. Do not use Winzip, use the built in facility in Windows
   
5. Select those files on your Desktop, right click them and choose 'Send to' - Compressed (zipped) folder
   
6. Upload the zip file to the Cloud (OneDrive, DropBox . . . etc.)
   
7. Then post a link here to the zip file, so we can take a look for you . . .
   

 

[SilverFang]

Thanks for your reply. Here is a link to the Minidumps:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/185zpS3VY7X-ex0-ZG8cfInMGnEfCtEuC/view?usp=sharing

Before checking that out I'd just like to explain a few more things. I reinstalled Windows today which helped with the frequency of BSODs. I no longer get BSODs while doing regular things like webbrowsing/working and the freezing issues have stopped. However, I consistently get BSODs while playing games. Usually within 5 minutes of gaming I get a BSOD or the game crashes (tested in 3 different games). When I turned the graphics and resolution down all the way, I had no issues. I turned the graphics back up and kept my eye on both my CPU and GPU temps on my 2nd monitor while gaming and it all looked good (GPU didn't go higher than 80 degrees celsius and CPU temps were fine too - less the 60 degrees celsius). I then reduced the GPU's power to 80% to see if I will still get a BSOD and despite it running only at around 65 degrees celsius, I still got a BSOD.

 

[Colif]

are these dumps from since the reinstall? i have to ask a friend to convert but no point if you installed since

iastor from previous event errors is storage drivers.
what drives are the games on?

try running this on the transcend -- https://www.transcend-info.com/Support/software-10/
mushkin don't appear to have a tool. try running Crystaldiskinfo (green icons) - https://crystalmark.info/en/software/crystaldiskinfo/
run this on wd hdd if any games on it - https://support.wdc.com/downloads.aspx?lang=en&p=279

 

[gardenman]

Hi, I ran the dump files through the debugger and got the following information: https://jsfiddle.net/16z5q0op/show This link is for anyone wanting to help. You do not have to view it. It is safe to "run the fiddle" as the page asks.

Spoiler: Dump File Results

File information:	090121-8515-01.dmp (Sep 1 2021 - 14:29:43)
Bugcheck:	SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION (3B)
Probably caused by:	memory_corruption (Process: dwm.exe)
Uptime:	0 Day(s), 2 Hour(s), 13 Min(s), and 09 Sec(s)

File information:	090121-8484-01.dmp (Sep 1 2021 - 12:16:11)
Bugcheck:	SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION (3B)
Probably caused by:	win32kbase.sys (Process: csrss.exe)
Uptime:	0 Day(s), 3 Hour(s), 14 Min(s), and 37 Sec(s)

Possible Motherboard page: https://www.asus.com/us/Motherboards-Components/Motherboards/PRIME/PRIME-B250-PLUS/
There is a BIOS update available for your system. You are using BIOS version 813. The latest stable version 1205. We usually recommend avoid BETAs. Wait for additional information before deciding to update or not. Important: Verify that I have linked to the correct motherboard. Updating your BIOS can be risky. Never try it when you might lose power (lightning storms, recent power outages, etc).

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

 

[SilverFang]

are these dumps from since the reinstall? i have to ask a friend to convert but no point if you installed since

iastor from previous event errors is storage drivers.
what drives are the games on?

try running this on the transcend -- https://www.transcend-info.com/Support/software-10/
mushkin don't appear to have a tool. try running Crystaldiskinfo (green icons) - https://crystalmark.info/en/software/crystaldiskinfo/
run this on wd hdd if any games on it - https://support.wdc.com/downloads.aspx?lang=en&p=279

Yes those dumps are from after reinstalling. My games are on the Mushkin drive. I'm going to try and copy a game to a different drive and check for errors. The latest BSOD was dxgkrnl.sys failure though, and after Googling, it seems that kind of error is attributed to display drivers? Anyway, I'll update here after trying a game on a different drive.

 

[Colif]

try this and reinstall new drivers - https://forums.tomshardware.com/faq...n-install-of-your-video-card-drivers.2402269/

three is a tiny almost insignificant chance its Audio drivers but vast majority of the time, directX errors are GPU drivers.

I will ask a friend to convert dumps but I should go to sleep soon

 

[SilverFang]

Okay, I'll give it a try, thanks for the help. I'll come back to report if I succeeded or not.

 

[Colif]

seems I missed my friends reply,
1st crash is GPU drivers without even looking at it, its victim is dwm.exe. That is Windows Desktop Manager, it talks to GPU. Dump is all DirectX
2nd crash not so obvious, lets see if GPU drivers fix it.

 

[SilverFang]

Alright I'm back after using DDU to wipe old GPU drivers and it seems to have worked! I ran 2 different games earlier for over 20 min without crashes or BSOD whereas before DDU it would maybe last around 3 min before it crashed or got BSOD. Yet to experience any freezing/out of memory issues since reinstalling windows as well. For now at least it seems all my problems are solved. I just want to extend my thanks to you guys for helping me out - people like you are true heroes.