PC crashes

[Nick]

Don't forget to enable minidumps again...

[ppppenguin]

Did that yesterday and just checked that they're still enabled.

[ppppenguin]

Switched on about a minute ago.

They're enabled. As I was posting the system crashed so there may be a minidump to analyse.

Getting the usual run of errors on the log. Including quite a few from WindowSMART2015. eg:

JoshuaHss: "Object reference not set to an instance of an object."

TarynHss: "Exceptions were detected validating the logfile path C:\ProgramData\Dojo North Software\Logs. Object reference not set to an instance of an object. The Server will attempt to use the default logging location."

PS: At present there's not even a minidump folder in the Windows folder. Can't find a DMP file anywhere on the C drive.

[Nick]

Uninstall WindowSMART2015 - it's not needed any more.

That error may be due to UAC being enable - it's the .NET equivalent of a null-pointer-reference exception, i.e. it could mean anything and is caused by the app. Anyway. it's not important, so uninstall the application.

[ppppenguin]

Uninstalled. I also used WhoCrashed to look for dumps. None found.

I've also used MSCONFIG to see what's starting at boot time. I got rid of some Xilinx and MS Office stuff which definitely don't need to start at boot. One persistent thing is Aomei Backupper which starts the ABNotify Application at boot. Even if I remove it using MSCONFIG it reappears at next boot. Looks like I can get rid of it: http://www.aomeitech.com/forum/discussio...bnotify/p1

I like the Aomei backupper. Nice easy way to make buckups and clone HDDs.

I still feel there's an important clue in the fact that just shutting down doesn't seem to cause a crash at reboot but switching off at mains does. I don't have 100% proof but that's what it looks like. What stays active at normal shutdown that doesn't when you switch off at the wall?

[Nick]

Hold it a second - you just turn off the PC at the wall rather than do a controlled shutdown?

Or do you do a controlled shutdown, then turn it off at the wall?

[ppppenguin]

Controlled shutdown then off at wall. Always.

Except after a crash when nothing else works. There's no BSOD, eveything just freezes. Mouse, keyboard both frozen. No repsonse to power button. When I switch back on I get the usual screen offering me safe modes or start normally. I always start normally. On one occasion I was watching a video on iplayer when it crashed. Picture and sound both stopped though sound was replaced by a nasty noise.

[Nick]

Ah. First time you mentioned "Freeze"... before it's been "Crash" - not the same.

If the MB is not responding to the power button (an NMI), this is more and more looking like an MB issue

Whilst upgrading the BIOS is the last think left on that front, I'm not sure it'll make any difference - can you upgrade the BIOS please?

When you're in there, could you re-seat all the memory & cards please? Also, the memory you're using, can we have the part numbers and sockets that they are in?

[ppppenguin]

Sorry. Should be more exact in my terminology. In my first post I was a bit ambiguous:

My new(ish) W7 PC tends to crash about 10 minutes after I turn it on in the morning. Completely stuffed, no keyboard, no mouse, no nothing. Display is frozen. Sound has made a nasty continuous noise once when it crashed in the middle of playing a BBC news report. Switch off, switch on. All comes good for the rest of the day.


Any ideas on diagnosis?

I'll reflash the BIOS and check the memory.

[Nick]

Mea culpa - The OP was so long ago, I'd forgotten!