Question Random PC freezes caused by ntoskrnl.exe?

[Liborio]

Hi,

I have had a problem with my PC randomly crashing (especially when gaming) for many, many years since purchased basically. I have posted on many forums including here (https://forums.tomshardware.com/thr...eezing-randomly-since-bought-in-2016.3483402/ ) and no one has been able to advise what the issue is. It happened the other day and i used an application called bluescreenview which created a dumpfile and after looking at it on the app, it highlighted in red this file "ntoskrnl.exe". I think this might be the problem after so many years. The only thing that gets me is that ive reinstalled Windows on a new SSD more than once and it still occurs which seems highly unlikely to be a software issue but i cant be too sure? Is anyone able to assist?

https://imgur.com/a/lGB5wYo

View: https://imgur.com/a/lGB5wYo


Any help is much appreciated.

 

[Liborio]

its mainly used for raid, some people install it to speed up ssd and its used for optane.

If you don't use any of those, uninstall it.


Yes, sorry, use windows update as Microsoft have Nvidia drivers, just not new ones.

Okay i understand. I will keep it uninstalled. Thanks.

As for the DDU instructions, the videos and tutorials advise to download the latest NVIDIA drivers before beginning the process, i ignore this right? I uninstall using DDU then when it comes time to install drivers, go to Windows update and let it find the graphics drivers there?

Also, on the DDU website it states, "You MUST disconnect your internet or completely block Windows Update when running DDU until you have re-installed your new drivers." I also ignore this too considering ill be needing the Windows update to find my drivers?

 

[gardenman]

Leave the internet connected. Boot into safe mode (as DDU will ask you). Run DDU in there. Then reboot again back into normal mode. Check Windows Update at that time and it should download and install an older (and possibly better) graphics driver.

Windows will not install drivers while in safe mode anyway, so you can leave it connected.

 

[gardenman]

For some reason your messages are repeating multiple times. Be sure to post only once.

Yes, ignore the instructions to download the driver first. You won't need it if you are going to install the older version from Windows Update.

Yes, uninstall by using DDU (in safe mode). Boot back into normal mode and run Windows Update.

Yes, you can ignore the instructions to disconnect the internet. You can leave it plugged up. Windows Update will not download drivers if you are in safe mode (which is where you will be running DDU). Only after you boot back into normal mode will Windows Update download and install the graphics driver.

 

[Liborio]

For some reason your messages are repeating multiple times. Be sure to post only once.

Yes, ignore the instructions to download the driver first. You won't need it if you are going to install the older version from Windows Update.

Yes, uninstall by using DDU (in safe mode). Boot back into normal mode and run Windows Update.

Yes, you can ignore the instructions to disconnect the internet. You can leave it plugged up. Windows Update will not download drivers if you are in safe mode (which is where you will be running DDU). Only after you boot back into normal mode will Windows Update download and install the graphics driver.

Sorry about my mulitple messages, i thought they werent posting but i wasnt looking on the second page! I will clean it up now.

Thank you for the advice. I will try this and hope it fixes my issues. Cheers both of you.

 

[Colif]

Its okay, at least you can fix the duplicates. I could have if need be.

 

[Liborio]

Its okay, at least you can fix the duplicates. I could have if need be.

Okay guys, thank you for your time and help.

I have uninstalled all GPU and Audio drivers via DDU and installed only the drivers from Windows update. I will run with it for some time and see how it goes. Fingers crossed no more freezes

Thanks once again.

 

[Lonedavis]

Any word on how your system is performing? I have a very similar situation.

 

[Liborio]

Hi all,

It was going quite well up intil today.....same thing. Complete freeze whilst using the drivers from Windows......

I dont know what else to do.... Now im thinking it may actually be hardware but nothing points me towards what part could be guilty.

Any further help would be great.

 

[Liborio]

Any word on how your system is performing? I have a very similar situation.

Unfortunately it is still ocurring for me.....

 

[Colif]

Hardware:
CPU - Intel Core i7-6700K CPU @ 4.00GHz
MOBO - ASUS Z170 Pro Gaming
RAM - G Skill RipJaws V 16GB DDR4
GPU - MSI 980Ti Sea Hawk Edition
PSU - Seasonic 850W 80PlusBronze ATX
HDD -Samsung EVO 860 1TB to replace my current 120GB SSD and faulty 1TB HDD

Cooling:
CPU - Corsair H80i GT
GPU - Corsair HG10 N980

Peripherals:
Monitor - AOC 24" G Sync 144hz 1ms
Mouse - Logitech G402
Mouse Pad - Logitech G240
Keyboard - Logitech G910
Headset - Hyper X Revolver S

pases memtest
do the freezes happen in safe mode?
have you run intel processor diagnostic tool:? - https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/19792/Intel-Processor-Diagnostic-Tool

or Prime 95 - https://www.mersenne.org/download/

No real way to check PSU ands although no brand is perfect, Seasonic really don't make any bad PSU. I would be surprised if it was the PSU.

can you run https://www.sysnative.com/forums/pages/bsodcollectionapp/ as it might show us something, although if its hardware, windows may not see it.

 

[Liborio]

Hardware:
CPU - Intel Core i7-6700K CPU @ 4.00GHz
MOBO - ASUS Z170 Pro Gaming
RAM - G Skill RipJaws V 16GB DDR4
GPU - MSI 980Ti Sea Hawk Edition
PSU - Seasonic 850W 80PlusBronze ATX
HDD -Samsung EVO 860 1TB to replace my current 120GB SSD and faulty 1TB HDD

Cooling:
CPU - Corsair H80i GT
GPU - Corsair HG10 N980

Peripherals:
Monitor - AOC 24" G Sync 144hz 1ms
Mouse - Logitech G402
Mouse Pad - Logitech G240
Keyboard - Logitech G910
Headset - Hyper X Revolver S

pases memtest
do the freezes happen in safe mode?
have you run intel processor diagnostic tool:? - https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/19792/Intel-Processor-Diagnostic-Tool

or Prime 95 - https://www.mersenne.org/download/

No real way to check PSU ands although no brand is perfect, Seasonic really don't make any bad PSU. I would be surprised if it was the PSU.

can you run https://www.sysnative.com/forums/pages/bsodcollectionapp/ as it might show us something, although if its hardware, windows may not see it.

Thanks for your reply.

I have not run it in safe mode as it is super random, meaning i would have to be in safe mode 100% of the time for possibly up to 2 weeks until it happens.

All the mentioned tests have been done but i have done them again. Please CPU test results below:

https://imgur.com/a/1IqjW9p

View: https://imgur.com/a/1IqjW9p


Please see below onedrive upload of sysnative zip:
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AozirN8p2aA4jHkUQ_VeHeadzsx9?e=yniO0L

Many thanks, your help is appreciated.

 

[Colif]

GPU drivers crashed on 4th, might have recovered as no blue screen - similar errors as before you ran ddu.

VIDEO_TDR_ERROR

A VIDEO_TDR_ERROR always relates to the system's graphics card (TDR = Timeout Detection Recovery). This could be down to a number of reasons including drivers, heat, power to the card, a faulty PCI-e slot or simply a defective GPU.
see the post by Zbook - https://www.tenforums.com/bsod-cras...tal-crashes-while-gaming-loading-games-2.html

 

[Liborio]

GPU drivers crashed on 4th, might have recovered as no blue screen - similar errors as before you ran ddu.

VIDEO_TDR_ERROR

A VIDEO_TDR_ERROR always relates to the system's graphics card (TDR = Timeout Detection Recovery). This could be down to a number of reasons including drivers, heat, power to the card, a faulty PCI-e slot or simply a defective GPU.
see the post by Zbook - https://www.tenforums.com/bsod-cras...tal-crashes-while-gaming-loading-games-2.html

Thank you.

What would be the most logical next step? If you were in this situation, where would you go from here?

 

[Colif]

can you test GPU in another PC and see if it causes same problems?

other thought is remove 980 and run off the intel HD graphics option on motherboard (its the CPU running the graphics then), and see if you get any problems. THat will narrow it down a little. If it still happens, maybe 980 is okay?

does that open hardware monitor allow you to record logs? as I would run it in background as maybe its recordings can let us figure out cause if its not the GPU alone. Temps look okay. I don't know chances of a faulty PCI E slot as I have not seen it (but then I don't answer questions about GPU unless they stray into win 10 area)

 

[Liborio]

can you test GPU in another PC and see if it causes same problems?

other thought is remove 980 and run off the intel HD graphics option on motherboard (its the CPU running the graphics then), and see if you get any problems. THat will narrow it down a little. If it still happens, maybe 980 is okay?

does that open hardware monitor allow you to record logs? as I would run it in background as maybe its recordings can let us figure out cause if its not the GPU alone. Temps look okay. I don't know chances of a faulty PCI E slot as I have not seen it (but then I don't answer questions about GPU unless they stray into win 10 area)

I unfortunately dont have another PC to test it in but i could potentially remove it and run off my onboard graphics. Only issue is anytime i game (which is the only purpose of the PC), it probably wont run and/or crash because of the poor onboard graphics so it would just leave us confused whether its not the GPU or its just crashing because onboard cant handle it......

I dont think running HW monitor anymore will do much for me, i have thoroughly tests temps and i can 100% confirm all temps are fine throughout PC so i can confidently rule that out.

It might be worth giving to a PC store to do more testing on the hardware as their software is specially made for diagnosing and is much more accurate than whats available to us online (what ive been told by the store). Thoughts?

 

[Colif]

It might be worth giving to a PC store to do more testing on the hardware as their software is specially made for diagnosing and is much more accurate than whats available to us online (what ive been told by the store). Thoughts?

this is a good idea as they can test GPU in another PC or just swap one in to see if it makes any difference.

 

[Liborio]

this is a good idea as they can test GPU in another PC or just swap one in to see if it makes any difference.

Thanks. I might leave it to their software or troubleshooting such as swapping it out to see if that can bring anything up.

Cheers.