Win7 SP1 x64 random BSODs

[radunn]

About 2-3 months ago I am getting random BSODs; sometimes as much as 2x daily, but not everyday. I initially used WhoCrashed Pro but switched to Blue Screen View as the latter has more detail. Occasionally a BSOD does not occur but the system freezes at Login (sometimes with a loud hum from speakers). Rarely the system will freeze with a black monitor display with kaleidoscope background colors. Most BSODs occur immediately after entering the password; other times loading an application will cause a BSOD. Almost all BSODs are APC Index Mismatch. Hope this helps.

System stats:
· OS - Windows 7 SP1
· x64
· purchased OS
· Age of system (hardware) - 3 yrs
· Age of OS installation - have you re-installed the OS? No

· CPU: Vishera AMD FX-6300, 3800 MHz (19 x 200)
· Video Card: Onboard AMD 760G
· MotherBoard - (if NOT a laptop) : ASRock 960GM/U3S3 FX
· Power Supply - brand & wattage (if laptop, skip this one): Corsair Pwr Supply CX430M

· System Manufacturer: Asrock
· Exact model number (if laptop, check label on bottom)

· Laptop or Desktop?: Desktop

 

[axe0]

Hi radunn,

It looks like you are running a OEM activation on a retail ASRock board, this would make your installation counterfeit.
The Forum Rules simply do not allow support for piracy in any way.

I would recommend that you clean install Windows using a genuine key and post back in case the problem returns.

Please do NOT illegally activate software, this can cause about the same problems as a counterfeit installation making troubleshooting only difficult wasting time unnecessarily.

 

[radunn]

Hi radunn,

It looks like you are running a OEM activation on a retail ASRock board, this would make your installation counterfeit.
The Forum Rules simply do not allow support for piracy in any way.

I would recommend that you clean install Windows using a genuine key and post back in case the problem returns.

Please do NOT illegally activate software, this can cause about the same problems as a counterfeit installation making troubleshooting only difficult wasting time unnecessarily.

Thank you for pointing this information out to me. Someone built the computer provided with a non-MS disc. What genuine disc do I need to buy for this system (for now and future OSs)? In advance thanks for your time and support.

 

[radunn]

Hi radunn,

It looks like you are running a OEM activation on a retail ASRock board, this would make your installation counterfeit.
The Forum Rules simply do not allow support for piracy in any way.

I would recommend that you clean install Windows using a genuine key and post back in case the problem returns.

Please do NOT illegally activate software, this can cause about the same problems as a counterfeit installation making troubleshooting only difficult wasting time unnecessarily.

Thank you for pointing this information out to me. Someone built the computer provided with a non-MS disc. What genuine disc do I need to buy for this system (for now and future OSs) and if I want to change hardware? What's the difference between a OEM and Retail copy? In advance thanks for your time and support.

 

[axe0]

The best secure place to get a copy of Windows is from Microsoft directly, it'll be expensive but worth it :)

OEM activation has a few versions, FYI OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer a.k.a the manufacturer.
1. You have the OEM SLP what stands for System Locked Preinstallation, these are used only once as they are bound to the hardware and flashed in the BIOS, these kind are used for Windows that comes preinstalled on laptops.
A OEM SLP can be called a hardware key, when reinstalling Windows a key is not required so it can be skipped during installation. Normally with a OEM SLP activation you never have to enter a key.

2. There is also the NSLP one, this is a Non System Locked Preinstallation, this one does need to be entered when while installing a key is required.
This one can be seen as a retail key, but it is distributed and supported by the OEM. As only a motherboard change is seen as a new system a phone call to Microsoft is required for activating this key when changing the motherboard. Microsoft will activate the key ONLY when the replacement is because of a problem with the motherboard like a failing or faulty one, not when you want to upgrade while there is nothing wrong with the current one.

3. There is also the OEM COA, COA stands for Certificate of Authentication. The OEM:COA is normally provided via a COA sticker pasted on the casing (side or bottom body) of new desktop, notebook, laptop, netbook or nettop PC, which has already been activated with a pre-installed OEM:SLP key by the OEM.


A retail key doesn't really have specific requirements that I'm aware of, I did not read the EULA (End User License Agreement) but I'm aware of a few things by reading many threads about activation.
A retail key can be installed on any system without reactivation through phone call or something, I believe the only requirement is that the key needs to be uninstalled from the previous system to be used again.

 

[radunn]

The best secure place to get a copy of Windows is from Microsoft directly, it'll be expensive but worth it :)

OEM activation has a few versions, FYI OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer a.k.a the manufacturer.
1. You have the OEM SLP what stands for System Locked Preinstallation, these are used only once as they are bound to the hardware and flashed in the BIOS, these kind are used for Windows that comes preinstalled on laptops.
A OEM SLP can be called a hardware key, when reinstalling Windows a key is not required so it can be skipped during installation. Normally with a OEM SLP activation you never have to enter a key.

2. There is also the NSLP one, this is a Non System Locked Preinstallation, this one does need to be entered when while installing a key is required.
This one can be seen as a retail key, but it is distributed and supported by the OEM. As only a motherboard change is seen as a new system a phone call to Microsoft is required for activating this key when changing the motherboard. Microsoft will activate the key ONLY when the replacement is because of a problem with the motherboard like a failing or faulty one, not when you want to upgrade while there is nothing wrong with the current one.

3. There is also the OEM COA, COA stands for Certificate of Authentication. The OEM:COA is normally provided via a COA sticker pasted on the casing (side or bottom body) of new desktop, notebook, laptop, netbook or nettop PC, which has already been activated with a pre-installed OEM:SLP key by the OEM.


A retail key doesn't really have specific requirements that I'm aware of, I did not read the EULA (End User License Agreement) but I'm aware of a few things by reading many threads about activation.
A retail key can be installed on any system without reactivation through phone call or something, I believe the only requirement is that the key needs to be uninstalled from the previous system to be used again.

I purchased a retail DVD of Windows 8.1. I have not received any BSODs (knock on wood) but occasionally when I bootup (Welcome screen) the computer freezes disabling me from the password option. The keyboard/mouse doesn't work etc. Doing a reset resolves this issue? What might be the culprit? In advance thanks.

 

[axe0]

Did you perform a clean install of Windows 8.1? Thus did you delete all partitions before installing Windows 8.1?

I'm thinking that fast startup may be an issue, could you please disable it.
How to disable it, open an admin command prompt and enter following command

powercfg -h off

Reboot the system.