Hi,

Thank you for this quick feedback.  I have ran the hardware tests in the past without any glitch being reported, but I will run them again, just for the sake of covering this source.

Note that in the meantime (since first appearance of this kind of issue about 18months ago) I have replaced the main HDD by a SSD but the problem persisted.

I'll keep you posted about the hardware tests (F12 menu).

Kind regards.

Hi, 

Thanks for writing to us. 

The BOSD could be either a faulty hd or a bad memory. 

Please run diagnostics from the f12 menu and observe for any errors. 

Also if there are two memory modules in the machine run the machine with one memory at a time. 

If possible, please try another HD on the machine, though its a tedious process as the error seems to happen to randomly , but would appreciate if you can try the following steps and observe. 

Do keep us posted.

Regards

Hi again!

I have run hardware tests all along since my last post here and can confirm that all tests passed successfully.

First I did the Boot Pre-Assessment Tests (via F12 at boot) with a special stress test on memory.

Then the PC automatically booted into the diagnostics partition. I ran all tests again and did a special full read test on the system disk (the SSD). It all went fine without any glitch or error report. I have a few screenshots taken with my smartphone's camera if that might help.

This being cleared, what investigation would you suggest ?

Thanks in advance for your support !

Kind regards.

Though the memory test passed, could we please try with 1 memory module or a different module if possible. If issue still the same, then got to suspect the motherboard (keeping in mind windows installed afresh after changing HD in past , so software is ruled out)

No Windows wasn't installed afresh after HDD replacement : I did clone all the partitions to the SSD (same capacity as the HDD), meaning that any software issue would have been carried over.

I'm personally suspecting some quite rare condition to occur at driver level for the specific hardware of this Dell laptop (each laptop is always very specific, unfortunately). The laptop is at highest BIOS level and I have downloaded and installed every driver from the Dell Support page.

Hi again and thanks for the fast response !

I'm not sure what we are pursuing here: the BSoD happens randomly about every 2 to 4 weeks.

Are expecting me to run without antivirus for that amount of weeks ? I would use the computer without anti-virus only for the time to change anti-virus software, not a minute more (connected to the Internet I mean obviously)!

If I uninstalled the anti-virus, do you want me to run the hardware scans again ? I'm not sure how tis is relevant as ALL hardware scans I ran were done from either the Boot Pre-Assessment Tests or from the Diagnostics partition, i.e. without ANT anti-virus influence.

I would not object to run the memory module test again (the laptop features 2 x Samsung M471B5273DH0-CH9 4GB DDR3 SO-DIMM PC3-10700SO DDR3-1334 (9-9-9-25 4-34-10-5) modules) but I'm not sure why suddenly an issue would be detected by the hardware scan with only HALF of the modules -- and no I have no alternative memory bank but as the HW scan doesn't show any issue how would using an alternative bank help it)?

Please share with me your approach so I can understand and participate in the narrowing-down.

Kind regards.

Hi Nice to hear from you.
I would definitely not suggest/advise to run a machine for so long without an anti-virus. Keeping in mind the issue occurring once or twice every 2-4 weeks, we are at wit's end.
As you rightly said a clone carries all the data as well as the hidden issues (software) as well to the new drive. Can we do a windows installation afresh.

Though the diagnostics have passed. very rarely we have come across situations a minor issues with bad memory modules are unseen by the tests. We can comment more post fresh windows installation (if its feasible for you).

Hi,

Thanks for coming back with your update.  I consider a fresh reinstall from the whole PC as a really high price to pay with no serious clue why and what it would actually resolve. In other words without any hint if it would be resoled.  Moreover I would have to reinstall and reconfigure *many* software pieces (and probably data) that got installed over the last 4 years on this computer. And that *is* a high payload I can assure you!

I would really prefer to have at least a hint or direction about what went wrong and was wondering if the mini-dumps should not be THE investigation starting point ? After all that's why they were created : to give system engineers a chance to troubleshoot the actual issue. And I have six or seven of them available for in-depth analysis by the right expert.

Also, while browsing some forums in a desperate search for some additional help I heard of activating some Windows OS mode or switch that triggers a high sensitivity and logging at driver level, specifically aimed at collecting such kind of issue with any driver  -- I have however sadly enough lost the web-page  / forum where I've read that. Have you experience with this mode and analysed the associated dumps / logs ?

Best regards.

Hi Nice to hear from you.
You can PM me the mini dump by clicking on my name in blue and then select send a private message, we will definitely analyze and get back to you.
Though the mini dump points towards a particular driver or an application most of the time, but uninstalling and reinstalling those software/drivers have rarely helped.
Will wait for the mini dump.
Thanks for your cooperation.

Hi,

I have attempted to send you a private message with minidumps stored in a 7zip archive (112k heavy) and sent as an image media. The upload went like a breeze but when sending the PM it failed with this error message here below. Was there a problem with the PM interface expecting a image (only) ? Which other media insertion button can I use ? (Insert link is disabled too)

Thanks for your directions!

Hi, I have sent a private message with my email address. Do mail me the dump.

Do mail me the dump

Just did it a minute ago  :-)

Hi Paul, 

Thanks for the minidump. 

Have sent to our sources to get it analyzed. Will keep you posted once i hear from them.

Regards