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PC freezing issues

Started by David Campbell31 · · 👁 5 views · 9 replies

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Participants David Campbell31William Richardson12urbanseal5Benjamin King2Adam Bennett23mellowskipper91
David Campbell31 David Campbell31 NewcomerOP
3 messages
joined Jul 2009
#1 ·
So, I’ve got this old rig from back in 2008.
Here’s what I’m working with:
Intel Core i3
Asrock M3A UCC
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460

I’ve cycled through XP, 7, and 8 on this thing. Right now, it’s running an activated version of Windows 8.1 Enterprise.

The headache? The whole computer just freezes solid. The image stays on the screen, but everything else—mouse, keyboard, you name it—is totally dead. Even hitting Ctrl+Alt+Del does absolutely nothing. Every once in a while, it throws a BSOD at me, and the error messages are all over the place... something about the Kernel, or IRQL stuff...

After a massive deep dive, I’m pretty convinced it’s a graphics driver issue. I’ve tried basically every version under the sun, from ancient relics to the latest releases. I’ve done the whole routine: full clean installs, booting into Safe Mode, blah blah blah...
Nothing worked.

Ran some memory tests. Everything came back fine.

Swapped out the antivirus too. Tested it. System's clean.

I even tore the whole machine apart. Cleaned everything up, replaced all the thermal paste. Still nothing.

Sometimes it behaves for a few hours without a hitch. Other times, I can’t even get it to boot if I try hard enough.

Anyone have any bright ideas? 😍
It might be something super stupid that I'm completely overlooking.
🙂

P.S. It actually just died right while I was typing this. Got hit with an IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL message.
William Richardson12 William Richardson12 Regular
301 messages
joined Aug 2014
#2 ·
Grab the WhoCrashed program and just dump whatever it spits out right here.
David Campbell31 David Campbell31 NewcomerOP
3 messages
joined Jul 2009
#3 ·
So, here’s what Whocrashed had to say about it:

Crash Dump analysis
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Crash dump directory: C:\Windows\Minidump

Crash dumps are enabled on your computer.

On Tue 01/07/2014 16:37:48 GMT your computer crashed
crash dump file: C:\Windows\Minidump\070114-14203-01.dmp
This was probably caused by the following module: afd.sys (afd+0x6885E)
Bugcheck code: 0x3B (0xC0000005, 0xFFFFF800017AA85E, 0xFFFFD00026550E30, 0x0)
Error: SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION
file path: C:\Windows\system32\drivers\afd.sys
product: Microsoft ® Windows ® Operating system company : Microsoft Corporation description : Ancillary Function driver for WinSock bug
company: Microsoft Corporation
description: Ancillary Function driver for WinSock
Bug check description: This indicates that an exception happened while executing a routine that transitions from non-privileged code to privileged code.
This appears to be a typical software driver bug and is not likely to be caused by a hardware problem.
The crash took place in a standard Microsoft module. Your system configuration may be incorrect. Possibly this problem is caused by another driver on your system that cannot be identified at this time.

On Tue 01/07/2014 16:37:48 GMT your computer crashed
crash dump file: C:\Windows\memory.dmp
This was probably caused by the following module: afd.sys (afd+0x6885E)
Bugcheck code: 0x3B (0xC0000005, 0xFFFFF800017AA85E, 0xFFFFD00026550E30, 0x0)
Error: SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION
file path: C:\Windows\system32\drivers\afd.sys
product: Microsoft ® Windows ® Operating system
company: Microsoft Corporation
description: Ancillary Function driver for WinSock
Bug check description: This indicates that an exception happened while executing a routine that transitions from non-privileged code to privileged code.
This appears to be a typical software driver bug and is not likely to be caused by a hardware problem.
The crash took place in a standard Microsoft module. Your system configuration may be incorrect. Possibly this problem is caused by another driver on your system that cannot be identified at this time.

On Tue 01/07/2014 12:58:33 GMT your computer crashed
crash dump file: C:\Windows\Minidump\070114-14875-01.dmp
This was probably caused by the following module: dxgmms1.sys (dxgmms1+0x3718D)
Bugcheck code: 0x1000007E (0xFFFFFFFFC0000005, 0xFFFFF8000123718D, 0xFFFFD00023234458, 0xFFFFD00023233C60)
Error: SYSTEM_THREAD_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED_M
file path: C:\Windows\system32\drivers\dxgmms1.sys
product: Microsoft ® Windows ® Operating system
company: Microsoft Corporation
description: DirectX Graphics MMS bug
Bug check description: This indicates that a system thread generated an exception which the error handler did not catch.
This appears to be a typical software driver bug and is not likely to be caused by a hardware problem.
The crash took place in a standard Microsoft module. Your system configuration may be incorrect. Possibly this problem is caused by another driver on your system that cannot be identified at this time.

On Mon 30/06/2014 18:55:14 g your computer crashed
crash dump file: C:\Windows\Minidump\063014-15328-01.dmp
This was probably caused by the following module: ntfs.sys (Ntfs+0x324B7)
Bugcheck code: 0x24 (0xB500190637, 0xFFFFD00024950A68, 0xFFFFD00024950270, 0xFFFFF8015B0C373E)
Error: NTFS_FILE_SYSTEM
file path: C:\Windows\system32\drivers\ntfs.sys
product: Microsoft ® Windows ® Operating system
company: Microsoft Corporation
description: NT File System Driver
Bug check description: This indicates a problem occurred in the NTFS file system.
The crash took place in a standard Microsoft module. Your system configuration may be incorrect. Possibly this problem is caused by another driver on your system that cannot be identified at this time.

So, on Mon 30/06/2014 18:55:14 g, your computer just decided to call it quits and crash on you.
So, I've got this crash dump file sitting here on my drive: C:\Windows\Minidump\063014-16750-01.dmp. Any bright ideas on what we're looking at?
So, looking at the logs, it looks like the culprit behind this whole mess is likely that ntoskrnl.exe module (specifically at nt+0x14DCA0). Honestly, it’s usually the usual suspect when things go sideways like this.
So, I’m staring at this blue screen of death, and things aren't looking great. We're looking at Bugcheck code: 0xA (0xFFFFA00001B69710, 0x2, 0x1, 0xFFFFF800488C0EEE). Honestly, just seeing those hex codes pop up is enough to make anyone want to walk away from their desk and grab a coffee—or maybe something stronger. It’s one of those moments where you realize your PC has decided to take an unscheduled nap right when you actually need it to work.
Ugh, here we go again. Just got hit with that classic, soul-crushing IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL error. Honestly, there’s nothing quite like a Blue Screen of Death to absolutely ruin a productive afternoon, right? It’s like my PC just decided to take an unannounced vacation right when I actually needed it to work. Total buzzkill.
So, I was digging through some logs and ran into this file path: C:\Windows\system32\ntoskrnl.exe. Just thought I'd toss that out there in case anyone else is staring at the same thing right now.
Microsoft ® Windows ® Operating system company : Microsoft Corporation description : Ancillary Function driver for WinSock bug
Microsoft Corporation
So, I’ve been digging through these logs, and it looks like we're staring down an NT Kernel & System error. Honestly, it's one of those classic headaches that just makes you want to walk away from the desk for a bit. It's pretty vague, which is just great, isn't it? Just when you think you've got a handle on what's going sideways, the system throws a curveball like this. Anyway, let's see if we can make sense of this mess.
So, here's the deal: we're looking at a classic bug check. Basically, what happened is that Microsoft Windows—or some pesky kernel-mode driver—tried to touch paged memory while it was sitting at DISPATCH_LEVEL or higher. It’s one of those "you can't go there right now" moments that sends the whole system into a tailspin.
Honestly, this looks like your run-of-the-mill software driver glitch. I wouldn't lose any sleep over your hardware being busted—it’s highly unlikely that's where the real headache is coming from.
So, looks like the whole thing went down right in the Windows kernel. Honestly, my best guess? It’s probably some other driver acting up, but I can't quite pin down the culprit just yet. Total mystery for now.

So, get this—your computer decided to completely lose its mind and crash on Mon 30/06/2014 14:17:56 GMT. Just totally gave up on life right then and there.
Alright, I've got the crash dump file right here: C:\Windows\Minidump\063014-25000-01.dmp. Let me take a look at what's going on under the hood.
It looks like the culprit behind this mess was likely ntoskrnl.exe (nt+0x14DCA0). Honestly, that file always seems to be the one pointing the finger when things go sideways.
So, I'm staring down another blue screen of death, and this one is a real kicker. Bugcheck code: 0xA (0xFFFFB1E000055890, 0x2, 0x0, 0xFFFFF80202AB6212). Honestly, at this point, I’m starting to think my PC just has a personal vendetta against me. It’s one of those moments where you just want to close the laptop and go grab a coffee, maybe walk around the block, and pretend computers don't exist. But nope, back to the grind.
Ugh, great. Just what I needed today. My PC decided to throw a massive tantrum and spit out an IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL error. Honestly, if my computer were a person, I’d probably be looking for a restraining order by now. It’s one of those classic Blue Screen of Death moments that just makes you want to stare blankly at the wall for twenty minutes. Anyone dealt with this nonsense before? Any ideas before I lose my mind?
So, I was digging through the guts of my system and stumbled upon this one: C:\Windows\system32\ntoskrnl.exe. It’s basically the heart and soul of how everything runs under the hood in Windows. If this little guy decides to take a nap or starts acting weird, the whole machine basically throws a tantrum. Just one of those things you don't think about until everything goes sideways!
Microsoft ® Windows ® Operating system company : Microsoft Corporation description : Ancillary Function driver for WinSock bug
Microsoft Corporation
So, I've been digging through this mess, and here's what we're looking at: NT Kernel & System. It’s basically the core engine under the hood, and right now, it's acting like a total nightmare.
So, here’s the deal: this specific bug check basically means that either Microsoft Windows itself or some kernel-mode driver tried to touch paged memory while running at DISPATCH_LEVEL or higher. It's one of those classic "you weren't supposed to be in this part of the house" moments for your OS. Basically, the system tried to access data that wasn't currently in the physical memory when it absolutely needed it right then and there, and—poof—everything goes sideways.
Honestly, this looks like your run-of-the-mill software driver glitch rather than anything actually broken with your hardware. I wouldn't go tearing your PC apart just yet; it's probably just some code acting up.
So, looks like the whole thing went down right in the Windows kernel. Honestly, it’s a bit of a headache because it feels like some other driver is throwing a wrench in the gears, but I can't quite pin down exactly which one is acting up just yet. Typical, right?

So, looks like your PC decided to call it quits on you on Mon 30/06/2014 14:10:28 GMT. Total bummer.
Alright, I've got the crash dump file right here: C:\Windows\Minidump\063014-29484-01.dmp. Let's see what kind of mess we're dealing with.
It looks like the culprit behind this mess is most likely ntoskrnl.exe (nt+0x14DCA0). Honestly, that file always seems to be the one holding the bag when things go sideways.
So, I'm staring at this blue screen of death again, and it’s giving me the classic 0x50 error. For those who aren't deep in the weeds of system crashes, that's the dreaded IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL. The specific parameters I'm looking at are: (0xFFFFE0001B21D6E2, 0x0, 0xFFFFF8011CC7EF61, 0x2). Honestly, it feels like my PC is just throwing a tantrum at this point. It's one of those moments where you start questioning if you should just pack it in and buy a new rig, but then you remember how much you spent on this one. I'm trying to wrap my head around what exactly triggered this little meltdown, but right now, it's just a wall of hex codes staring back at me. Anyone dealt with this specific headache before?
Man, I am staring at this screen right now and just feeling defeated. I hit the absolute wall with a PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA error. Honestly, it’s one of those blue screens that just makes you want to close the laptop and go grab a coffee instead of dealing with the headache. It’s super frustrating because it feels like the computer is just tripping over its own feet. I've been digging through everything, trying to figure out if it's a memory issue or if some driver decided to go rogue on me, but so far? Nothing. Just me, my caffeine addiction, and a very unhelpful error message. If anyone has dealt with this nonsense before or has a clue what might be causing such a mess, please let me know. I'm all ears.
So, I was digging through my files and ran into this little guy: C:\Windows\system32\ntoskrnl.exe. Honestly, seeing that path pop up always gives me a tiny bit of anxiety, like I'm staring at the engine of a car while it's running at eighty miles an hour on the interstate. It's basically the heart of the whole operation—the kernel, the big boss of how everything talks to the hardware. If this thing decides to take a nap, the whole system goes down with it. Just one of those things you don't really think about until everything starts smoking and the blue screen hits.
Microsoft® Windows® Operating system company : Microsoft Corporation description : Ancillary Function driver for WinSock bug
Microsoft Corporation
So, I'm looking at this error report, and it’s giving me the classic "NT Kernel & System" headache. Honestly, it feels like my PC is just throwing its hands up in the air and deciding to take an unscheduled nap. It’s one of those vague-as-hell descriptions that leaves you staring at the screen wondering if you should call tech support or just go grab a coffee and pretend it isn't happening. Typical.
So, I just got hit with this bug check description: basically, it’s telling me that some invalid system memory was referenced. Translation? My computer decided to reach out and touch something it absolutely shouldn't have, and now everything is a mess.
Honestly, this looks like your run-of-the-mill software driver glitch. I really doubt you're looking at a hardware failure here—it's almost certainly just some code acting up.
So, looks like the whole thing went down right in the Windows kernel. Honestly, it’s a total headache because it feels like some other rogue driver is pulling the strings behind the scenes, but I can't quite pin down which one is the culprit just yet.

Your PC took a dive on Mon 30/06/2014 14:00:18 GMT.
Alright, I’ve got the crash dump file right here: C:\Windows\Minidump\063014-20515-01.dmp. Let me dive into this mess and see what's actually going on under the hood.
It looks like we're looking at a culprit here, and my money is on ntoskrnl.exe (nt+0x14DCA0) being the one that tripped the whole thing up.
So, I’ve been staring at this screen for a minute, and yeah... we've got ourselves a Bugcheck code: 0xA (0xFFFFA00008D63738, 0x2, 0x1, 0xFFFFF8000F97874E). Honestly, looking at these numbers feels a bit like trying to read tea leaves while someone's yelling at you, but it's definitely one of those "everything just stopped working" moments. It’s basically the computer's way of throwing its hands up in the air and deciding it's done for the day. Just a classic, frustrating moment where the hardware and software decide they aren't on speaking terms anymore.
Ugh, here we go again. Another blue screen of death to brighten my day. I just got hit with an IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL error, and honestly, I’m about two seconds away from throwing this whole rig out the window and going back to using a typewriter. It’s just one of those things where everything seems fine, you're right in the middle of something important, and then—BAM—total system meltdown. Just my luck, right?
So, I was digging through my system files earlier and ran right into this: C:\Windows\system32\ntoskrnl.exe. Honestly, seeing that file path pop up always gives me a little momentary panic attack—like, "Oh boy, here we go again." It’s basically the heart and soul of the OS, the heavy lifter keeping everything from falling apart. When things start acting wonky around this specific file, it usually means there's some serious drama happening under the hood. Just my luck, right? Always chasing down the ghost in the machine.
Microsoft® Windows® Operating system company : Microsoft Corporation description : Ancillary Function driver for WinSock bug
Microsoft Corporation
So, I was looking through the logs, and it looks like we’re dealing with an NT Kernel & System error. Honestly, just seeing that pop up is enough to make you want to close your laptop and go grab a coffee instead. It's one of those classic, vague headaches where the system basically throws its hands up in the air and says, "I give up!" without telling us why. Definitely feels like one of those moments where things just start to heat up and then—boom—everything stalls out.
So, here’s the deal: we're looking at a classic bug check. Basically, it means some part of Microsoft Windows or one of those kernel-mode drivers tried to touch paged memory while running at DISPATCH_LEVEL or higher. It's one of those "you weren't supposed to be in this room right now" kind of errors—kind of like trying to walk into a VIP lounge without an invite and then getting kicked out by security. In short, the system hit a wall because it tried to access memory that wasn't ready for it at that specific priority level.
Honestly, this looks like your run-of-the-mill software driver glitch. I wouldn't lose any sleep over your hardware—it doesn't seem like there's anything actually broken under the hood.
So, looks like the whole thing went down right in the Windows kernel. Honestly, it’s a bit of a headache because it feels like some other driver is pulling the rug out from under us, but I can't quite pin down the culprit just yet. It's one of those "whodunnit" situations where the evidence is currently a total mystery.

Your computer hit the panic button and crashed on Mon 30/06/2014 13:46:58 GMT.
Alright, I’ve got the crash dump file right here: C:\Windows\Minidump\063014-20125-01.dmp
Looks like the culprit behind this mess was likely this specific module right here: ntfs.sys (Ntfs+0x324B7).
So, I’m staring at this absolute mess of a bugcheck code: 0x24 (0xB500190637, 0xFFFFD000283509E8, 0xFFFFD000283501F0, 0xFFFFF8003165B73E). Honestly, looking at those hex strings just makes my head spin a little—it's like trying to read a grocery list written in ancient hieroglyphics while you're running a fever. It’s one of those moments where you just want to close the laptop and go grab a coffee, but instead, we're stuck here playing detective with the blue screen.
Ugh, great. Just what I needed today. I’m staring at my screen and—BAM—the dreaded "NTFS_FILE_SYSTEM" error pops up out of nowhere. Honestly, it feels like the universe is personally conspiring against my productivity right now. It's one of those blue screens that just makes you want to close the laptop and go grab a coffee instead. Anyone else dealt with this headache lately?
So, I was digging through some files and ran into this one: C:\Windows\system32\drivers\ntfs.sys. Just thought I'd mention it here in case anyone else is staring at that same path and wondering if their PC is about to go nuclear. It's one of those things you don't really think about until things start getting weird.
Microsoft® Windows® Operating system company : Microsoft Corporation description : Ancillary Function driver for WinSock bug
Microsoft Corporation
So, I was digging through some logs earlier and stumbled upon this one: NT File System Driver. It sounds incredibly dry, right? Like something you'd find in a dusty manual for a microwave from the 90s. But honestly, when things start acting up, this little guy becomes the center of attention. It’s one of those foundational pieces of software that just works in the background until it doesn't—and then suddenly, everything feels like it's falling apart. Just one of those "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" situations until it actually breaks.
The error message says there’s a glitch within the NTFS file system.
It looks like the crash happened inside a standard Microsoft module. Honestly, your setup might just be a bit wonky right now, or maybe some sneaky, unidentified driver is throwing a wrench in the works.

Your PC hit the panic button on Mon 30/06/2014 18:55:14 g
Here is the crash dump file: C:\Windows\Minidump\063014-20359-01.dmp
It points the finger at this module: ntoskrnl.exe (nt+0x14DCA0)
Bugcheck code: 0x139 (0x3, 0xFFFFD000288C61B0, 0xFFFFD000288C6108, 0x0)
Error: KERNEL_SECURITY_CHECK_FAILURE
File location: C:\Windows\system32\ntoskrnl.exe
Product: Microsoft® Windows® Operating System
Company: Microsoft Corporation
Description: NT Kernel & System
Basically, the bug check means the kernel caught a critical data structure getting corrupted.
Since this went down in the Windows kernel, it’s likely some other driver—one we can't quite pin down yet—is the culprit.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Bottom Line
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I dug through 51 crash dumps, though I've only pulled 10 into this specific report. So far, no third-party drivers are jumping out as the bad guys. You might want to grab WhoCrashed Professional if you want a deeper dive using symbol resolution. Also, setting your system to spit out a full memory dump could give us more to work with later.

If you're feeling lost, check out the general troubleshooting tips for system crashes to get some ideas.

Just a heads-up: it’s notoriously hard to say for sure if a specific driver is the true villain or if it's just collateral damage from something else. That said, your best bet is to hunt down updates for those drivers or just make sure Windows update is running smoothly. If you suspect your hardware is acting up, try a quick Google search for the specific bug check error along with your computer's brand and model—it might save you a massive headache.
urbanseal5 urbanseal5 Newcomer
1 message
joined Jul 2014
#4 ·
Update those network card drivers. You need to identify the exact model first, then go grab the latest version from the manufacturer's site.
It’s most likely a driver issue—try booting into Safe Mode to see if the crashes persist there. To get Windows 8 into Safe Mode, just run msconfig.exe (otherwise, you can use Start->run) and under the BOOT tab, check the SAFE BOOT box and select NETWORK.
David Campbell31 David Campbell31 NewcomerOP
3 messages
joined Jul 2009
#5 ·
I know how to boot into SM (Shift + restart)
But what makes you think it's a network driver?
Benjamin King2 Benjamin King2 Active Member
138 messages
joined Apr 2007
#6 ·
It's that adf.sys driver—without it, your network connection is basically useless. Since your motherboard doesn't officially support Windows 8, you might want to try running a driver update directly through Windows to see if it catches anything.

Also, give this Cleaner a shot; it’s pretty good at sniffing out incompatible drivers or buggy apps sitting on an 8 system: http://slimcleaner.com/

Was everything running smoothly back when you were on 7?
David Campbell31 David Campbell31 NewcomerOP
3 messages
joined Jul 2009
#7 ·
Back when it was running at 7, I was hitting the exact same wall. Honestly, it’s been a real headache trying to figure out if my drivers were acting up or if the card was just starting to heat up (it took me forever to realize I had to peel back all those shroud pieces just to get it cleaned out).
Also, I have to say, I'm feeling pretty accomplished 🤦 because I finally managed to get this 8.1 up and running, and now I'm being totally stubborn about sticking with it.
I’m going to give that Cleaner a shot tomorrow.😢

Though, looking over this report, it seems like those errors involving ntoskrnl.exe and ntfs.sys are popping up way more often??
Benjamin King2 Benjamin King2 Active Member
138 messages
joined Apr 2007
#8 ·
Those IRQL errors are almost always driver-related—it's rarely actually a hardware failure, though people love to jump to that conclusion—and honestly, things like an antivirus program can trigger them just as easily. As for that NTFS error, it’s pointing toward a file system issue; you might want to try running chkdsk to see if that clears things up.
Adam Bennett23 Adam Bennett23 Newcomer
7 messages
joined Jan 2016
#9 ·
Chloe Garcia22 said:I've got a rig from 2008.
Specs are:
Intel Core i3 Intel H61
Asrock M3A UCC
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460

It's run XP, 7, and 8. Right now, Windows 8.1 Enterprise is activated.

The issue is the PC freezes up—image stays on screen, but nothing responds. Keyboard and mouse are dead. Even Ctrl+Alt+Del does nothing. Occasionally I get a BSOD, and every single one shows a different error: Kernel this, IRQL LESS EQUAL that...

After digging around, I'm thinking it's the GPU driver. Tried everything from ancient versions to the latest ones. Clean installs, Safe mode, all that jazz.
Nothing worked.

Ran a memory test. Says everything is fine.

Swapped the antivirus. Tested it. It's clean.

Took the whole thing apart. Toasted the components. Replaced all the thermal paste. Still nothing.

Sometimes it runs fine for a few hours without an issue. Other times, I can barely even boot it up.

Anyone have any ideas? 😍
Maybe it's something stupid that I'm just missing.
🙂

P.S. It just died while I was typing this. Error message: IRQL LESS EQUAL something.

Go back to Windows 7.
Or check Task Manager; I bet Windows 8 is absolutely hammering your HDD.
Plenty of people deal with this, and that's why their machines stutter.
mellowskipper91 mellowskipper91 Newcomer
2 messages
joined Aug 2011
#10 ·
Do you handle clean Windows installations, or are you strictly doing in-place upgrades from Windows XP to 7, or 7 to 8.1?

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