Crash/Freeze Seems Random after adding a second USB external NTFS HDD

Windows driver verifier is a tool that stimulates drivers to find misbehaving drivers.
It will repetitively produce BSOD until misbehaving drivers are fixed or until the tool is turned off.

When a misbehaving driver is found it will be uninstalled and then the tool will be restarted to find the next misbehaving driver. Drivers can be reinstalled after they are uninstalled or after all drivers have been uninstalled.
The end results should be the same.

After each BSOD run the beta log collector and post a new zip for troubleshooting.
The tool will be run for 48 hours and after the last BSOD for an additional 36 hours.
If there are no more BSOD the tool will be turned off and that will conclude the use of the tool to find misbehaving drivers.

During the use of the tool the computer may become sluggish or the boots may be slow.
If there are problems the number of active tests can be modified to reduce the sluggishness or slower boots.

Use this link for the customized test settings:
Driver Verifier-- tracking down a mis-behaving driver. - Microsoft Community

Use this link for the methods to turn off Windows driver verifier:
Driver Verifier-- tracking down a mis-behaving driver. - Microsoft Community
All methods to turn off the tool are performed using the Windows advanced troubleshooting menu.
The methods used to turn off Windows driver verifer should be done in order advancing to the the next step only if the prior step fails to turn off the tool.
a) startup options (not startup repair) > click restart > select #6 safe mode with command prompt > type:
verifier /reset
b) command prompt > Administrator X:\Windows\system32\cmd.exe > X:\Sources> type:
verifier /bootmode resetonbootfail
c) system restore
System restore is used as the last option as very often the dump files are lost and little progress is made in the troubleshooting

Once you are comfortable with the methods to turn off the tool you can start using it.
Let us know whether the problem with freezing and crashes gets better, worse, or the same after fixing the misbehaving drivers.

zbook said:

Windows driver verifier is a tool that stimulates drivers to find misbehaving drivers.
It will repetitively produce BSOD until misbehaving drivers are fixed or until the tool is turned off.

When a misbehaving driver is found it will be uninstalled and then the tool will be restarted to find the next misbehaving driver. Drivers can be reinstalled after they are uninstalled or after all drivers have been uninstalled.
The end results should be the same.

After each BSOD run the beta log collector and post a new zip for troubleshooting.
The tool will be run for 48 hours and after the last BSOD for an additional 36 hours.
If there are no more BSOD the tool will be turned off and that will conclude the use of the tool to find misbehaving drivers.

During the use of the tool the computer may become sluggish or the boots may be slow.
If there are problems the number of active tests can be modified to reduce the sluggishness or slower boots.

Use this link for the customized test settings:
Driver Verifier-- tracking down a mis-behaving driver. - Microsoft Community

Use this link for the methods to turn off Windows driver verifier:
Driver Verifier-- tracking down a mis-behaving driver. - Microsoft Community
All methods to turn off the tool are performed using the Windows advanced troubleshooting menu.
The methods used to turn off Windows driver verifer should be done in order advancing to the the next step only if the prior step fails to turn off the tool.
a) startup options (not startup repair) > click restart > select #6 safe mode with command prompt > type:
verifier /reset
b) command prompt > Administrator X:\Windows\system32\cmd.exe > X:\Sources> type:
verifier /bootmode resetonbootfail
c) system restore
System restore is used as the last option as very often the dump files are lost and little progress is made in the troubleshooting

Once you are comfortable with the methods to turn off the tool you can start using it.
Let us know whether the problem with freezing and crashes gets better, worse, or the same after fixing the misbehaving drivers.

I started the verifier, checked all boxes as appropriate and rebooted. It did not take long before it blue screened & collected logs for about a minute till 100%, then I rebooted again, and same thing happened. Both times it did not get far enough to get logged on to Windows, so I could not collect any logs to post. Third time, it only gave me an option to repair. Now it is attempting repair, from what I assume is the most recent recovery point. Hopefully it comes back soon...

lrw

After each BSOD > open the windows advanced troubleshooting menu > turn off windows driver verifier using the steps in the link startup repair: (verifier /reset ) > return to the desktop > run beta log collector > post zip into the thread

In the BSOD window it should display a bugcheck. At times it may display the misbehaving driver in the form *.sys
If you see the misbehaving driver > record it > post it into the thread

In the left lower corner search type: system > open system control panel > under startup and recovery > click settings > make sure that automatically restart is un-checked.
With automatically restart unchecked it should display the BSOD window.

zbook said:

In the left lower corner search type: system > open system control panel > under startup and recovery > click settings > make sure that automatically restart is un-checked.
With automatically restart unchecked it should display the BSOD window.

OK, done. I'll start the process again.

lrw

The misbehaving driver was: hecix64.sys

Update the Intel management engine interface driver: hecix64.sys

Updating a driver. - Microsoft Community

Code:

meix64	Intel(R) Management Engine Interface	c:\windows\system32\drivers\hecix64.sys	Kernel Driver	Yes	Manual	Running	OK	Normal	No	Yes

I just noticed in the driver verification choices, there's a lot of AVAST drivers. I thought those should have been removed with the remove tool? Attachment 180219

lrw

That indicates the drivers were not uninstalled.
Please use the uninstall tool :
Avast Uninstall Utility | Download aswClear for Avast Removal

zbook said:

That indicates the drivers were not uninstalled.
Please use the uninstall tool :
Avast Uninstall Utility | Download aswClear for Avast Removal

I did use that tool. When my system is back, I'll try it again. Would that be why the verifier dies such an instant death?

lrw