Random Restarts

I'm not sure if this is Windows related but it started shortly after upgrading to 10.

I had some hardware issues causing heat-related shut downs/reboots.  Installed Speccy and found that my CPU was running hot so I took it in to a local shop where they found that the CPU fan was just flopping around on top of the MB (nice workmanship HP).  The shop screwed it down & things were good until I did the upgrade to 10.  Since then, I've had the random reboot issue when using the laptop.

Editor's note:  Speccy just informed me while typing this that my CPU was running at  73 C.  Remembering something I read, I unplugged the USB 3.0 thumb drive, LED/USB lamp and USB 2.0 drive I normally have plugged in and the temp dropped to 51 C. I plugged everything back in and the temp is stable at 51 C.

Not sure what's going on here. Any ideas?

USB drive making the temp rise?  Shouldn't be happening (and can't say that I've ever seen it before).

Make sure that you continuously monitor your temps for the time being.

Wait until it randomly restarts again (and you're sure it isn't the temps), then immediately generate these 2 sets of reports:

Let's try looking at these 2 sets of reports:

Report Set #1)  Please run this report collecting tool (even though you may not be experiencing BSOD's) so that we can provide a complete analysis: (from the pinned topic at the top of the forum)   http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/t/576314/blue-screen-of-death-bsod-posting-instructions-windows-10-81-8-7-vista/

If you have problems with it running it, there's an alternate tool here (direct download link):  https://github.com/blueelvis/BSOD-Inspector/releases/download/1.0.5/BSODInspector-1.0.5.exe

NOTE:
Please zip up the (.ZIP) files - do not use .RAR or other compression utilities. 
.ZIP is the type file that can be uploaded to the forums.

Report Set #2)  Please do the following:
- open Event Viewer (run eventvwr.msc from the "Run" dialog)
- expand the Custom Views category (left click on the > next to the words "Custom Views")
- right click on the "Administrative Events" heading
- select "Save all Events in Custom View as..."
- save the file as Admin.evtx
- zip up the file (right click on it, select "Send to", select "Compressed (zipped) folder")
- upload it with your next post (if it's too big, then upload it to a free file-hosting service and post a link here).

FYI - If we're looking for Event ID 41 errors (unexplained shutdowns), there's more info on that here:  http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2028504
The Event ID 41 error is simply Windows saying that it doesn't know why it shutdown.

While waiting for a reply, please monitor your temps with one of these free utilies: 
SpeedFan:  http://www.almico.com/sfdownload.php
HWMonitor:  https://www.cpuid.com/softwares/hwmonitor.html
HWInfo:  https://www.hwinfo.com/download.php

OK ... will do.

The restarts haven't happened in the past few days since I removed the (China-made) USB hub housing the (China-made) LED keyboard lamp.  CPU temp has been steady at around 41 C (I still think it is a heat issue).  Re-inserting the USB 3.0 drive even seemed to drop the operating temp(?)

Incidentally; how do I become a full administrator on my machine(s)?  I live alone & have 5 computers of various ilks but since updating to Windows 10, I'm not even allowed to run chkdsk from the Command window.

Here's a couple of initial reports:  (ATT'D)

Full administrator:  https://superuser.com/questions/954625/make-a-user-account-on-windows-10-a-full-admin

Please generate and upload Report Set #2)

Here is Report 2  

Full administrator:  https://superuser.com/questions/954625/make-a-user-account-on-windows-10-a-full-admin

 

Please generate and upload Report Set #2)

Re: the superuser link ... none of the solutions I've read so far have helped.  Here is an example of today's attempt to run chkdsk

 Elevate.JPG   26.11KB   0 downloads

The lusrmgr.msc takes me to UAC which is set at 'Never'

Edited by EditorTB, 06 December 2017 - 09:46 AM.

An update:  Since I removed the cheapo USB hub, my computer has been running between 32C and 52C and so far no restarts.  I reinserted the 3.0 backup USB stick and everything is still stable.  If the analysis of the event logs show it was heat related perhaps my problem is solved?

No progress on the 'superuser' attempts though.

Edited by EditorTB, 06 December 2017 - 09:23 PM.

Video and hardware errors in the Admin log.

From your description, I suspect the USB hub was to blame.
Keep an eye on things, just to be sure

Your UEFI/BIOS (version F.38) dates from 2017.  Please check at the manufacturer's website to see if there are any UEFI/BIOS updates available for your system.  This is just in case there has been a more recent update.
FYI - W8 and W10 communicate more with the UEFI/BIOS than previous versions of Windows, so it's important to ensure that the UEFI/BIOS is kept up to date (and that outdated UEFI/BIOS' may be the cause of some compatibility issues).

Although you appear to have a reasonable number of Windows Update hotfixes for this version of your OS, please double check for any new Windows Updates.  It only takes one update to cause a problem, so it's essential that you have all of them.  The actual number is not important.  Rather it's important that you checked manually, installed any available updates, and didn't experience any errors when checking or updating.

Many more Live Kernel Events than BSOD's in the WER section of MSINFO32 (BTW - there were no memory dumps from the BSOD's)

This is often a sign of a hardware problem.  If the problems start up again (after having removed the USB hub), then I'd suggest running these free hardware diagnostics:  http://www.carrona.org/hwdiag.html

I'd suggest posting over in the Windows 10 forums for help with the SuperUser stuff - I'm not well versed in that part of the OS.

Good luck!

I Googled 'USB causing overheating Windows 10' and there were indeed documented issues.  Today my machine was running at 58C ... I unplugged the USB 3.0 that I had used to backup files and the temp dropped to 32C.  Seems like Windows 10 or Hp have USB allergies.  So far, I seemed to have a solution but even so, I'll look into the availability of a BIOS update and check out your recommended hardware scans.

Thank you so much for your investigations and all your work John!

Chris

Well, my fix wasn't a fix it appears.  Had another shutdown/reboot today (Merry Christmas).  The laptop was running cool for a few weeks but started running in the 45-65 C range so I put it on a cooling platform but that didn't seem to help much. I was running a graphics intensive program today and didn't notice until too late that the temp was around 70C when the reboot happened.

Here are the latest requested reports:

Admin log seems to indicate hardware problems.
Have you performed the hardware diagnostics that I asked for?

Please run these free hardware diagnostics:  http://www.carrona.org/hwdiag.html
Please run ALL of the tests and let us know the results.
FYI - These are the tests and what we usually see for the reports:

1 - Antivirus/antimalware scans:  In short, if there are Trojans or other serious malware - start over in the Am I Infected forums
2 - Memory diagnostics:  Run MemTest86+ for at least 3 passes.  If booting from UEFI, run MemTest86 instead.  Let us know if there were any errors reported
3 - Hard Drive diagnostics:  Don't sweat the details here.  In short, run the Seagate Seatools Long/Extended test from a bootable disk.  If unable to run it from a bootable disk (UEFI and some others), then run the Seagate Seatools for Windows from within Windows.  There are no diagnostics for SSD's, just run the Crystal Mark tests and let us know if there were any failures
4 - Furmark:  run the test until the temperature stabilizes.  Don't let it get much over 90ºC.  Let us know the temp it stabilizes at and if there were any problems running the test (other than slowness).
5 - Prime95:  run the Blend test for 24 hours (this may not be possible, but run it as long as you can.  Look for errors in the output, or for problems running the test (freezes/crashes)
6 - Video 2 (other video tests):  there's several tests here.  Run all of them.  I'm especially interested in the Video Memory Test.  Let us know the results of the test(s)
  - A - simtek.org memtest
  - B - Video memory stress test
  - C - Artifact Locator
  - D - OCCT - 4 built in tests for CPU, GPU, PSU
  - E - Video Memory Stress Test
7 - CPU tests:  run at least one test on your CPU and let us know the result.

In short, it seems like it's a hardware problem to me (can also be a compatibility issue or a low-level driver problem - but I doubt it under these circumstances).

Here's my procedure for ruling out hardware problems:

 

My suggested way to diagnose a hardware problem (3 steps):

1)  Please run these free hardware diagnostics:  http://www.carrona.org/hwdiag.html
    Please run ALL of the tests and let us know the results.
    FYI - These are the tests and what we usually see for the reports:

        1 - Antivirus/antimalware scans:  In short, if there are Trojans or other serious malware - start over in the Am I Infected forums
        2 - Memory diagnostics:  Run MemTest86+ for at least 3 passes.  If booting from UEFI, run MemTest86 instead.  Let us know if there were any errors reported
        3 - Hard Drive diagnostics:  Don't sweat the details here.  In short, run the Seagate Seatools Long/Extended test from a bootable disk.  If unable to run it from a bootable disk (UEFI and some others), then run the Seagate Seatools for Windows from within Windows.  There are no diagnostics for SSD's, just run the Crystal Mark tests and let us know if there were any failures
        4 - Furmark:  run the test until the temperature stabilizes.  Don't let it get much over 90ºC.  Let us know the temp it stabilizes at and if there were any problems running the test (other than slowness).
        5 - Prime95:  run the Blend test for 24 hours (this may not be possible, but run it as long as you can.  Look for errors in the output, or for problems running the test (freezes/crashes)
        6 - Video 2 (other video tests):  there's several tests here.  Run all of them.  I'm especially interested in the Video Memory Test.  Let us know the results of the test(s)
          - A - simtek.org memtest
          - B - Video memory stress test
          - C - Artifact Locator
          - D - OCCT - 4 built in tests for CPU, GPU, PSU
          - E - Video Memory Stress Test
        7 - CPU tests:  run at least one test on your CPU and let us know the result.

2)  If all the tests pass, then try to perform a clean install of Windows:

A clean install is:
        - Windows is installed to a freshly partitioned hard drive with legitimate installation media (W10:  https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10 ).
        - The installation media is only a copy of Windows, not the OEM recovery disks that you can make on some systems.
        - Windows is fully updated after it's installed.  That's ALL updates - none excepted.
        - NO 3rd party software is installed.
        - There are no errors in Device Manager (if you find any, post back for suggestions).

        This will wipe everything off of the computer, so it's advisable to backup your stuff first.
        Also, it will wipe out all the special software that the OEM added to the system, so if you rely on any of that - let us know what it is so we can figure out a way to save/download it (the easiest way is to create/obtain the OEM;s recovery media)

        If unable to find recovery media that has the software (or if you suspect that this is a hardware problem), you can make an image of your system that'll preserve everything in the state that it was in when you made the image.  You can also do this if you don't want to try another hard drive - yet you want to be able to return to the current system state.
        One drawback to this is that you're making an image of a malfunctioning system - so, if there are errors in the system software, you'll have a nice copy of them []
        Another drawback is that the image of the system will be very large - so you'll most likely need a large external drive to store it on.
        But, this will allow you to save everything on the hard drive (although you'll need an image viewer to get things out of the image).
        The point here is that, if it's a hardware problem, then you can restore the system to the point it was when you made the image - after you repair the hardware problem.
        You can obtain more info on imaging in the Backup/Imaging/DiskMgmt forums located here:  http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/f/238/backup-imaging-and-disk-management-software/

        The point of doing this (the clean install) is to:
        - rule out Windows as a problem (if the problem continues, it's not a Windows problem as you completely replaced Windows
        - rule out 3rd party software (if the problem continues, it's not a 3rd party software problem as you didn't install any 3rd party software)
        - so, if the problem continues, it must be a hardware problem.

        OTOH, if the problem stops, then it was either a Windows or 3rd party software problem.  If the problem doesn't come back, then you've fixed it.  Then all that remains is setting the computer back up the way that you'd like it and importing your data from the backup you made.

3)  Then, if the clean install confirms the hardware problem, try this procedure to isolate the problem device(s):  http://www.carrona.org/strpdown.html

This procedure was designed for desktop systems - it's of limited use for laptops (as there aren't many replaceable parts in a laptop)..

Analysis:
The following is for information purposes only.
The following information contains the relevant information from the blue screen analysis:
**************************Mon Dec 25 09:17:28.352 2017 (UTC - 5:00)**************************
Loading Dump File [C:\Users\john\SysnativeBSODApps\122517-33640-01.dmp]
Windows 10 Kernel Version 16299 MP (4 procs) Free x64
System Uptime:0 days 0:00:08.161
Probably caused by :AuthenticAMD
BugCheck 124, {0, ffffb7842774c8f8, 0, 0}
BugCheck Info: WHEA_UNCORRECTABLE_ERROR (124)
Arguments:
Arg1: 0000000000000000, Machine Check Exception
Arg2: ffffb7842774c8f8, Address of the WHEA_ERROR_RECORD structure.
Arg3: 0000000000000000, High order 32-bits of the MCi_STATUS value.
Arg4: 0000000000000000, Low order 32-bits of the MCi_STATUS value.
BUGCHECK_STR:  0x124_AuthenticAMD
PROCESS_NAME:  System
FAILURE_BUCKET_ID: 0x124_AuthenticAMD__UNKNOWN_PRV
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨``]


3rd Party Drivers:
The following is for information purposes only.
My recommendations were given above. The drivers that follow belong to software or devices that were not developed by Microsoft.  You can find links to the driver information and where to update the drivers in the section after the code box:

**************************Mon Dec 25 09:17:28.352 2017 (UTC - 5:00)**************************
amdxata.sys                 Thu Apr 30 20:55:35 2015 (5542CF07)
amdsata.sys                 Thu May 14 08:14:52 2015 (555491BC)
amdkmpfd.sys                Thu May 19 13:23:02 2016 (573DF676)
amdpsp.sys                  Mon Jun  5 17:25:16 2017 (5935CC3C)