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BSOD problem. Help!

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Simon97

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After 9 years of never a crash, now my PC keeps giving BSOD and restarts. I'm in Edge browser (as this is pretty much all I use it for). Need to hang on to this computer until prices fall back in line for a new build.
  • I ran Memtest86
  • virus scan (I don't open or download questionable files anyway and block ads)
  • reseat CPU chip (intel i3) and memory, removed unused wireless card.
  • check PSU voltages
  • checkdisk /f (never finds a problem)
  • turned off cpu cores in the bios
Don't know what else to check. I could reinstall windows and apps but that is a monumental task I'd rather save for doing on a new machine when that becomes affordable.

Any other ideas I can try?
 
Simon97 said:
After 9 years of never a crash, now my PC keeps giving BSOD and restarts. I'm in Edge browser (as this is pretty much all I use it for). Need to hang on to this computer until prices fall back in line for a new build.
  • I ran Memtest86
  • virus scan (I don't open or download questionable files anyway and block ads)
  • reseat CPU chip (intel i3) and memory, removed unused wireless card.
  • check PSU voltages
  • checkdisk /f (never finds a problem)
  • turned off cpu cores in the bios
Don't know what else to check. I could reinstall windows and apps but that is a monumental task I'd rather save for doing on a new machine when that becomes affordable.

Any other ideas I can try?
Click to expand...
Temperatures, perhaps? After nine years there might be dust accumulated on the fans and/or the fins of the heatsinks or radiator. HWinfo64 in sensor mode will tell you about your internal components.

Can you tell us more about the circumstances it BSODs under?
 
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The most direct way to find out what is going on is to analyze the dump files Windows creates when BSODs occur.

https://www.windowscentral.com/how-open-and-analyze-dump-error-files-windows-10

NOTE: By “most direct way” I mean one that doesn’t skirt around the issues and takes the most direct path to finding the core source of the problem. This type of analysis is probably not going to be the easiest to understand or provide a short route to a solution though.

There are some things you can look at that might not be quite so in depth and may point you in the right direction should you want to give them a go first.

https://www.howtogeek.com/222730/how-to-find-out-why-your-windows-pc-crashed-or-froze/
 
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Simon97 said:
After 9 years of never a crash, now my PC keeps giving BSOD and restarts. I'm in Edge browser (as this is pretty much all I use it for). Need to hang on to this computer until prices fall back in line for a new build.
  • I ran Memtest86
  • virus scan (I don't open or download questionable files anyway and block ads)
  • reseat CPU chip (intel i3) and memory, removed unused wireless card.
  • check PSU voltages
  • checkdisk /f (never finds a problem)
  • turned off cpu cores in the bios
Don't know what else to check. I could reinstall windows and apps but that is a monumental task I'd rather save for doing on a new machine when that becomes affordable.

Any other ideas I can try?
Click to expand...
  • Refresh video drivers?
  • Reseat video card, or remove it and use on-board video?
BTW, in relation to a query on video card prices and availability, I searched the Web a few days ago. Now, multiple sites are giving me "helpful" ads or video cards.
 
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When does it happen? Totally random? Startup? Or after hours of running?

You reseated virtually everything. How about the power cables?

Do you have enough ram that you could pull some?
 
Could be failed RAM stick. I had it happened to me.
 
Simon97 said:
After 9 years of never a crash, now my PC keeps giving BSOD and restarts. I'm in Edge browser (as this is pretty much all I use it for). Need to hang on to this computer until prices fall back in line for a new build.
  • I ran Memtest86
  • virus scan (I don't open or download questionable files anyway and block ads)
  • reseat CPU chip (intel i3) and memory, removed unused wireless card.
  • check PSU voltages
  • checkdisk /f (never finds a problem)
  • turned off cpu cores in the bios
Don't know what else to check. I could reinstall windows and apps but that is a monumental task I'd rather save for doing on a new machine when that becomes affordable.

Any other ideas I can try?
Click to expand...
RAM:
Running memory tests will not verify that ram cards are good. It only verifies that a ram card is bad if it fails. This is from many, many years of computer troubleshooting from my job as a computer technician and then tech support.

The only fool proof ways to verify that ram is not the cause are:
  1. Replace all of the ram as a test.
  2. If you have dual channel ram with 2 ram cards, remove card-B and run with only card-A. If problem persists, remove card-A and install card-B.
  3. If you have more than 2 ram cards, you get the idea from step-2 above.
I've seen so many times when ram tests ran error free for hours or overnight but one ram card was marginal. The ram card would fail only if a certain bit pattern was stored in certain memory locations and that specific bit pattern was not part of the ram tests.

PSU:
When you checked PSU voltages, did you use an oscilloscope? Using a voltmeter will not show if there is ripple on a voltage. Ripple on a voltage can cause intermittent problems. The best way is to substitute using a known good PSU.

REINSTALL WINDOWS:
You should have a backup of your system drive. Then you could make a current backup of that drive and install a previous backup that was made when you were not having problems. .... A better way is to buy another drive, install your known good backup on it and see what happens. If that's not the problem, no loss since the new drive can be used as a backup drive and one can always use backup drives.

Sky
 
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Simon97 said:
After 9 years of never a crash, now my PC keeps giving BSOD and restarts.
Click to expand...
Has the PC been 'over-clocked' at all.

If the CPU had been running at higher core voltage than stock/recommended then it can degrade faster than normal.

This would eventually manifest itself as 'instability' (freezes, BSOD, spontaneous re-starts).

The fix would be to back off on the over-clock frequency & voltage to some degree.
Member said:
I'm in Edge browser (as this is pretty much all I use it for). Need to hang on to this computer until prices fall back in line for a new build.
Click to expand...
Once in a blue-moon (several weeks or more between occurrences) my PC would crash, with BSOD, when closing Chrome browser.

Although it's too early to tell yet - I have a suspicion that I needed to increase my CPU's integral memory controller voltage (VCCIO/Vtt) to better cope with higher frequency RAM (2133 MT/s as compared to 'stock specification 1333 MT/s RAM' - but, whether that was the cause, only time will tell.
 
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No, I'm not into over clocking. CPU temp is cool. It's an i3 2120 3.3GHz I built 9 years ago. I'm not into games, so don't need the power, just using the built in graphics.

I haven't installed anything lately either.
 
I replaced the memory with two 2gb sticks. I had 8gb, but can live with 4. I scoped the 5 and 12 volt rails and that looks fine. I'll have to do some disassembly to check the 3.3v rail. I know it's not complete, but a visual check of the capacitors in the supply show no swelling.

This PC I built in 2012. It's very basic i3 2120 3.3GHz using on board graphics and no other cards. I haven't installed or updated anything besides what updates in the background. If I have to reinstall anything, I'll go buy a used PC. I can get a used one that's better in every way and has a warranty.

Thanks for your help
 
Not the ram. I have totally different memory in it now and it BSOD'd again.

I'd hate to reinstall everything and find it still happens. That's a solid day effort so I'm going to check a store that sells used computers.
 
A few things to try

  • Check if windows updated any drivers for you recently. They do sometimes push drivers through windows update. If so, roll back or reinstall them.
  • Disconnect any unnecessary devices one by one to see if that stops the crashes
  • download bluescreenview and web search the stop codes
  • Use Windows reliability history to identify patterns
  • Try a windows system restore back to when it was not having crashes, if such a point is available.
 
I once had my computer giving me constant reboots and it ended up being my internal button battery (CMOS battery):

Loading…

en.wikipedia.org

Just a possibility and a cheap fix. Try to install in a way that doesn't lose all your BIOS settings.........search for instructions.
 
Simon97 said:
After 9 years of never a crash, now my PC keeps giving BSOD and restarts. I'm in Edge browser (as this is pretty much all I use it for) ... /...

Any other ideas I can try?
Click to expand...
Antivirus/Internet Security software can sometimes cause problems.

What protection software are you using?

If you are using any 'third party' security software, then I'd suggest you could experiment either by disabling it, or maybe even un-installing it and revert to inbuilt Microsoft Defender?

Similarly, any browser extensions (ad-blockers, etc) - maybe try disabling, in turn.
 
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