Hey guys. This may be in the wrong section. If so, I apologize.
I just got my computer back up and running (had to reinstall Win 7), but before I go back to loading all my programs back on, I'd like your input to see if I can ensure it doesn't happen again.
First off, this happened while I was playing a game. I should add that I regularly game on this PC and regularly play more graphically intensive games than the one I was playing when this occurred.
The game had been running for about ~4-5 hours, when the screen and sound froze (there was a slight buzz coming from the speaker) then the screen blacked out and BSOD came up. I restarted the computer, and it would no longer load into Windows.
Using any option: "start windows normally," safe mode, last known good config all brought up the BSOD right AFTER the Windows boot logo (the multicolored window flag animation). The BSOD had the same error codes each time. I could get into BIOS and "repair your system" page fine with no crash.
I have the error codes!
0x0000007f (0x0000008, 0x80050031, 0x000006f8, 0xfffff80002ed94b6)
^ Forgive me if the number of preceding 0's are incorrect.
Ok, so upon googling i found that 0x7f could be software or hardware related...or malware or driver related, none of which I could really do anything about outside of Windows.
The 0x0000008 code is "double fault" which has something to do with kernels.. at which point my head exploded and that was the extent of my ability in that department.
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Windows "checking for errors" could not identify the problem. System restore failed; it had one restore point from April 9 and restore could not complete.
Windows Memory Diagnostic also found no errors.
Next step was to try an "upgrade" install. That didn't work. I have a Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 disc, so it should have been compatible but the upgrade asked me to remove the DVD, reboot into Windows and try again......but Windows was broken. So that's out.
My final option was a fresh install. I managed to find a cool workaround to get all my important files off without Clonezilla or moving hard drives around. So I wiped and reinstalled, and here I am.
I don't want this to happen again, and while I'm assuming the game may have had something to do with it, I'd like to be sure that it's not something else that could repeat.
My speculations:
Malware: Maybe, but the error came up before windows could load, so a software issue wouldn't have popped up yet, right?
Game: Like I said, I've played more demanding games for long periods without issues. HOWEVER, this game was only installed and running for a few hours before the incident so.....strange coincidence?
GPU: It could be the GPU as I felt heat around it when I opened the case to inspect. I didn't physically touch it. Putting my finger in other SPACES of the case, I only felt heat coming off the GPU. Unfortunately I don't have a temp reading of the time of the incident as I didn't expect this to happen. I have Coretemp and GPUZ running now:
Current CPU temp: 33*C Current GPU temp: 42*C (only these programs and Chrome are running)
Other possible cause: Past peripheral damage. Everything in the case is less than 5 years old, aside from the HDD and the DVD drive. I started with a Dell Inspiron and turned it into a gaming rig one part at a time, all the way down to the case and Mobo a few months ago, after I fried my Mobo by trying to OC it. That poor Dell. This could possibly have caused damage in other parts, but everything has run fine from then up to this point.
Here are the current specs:
Motherboard: ASUS m5A97 R2, BIOS updated to 12/12/13 ver. 04.06.05
RAM: Kingston HyperX 8Gb (one stick)
Case: Ultra Etorque X4; vents all over, one exhaust fan (upper rear) and one intake fan (lower front)
CPU: AMD Phenom II x4 955
GPU: ATI Radeon HD 5770, fan is facing the PSU (facing down)
PSU: Rocketfish 550w (mounted at the bottom, fan up. I don't know if I can flip it over due to case holes)
HDD: Seagate ST350041 8AS. 500GB @ 7200RPM
Do you need anything else? I'm sorry about the wall of text, I'm just trying to be thorough. I'd like to know if it's possible to find the source so I can replace any damaged hardware or avoid software accordingly. Thanks.
I just got my computer back up and running (had to reinstall Win 7), but before I go back to loading all my programs back on, I'd like your input to see if I can ensure it doesn't happen again.
First off, this happened while I was playing a game. I should add that I regularly game on this PC and regularly play more graphically intensive games than the one I was playing when this occurred.
The game had been running for about ~4-5 hours, when the screen and sound froze (there was a slight buzz coming from the speaker) then the screen blacked out and BSOD came up. I restarted the computer, and it would no longer load into Windows.
Using any option: "start windows normally," safe mode, last known good config all brought up the BSOD right AFTER the Windows boot logo (the multicolored window flag animation). The BSOD had the same error codes each time. I could get into BIOS and "repair your system" page fine with no crash.
I have the error codes!
0x0000007f (0x0000008, 0x80050031, 0x000006f8, 0xfffff80002ed94b6)
^ Forgive me if the number of preceding 0's are incorrect.
Ok, so upon googling i found that 0x7f could be software or hardware related...or malware or driver related, none of which I could really do anything about outside of Windows.
The 0x0000008 code is "double fault" which has something to do with kernels.. at which point my head exploded and that was the extent of my ability in that department.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Windows "checking for errors" could not identify the problem. System restore failed; it had one restore point from April 9 and restore could not complete.
Windows Memory Diagnostic also found no errors.
Next step was to try an "upgrade" install. That didn't work. I have a Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 disc, so it should have been compatible but the upgrade asked me to remove the DVD, reboot into Windows and try again......but Windows was broken. So that's out.
My final option was a fresh install. I managed to find a cool workaround to get all my important files off without Clonezilla or moving hard drives around. So I wiped and reinstalled, and here I am.
I don't want this to happen again, and while I'm assuming the game may have had something to do with it, I'd like to be sure that it's not something else that could repeat.
My speculations:
Malware: Maybe, but the error came up before windows could load, so a software issue wouldn't have popped up yet, right?
Game: Like I said, I've played more demanding games for long periods without issues. HOWEVER, this game was only installed and running for a few hours before the incident so.....strange coincidence?
GPU: It could be the GPU as I felt heat around it when I opened the case to inspect. I didn't physically touch it. Putting my finger in other SPACES of the case, I only felt heat coming off the GPU. Unfortunately I don't have a temp reading of the time of the incident as I didn't expect this to happen. I have Coretemp and GPUZ running now:
Current CPU temp: 33*C Current GPU temp: 42*C (only these programs and Chrome are running)
Other possible cause: Past peripheral damage. Everything in the case is less than 5 years old, aside from the HDD and the DVD drive. I started with a Dell Inspiron and turned it into a gaming rig one part at a time, all the way down to the case and Mobo a few months ago, after I fried my Mobo by trying to OC it. That poor Dell. This could possibly have caused damage in other parts, but everything has run fine from then up to this point.
Here are the current specs:
Motherboard: ASUS m5A97 R2, BIOS updated to 12/12/13 ver. 04.06.05
RAM: Kingston HyperX 8Gb (one stick)
Case: Ultra Etorque X4; vents all over, one exhaust fan (upper rear) and one intake fan (lower front)
CPU: AMD Phenom II x4 955
GPU: ATI Radeon HD 5770, fan is facing the PSU (facing down)
PSU: Rocketfish 550w (mounted at the bottom, fan up. I don't know if I can flip it over due to case holes)
HDD: Seagate ST350041 8AS. 500GB @ 7200RPM
Do you need anything else? I'm sorry about the wall of text, I'm just trying to be thorough. I'd like to know if it's possible to find the source so I can replace any damaged hardware or avoid software accordingly. Thanks.