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Windows 8.1 BSOD

Tags:
  • Blue Screen
  • Windows 8
  • Computers
Last response: in Windows 8
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March 4, 2014 6:56:47 PM

Hello folks!

So recently I've been experiencing some unusual things with my computer. I've never had any issues prior to the ones I've had in these couple of days which are the following:


  • Computer froze with a loud game sound while playing Battlefield 4 (not sure if the game caused the crash) - upon freezing the screen went black and the computer restarted itself. No error message showed up after logging in.
  • While I was using Skype's app for Windows the computer again froze, got the blue screen and then it restarted. Upon logging in I got an error message saying my Nvidia Graphics drivers stopped working. *NOTE* the computer was working just fine with skype running prior to plugging in my microphone (Turtlebeach headset) and turning on my webcam. Right after I turned on both, the computer started getting slow with problems in skype calls (couldn't hear/crashes) then computer froze and got the blue screen.
  • 2/3 times the computer has crashed while I've had Skype running plus the microphone plugged in. First time I didn't have my microphone plugged in.
  • First time my computer crashed and gave me the blue screen of death I only had Google Chrome open with YouTube playing a video.



    • Immediately after encountering the crashes I updated my Nvidia GPU, Intel chipset, Audio and everything else (camera, etc) with the latest drivers.
    • After today's crash (March 3, 2014) I decided to re-download and re-install the Audio Drivers (Realtek HD Audio Drivers)
    • I have a Nvidia GTX 770 2GB, 16GB RAM Corsair Vengeance and Samsung 840 250GB SSD with 2 Hitachi HDDs - Dual monitors.


  • I'm not exactly sure what has caused the computer crashes as I don't know how to check. I haven't gotten any error reports except for one about the graphic cards and I've already updated it to the latest one. If someone could tell me where to check error logs or something to know what caused the problem, I'd appreciate it.

    Symptoms I've noticed lately: My main monitor sometimes goes black and then turns back in as if it lost the signal with the GPU. It's connected via HDMI. This doesn't happen to the second monitor. Also, whenever I open some "intensive" programs (games in this case - Battlefield, World of Warcraft) I get some flickering, horizontal lines across the screen of my second monitor (this doesn't happen to my main monitor).

    *NOTE* There have been A LOT of power outages lately. They've been very frequent and power goes out and back on immediately and sometimes the computer stays on while the rest of the house is barely starting to get back on. I do not have a battery back up, just connected to a multi-plug.

    Thanks for the help! Really appreciate it!

    misc - extra info:

    -I've got quite a lot of things connected via USB, don't know if this slows my computer or anything.
    -I haven't updated my BIOS (MSI G45 Gaming MOBO)
    -Computer is relatively new, build it on August, 2013.
    -Core temperatures always range from 32C to 60C~ (60's when gaming)
    -The computer is next to my air conditioner but it doesn't actually blow any air into my computer, but I'm not sure if this can cause any condensation inside my computer and slowly ruin the components inside causing them to fail over time.

    PC specs:
    -i7-4770k quad @3.5Ghz
    -Galaxy GTX 770 2GB GDDR5
    -MSI G45 Gaming Motherboard
    -Thermaltake Bronze 750 watt PSU
    -Samsung 840 250GB SSD
    -Hitachi 2TB HDD
    -Hitachi 320GB HDD
  • More about : windows bsod

    a b * Windows 8
    March 4, 2014 7:35:02 PM

    Try reseating the RAM, reset the BIOS back to default or clear CMOS.
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    Best solution

    a c 481 * Windows 8
    March 5, 2014 1:42:04 AM

    Suspect it's time you invested in a UPS, those power supply interruptions can cause havoc for your PC...
    You probably have a hardware issue, smart money would be on your GPU from what you've written, can you borrow one to swap out?
    Meanwhile best check out your OS for corruptions.

    First try System File Checker
    Winkey plus 'X'
    Choose Command Prompt (Admin)
    Type sfc /scannow then Enter

    It finds and fixes errors in Windows, but doesn't always report them. Run it and see if the fault disappears after re-booting your system
    If corrupt files are found that can’t be fixed, try

    Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

    Re-run SFC

    To view CBS Log

    findstr /c:"[SR]" %windir%\logs\cbs\cbs.log >sfcdetails.txt

    Search C drive for sfcdetails.txt or navigate to C:\Windows\System32 and scroll down.
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    March 5, 2014 7:48:48 AM

    dodger46 said:
    Suspect it's time you invested in a UPS, those power supply interruptions can cause havoc for your PC...
    You probably have a hardware issue, smart money would be on your GPU from what you've written, can you borrow one to swap out?
    Meanwhile best check out your OS for corruptions.

    First try System File Checker
    Winkey plus 'X'
    Choose Command Prompt (Admin)
    Type sfc /scannow then Enter

    It finds and fixes errors in Windows, but doesn't always report them. Run it and see if the fault disappears after re-booting your system
    If corrupt files are found that can’t be fixed, try

    Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

    Re-run SFC

    To view CBS Log

    findstr /c:"[SR]" %windir%\logs\cbs\cbs.log >sfcdetails.txt

    Search C drive for sfcdetails.txt or navigate to C:\Windows\System32 and scroll down.


    Hey, thank you for your prompt reply. I performed a sfc and it didn't find anything wrong. I assume at this point that I could check somewhere else or might as well send my GPU to it's manufacturer and get a UPS
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    March 5, 2014 9:49:35 AM

    **UPDATE**

    After reading the answers provided and doing some extra research, I've done the following:


    • SFC - No violations were found nor any corrupted files
    • Performed a memory test - no errors were found
    • Checked (via MSI's command center) the voltages of the internal components - found them to be OK
    • Performed a check-up on my SSD - came out as HEALTH: GOOD.
    • Performed a driver/check-up on my HDDs - no errors were found
    • Uninstalled Audio, Graphics card and peripherals drivers and re-installed them back - installs were successful
    • Updated Adobe's flash player and Shockwave for Chrome (32-bit) *NOTE* as I wrote this, Shockwave crashed while trying to display a page I had open in a new tab


  • I suspect that it might be my GPU that could be at fault. I'm still trying to find other ways (I've heard minicrashdump?) to determine problems with my PC and what could of caused the crashes. I'll sell my GPU and grab a GTX 780 from EVGA and see how that works out.

    Again, thank you all for your prompt answers - if there is anything else I can do, please let me know!
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    March 5, 2014 9:55:16 AM

    dodger46 said:
    Suspect it's time you invested in a UPS, those power supply interruptions can cause havoc for your PC...
    You probably have a hardware issue, smart money would be on your GPU from what you've written, can you borrow one to swap out?
    Meanwhile best check out your OS for corruptions.

    First try System File Checker
    Winkey plus 'X'
    Choose Command Prompt (Admin)
    Type sfc /scannow then Enter

    It finds and fixes errors in Windows, but doesn't always report them. Run it and see if the fault disappears after re-booting your system
    If corrupt files are found that can’t be fixed, try

    Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

    Re-run SFC

    To view CBS Log

    findstr /c:"[SR]" %windir%\logs\cbs\cbs.log >sfcdetails.txt

    Search C drive for sfcdetails.txt or navigate to C:\Windows\System32 and scroll down.


    What kind of battery backup would you recommend that I get? I have a 750 watt power supply

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    a c 481 * Windows 8
    March 5, 2014 12:32:09 PM

    Don't know much about UPS, but you would be advised to use a Power meter to see how much your whole system uses, inc. monitors, so that when power fails you can see what you're doing as you shut down! You can get small monitor units that fit between plug and wall skt...
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    !