I've been getting frequent blue-screen crashes for the past three days while gaming, watching streams, and doing other normal tasks. The errors have included PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA, SYSTEM_THREAD_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED, and IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL. I've already run SFC and DISM, completed a memory diagnostic with no errors, and reseated and reinstalled the RAM, but I still can't identify the cause. My system has an Intel Core i7-13700, an RTX 4070 Ti, and 32 GB of RAM, with no overclocking enabled. I'm also having trouble compressing the crash-dump files into a ZIP.
3 Answers
You could also try rolling back a recent Windows update or using a system restore point. A clean Windows installation is reasonable after backing up important files, but if the crashes remain afterward, that points more strongly toward firmware, hardware, or a faulty driver rather than damaged system files.
The crash dumps are the best next step because they can identify the driver or component that actually triggered each BSOD. From Windows normally, or from Safe Mode if necessary, copy C:WindowsMinidump to your desktop first, then compress that copied folder rather than trying to zip it in place. If there aren’t any files there, configure Windows to create small memory dumps and collect several crashes before reviewing them.
Since you’re using a 13th-generation Intel processor, update the motherboard BIOS to the latest stable release and install the current chipset drivers. Some 13th- and 14th-generation desktop CPUs were affected by instability and microcode issues, so BIOS updates are especially important. If crashes continue with current firmware, check whether the processor is eligible for warranty replacement.
I checked the drivers already, but they all appear current. I’m considering a clean installation if the BIOS and dump-file checks don’t reveal anything.