I’ve been getting blue screens at random intervals (approximately 3 times a day). Trying to isolate the problem (assuming it’s a driver or software problem) I have been stopping services to see if it makes a difference. I stopped avast (via My Computer-Manage) and haven’t had a blue screen now for 2 days. Has anybody else seen this? Could Avast be causing the blue screens? My memory tests ok. I’m running Vista Ultimate 64 bit.
Jon
Well, first question: do you have any resident protection programs (like antimalware, other antivirus) or avast is the only one program in your pc? If you had any other antivirus before avast, have you removed it properly?
Apart from Defender, nothing else has ever been installed.
Please, go to folder \windows\minidump and send the newest (recent) .mdmp files for analysis.
There is also C:\Windows\Memory.dmp file.
Better if you can compress (zip) them and add some information about the BSOD and the link for this thread. 
If this file does not exist, enable the avast service again and “force” the BSOD to happen.
Upload the zip file to this anonymous ftp server: ftp://ftp.asw.cz/incoming
You can also disable Automatic Restart and then copy the error number and the message:
System Properties > Advanced > [Startup and Recovery]Settings
Remove the checkmark from “Automatically Restart” in the System Failure section.
Besides Google also you can use:
MS knowledgebase: http://support.microsoft.com/search/?adv=1
Free memory tester (Run it overnight): http://www.memtest86.com/
XP error explanations: http://www.xptuneup.com/xptuneup_stopmessages.htm
BSODs: http://www.techmetica.com/howto/descriptions-and-fixes-of-blue-screen-of-death-bsod-crash-errors/
Thanks for your assistance. Zip file is now on its way to ftp server. 
Jon
My system is still stable (25 September) without the Avast service running. As I haven’t heard anything further in this thread in response to my sending the crash-dumps, my assumption is that Avast has indeed been the cause of my system instability over the past 16 months (a big headache) and I will now be removing it from my system.
Anybody else had this problem, my Avast (home version) was installed when my PC was first built?
Jon
Unfortunately it isn’t as simple as that, if there happens to be a conflict, removing one element of that means there is no conflict, but it doesn’t confirm the process at fault.
Not quite how I’m seeing it. Something (driver/program) is accessing a protected area of memory - as described on the BSOD. The only conflict seems to be between driver and memory and I believe I have been able to remove the conflict by removing the potential culprit.
Thanks Tech. After uploading my crash dumps I thought I might get some further advice from you!!
For me it will be impossible. I don’t know anything about dumps.
Maybe Vlk himself could help.
Ok. So someone having problems sends minidumps for analysis and includes the link to the originating thread (as requested).
But what’s the point if nobody follows it up?
upload the dump files to mediafire.com and post the sharing link here. let me see.
nmb
Thanks nmb
http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=8fa81b8e4283cfe7e5c3dee5769931ecffc571ab9d5ed78bd6f20ee4ff677d52
sorry, but upload only the recent one. the file is too large for me. only the minidump is enough. not the full dump. please. the file size file will be in KB.
nmb
Sorry. Try this:
http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=8fa81b8e4283cfe7e5c3dee5769931ece04e75f6e8ebb871
don’t you have anything sarting from 10? because you have uploaded old ones. eg : Mini092609-01.dmp was created on mm/dd/yy 09/26/09.
so if i have the latest one it will be good. anyways let me see what Mini092609-01.dmp has to tell us. in process. find the latest one.
nmb
Mini092609-01 is the last one. I haven’t had a crash since then because I’ve turned Avast off (see my earlier thread comments).
I’m getting some errors while checking the file.
I think its this : aswFsBlk.sys
that is avast system file.
so post the latest one. let me see.
what is the version of your avast ?(right click>avast tray icon > about > double click on about version ) it should be 4.8.1356 is it ? No- update now : right click avast tray icon > updating > program update. wait for it to complete and when asked to reboot, reboot.
come back.
edit : got it. I’m sure that its aswFsBlk.sys
nmb
Version 4.8.1351 (last update as I’ve not had Avast running recently).
I’m now uploading more recent ones and a randon selection of others (8 more in total).
update the antivirus to latest version and see if you are getting any problems. please check and tell.
nmb