Windows 8.1 Pro BSOD and Reboots

[sparkZbrite]

I installed Windows 8.1 Pro on a 128 GB Samsung SSD 840 EVO. The PC ran ok and I could play TitanFall without any problems, however I experienced frequent BSOD's when shutting down the PC. When this happened, the BSOD would appear and the machine froze.

When running driver verifier, the BSOD's would occur more frequently and the machine rebooted randomly. Windbg indicated different causes which included atikmpag.sys and files relating to ASUS software which came with the ASUS motherboard.

After removing and reinstalling software and video drivers I installed Windows 8.1 Pro and nothing else to a new SSD and all was ok again, until running driver verifier. Windbg indicated atikmpag.sys was a cause this times. I then removed all AMD video drivers, including Catalyst Control Centre which Windows 8.1 had installed automatically. Microsoft Basic Display Adapter replaced the AMD drivers. To prevent Windows from re-installing AMD drivers I disabled auto update.

The system had been running with driver verifier enabled, longer than previously without issues until I experienced another BSOD. Windbg indicated the crash was caused by : ntkrnlmp.exe ( nt!IopProcessWorkItem+76 ).

I have also tested my Windows installation on a HDD to rule out an SSD related cause but still experienced a BSOD. Could this be caused by an incorrect BIOS setting?

My System:

ASUS Z87 Deluxe
Intel i7-4770K CPU @ 3.50GHz
128 GB Samsung SSD 840 EVO
WD 1TB 3.5" SATA-III Caviar Black Hard Drive
ASUS R9290-DC2OC-4GD5
Creative Sound Blaster Zx
16 GB RAM

 

[smorizio]

boot into the bios or look at the mb serial number the last 4 number are the bios rev of the mb. use the usb flashback port and put the newest bios file on your mb. in the bios after the update make sure the mb is running in standard mode not performance mode. in the performance mode the cpu to ram timming may be off. in the bios under ai tuner turn on xmp profile and select profile one. with 16g of ram if your using two 8g dimms make sure there in a0 and b0 slots the main slots for the mb. if your using 4 dimms see if there 1.5 or 1.6v if there 1.6v you may have to raise the dram voltage. make sure the ssd firmware it uptodate if it out of date be care full some updates will wipe your ssd. make sure under onboard devices you turned off the onboard sound chipset if your using the soundblaster card. check to see if the soundblaster card sitting in the slot next to the video card. some pci slots share irq and it could be a irq issue with the sound card and video card. make sure you installed the newest intel chipset drivers and mei drivers from intel web page and the newest sound card drivers. under device manager try removing ati sound driver for hdmi see if it the issue. the last would be weak or bad power..and causing the gpu to lock up or there bad ram on the gpu.

 

[sparkZbrite]

boot into the bios or look at the mb serial number the last 4 number are the bios rev of the mb. use the usb flashback port and put the newest bios file on your mb. in the bios after the update make sure the mb is running in standard mode not performance mode. in the performance mode the cpu to ram timming may be off. in the bios under ai tuner turn on xmp profile and select profile one. with 16g of ram if your using two 8g dimms make sure there in a0 and b0 slots the main slots for the mb. if your using 4 dimms see if there 1.5 or 1.6v if there 1.6v you may have to raise the dram voltage. make sure the ssd firmware it uptodate if it out of date be care full some updates will wipe your ssd. make sure under onboard devices you turned off the onboard sound chipset if your using the soundblaster card. check to see if the soundblaster card sitting in the slot next to the video card. some pci slots share irq and it could be a irq issue with the sound card and video card. make sure you installed the newest intel chipset drivers and mei drivers from intel web page and the newest sound card drivers. under device manager try removing ati sound driver for hdmi see if it the issue. the last would be weak or bad power..and causing the gpu to lock up or there bad ram on the gpu.

Thanks for your suggestions. I had upgraded to the latest BIOS a few days ago. The MB was running in standard mode not performance mode. I enabled XMP Profile #1 as you suggested. I am using 4 DIMM; Crucial Ballistix Sport and they are 1.5v I believe.

My Samsung SSD firmware is upto date according to Samsung Magician software. I disabled onboard HD audio as you suggested, and the Soundblaster card was in the bottom slot, away from the video card. The newest Intel Chipset drivers and MEI drivers from intel were installed.

The system run ok until I enabled driver verification, in which case I experienced another BSOD after running for some time. I removed my video and sound cards and did a fresh install of Windows 8.1 Pro but the same problem exists. The system runs fine, it's only when I enable driver verification. As I'm not too familiar with all the BIOS options, I suspect something BIOS related.