Freeze Up/BSOD While Playing Games in Windows Vista (Updated)

[DrSatanDracula]

Hey friends,

I am having a problem where during gameplay on several games (I list at least three below) I begin to show signs of stuttering followed by the computer locking up. When the computer locks up, it either does one of three things (from most often to least often):

1. Simply freezes, not allowing me to move the mouse, input any keys, or otherwise do anything but force a restart. During this, the audio remains stuttering in my earsets.

2. Gives me a blue screen of death. A blue screen report is found below. The game freezes (with the audio stuttering) until the Blue Screen pops up.

3. The audio stutters, I can't input any keys, but the mouse works.

I have updated the drivers for my video card, the BIOS of my mother board, and the soundcard. The soundcard I have not tested yet to see whether that has fixed the problem. I have also run a full hardware diagnostic and the full SMART test on the HD without any problems.

The problem has occurred on these three games at least:

Battlefield: Heroes
Watchmen: the End is Nigh
Dungeons and Dragons Online: Unlimited

The error report on the last Blue Screen in Windows was this:

Problem signature:
  Problem Event Name:   BlueScreen
  OS Version:   6.0.6001.2.1.0.768.3
  Locale ID:   1033

Additional information about the problem:
  BCCode:   124
  BCP1:   0000000000000000
  BCP2:   FFFFFA800867D030
  BCP3:   0000000000000000
  BCP4:   0000000000000000
  OS Version:   6_0_6001
  Service Pack:   1_0
  Product:   768_1

The C:\Windows\Minidump\Mini100309-01.dmp file is attached.


What can I do to fix this and what is the likely culprit? This is extremely frustrating.

My computer stats are:

Windows Vista 64-bit Home
4 GB RAM
768 MB NvIdia Geforce 9600 GS
Intel I7 740 quad-core 64-bit procesor at 2.93 GHZ.

I bought this computer from HP.

EDIT: It is a desktop.

EDIT: As I said in the thread, another interesting aspect of this is that the problem does not repeat itself following the forced restart or BSOD. It is only when I let the computer rest for several hours turned off (properly turned off) that when I try the games again that it occurs.

UPDATE: 12-15-2009:

The system needed a new motherboard. The problem seems to be resolved. Three lemons of a computer sent by HP. They've lost my patronage forever.

[Saving space, attachment deleted by admin]

[Broni]

Download BlueScreenView
No installation required.
Double click on BlueScreenView.exe file to run the program.
When scanning is done, go Edit>Select All.
Go File>Save Selected Items, and save the report as BSOD.txt.
Open BSOD.txt in Notepad, copy all content, and paste it into your next reply.

[DrSatanDracula]

Download BlueScreenView
No installation required.
Double click on BlueScreenView.exe file to run the program.
When scanning is done, go Edit>Select All.
Go File>Save Selected Items, and save the report as BSOD.txt.
Open BSOD.txt in Notepad, copy all content, and paste it into your next reply.

First off? Awesome program. Secondly: Thanks.

Here's the info:

==================================================
Dump File         : Mini100309-01.dmp
Crash Time        : 10/3/2009 8:27:35 PM
Bug Check String  :
Bug Check Code    : 0x00000124
Parameter 1       : 00000000`00000000
Parameter 2       : fffffa80`0867d030
Parameter 3       : 00000000`00000000
Parameter 4       : 00000000`00000000
Caused By Driver  : hal.dll
Caused By Address : hal.dll+772a
File Description  :
Product Name      :
Company           :
File Version      :
Processor         : x64
==================================================

[Broni]

So, your computer bluescreened just once?
If so, there is not much to worry about.

[Mulreay]

Is this a laptop or a desktop?

[computeruler]

Sounds like a desktop from the cpu

[DrSatanDracula]

So, your computer bluescreened just once?
If so, there is not much to worry about.

The other blue screens didn't log a minidump file. This was the only one.

Also, none of the freezings and half-freezings left a minidump file. As I said, the most common situation is just the computer freezes, followed by situations where it freezes + BSOD, and those situations where it half-freezes with mouse control but no video movement, no computer control, no response to CTRL alt delete, et cetera.

This is a generally repeatable problem, too.

[DrSatanDracula]

This is a desktop, sorry.

[Broni]

The other blue screens didn't log a minidump file.

BSOD always leaves dump file (if dump files are enabled).

Download, and install Everest Ultimate Edition 4.6: http://www.lavalys.com:8081/everestultimate460.exe
Enter following registration code (Help>Enter product key) to make it fully functional:
RHGJE-54X47-HML9C-V498I-UUMVI
(it's all legal, the above version has been recently offered as a free download)
Expand Computer folder.
Click on Sensor.
Post all info from there.
Run it, when you play some game, so it's likely, the computer will freeze.

[DrSatanDracula]

BSOD always leaves dump file (if dump files are enabled).

Download, and install Everest Ultimate Edition 4.6: http://www.lavalys.com:8081/everestultimate460.exe
Enter following registration code (Help>Enter product key) to make it fully functional:
RHGJE-54X47-HML9C-V498I-UUMVI
(it's all legal, the above version has been recently offered as a free download)
Expand Computer folder.
Click on Sensor.
Post all info from there.
Run it, when you play some game, so it's likely, the computer will freeze.

I get this error message upon putting in full functionality:

This computer seems to have an Intel "Nehalem" CPU
The Current Version of Everest does not support your system.

It also tells me I can send in a hardware report. Shall I?

The sensor data reads:

Sensor type: CPU, HDD

GPU Sensor Type: Diode (NV-Diode)

Temp:

CPU#1/Core #1         47C (117 F)
CPU#1/Core #2         47C (117 F)
CPU#1/Core #3         44C (111 F)
CPU#1/Core #3         44C (111 F)
GPU Diode             51C (124 F)
SamsungHD642JJ        26c (79  F)

[Broni]

It also tells me I can send in a hardware report. Shall I?

No.

Did you take the above reading while playing some game?

[DrSatanDracula]

No.

Did you take the above reading while playing some game?

Not yet. That was just base.

I'll be loading up the game momentarily and give you that after 5 minutes of play or thereabouts (to make sure the CPUs warm up).

[Broni]

OK.

[DrSatanDracula]

Okay. I played the game for 7 or so minutes and it froze. It didn't BSOD, but just froze (again the most common is just freezing).

CPU#1/Core#1           50c
CPU#1/Core#1           50c
CPU#1/Core#1           48c
CPU#1/Core#1           48c
GPU Diode              72c
Samusng HD642JJ        26c

I wrote down what it said at the time of crash.

[DrSatanDracula]

Another notable thing:

Once the computer is forced to restart or has a BSOD, the problem doesn't occur again. It is only when I keep the computer off for about seven hours and play the games again (in the above case it was D&D online) that I have a problem.

That is to say, it is highly likely I could go and play D&D right now and not have a problem for hours on end. But if I were to shut off my computer now, restart it at 10 am, and play? I'd most likely have a crashing scenario.

[DrSatanDracula]

Right now I am playing the game and it maxes out at:

CPU#1/Core#1           50c
CPU#1/Core#1           50c
CPU#1/Core#1           48c
CPU#1/Core#1           48c
GPU Diode              80c
Samusng HD642JJ        27c

It seems it has averaged to cool down to about:

CPU#1/Core#1           48c
CPU#1/Core#1           48c
CPU#1/Core#1           46c
CPU#1/Core#1           46c
GPU Diode              74c
Samusng HD642JJ        27c

After playing even mroe the average was more like:

CPU#1/Core#1           49c
CPU#1/Core#1           49c
CPU#1/Core#1           47c
CPU#1/Core#1           47c
GPU Diode              76c
Samusng HD642JJ        27c

Post-freeze, the game ran fine for about an hour and a half.

[computeruler]

Woa, this sounds just like a problem I used to have. I tried rmaing the gpu like 5 different times and I installed a billion different drivers.  Nothing solved it.  Then I installed windows 7... Never a problem since.  Thats the only other thing I can think of to fix it if nothing else works.  Win 7 is better then vista anways

[Broni]

It doesn't look like overheating problem.

Go Start>Run ("Start Search" in Vista), type in:
sfc /scannow
Click OK (hold CTRL, and SHIFT, hit Enter in Vista).
Have Windows CD/DVD handy (with Vista, most likely, you won't need it).
If System File Checker (sfc) will find any errors, it may ask you for the CD/DVD (rarely in Vista case).
If sfc won't find any errors in Windows XP, it'll simply quit, without any message.
In Vista you will receive the following message: "Windows resource protection did not find any integrity violations".

[DrSatanDracula]

Woa, this sounds just like a problem I used to have. I tried rmaing the gpu like 5 different times and I installed a billion different drivers.  Nothing solved it.  Then I installed windows 7... Never a problem since.  Thats the only other thing I can think of to fix it if nothing else works.  Win 7 is better then vista anways

I'm not really keen on trying Windows 7 because Windows 7 is so new, ya know? I'm concerned with the fact that MS usually puts out crap to start off with. IT takes a while for it to get good.

I wouldn't even be running Vista if I had a choice. But this compter came with it and mjy older version of Vista as only 32 bit.

[DrSatanDracula]

It doesn't look like overheating problem.

Go Start>Run ("Start Search" in Vista), type in:
sfc /scannow
Click OK (hold CTRL, and SHIFT, hit Enter in Vista).
Have Windows CD/DVD handy (with Vista, most likely, you won't need it).
If System File Checker (sfc) will find any errors, it may ask you for the CD/DVD (rarely in Vista case).
If sfc won't find any errors in Windows XP, it'll simply quit, without any message.
In Vista you will receive the following message: "Windows resource protection did not find any integrity violations".

Running it now, thanks friend.

[computeruler]

Trust me, windows 7 is already good.  And it solves all my problems.  Its not anywhere close to being vista.  Way better then when vista was first released.

[Mulreay]

Nothing wrong with Vista. Lets not flog a dead horse. We all know that for what every reason people hate Vista..

[DrSatanDracula]

It doesn't look like overheating problem.

Go Start>Run ("Start Search" in Vista), type in:
sfc /scannow
Click OK (hold CTRL, and SHIFT, hit Enter in Vista).
Have Windows CD/DVD handy (with Vista, most likely, you won't need it).
If System File Checker (sfc) will find any errors, it may ask you for the CD/DVD (rarely in Vista case).
If sfc won't find any errors in Windows XP, it'll simply quit, without any message.
In Vista you will receive the following message: "Windows resource protection did not find any integrity violations".

I have Vista but it quit without any sort of message after 100 percent. So it seems nothing is wrong through that.

Sorry for the wait.

[Broni]

A. If you have more than one RAM module installed, try starting computer with one RAM stick at a time.

NOTE Keep in mind, the manual check listed above is always superior to the software check, listed below. DO NOT proceed with memtest, if you can go with option A

B. If you have only one RAM stick installed...
...run memtest...

1. Download - Pre-Compiled Bootable ISO (.zip)
2. Unzip downloaded memtest86+-2.11.iso.zip file.
3. Inside, you'll find memtest86+-2.11.iso file.
4. Download, and install ImgBurn: http://www.imgburn.com/
5. Insert blank CD into your CD drive.
6. Open ImgBurn, and click on Write image file to disc
7. Click on Browse for a file... icon:



8. Locate memtest86+-2.11.iso file, and click Open button.
9. Click on ImgBurn green arrow to start burning bootable memtest86 CD:



10. Once the CD is created, boot from it, and memtest will automatically start to run.

The running program will look something like this depending on the size and number of ram modules installed:




It's recommended to run 5-6 passes. Each pass contains very same 8 tests.

This will show the progress of the test. It can take a while. Be patient, or leave it running overnight.



The following image is the test results area:



The most important item here is the “errors” line. If you see ANY errors, even one, most likely, you have bad RAM.

[DrSatanDracula]

A. If you have more than one RAM module installed, try starting computer with one RAM stick at a time.

NOTE Keep in mind, the manual check listed above is always superior to the software check, listed below. DO NOT proceed with memtest, if you can go with option A

B. If you have only one RAM stick installed...
...run memtest...

1. Download - Pre-Compiled Bootable ISO (.zip)
2. Unzip downloaded memtest86+-2.11.iso.zip file.
3. Inside, you'll find memtest86+-2.11.iso file.
4. Download, and install ImgBurn: http://www.imgburn.com/
5. Insert blank CD into your CD drive.
6. Open ImgBurn, and click on Write image file to disc
7. Click on Browse for a file... icon:



8. Locate memtest86+-2.11.iso file, and click Open button.
9. Click on ImgBurn green arrow to start burning bootable memtest86 CD:



10. Once the CD is created, boot from it, and memtest will automatically start to run.

The running program will look something like this depending on the size and number of ram modules installed:




It's recommended to run 5-6 passes. Each pass contains very same 8 tests.

This will show the progress of the test. It can take a while. Be patient, or leave it running overnight.



The following image is the test results area:



The most important item here is the “errors” line. If you see ANY errors, even one, most likely, you have bad RAM.

Thanks, friend. I am going to download this and do this over night. I'll post back and tell you guys how it works out.

[DrSatanDracula]

I just did another scan-now and put the command in after loading the CMD to avoid it disappearing right after the scan and I got this back:

Verification 100% complete.
Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them.
Details are included in the CBS.log windir\logs\CBS\cbs.log. For example C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CBS.log

I think this is all the pertinent info in the attachment. I can't really make heads or tails out of it.



[Saving space, attachment deleted by admin]

[Broni]

The only issue, which couldn't be fixed was some issue with Sidebar ini file, so I don't think, it matters here.

[DrSatanDracula]

My memory test results were no errors over 15 passes (while I slept for some 7 hours).

[DrSatanDracula]

The only issue, which couldn't be fixed was some issue with Sidebar ini file, so I don't think, it matters here.

Hmm! Thanks for analyzing it. That's curious.

By the way: Thanks for your tremendous amoutn of help. As you might have seen, I've been thanking many of these posts.

[Broni]

You're welcome

My memory test results were no errors over 15 passes

Did you?

A. If you have more than one RAM module installed, try starting computer with one RAM stick at a time.

NOTE Keep in mind, the manual check listed above is always superior to the software check, listed below.

[DrSatanDracula]

You're welcome

Did you?

It's only one module of ram.

[Broni]

I see....

Download OTL to your Desktop.

    * Double click on the icon to run it. Make sure all other windows are closed and to let it run uninterrupted.
    * Under the Custom Scan box paste this in:

      netsvcs
      %SYSTEMDRIVE%\*.exe
      %systemroot%\system32\eventlog.dll
      %systemroot%\system32\scecli.dll
      %systemroot%\netlogon.dll
      %systemroot%\system32\cngaudit.dll
      %systemroot%\system32\sceclt.dll
      %systemroot%\ntelogon.dll
      %systemroot%\system32\logevent.dll

    * Click the Quick Scan button. Do not change any settings unless otherwise told to do so. The scan wont take long.
         

• When the scan completes, it will open two notepad windows: OTL.txt and Extras.txt. These are saved in the same location as OTL.
  
• Attach both files to your reply.

[DrSatanDracula]

I see....

Download OTL to your Desktop.

    * Double click on the icon to run it. Make sure all other windows are closed and to let it run uninterrupted.
    * Under the Custom Scan box paste this in:

      netsvcs
      %SYSTEMDRIVE%\*.exe
      %systemroot%\system32\eventlog.dll
      %systemroot%\system32\scecli.dll
      %systemroot%\netlogon.dll
      %systemroot%\system32\cngaudit.dll
      %systemroot%\system32\sceclt.dll
      %systemroot%\ntelogon.dll
      %systemroot%\system32\logevent.dll

    * Click the Quick Scan button. Do not change any settings unless otherwise told to do so. The scan wont take long.
         

• When the scan completes, it will open two notepad windows: OTL.txt and Extras.txt. These are saved in the same location as OTL.
  
• Attach both files to your reply.

Below you will find the attached files.

You're just a treasure trove of useful applications, man! Jeez! :) Thanks.

Also, here's another thing I did:

I popped in my system recovery disks (the ones that came with my purchase) and tried to a Windows Startup Recovery. The first time through, it said everything went okay (and that one small problem was repaired which apparently didn't cause any issues for me). Then when I did it again it gave me this error when it said I couldn't fix the problem:

Parittion table repair
Result: failed. Error code = 0x490
Time taken: 458ms

I assume this is because the repair worked the first time? Though I don't think this is the problem in terms of my game issue (though perhaps time will tell). Nor does it seem to cause any problem whatsoever.

NOTE: On the first test? This was -fine-. It said 'succesful'. It was only the second and third tests that it caused a problem. Also, as noted, I've done a host of HDD tests. None of them had a problem. This included the full Long SMART test as well as all the others. I am not too worried, but should I be? I mean again, the first test was fine.

Now I also have a minor problem:

Memtest apparently installed itself as a tool that lists itself as a boot option? Also, the system recovery thing did this same, under "Ramdisk Settings" . This makes it so that if I turn on my computer and don't specifically say 'oh no, go into Windows Vista' I would go into the recovery console instead.

Is there anyway to make Vista boot automatically without this screen coming back up? I don't want to every start up have to contend with this. Prior to this, I could do just that. It's more an annoyance, really, and I do imagine there is a way to make this boot automatically. But I don't relish the idea of having to turn on myc omputer and pay attention as it starts up for the next four years or however long I'll own it for.

To note: I don't have the recovery disk still in there.

I tried a quick fix myself (of the boot screen issues) that didn't work. As I had a system restore from just before I ran the system check, I tried to do that. But now it says system restore didn't complete succesfully due to an unspecified error.

UPDATE: Never mind on the annoying little problem. I fixed it. I don't have to worry about that system restore thing either, do I?

[Saving space, attachment deleted by admin]

[patio]

Parittion table repair
Result: failed. Error code = 0x490
Time taken: 458ms

Sounds to me as if that HDD has issues as well and may be the root of the problem...

But wait for Broni to return as he is more familiar with those logs...

[DrSatanDracula]

Sounds to me as if that HDD has issues as well and may be the root of the problem...

But wait for Broni to return as he is more familiar with those logs...

The first repair did this with no problem whatsoever. It was only on the second repair. In fact, let me edit my post to make sure everyone realizes that. It was only in the second and third test.

And I've done a full on HD Smart Test and a host of quick tests. The disk doesn't seem to have any problem.

[Broni]

Testing the HD with HD manufacturer tool was the very next thing, I was planning to suggest, and...it still may be the case, but...
Before we go there....your computer is infected.

Read here: http://www.computerhope.com/forum/index.php/topic,46313.0.html
Start new topic here: http://www.computerhope.com/forum/index.php/board,7.0.html
Do NOT post any logs in THIS thread.

[DrSatanDracula]

Testing the HD with HD manufacturer tool was the very next thing, I was planning to suggest, and...it still may be the case, but...
Before we go there....your computer is infected.

Read here: http://www.computerhope.com/forum/index.php/topic,46313.0.html
Start new topic here: http://www.computerhope.com/forum/index.php/board,7.0.html
Do NOT post any logs in THIS thread.

You didn't tell me what my computer had?

And okay. Let me go follow the instructions and see if I can't clean things up.

[DrSatanDracula]

Another Blue Screen just now (when I was testing if any of our prior things solved the issue):

Problem signature:
  Problem Event Name:   BlueScreen
  OS Version:   6.0.6001.2.1.0.768.3
  Locale ID:   1033

Additional information about the problem:
  BCCode:   124
  BCP1:   0000000000000000
  BCP2:   FFFFFA8008CF3030
  BCP3:   00000000BE000000
  BCP4:   0000000000800400
  OS Version:   6_0_6001
  Service Pack:   1_0
  Product:   768_1


Attached bellow is the Blue Screen thing.

It seems hal.dll (someone likes 2001...) is once again part of this.

[Saving space, attachment deleted by admin]

[Broni]

You have to have your computer cleaned up, first.

[DrSatanDracula]

You have to have your computer cleaned up, first.

Cleaning it up.

[Broni]

Make sure to post all logs there, so evil, or whoever can check them out.

[DrSatanDracula]

Make sure to post all logs there, so evil, or whoever can check them out.

Got that.

After I get the 'okay' there, we'll see what else we can do.

Thanks for all your help again, friend. You're so helpful.

[Broni]

You're welcome

[DrSatanDracula]

Okay, computer crashed in the third way when I just tried the game 5 minutes ago.

INstead of completely crashing, it let me control my mouse, but froze my screen in every toher regard, didn't allow me to click anything, didn't respond to ctrl alt delete, or to my keyboard, or whatever.

This happened when I clicked out of the game from its windowed mode. This is the only time it ever crashed when I wasn't actually in the window.

[DrSatanDracula]

Thanks everyone for their help. The problem was finally resolved as detailed in the updated first post.

[Broni]

Thanks for posting back

[DrSatanDracula]

Thanks for posting back

Thank -you- for your help on this matter. You were the man.

What's worse? HP admitted they have been selling a problematic line of motherboards.

[Broni]

You're welcome