HP laptop - Win 10 - constant Blue Screen of Death

[NewGuy]

Hi gurus, I’ve got an HP laptop with 2 months left in warranty. About six months ago it would shut down every week or two; I figured that some program update completed in a sloppy fashion. Then, about 2 weeks ago it started happening frequently, usually when down loading torrents. Google searches got me to set a switch which showed the ‘stopcode’ - it still would close down, power light still on, from time to time. Following Google advice, I did 1) Windows memory diagnostic test - no problems, 2) cpu-z and gpu-z - temperatures okay, 3) windows 10 assessment tool -okay, 4) chkdsk /f on all internal,external drives - no problems, 5) SFC scannow - found corrupted files and repaired them - still kept crashing, 6) tried a qBittorrent update - crashed on stopcode ‘kernel’.

 

I don’t think I can fix it myself. I doubt that deleting sensitive work files and giving it to jib for repair would work. Don’t know if I could get a shredder app to run without crashing to finish the job. A big ALSO is that I have to have it working well in two/three weeks. 
 

I’m in Pattaya. I would like to hook up with a Windows software expert, sit with him/her while the fix is done (eyeballs on my data). Who can you recommend?  
 

Cheers

[KannikaP]

50 minutes ago, NewGuy said:

Hi gurus, I’ve got an HP laptop with 2 months left in warranty. About six months ago it would shut down every week or two; I figured that some program update completed in a sloppy fashion. Then, about 2 weeks ago it started happening frequently, usually when down loading torrents. Google searches got me to set a switch which showed the ‘stopcode’ - it still would close down, power light still on, from time to time. Following Google advice, I did 1) Windows memory diagnostic test - no problems, 2) cpu-z and gpu-z - temperatures okay, 3) windows 10 assessment tool -okay, 4) chkdsk /f on all internal,external drives - no problems, 5) SFC scannow - found corrupted files and repaired them - still kept crashing, 6) tried a qBittorrent update - crashed on stopcode ‘kernel’.

 

I don’t think I can fix it myself. I doubt that deleting sensitive work files and giving it to jib for repair would work. Don’t know if I could get a shredder app to run without crashing to finish the job. A big ALSO is that I have to have it working well in two/three weeks. 
 

I’m in Pattaya. I would like to hook up with a Windows software expert, sit with him/her while the fix is done (eyeballs on my data). Who can you recommend?  
 

Cheers

Did you try uninstalling qBittorrent app and finding an alternative torrent client eg Vuze, Deluge, uTorrent or BitTorrent. 

If all your data is backed up, as it should be, you could try to repair Windows in Settings, or re-install together with all your other apps. That's sometimes a good thing because you only install apps you really need. 

[Amusements]

I presume your running antivirus? IE: Avast, AVG ect. If not then that would be the first thing to install and run, and I would also install and run ccleaner (both free).
 

If you already have no viruses and a clean system.. I would do as KannikaP suggests, and try a repair. If you have a windows 10 disk, then you could try fixing it yourself, by booting up in diagnostic/repair mode and following the on screen prompts. If you have no disk, but have a windows license, you can download a fresh copy>>  https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10?d2784474-fdb0-4e9d-9e47-5e88c0e053ec=True 

[GrandPapillon]

don't install a third party virus system, Win10 has a built-in one which is great, the other vendors are lame and "unsecured"

 

could be an immediate shutdown because of overheat, try to clean up the fan with a vacuum etc... use also a laptop stand with 2 powerful fans, that can help too

 

 

[userabcd]

Could be some hardware drivers or the cooling fan needs cleaning.

 

Try reinstall a completely new version of windows from scratch.

Edited January 27, 2021 by userabcd

[NewGuy]

On qBittorrent: I’ve had it running constantly for a year or more. My stem crashes when it’s not running; I think the torrent update crash just happened when a regular BSOD happened.

 

Anti-virus stuff: I run a free copy of Avast and a paid for version of Malwarebytes- they are on from boot. I use the Windows firewall.

 

Backed up data: I copy important stuff to a couple of external WD drives - redundant.

 

Win 10, MS Office original disks: I bought the laptop from JIB in Tukcom Pattaya. They installed both of them in the store, no disks, no disk drives. Regular Win 10 updates, can’t remember an MS Office update; am registered with both.

 

Over heating: my cpu-z, gpu-z tests showed normal temps. I will trying to blow out dust.

I am not confident about putting new versions on top of existing ones. What do you think about doing a ‘restore’, if necessary uninstalling various apps, adding them again later?

 

 

I sure would like a Pattaya-based pro to take my money and do the job.

 

 

 

 

 

[JoePai]

Format and start again fresh

[userabcd]

Usually the PC comes with windows already installed from the factory, strange JIB would install it in the store.

 

If it is a genuine copy of windows on the PC then the license can be checked and retrieved as it should be stuck in the BIOS.

 

Quite easy to then download Windows from Microsoft , create a bootable windows USB key and then install the usb and reboot and follow the windows install instructions.

 

Try uninstall some of those torrent software, step by step and test. The malware bytes should be OK. See if that helps.

Edited January 27, 2021 by userabcd

[GrandPapillon]

32 minutes ago, NewGuy said:

 

Anti-virus stuff: I run a free copy of Avast and a paid for version of Malwarebytes- they are on from boot. I use the Windows firewall.

 

 

 

 

 

whaoo, this is crazy, why would you do that? completely inefficient and could explain the overheat CPU

 

it's like putting 2 condoms for a short time, it's doesn't protect more and it's actually more dangerous ????

 

jesus, some people really are doing everything upside down when it comes to IT ????

[GrandPapillon]

26 minutes ago, userabcd said:

Usually the PC comes with windows already installed from the factory, strange JIB would install it in the store.

 

If it is a genuine copy of windows on the PC then the license can be checked and retrieved as it should be stuck in the BIOS.

 

Quite easy to then download Windows from Microsoft , create a bootable windows USB key and then install the usb and reboot and follow the windows install instructions.

 

Try uninstall some of those torrent software, step by step and test. The malware bytes should be OK. See if that helps.

 

don't think the author is a DIY enthusiast, could be too difficult TBH to do a full re-install without proper help

 

There are some digital version of Win10 you can get for $10, so that could originally have been one of them, or maybe it's bootleg and run bitcoins mining in the background,  typical Thai installation, which could explain the immediate shutdown problem ????

 

 

 

 

[ctxa]

3 hours ago, NewGuy said:

Hi gurus, I’ve got an HP laptop with 2 months left in warranty. About six months ago it would shut down every week or two; I figured that some program update completed in a sloppy fashion. Then, about 2 weeks ago it started happening frequently, usually when down loading torrents. Google searches got me to set a switch which showed the ‘stopcode’ - it still would close down, power light still on, from time to time. Following Google advice, I did 1) Windows memory diagnostic test - no problems, 2) cpu-z and gpu-z - temperatures okay, 3) windows 10 assessment tool -okay, 4) chkdsk /f on all internal,external drives - no problems, 5) SFC scannow - found corrupted files and repaired them - still kept crashing, 6) tried a qBittorrent update - crashed on stopcode ‘kernel’.

 

I don’t think I can fix it myself. I doubt that deleting sensitive work files and giving it to jib for repair would work. Don’t know if I could get a shredder app to run without crashing to finish the job. A big ALSO is that I have to have it working well in two/three weeks. 
 

I’m in Pattaya. I would like to hook up with a Windows software expert, sit with him/her while the fix is done (eyeballs on my data). Who can you recommend?  
 

Cheers

 

You forgot to mention whether it runs a SSD or HDD, I suppose that given how new it is, it would be a SSD. But just in case:

 

You should check whether your computer runs a SSD (solid state drive) or HDD (mechanical hard drive). If the second before you take the laptop anywhere, you should start by backing up your important data. 

 

An often overlooked reason of sudden BSODs could very well a dying (or corrupted) HDD. If it is an HDD I would bet (without even looking at it), there's your cause.

[NewGuy]

GrandPapillion: sure opinions differ, experiences too. My understanding is that Avast Antivirus and Malwarebytes do different jobs. An example, sometimes an incoming or outgoing connection is denied by M-Bytes. Sometimes I try to open a link in my browser and Malwarebytes won’t let me, along with a terse explanation. Avast doesn’t do that.

 

But anyway, who should I go to see to help me with the BSOD. I’ll go to JIB tomorrow; they used to be very helpful, but not the last times we spoke. I’ll try HP product support too but with low expectations.

 

Cheers

[NewGuy]

Got an SSD and hard drive. Tests have come back with calming results.

[connda]

For future reference.  Learn how to make disc images and do so on a monthly basis along with backing up your critical files.

If I was in your boat I'd have reverted back to a "known good copy" disc image from a month or two back.
Others say to reinstall.  That's not a bad idea as long as you know how to backup and restore all of your applications.  Most people don't have that skill.  That why I suggest disc imaging.  You go back to a point in time where you know things were good.  If you went back to a disc image you made a couple of months ago that was working dandy and you still have BSOD, the you may have a hardware issue.

You should probably go into your activity log and look at the System errors to see if you've got any.  If you don't know how to do it then Youtube's your friend. 

Other than that?  I spent half of an IT career managing MS Windows based systems and servers.  After i retired, gave up on MS Windows and moved to Linux (like Ubuntu or Linux Mint).  You can dual boot them (Another Youtube Is Your Friend topic).

Other than that?  Find a friend who knows something about MS Windows or take it to a tech shop.

[Eindhoven]

On 1/27/2021 at 9:41 AM, NewGuy said:

Got an SSD and hard drive. Tests have come back with calming results.

 

Does anyone here have any idea what this means?

 

Next time, post the model number of the laptop....or do you think that all HP laptops are exactly the same?

Otherwise, as you can see, you just lead everyone up the garden path.

[NewGuy]

Actually Eindhoven I was asking what shop or guru in Pattaya could help me with diagnosis and fix.

[GrandPapillon]

what it means is that the laptop has SSD for boot and a HDD for data ????

 

quite simple to understand ????

[GrandPapillon]

47 minutes ago, NewGuy said:

Actually Eindhoven I was asking what shop or guru in Pattaya could help me with diagnosis and fix.

don't think you could find an expert in Pattaya, would be hit and miss IMO

 

decent IT guy would need to spend at least half a day on your case to do it right, with data recovery and re-installation of everything etc... good farang IT guys are about 2,500 THB an hour in the west, anything less and you have garbage ????

 

so if min. of 4 hours, that would be 10,000 THB by a real IT professional. So the real question: is it worth it?

[Eindhoven]

21 hours ago, GrandPapillon said:

what it means is that the laptop has SSD for boot and a HDD for data ????

 

quite simple to understand ????

 

Word blindness? What about the rest of the same post?

[Eindhoven]

22 hours ago, NewGuy said:

Actually Eindhoven I was asking what shop or guru in Pattaya could help me with diagnosis and fix.

 

They already asked you for the model number.  

Run the HP UEFI Hardware Diagnostics. Sounds like a problem with RAM/or RAM slot or SSD.

 

Any workshop worth it's salt can remove your drives in front of you on the spot and test the device with their own stock in their own time.

So no eyes on your private data.

 

Moving on from that;

If you don't want HP to have access to your data(your device is under warranty), simply remove the drives. But inform HP of your intention so they do not try to void your warranty.

Alternatively, clone the drive(do it anyway, as the drive might fail completely and you'll lose your setup) and then run a Factory Restore before sending it to HP or handing it over to anyone.

 

 

 

[KeeTua]

WhoCrashed is a free small program that displays information by analyzing the crash dump files available on your computer. I've used it many times to help diagnose the cause of crashes.

https://www.resplendence.com/whocrashed

[GrandPapillon]

1 hour ago, Eindhoven said:

 

Word blindness? What about the rest of the same post?

"Tests have come back with calming results."? easy to translate ????

 

did some tests for the drives in the BIOS and the results was OK, no error or hardware error ????

 

[sammieuk1]

BSOD gives you an error code google it and download who crashed most errors are fixable or reinstall with the option keep my files ????

[Noahalters]

You can clean your computer again and reinstall windows for your laptop. Try to install with copyrighted windows instead of pirated ones on the internet.

[rcuthbert]

Disable add-ons.

Disconnect from Internet then disable your security programs.

If the problems continue, then open Start, and type system restore. Then click create a restore point. The window that opens shows system restore, click, and you will see a windows that directs you to your restore points....

Edited January 31, 2021 by rcuthbert

[NewGuy]

KeeTua, and other helpful respondents: thanks a lot.

 

I installed and ran WhoCrashed (free) and got results about my last five crashes. Malwarebytes had a nasty bit of code which caused three of them. I bought Driver Easy; it updated all old drivers. I got BCUninstaller (free) and the latest Malwarebytes, paid for edition. I uninstalled IObit Uninstaller which I hated and which might have been a culprit. It’s been three days now and no problems since. My fingers are crossed that I don’t have to relearn Windows tech stuff.

 

In 1985, after day work as a programmer, I’d work nights, $125 Canadian/hour, mainly just formatting drives and writing batch files. Stopped night work when I got enough dough to  buy a 10 meg hard drive on a card ($3,000) and along with a RAM drive my first 8086 IBM PC just flew.  Favourite software - Word Star and VisiCalc. Good old DOS days. Kinda liked Windows for Workgroups. Mainframe, DOS, and Windows Programming and systems analysis were my thing until after 2001 scare. 

[olfu]

more likely you have program's conflict--in cases like this reformat hard drive.