Multiple BSOD Error messages

Paul0o0o0 · 09 Apr 2020

Hello, a short while ago there was a major Windows 10 update and a few days after that I got my first ever random blue screen of death on this laptop. The error code was "DPC Watchdog Violation." Since then, I've had random bsod with various error messages including: "Unexpected Store Exception," and " Critical Process Died."

While trying to diagnose the issue I tried to undo the windows update, but it doesn't appear in the list of installed updates. I tried to restore the computer to an earlier state and, in doing so, found that somewhere in the Control Panel under System and Security it seems to think I'm running Windows 7. This laptop has never had Windows 7 installed. I bought it new with Win 10. In any case, I could not restore it to an earlier state because my AV was blocking it for some reason, but I'm not sure that would help anyway since all the restore points seem to be after the update (but I can't be sure because I don't remember exactly when the update happened).

Microsoft Windows version 1903 (OS Build 18362.720)

MrPepka · 09 Apr 2020

See - BSOD - Posting Instructions

Paul0o0o0 · 10 Apr 2020

Hello, here's the V2 report.

Thanks.

zbook · 11 Apr 2020

Hi Paul0o0o0,

The logs displayed Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-6700HQ

This chip supports DDR4 RAM up to 2133

The RAM is currently overclocked: Speed: 2400

Please return all overclocks to stock.

1) Open administrative command prompt and type or copy and paste:
2) sfc /scannow
3) dism /online /cleanup-image /scanhealth
4) dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth
5) sfc /scannow
6) chkdsk /scan
7) wmic recoveros set autoreboot = false
8) wmic recoveros set DebugInfoType = 7
9) wmic recoveros get autoreboot
10) wmic recoveros get DebugInfoType
11) bcdedit /enum {badmemory}

12) When these have completed > right click on the top bar or title bar of the administrative command prompt box > left click on edit then select all > right click on the top bar again > left click on edit then copy > paste into the thread

13) Make sure that there is no over clocking while troubleshooting.

11) Sometimes there are problems in the bios that produce BSOD.

The BIOS: BIOS Version/Date Alienware 1.5.0, 9/10/2018

12) Upgrade the BIOS: 1.5 > 1.9

https://www.dell.com/support/home/us...ware-17-laptop

13) In the left lower corner search type: system or system control > open system control panel > on the left pane click advanced system settings

a) > on the advanced tab under startup and recovery > click settings > post an image of the startup and recovery window into the thread

b) > on the advanced tab under performance > click on settings > on the performance options window > click on the advanced tab > under virtual memory > click on change > post an image of the virtual memory window into the thread

14) Open Ccleaner > click windows tab or custom clean > scroll down to system and advanced > post an image into the thread

15) For any BSOD:

a) run the V2 log collector to collect new log files

b) open file explorer> this PC > C: > in the right upper corner search for: C:\Windows\memory.dmp
> if the file size is < 1.5 GB then zip > post a separate share link into the thread using one drive, drop box, or google drive

Paul0o0o0 · 11 Apr 2020

Hi zbook, I'll get started on all that, but why would I be overclocked? This setup is exactly what I ordered from Dell (so stock) without any modifications. It's only recently that the bsod problems started.
Thanks.

zbook · 11 Apr 2020

It could be an anomaly and has not been verified.

Paul0o0o0 · 12 Apr 2020

Help! I'm panicking now. My computer won't start at all. It says "no boot devices founds."

Here's exactly what I did:
I started following your guide.
I thought your instructions were for disabling the RAM overclock. I completed steps 1-12 before I realized this isn't for the overclock problem.
I searched how to disable overclocked RAM and in the process decided to update my BIOS.
At the start of installation it warned me to not install it while overclocking.
I figured it was referring to CPU overclocking, but I decided to disable RAM overclocking first anyway.
So I rebooted, pressed F2 to enter BIOS, looked around everywhere for a way to change memory speed, but I found nothing.
Decided to not mess with any settings I know nothing about so I navigated to Exit>Discard Changes and Reset (even though I hadn't changed anything I chose this option just to be safe).
When the computer began the restart process it showed me the usual Alienware splash screen, then it went black and said "checking media presence........" then it went to Support Assist where it shows me the following:
Product Name: Alienware 17 R4
System Bios: 1.5.0
Service Tag:
ePSA: Build 4304.32 UEFI ROM

Under that is a big red X and it says "No Boot Device Found."

Please help me fix this, I'm depending on that laptop for so many things.

EDIT: OK, I'm back on my computer, but with limited functionality. I don't know why it worked, but I unplugged the charger and restarted the computer (I read something about trying that online) and it worked. So far, however, I've noticed that my graphics card is now "Intel HD Graphics" instead of my Nvidia card, and Tobii Eye Tracking says it's not configured. I wonder if I"m in safe mode. I seem to remember something about safe mode automatically triggering if you restart several times? I don't know, but I still need help, please.

EDIT2: I'm not in safe mode according to cmd: wmic COMPUTERSYSTEM GET BootupState
Which returns "Normal boot"

EDIT 3: You can probably disregard all that since I think I've traced the problem and fixed (unrelated). However, I still don't know how to disable the memory overclocking (and I can't find any help online, and many seem to have the same question since Alienware seems to not allow users to make that modification).
Should I go ahead and update the BIOS anyway, or should I not because the RAM is overclocked?

zbook · 12 Apr 2020

1) Make a new restore point:

Create System Restore Point in Windows 10

2) Make a free backup image: (save to another disk drive or the cloud)

Macrium Software | Your Image is Everything
Backup and Restore with Macrium Reflect

Perform these steps:

1) Open administrative command prompt and type or copy and paste:
2) sfc /scannow
3) dism /online /cleanup-image /scanhealth
4) dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth
5) sfc /scannow
6) chkdsk /scan
7) wmic recoveros set autoreboot = false
8) wmic recoveros set DebugInfoType = 7
9) wmic recoveros get autoreboot
10) wmic recoveros get DebugInfoType
11) bcdedit /enum {badmemory}

12) When these have completed > right click on the top bar or title bar of the administrative command prompt box > left click on edit then select all > right click on the top bar again > left click on edit then copy > paste into the thread

13) In the left lower corner search type: system or system control > open system control panel > on the left pane click advanced system settings

a) > on the advanced tab under startup and recovery > click settings > post an image of the startup and recovery window into the thread

b) > on the advanced tab under performance > click on settings > on the performance options window > click on the advanced tab > under virtual memory > click on change > post an image of the virtual memory window into the thread

14) Open Ccleaner > click windows tab or custom clean > scroll down to system and advanced > post an image into the thread

15) For any BSOD:

a) run the V2 log collector to collect new log files

b) open file explorer> this PC > C: > in the right upper corner search for: C:\Windows\memory.dmp
> if the file size is < 1.5 GB then zip > post a separate share link into the thread using one drive, drop box, or google drive

16) Upload a new V2 after completing the above steps