How to: Fix BSOD Nightmare

[dannymichel]

I have been using Foobar to convert my FLAC to MP3 and ConvertX to DVD to convert my AVI to DVD.
My problems started about 2 months ago when I was defraging my HDDs while simultaneously converting files and scanning for viruses while I slept.
I woke up to find my PC (Windows Vista Ultimate) at it's first BSOD.
I immediately scheduled a chkdisk for both my 320G Seagate Barracuda HDDs.
Now whenever I try to do intense converting of files such as AVIs or FLAC I get BSOD 10 minutes into the processes. I never had this issue before.
I'm actually sitting on a fresh (10 minutes ago) install of Windows Vista x64 because I thought it might have been an OS issue, but I just tried to convert FLAC again and just got another BSOD.

Stop Code: 0x0000007f

I need help trying to figure out what is causing this.
Maybe it's not the HDDs.
Maybe it's my CPU or something.
Are there tests I can run to figure this out?

My Hardware:
ASUS P5B-E LGA 775 Intel P965 Express ATX Intel Motherboard
Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 Conroe 2.4GHz 4M shared L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor
Logitech® Premium Notebook Headset
(2X) PNY Optima 1GB PC2-5300 DDR2 DIMM Memory
SABRENT SBT-SCIDE SATA to IDE Ultra ATA-100/133 Mini Converter
Asus Vento 7700
I-Inc TW-191D / 19" Wide / 5ms / 700:1 / WXGA+ 1440 x 900 / DVI·VGA / Black / Widescreen LCD Monitor with Speakers
GeForce 7600GT
Memorex MRX-510L dual layer multi-format drive
Logitech® LX7 Cordless Optical Mouse
600W Power supply
(2X)Seagate Barracuda 7200 SATA
Maxtor 4r080l0 80GB IDE
20GB Quantum Fireball HDD IDE

 

[nukemaster]

Get the ultimate boot cd and scan your ram with memtest86 under motherboard tools

http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/download.html

If you get errors, try to reseat(remove and reinsert it, it never hurts to clean the contacts with an clean(new) eraser.) the ram. sometimes this fixes it. Also make sure you are running your ram at the right voltage(too low can cause BSOD's with the same stop code you are getting).

 

[Shadow703793]

^Agreed. Also also test your CPU and HDDs. Nad if possible all the other hardware like the motherboard, PSU, graphics card, etc.

Link for problem description:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/137539

 

[juvealert]

come on man!! were you drunk that night?!!

"...My problems started about 2 months ago when I was defraging my HDDs while simultaneously converting files and scanning for viruses while I slept.
I woke up to find my PC (Windows Vista Ultimate) at it's first BSOD. ...."

hahahhah nice xmas joke

 

[dannymichel]

Get the ultimate boot cd and scan your ram with memtest86 under motherboard tools

http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/download.html

If you get errors, try to reseat(remove and reinsert it, it never hurts to clean the contacts with an clean(new) eraser.) the ram. sometimes this fixes it. Also make sure you are running your ram at the right voltage(too low can cause BSOD's with the same stop code you are getting).

What is that that I will clean the contacts with?

^Agreed. Also also test your CPU and HDDs. Nad if possible all the other hardware like the motherboard, PSU, graphics card, etc.

Link for problem description:
What]http://support.microsoft.com/kb/137539

What tools do I use to perform all those tests?

come on man!! were you drunk that night?!!

"...My problems started about 2 months ago when I was defraging my HDDs while simultaneously converting files and scanning for viruses while I slept.
I woke up to find my PC (Windows Vista Ultimate) at it's first BSOD. ...."

hahahhah nice xmas joke

Im not joking.

 

[dannymichel]

I just read my MOBO manual and I found "NEVER connect a USB cable to any of the IEEE 1394 connectors. Doing so. will damage the motherboard! ". I've had a USB connected to the 1394 for MONTHS. I only tried connecting something to it maybe 2-4 times though. I just tried switching the memory into another slot, but that didn't stop the BSOD.
I also did chkdsk on both HDDs

 

[dannymichel]

Is there an absolutely free hardware monitor with no adware to see my ram timings?
I think they are at 2:9 or something ridiculous like that when I leave it at the BIOS defaults.
Maybe it's that?
[edit] This is my CPUZ screen-shot
First SPD
Second SPD

 

[evilshuriken]

What is that that I will clean the contacts with?

He meant a pencil eraser.

 

[dannymichel]

What is that that I will clean the contacts with?

He meant a pencil eraser.

wow.
it was ram timings causing the BSODs.
I set them and am now at 1:2 according to CPUZ.
Im converting as we speak with no BSOD

 

[dannymichel]

Thanks so much guys.
Tom's hardware always feels like I'm at a professional help desk.