BSOD Windows 8.1 atikmdag.sys

Nick875

Reputable
Apr 19, 2015
2
0
4,510
I'm getting the BSOD on a brand new laptop - literally crashed on day one. The BSOD occurs when I watch videos, it can take 5 minutes to crash or 55 minutes but always crashes eventually.
BSOD says: "SYSTEM THREAD EXCEPTION NOT HANDLED (atikmdag.sys)
I've looked around this forum but there doesn't seem to be a definitive solution.

Processor:
- AMD A8-6410 APU
- Quad-core
- 2 GHz
- 2 MB cache
Memory: 8 GB DDR3L

I did a crash report and got the following:

Microsoft (R) Windows Debugger Version 6.3.9600.17298 AMD64
Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.


Loading Dump File [C:\Windows\MEMORY.DMP]
Kernel Bitmap Dump File: Only kernel address space is available


************* Symbol Path validation summary **************
Response Time (ms) Location
Deferred SRV*C:\Windows\symbol_cache*http://msdl.microsoft.com/download/symbols
Symbol search path is: SRV*C:\Windows\symbol_cache*http://msdl.microsoft.com/download/symbols
Executable search path is:
Windows 8 Kernel Version 9600 MP (4 procs) Free x64
Product: WinNt, suite: TerminalServer SingleUserTS Personal
Built by: 9600.17736.amd64fre.winblue_r9.150322-1500
Machine Name:
Kernel base = 0xfffff803`e9a01000 PsLoadedModuleList = 0xfffff803`e9cda850
Debug session time: Sun Apr 19 22:33:46.883 2015 (UTC + 1:00)
System Uptime: 0 days 0:48:25.761
Loading Kernel Symbols
...............................................................
................................................................
..................................
Loading User Symbols

Loading unloaded module list
..........
*******************************************************************************
* *
* Bugcheck Analysis *
* *
*******************************************************************************

Use !analyze -v to get detailed debugging information.

BugCheck 7E, {ffffffffc0000005, fffff801798cf0ab, ffffd00062e96128, ffffd00062e95930}

*** ERROR: Module load completed but symbols could not be loaded for atikmdag.sys
*** ERROR: Module load completed but symbols could not be loaded for atikmpag.sys
Probably caused by : atikmdag.sys ( atikmdag+c50ab )

Followup: MachineOwner


Is this a problem with the hardware or the software? I was going to return it after it started crashing on day one, but didn't think there was much point if it was a problem with the software?

Thanks!
 
Solution
Most laptops, in fact, almost all, come with crap installed and rarely have updated driver versions. The first thing I'd do is try a CLEAN GPU driver install, by following the instructions at the following link in the clean drivers section.

http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-2492424/laymans-simple-guide-solving-graphics-card-issues.html


Be sure to use the latest drivers from the AMD website when you reinstall, and also install the latest chipset drivers for AMD which can be found here:

http://support.amd.com/en-us/download/chipset?os=Windows+8.1+-+64
Most laptops, in fact, almost all, come with crap installed and rarely have updated driver versions. The first thing I'd do is try a CLEAN GPU driver install, by following the instructions at the following link in the clean drivers section.

http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-2492424/laymans-simple-guide-solving-graphics-card-issues.html


Be sure to use the latest drivers from the AMD website when you reinstall, and also install the latest chipset drivers for AMD which can be found here:

http://support.amd.com/en-us/download/chipset?os=Windows+8.1+-+64
 
Solution

Nick875

Reputable
Apr 19, 2015
2
0
4,510


Thanks, will give this a try and let you know how it goes!

 

chs2004

Reputable
May 11, 2015
1
0
4,510
I purchased an hp laptop in dec2014 and it exhibited the same problem. I tried many of the suggested solutions but all failed to produce the goods. Finally I put a bit more thought into finding a solution and now believe the problem is introduced when the HP site applies the first chipset/video driver update. I believe it fails to update keys in the registry leaving random crashes inevitable when certain conditions come into play re graphics calls etc. To this end I removed the ATI CATALYST software a common source of errors according to many. Then I used CCleaner to clean up the registry and finally installed the latest driver software. This was about 4-5 weeks ago and to date I have had no further blue screens. I hope this fix lasts; only time will tell. Any future updates will be applied using the same method as ATI seem incapable of sorting this error out. It has been present in many machines for a few years now. Microsoft servers must have terabytes of error reports logged on this issue.

Hope this is of use.