I hate to say it, but 99.999% of the time when I run into this (both your bsd's) it is a ram 'related' issue. If your memory sticks are ok, then it is probably something relating to your memory slots or the fsb. Sometimes, not even the memory stress tests find the problem. Considering you have tried both memory sticks individually in each slot and are still having issues, my best guess would be that your mobo needs replaced (assuming of course that this memory has no issues in another system).

just my $0.02...for what its worth

Just when we though we might be getting somewhere. Your minidumps crash with various culprits and bugchecks.

This is indicative of a hardware problem of some description.

I`d like to check your system for viruses/conflicts etc.

Go and read this thread HERE and post a HJT log as an attachment.

Edit: Just seen your post Platoxia. For what it`s worth, I tend to agree with you. BTW: Hello and welcome to Techspot.

Regards Howard

Ok, ran a hijackthis scan, and I've attached the log file.


Also, the thing that really seems to be crashing it predictably is running a virus scan with AVG free. Don't know what that means, but I'll try scanning again and see what happens.

Update:

Just finished an AVG scan (with one crash toward the end of it, but I was able to pickup where I left off and complete it) and nothing malicious found. Some of the things that are listed in teh hijackthis file point to Mcaffee though, and I thought I had uninstalled all of the mcafee software before I installed AVG. Latest dump file attached.

Attached Files

	hijackthis.log (6.4 KB, 2 views)
	Mini030307-03.dmp (88.0 KB, 2 views)

There`s quite a lot to get through here, including getting rid of a nasty adware bho you have.

Download the Pocket Killbox programme from HERE. Extract it but don`t run it yet.

You might want to copy and paste these instructions into a notepad file. Then you can have the file open in safe mode, so you can follow the instructions easier.

Boot into safe mode, under your normal user name(NOT THE ADMINISTRATOR ACCOUNT). See how HERE.

In Windows Explorer, turn on "Show all files and folders, including hidden and system". See how HERE.

Click start/run and type services.msc into the run box and press the enter key.

When the window appears, maximise it. Double click on the following services(if there) and select stop if they are running. Set the startup type to disabled. Click apply/ok for each service you disable.

McAfee SystemGuards (McSysmon)<Disable the service name and/or the name in brackets.
McAfee Real-time Scanner (McShield)<Disable the service name and/or the name in brackets.
McAfee Network Agent (McNASvc)<Disable the service name and/or the name in brackets.

Close the services window.

Open your task manager, by holding down the ctrl and alt keys and pressing the delete key.

Click on the processes tab and end process for(if there).

mcsysmon.exe
mcshield.exe
mcnasvc.exe

Close task manager.

Run HJT with no other programmes open(except notepad). Click the scan button. Have HJT fix the following, by placing a tick in the little box next to(if there).

O2 - BHO: CVirtualDNSObj Object - {86C510E9-97EF-4749-914F-0280247BE3A6} - C:\WINDOWS\VirtualDNS.dll

O16 - DPF: {4ED9DDF0-7479-4BBE-9335-5A1EDB1D8A21} - http://download.mcafee.com/molbin/sh...1/mcinsctl.cab

O16 - DPF: {BCC0FF27-31D9-4614-A68E-C18E1ADA4389} - http://download.mcafee.com/molbin/sh...26/mcgdmgr.cab

O23 - Service: McAfee Network Agent (McNASvc) - Unknown owner - c:\program files\common files\mcafee\mna\mcnasvc.exe (file missing)

O23 - Service: McAfee Real-time Scanner (McShield) - Unknown owner - C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\VIRUSS~1\mcshield.exe (file missing)

O23 - Service: McAfee SystemGuards (McSysmon) - Unknown owner - C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\VIRUSS~1\mcsysmon.exe (file missing)

Click on the fix checked button.

Close HJT.

Locate and delete the following bold files and/or directories(if there).

C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee<Delete the entire folder.
c:\program files\common files\mcafee<Delete the entire folder.

Run the killbox.exe file. When it loads type the full path to the file you would like to delete in the field and check the delete file on reboot button. press the Delete File button (looks like a red circle with a white X). It will prompt you to reboot, select no until you have finished inputting the files you want to delete, only then allow it to reboot and hopefully your files will now be deleted. If your computer doesn`t automatically restart, restart it manually.

This is the filepath you need to enter into killbox.

C:\WINDOWS\VirtualDNS.dll

Once your system has rebooted, rehide your protected OS files.

Post a fresh HJT log and make sure you rename HijackThis.exe as per the instructions HERE.

Your minidump crashes at your AVG Antivirus programme, but you already know this lol. Probably caused by a conflict with the McAfee programme that was still running.

Regards Howard

Wow, that is a lot. Thank you again for your help with this issue, I certainly appreciate your patience and help with my problem.
I will do as you suggest and copy/paste and run in safe mode. Luckily I have this laptop that I'm using now to post without fear of crashing etc.

I should have mentioned in my last post that the crashes during the anti-virus scan didn't go to a BSOD, they just caused a hard restart of the machine. Don't know if it's relevant, but there you have it. I will start on what you outlined above, and post an update.

Thanks again,

NB

***Update***


In the Services part of things, when I try to disable 'McAfee Real-Time Scanner', I get an error message saying

"Unable to open service McShield for writing on Local Computer. Error 5: Access is denied."

And it won't let me do anything to the file. The other 2 mcafee programs are disabled, but that one won't change from automatic. Argh.

Also, I don't know if this is relevant or not, but a see-thru file called 'thumbs.db' has turned up on my desktop. What's that all about? I've never seen it before.

Check in add remove programmes for any McAfee entries and uninstall them if there.

HERE are full manual uninstall instructions for McAfee.

This is partly why I hate McAfee and Norton, but at least Norton has it`s own removal tool.

Try and follow as many of the instructions as you can in this and my post above.

Regards Howard

Ok, I think the registry fix tool on the Mcafee page did the trick to get rid of those files. I believe I was able to follow your directions from the last post.

Here's the most recent HJT log and the last couple minidumps.

Attached Files

	Mini030307-08.dmp (88.0 KB, 2 views)
	Mini030307-09.dmp (88.0 KB, 2 views)
	hijackthis.log (5.4 KB, 3 views)

Your HJT log is now clean and free of McAfee entries.

Your minidumps both crash at NTFS.sys and have a bugcheck of 24.

0x00000024: NTFS_FILE_SYSTEM

A problem occurred within NTFS.SYS, the driver file that allows the system to read and write to NTFS file system drives. There may be a physical problem with the disk, or an Interrupt Request Packet (IRP) may be corrupted. Other common causes include heavy hard drive fragmentation, heavy file I/O, problems with some types of drive-mirroring software, or some antivirus software. I suggest running ChkDsk or ScanDisk as a first step; then disable all file system filters such as virus scanners, firewall software, or backup utilities. Check the file properties of NTFS.SYS to ensure it matches the current OS or SP version. Update all disk, tape backup, CD-ROM, or removable device drivers to the most current versions.

You need to test your hard drive for problems. I suggest you download the Powermax ISO hard drive utility. Burn it to cd as an image file, then boot from the cd and run the hard drive diagnostic tests.

Regards Howard

Hmm. Well, I've run the powermax quick test, and it claims to have passed. But after I hit any key to continue following the test, the top left of the status window showed "Error Opening Log File us".

I've had to restart it to do another kind of test. I'll try restarting one more time and doing an advanced test.

***UPDATE***

Trying to run the Powermax utility now seems to lock up before it can start. I get the splash screen, hit any key, then it goes directly to a black DOS screen that says:

A:\
A:\

And it just sits there.

***Another Update***

I've uninstalled AVG temporarily, and the straight resets without the blue screen that were presumably due to virus-program conflicts seem to have stopped.

I have also swapped the power supply from another machine in, and I am continuing to get the same crashes as before. Strangely though, it seems to not be writing minidumps again. It has crashed at least 3 or 4 times now without writing a new minidump file in the folder. In any case, switching the psu did not seem to make any difference.

-sigh- I suppose that means it's something to do with the motherboard.