BSOD's caused by ntoskrnl.exe

all 3 dumps had the same bugcheck - 0xef

A process critical to Windows suddenly and unexpectantly died.

my experience with 0xef and 0xf4 (a process or thread crucial to system operation has unexpectedly exited or been terminated) bugchecks are often related to a failing hard drive.

so, hard drive must be tested.

run chkdsk /f /r

run seatools for dos, LONG test - https://www.seagate.com/support/kb/s...rial-201271en/

for info, ntoskrnl.exe is the windows kernel & executive and can never be the cause of a bsod. it is listed in the dump merely as a default because the real culprit cannot be identified.

Sorry for the inconvenience. Here are the files but as attachment. Thanks in advance!

I have been able to fix the update problems through system restore. Still having BSOD's though. Currently going to run Memtest86+ with 8 passes.

1) The logs displayed a hardware error on drive 0.

2) Run HD Tune: (free version) (all drives)

Post images into the thread for results on these tabs:
a) Health (SMART)
b) Benchmark
c) Full error scan

3) Uninstall all third party software used to replace or modify drivers.
4) And replace all drivers installed or modified by the third party software:

a) Uninstall: Driver Easy 5.6.9 5.6.9 Easeware 20190309


b) Uninstall: Driver Booster 6 6.3.0 IObit 20190309

http://forums.iobit.com/forum/advanc...y-remove-iobit


5) Install all applicable drivers from the Gigabyte website for the computer's configuration:
GA-H81M-HD3 (rev. 1.0) | Motherboard - GIGABYTE U.S.A.

These drivers should replace any drivers installed or modified by driver easy and driver booster.

6) Make sure that all drivers installed on the computer are from the Gigabyte website.
For any drivers that are needed that are not displayed on the Gigabyte website please use the component manufacturer websites: Intel, Nvidia, AMD, Killer Networks, Realtek, etc.

7) Perform an manual Windows update after replacing the drivers.

Code:

Event[307]:
  Log Name: System
  Source: Disk
  Date: 2019-03-09T13:21:21.551
  Event ID: 154
  Task: N/A
  Level: Error
  Opcode: N/A
  Keyword: Classic
  User: N/A
  User Name: N/A
  Computer: DESKTOP-N5J8047
  Description: 
The IO operation at logical block address 0xa0c822 for Disk 0 (PDO name: \Device\0000002e) failed due to a hardware error.

Code:

Event[354]:
  Log Name: System
  Source: Disk
  Date: 2019-03-09T13:30:50.812
  Event ID: 154
  Task: N/A
  Level: Error
  Opcode: N/A
  Keyword: Classic
  User: N/A
  User Name: N/A
  Computer: DESKTOP-N5J8047
  Description: 
The IO operation at logical block address 0x172efc0 for Disk 0 (PDO name: \Device\0000002e) failed due to a hardware error.

Code:

------------------------
Disk & DVD/CD-ROM Drives
------------------------
      Drive: C:
 Free Space: 189.3 GB
Total Space: 237.9 GB
File System: NTFS
      Model: Samsung SSD 850 EVO 250GB

      Drive: D:
 Free Space: 600.5 GB
Total Space: 953.9 GB
File System: NTFS
      Model: ST1000LM024 HN-M101MBB

Code:

Description	Disk drive
Manufacturer	(Standard disk drives)
Model	Samsung SSD 850 EVO 250GB
Bytes/Sector	512
Media Loaded	Yes
Media Type	Fixed hard disk
Partitions	3
SCSI Bus	0
SCSI Logical Unit	0
SCSI Port	0
SCSI Target ID	0
Sectors/Track	63
Size	232,88 GB (250.056.737.280 bytes)
Total Cylinders	30.401
Total Sectors	488.392.065
Total Tracks	7.752.255
Tracks/Cylinder	255
Partition	Disk #0, Partition #0
Partition Size	499,00 MB (523.239.424 bytes)
Partition Starting Offset	1.048.576 bytes
Partition	Disk #0, Partition #1
Partition Size	100,00 MB (104.857.600 bytes)
Partition Starting Offset	524.288.000 bytes
Partition	Disk #0, Partition #2
Partition Size	232,28 GB (249.413.238.784 bytes)
Partition Starting Offset	645.922.816 bytes
	
Description	Disk drive
Manufacturer	(Standard disk drives)
Model	ST1000LM024 HN-M101MBB
Bytes/Sector	512
Media Loaded	Yes
Media Type	Fixed hard disk
Partitions	1
SCSI Bus	1
SCSI Logical Unit	0
SCSI Port	0
SCSI Target ID	0
Sectors/Track	63
Size	931,51 GB (1.000.202.273.280 bytes)
Total Cylinders	121.601
Total Sectors	1.953.520.065
Total Tracks	31.008.255
Tracks/Cylinder	255
Partition	Disk #1, Partition #0
Partition Size	931,51 GB (1.000.203.091.968 bytes)
Partition Starting Offset	1.048.576 bytes

I haven't come across a single BSOD past these hours. I followed the instructions of @zbook. I did a system restore to the point where Windows was basically freshly installed, so no Driver Booster or Driver easy and no drivers provided by those programs. I started updating the drivers through the site that @zbook provided me with. After I updated Intel Management Engine Interface, a BSOD appeared. I figured that had to be uninstalled and so I did that. Windows is up-to-date and seems to be running fine now. Thank you @zbook!

1) Please test both drives with HD Tune.

2) The dump files were on 3/9.
Allow a minimum of three to four days of regular computer use and possibly one week to evaluate computer stability /instability.

3) Each of the various software to test drives may perform similar tests but with different algorithms.
Some results may be the same and others different.

HD Sentinel has a proprietary test score.

Sea Tools is a pass / fail.

4) Run these additional tests on both drives:

a) Run HD Sentinel (free or trial edition)
Download Hard Disk Sentinel
Post images from these tabs:
a) Overview
b) SMART

b) Run Crystal Disk Info version 8 Standard edition:
Download Crystal Dew World
Post an image of the SMART results.


c) Run Sea Tools for Windows long generic:

http://www.seagate.com/support/downl...ls-win-master/
How to use SeaTools for Windows | Seagate Support US


5) Update the specs in the "My Computer" section:

System Specs - Fill in at Ten Forums | Tutorials
In the left corner below in your post you find 'My System Specs'.
After clicking it you can find a link a little below that says 'Update your System Spec', click on this link to get to the page where you can fill in your system specs.
System Info - See Your System Specs - Windows 7 Help Forums

Include PSU. cooler, case, peripherals and anything attached to the computer by wired or wireless (mouse, keyboard, headset, printer, xbox, USB wireless network card, etc.)


6) Open administrative command prompt and type or copy and paste:

chkdsk /r /v C:
This may take many hours so plan to run overnight.

Use the syntax: chkdsk /r /v C: or chkdsk /r /v D: to test all drives.


C:\WINDOWS\system32>chkdsk /r /v C:
The type of the file system is NTFS.
Cannot lock current drive.

Chkdsk cannot run because the volume is in use by another
process. Would you like to schedule this volume to be
checked the next time the system restarts? (Y/N)

Type: Y
reboot

7) Use the text and images in this link to find the chkdsk reports in the event viewer > copy and paste > notepad > post share links into the thread using one drive, drop box, or google drive

Read Chkdsk Log in Event Viewer in Windows 10 | Tutorials