Question PC is fine for 30 minute - a few hours intervals then gets BSOD with a reference by pointer error.

[Machu101]

So just live the title states, when I got home today it looked like my PC was frozen on a blue screen that stated "We found a problem with your PC and are restarting it" or something along those lines. So I force restarted it and now whenever it restarts it is fine for about 20-30 min before it says the same thing and restarts. Any one have any ideas on what the problem could be? So far I have run a memory test, ran a CHKDSK which took about 8 hours, ran a file scan on powershell, tried updating my realtek audio drivers, as well as running malware check but nothing seems to be working. Any help with this would be greatly apprecaited.

Edit: Here are my Minidump files. I have more if anyone needs some.
https://files.catbox.moe/bt0neu.zip

 

[Colif]

what are specs of the PC?

I will ask a friend to convert dumps. He will reply later with a file I can use to read dumps.

 

[Machu101]

Here they are.

• Crucial P2 500GB 3D NAND NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD
• Corsair RMX Series (2018), RM650x, 650 Watt, 80+ Gold
• GeForce RTX 2060 KO Ultra Gaming, 6GB GDDR6, Dual Fan
• Corsair Vengeance RGB PRO 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4 3200MHz
• AMD YD1700BBAEBOX Ryzen 7 1700 Processor with Wraith Spire LED Cooler
• MSI Arsenal Gaming AMD Ryzen 2ND and 3rd Gen AM4 M.2 USB 3 DDR4 DVI HDMI Crossfire ATX Motherboard (B450 TOMAHAWK MAX sII)
• 250 GB SSD KINGSTON SH103S3240G
• 1TB HDD ST1000DM003-1CH162

I really appreciate youre help on this. If you need more dump files please let me know and ill get them for you.

 

[Colif]

what memory test did you run?
if it wasn't memtest, Try running memtest86 on each of your ram sticks, one stick at a time, up to 4 passes. Only error count you want is 0, any higher could be cause of the BSOD. Remove/replace ram sticks with errors.
Memtest is created as a bootable USB so that you don’t need windows to run it

try running this on nvme and check health tab - https://www.hdtune.com/ (run trial) (can run this on all drives, but next 2 have their own testing software)
you can run this on the kingston ssd - https://www.kingston.com/en/support/technical/ssdmanager
could run seatools for windows on the hdd - https://www.seagate.com/au/en/support/downloads/seatools/ (though i doubt its hdd to blame)

motherboard link - https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/B450-TOMAHAWK-MAX/support (more for me for later)

 

[Machu101]

Running tests using memtest right now. Will update you on the results.

Edit: Just ran both rests on both RAM sticks and found no errors.

 

[Machu101]

what memory test did you run?
if it wasn't memtest, Try running memtest86 on each of your ram sticks, one stick at a time, up to 4 passes. Only error count you want is 0, any higher could be cause of the BSOD. Remove/replace ram sticks with errors.
Memtest is created as a bootable USB so that you don’t need windows to run it

try running this on nvme and check health tab - https://www.hdtune.com/ (run trial) (can run this on all drives, but next 2 have their own testing software)
you can run this on the kingston ssd - https://www.kingston.com/en/support/technical/ssdmanager
could run seatools for windows on the hdd - https://www.seagate.com/au/en/support/downloads/seatools/ (though i doubt its hdd to blame)

motherboard link - https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/B450-TOMAHAWK-MAX/support (more for me for later)

I don't think the storages are the problem. This JUST started happening like yesterday, however if you recommend it I will test them. Something I want to point out is I did update drivers for my Graphics card twice back-to-back. but that was like a week before i started getting the BSOD. I did roll back drivers ONCE, so technically i am not back to the original driver I was using a week ago. Not sure if this is the problem. Honestly I'm just so confused on why this is happening.

 

[Colif]

most errors just start randomly. They almost all suddenly start happening.

did you use DDU to roll drivers back? https://forums.tomshardware.com/faq...n-install-of-your-video-card-drivers.2402269/

 

[Machu101]

most errors just start randomly. They almost all suddenly start happening.

did you use DDU to roll drivers back? https://forums.tomshardware.com/faq...n-install-of-your-video-card-drivers.2402269/

No i did not, I will try that tomorrow. Currently running Extending Memory diagnostic to see if there’s any problems there. If not i’m sure i can say it’s not my RAM.

 

[Colif]

DDU = Display Driver Uninstaller.
See the link I dropped after my question. It uninstalls all traces of Nvidia drivers off PC, and lets you reinstall new drivers with no remains of older ones. You run it in safe mode and reinstall drivers once you booted back into normal mode.

Where did you get drivers from for the GPU?
If you used Nvidia Geforce Experience, try running windows update instead and use older drivers, that are still from Nvidia, but maybe not as cutting edge as

 

[Machu101]

DDU = Display Driver Uninstaller.
See the link I dropped after my question. It uninstalls all traces of Nvidia drivers off PC, and lets you reinstall new drivers with no remains of older ones. You run it in safe mode and reinstall drivers once you booted back into normal mode.

Where did you get drivers from for the GPU?
If you used Nvidia Geforce Experience, try running windows update instead and use older drivers, that are still from Nvidia, but maybe not as cutting edge as

Yes, I used Nvidia GeForce to get them. Copy so just to repeat, Download DDU, Run windows in safe mode, Run DDU, restart PC in normal boot up mode, then install old drivers. What do you mean by running windows update instead?

 

[Colif]

If you have older drivers to install, do that.

WIndows update will reccognise the GPU and install older copies of Nvidia drivers. I think they are from 2020. They are old but more stable than maybe the newer drivers are.

 

[Machu101]

You know, I think the driver i previously had installed was from 2020. That may be the issue here. How do i get to windows update and install said drivers?

 

[gardenman]

Hi, I ran the dump files through the debugger and got the following information: https://jsfiddle.net/e1cLdbm7/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:	062922-89781-01.dmp (Jun 29 2022 - 14:30:06)
Bugcheck:	REFERENCE_BY_POINTER (18)
Probably caused by:	memory_corruption (Process running at time of crash: System)
Uptime:	0 Day(s), 0 Hour(s), 41 Min(s), and 36 Sec(s)

File information:	062922-82953-01.dmp (Jun 29 2022 - 15:13:50)
Bugcheck:	REFERENCE_BY_POINTER (18)
Probably caused by:	memory_corruption (Process running at time of crash: System)
Uptime:	0 Day(s), 0 Hour(s), 42 Min(s), and 51 Sec(s)

File information:	052022-63109-01.dmp (May 19 2022 - 21:43:06)
Bugcheck:	PNP_DETECTED_FATAL_ERROR (CA)
Driver warnings:	*** WARNING: Unable to verify timestamp for dddriver64Dcsa.sys
Probably caused by:	memory_corruption (Process running at time of crash: System)
Uptime:	3 Day(s), 12 Hour(s), 58 Min(s), and 17 Sec(s)

File information:	040122-103296-01.dmp (Mar 12 2022 - 06:09:33)
Bugcheck:	PNP_DETECTED_FATAL_ERROR (CA)
Driver warnings:	*** WARNING: Unable to verify timestamp for dddriver64Dcsa.sys
Probably caused by:	memory_corruption (Process running at time of crash: System)
Uptime:	0 Day(s), 1 Hour(s), 03 Min(s), and 40 Sec(s)

File information:	062922-131671-01.dmp (Jun 29 2022 - 10:28:39)
Bugcheck:	REFERENCE_BY_POINTER (18)
Probably caused by:	memory_corruption (Process running at time of crash: System)
Uptime:	11 Day(s), 18 Hour(s), 33 Min(s), and 31 Sec(s)

Comment: The overclocking driver "NTIOLib_X64.sys" was found on your system. (MSI Afterburner or other MSI software)

Possible Motherboard page: https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/B450-TOMAHAWK-MAX-II
There is a BIOS update available for your system. 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.

 

[Machu101]

[/QUOTE]
Yes you have linked the correct motherboard. Will this update to BIOS potentially fix the BSOD? I wasn’t aware that BIOS being outdated was a possibility. Is it that the BIOS software and driver version are not incompatible?

 

[Machu101]

[/QUOTE]
Also do i need to do anything with that over clocking driver NTIOLib_X64.sys?

 

[Colif]

what Dell do you have? these caused 2 of the errors.

Jul 26 2021

dddriver64Dcsa.sys

Dell Diagnostics Device driver

Do you use WIFI or Ethernet (cable)?

Feb 06 2014

bcmwl63a.sys

Broadcom 802 11 Network Adapter Wireless driver http://www.broadcom.com/support/

these are getting old. could be cause.

May 24 2019

rt640x64.sys

Realtek NICDRV 8169 PCIe GBE Family Controller driver https://www.realtek.com/en/

there are newer versions of these
download Win10 Auto Installation Program (NDIS) from under windows header here - https://www.realtek.com/en/componen...0-1000m-gigabit-ethernet-pci-express-software

not sure you need to remove afterburner, errors don't appear to be GPU related.

 

[Machu101]

what Dell do you have? these caused 2 of the errors.

Jul 26 2021

dddriver64Dcsa.sys

Dell Diagnostics Device driver

Do you use WIFI or Ethernet (cable)?

Feb 06 2014

bcmwl63a.sys

Broadcom 802 11 Network Adapter Wireless driver http://www.broadcom.com/support/

these are getting old. could be cause.

May 24 2019

rt640x64.sys

Realtek NICDRV 8169 PCIe GBE Family Controller driver https://www.realtek.com/en/

there are newer versions of these
download Win10 Auto Installation Program (NDIS) from under windows header here - https://www.realtek.com/en/componen...0-1000m-gigabit-ethernet-pci-express-software

not sure you need to remove afterburner, errors don't appear to be GPU related.

1.) I had a dell monitor but I’ve never had a dell computer.
2.) I use wifi now, that crash looks to from 2014.
3.) Just update and install NDIS for that error?

The errors i’m worried about are from super recent (June 29- July 1st). I have more Minidump files that are more recent if you would like to look at them, I just have to wait for my PC to finish running that mem diagnostic

 

[Colif]

I see the 2 Dell errors are from a few months ago, I didn't notice. Did you remove the software back then?

the other 3 are the same actions 3 times. its a driver error but I can't tell which one.

how long you been playing valorant?

 

[Machu101]

I see the 2 Dell errors are from a few months ago, I didn't notice. Did you remove the software back then?

the other 3 are the same actions 3 times. its a driver error but I can't tell which one.

how long you been playing valorant?

Last time i played had to have been maybe a month ago? But i’ve had it installed for atleast a year. It’s never cause problem tho. How certain are you that it’s a driver error? If you’re sure I may just stop running the diagnostic. Also I haven’t removed any dell software yet.

 

[Colif]

How certain are you that it’s a driver error?

Refernce By Pointer description:
Each time a driver uses a pointer to an object the driver calls a kernel routine to increment the reference count of the object. When the driver is done with the pointer the driver calls another kernel routine to decrement the reference count. Drivers must match calls to the increment and decrement routines.
This bugcheck can occur because an object's reference count goes to zero while there are still open handles to the object

the other 2 causes are Storage and Ram, we have checked both?

the dell program hasn't shown in driver listing in last 3 errors.
If you have the dell program installed, you could always remove it and see if it helps.

The cause of all 3 BSOD isn't obvious BUT fact many of the lines in the stack text are the same, its pretty obvious to me its the same driver 3 times. Just have to find it. That could perhaps also mean it is ram, as it happens in same location in memory 3 times. I tend to think its software.

 

[Machu101]

Ok so update, my memory diagnostic got stuck at 21% for 12 hours so i just reset my PC, however again, my ram did pass the memtests so again i’m not sure it’s the problem. Something more interesting is that i just enabled driver verifier and reboot and now i can’t even boot up my PC if it’s not in windows safe mode and it has a new error code starting that Driver Verifier found an error. I’m going to upload the minidump files in 5 min here.

 

[Colif]

i would have set some precautions for driver verifer
at least you can get to safe mode

if you go into cmd, type
Verifier /reset
should turn it off.

 

[Colif]

If you still get bsod after we check the dumps, run memtest overnight, it can take a while. It might not have frozen at 21, it might have been working still.

Gardenman won't be here for a few hours.

 

[Machu101]

i would have set some precautions for driver verifer
at least you can get to safe mode

if you go into cmd, type
Verifier /reset
should turn it off.

Ok here are the more recent mini dump files.

https://files.catbox.moe/x26gb5.zip

The one from a few minutes ago is the one that had driver verifier cause a BSOD due to a driver. Not sure if you take a look at that one if it will tell you which driver it is.

 

[Machu101]

If you still get bsod after we check the dumps, run memtest overnight, it can take a while. It might not have frozen at 21, it might have been working still.

Gardenman won't be here for a few hours.

I already ran memtest on each of my individual ram sticks and they both passed 4 tests