I've been having a nightmare with my new PC for about two weeks. It was running fine for the first three months, but then I started getting Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) errors. Initially, I brushed it off, but it kept happening. Eventually, I discovered using a diagnostics tool that the culprit was often ntoskrnl.exe, leading to errors like irql_not_less_or_equal and hypervisor error Ox20001.
Things got worse to the point where I couldn't even log into Windows. I tried Safe Mode and clearing CMOS, but it only worked once. Now, these BSODs happen every five minutes. Sometimes I can use the system for about 30 minutes while gaming or doing other tasks, but it crashes again.
So far, I've replaced the RAM and tried different slots, but the motherboard's yellow light indicating a RAM issue lights up every time it crashes. I suspect this could be a problem with the CPU or the hard drives, but I can't test the CPU for a few more days. I really want to figure out if this is caused by something I installed or if it's a hardware issue. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Oh, and I have the last dump file from when it crashed; I can share that too if it helps.
P.S. I ran a MemTest86 with the original RAM, and it passed, but I'm still not sure if it was accurate. I also recorded a video of the issue that I can share if needed.
2 Answers
First off, it sounds like your PC is really going through it! For starters, make sure to collect those dump files for a better BSOD analysis. You can find them in C:WindowsMinidump. If you can access Windows, zip that folder and upload it to a file sharing site. Having more than one dump file really helps narrow down the issue!
Also, check that your RAM is set to stock speeds by disabling XMP and run MemTest86 from a USB drive until it completes at least one full pass. If the memory passes without issues, I recommend running the DISM and SFC tools to repair any corrupted Windows files. Here are the links to those tools for your reference: [DISM Guide](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/use-the-system-file-checker-tool-to-repair-missing-or-corrupted-system-files-79aa86cb-ca52-166a-92a3-966e85d4094e). Good luck!
Oh man, I did run that MemTest86 on my original RAM, and it passed. It's just so confusing since the issues keep cropping up even with other RAM sticks. Trying to pinpoint the problem here is like chasing shadows!
I totally feel your pain! I ran into something similar, and it turned out to be a driver issue. After fixing it, the BSODs stopped completely. So, it might also be worth checking for outdated drivers if you haven’t done that yet!