Windows 10 initiating watchdog on start up:

[Michael Hillyer]

My PC crashed after Nvidia popped up with my video card crashing and a blue screen with a sad face like this: https://i.gyazo.com/66c9e12849b87841c1b5362df2176e0f.png

(Nvidia has crashed: http://www.tenforums.com/attachments/graphic-cards/38989d1443009740t-nvidia-driver-355-82-stopped-responding-has-recovered-capture.jpg )

Then it restarted and it got stuck on this screen exactly like this with the thing in the top left corner:

I restarted it nothing happened, replugged in HDMI to v-card then restarted then this happened:

http://glacksco.homedns.org/MS/WatchDogMessage-Win10-b10586.png

My computer has been getting slight heating issues but not really my graphics card.

I don't think that's the problem, but what is this watchdog thing? Scared me.


NOTE: THESE PICTURES ARE ALL WHAT HAPPENED TO ME BUT I GOT THEM FROM GOOGLE, SO IF THEY LIST A PROBLEM IN THE PICTURE IT'S NOT MINE EXACTLY.

 

[Shaun o]

It`s basically a windows error reporting tool, in relation to software drivers and hardware.
It will, or should create a log file on the drive of your system so you can inspect it to see if there were any problems when loading a driver for a specific bit of hardware.

But as a warning there is also a Virus that can infect your system called ironically watchdog.
If your system is infected with it.

It messes with it and the windows OS so it no longer loads right or fails to get to the windows desktop.
So you check it is not the virus it`s self mimicking the windows watchdog error reporting tool Michael.

Run a Mallware, and a virus scanner program to check.

Please click on the link bellow to read about it, the link also tells you how to remove the nasty little thing if it has infected your system Michael.

If while surfing the internet prior to the system acting up you got some sort of program saying you had a virus pop up.

It most likely the virus it`s self that has infected your system.
It will cause your system to lock up, and windows will have problems in loading to the desktop.

https://www.fixyourbrowser.com/how-to/remove-windows-internet-watchdog-virus/

 

[Onus]

The watchdog timer is a normal Windows Operating system process. It monitors for necessary OS services that should be running. If they aren't (e.g. one or more of them have crashed), the watchdog restarts that process. Do NOT allow some Geek Squad drone to convince you that your system is infected with some kind of keylogger because he can show you a Watchdog directory on your system. This process should not be disabled or parts of it deleted, or your OS will be unable to identify and recover from some kinds of crashes.

 

[Michael Hillyer]

Thanks guys, nah lol I don't think it'd be some retro looking virus either I haven't installed anything that'd do that. But my PC crashed again and it keeps on crashing IDK why.

https://i.gyazo.com/b81c017a3c24351dac6caa60e42ade71.png

 

[Michael Hillyer]

It crashed AGAIN. Bad Pool Header. I want to test my GPU, my CPU, my memory, my board and my ram. Something isn't right!!! I feel like I'm going to lose a few years of stuff when this is over!

 

[Michael Hillyer]

I think it's my RAM, windows 10 is picking up 6 gbs of it and only 4 usable. I got 8 GBS of it installed. Yikes.

https://i.gyazo.com/f9be1c34f564a210616aae91a412ac42.png

Showing this when I got 2 sticks of four. Might find out which broken one is in there and pop in an old four. I need 8.

I also want to test my drives, CPU, GPU, and motherboard all that. I don't think the ram is the /main/ problem to all these still, just another one.

 

[Onus]

Bad RAM can cause such a variety of issues that it's good to check that first. Run Memtest on it, one stick at a time. If that test is inconclusive (the same stick shows good in one slot, but not in another), it could be a RAM slot on your motherboard. Clean out the slot with pressurized air.

 

[Michael Hillyer]

I pressed them both in some more, they where clean and I cleaned out my computer a bit. 8 GB is restored, I still don't understand what would be causing other problems with the computer like it turning off and such. I ran a GPU stress test, everything seems OK there. I also cleaned out my computer a little today, I got an electric duster coming in the mail soon + I did a virus scan, all good. Maybe it's AVG doing the watch dog thing, and heat has been a problem so maybe heating. Only time can tell.