Driver Verifier - BSOD related - Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7 & Vista

[AdvancedSetup]

DRIVER VERIFIER

 

 

 
If your BSODs are software related, Driver Verifier can help by subjecting 3rd party drivers to a variety of stresses and tests to find improper behavior. Driver Verifier monitors selected 3rd party kernel-mode drivers to detect illegal function calls or actions that might corrupt the system.

If Driver Verifier detects a violation, it will flag (disable) the offending driver and force a BSOD. The additional info added to the memory dump file will hopefully yield clues.

1. Create a Windows System Restore Point -
Vista - START | type rstrui - create a restore point
Windows 10 & 7 - START | type create | select "Create a Restore Point"
Windows 8/ 8.1 - Swipe mouse top-right of screen to bring up Charms |click on "Search" |  type create | select "Create a Restore Point"
 
2. Run Driver Verifier -
- Windows 10, 7 & Vista - START | type verifier
- Windows 8.1 & 8 - Press WIN +X keys | select "Command Prompt (Admin)" | type verifier

Make these selections -
1. Select 2nd option - "Create custom settings (for code developers)"
2. Select 2nd option - "Select individual settings from a full list"
3. Check these boxes -

• Special Pool
• Force IRQL checking
• Pool Tracking
• Deadlock Detection
• Security Checks (new as of Windows 7)
• Miscellaneous Checks
• Power framework delay fuzzing (new as of Windows 8)
• DDI compliance checking (new as of Windows 8)

4. Select last option - "Select driver names from a list"
5. Click on the Provider heading - sorts list by Provider
6. Check ALL boxes where "Microsoft" IS NOT the Provider
7. Click on Finish
8. Re-boot


If you are unable to boot into normal Windows after VERIFIER_ENABLED BSOD -

• Boot into SAFEMODE - tap the F8 key repeatedly during boot-up...
  • Select "System Restore"
  • Choose the restore point that you created in step #1

 
To check Driver Verifier status -

--- select last option, 1st screen -or-
--- type verifier /query (in a cmd/DOS screen)
- To turn Driver Verifier off - verifier /reset then re-boot

To VERIFY Driver Verifier SETTINGS -

--- type verifier /querysettings (in a cmd/DOS screen)

 
- Driver Verifier needs to run for 24 hours minimum - even if the status screen appears clear.

If a VERIFIER_ENABLED BSOD occurs, please get the dump file from c:\windows\minidump, zip it up & attach to your next post.

Additional info from Windows Dev Center -
Spoiler

About Driver Verifier
Driver Verifier Options
Using Driver Verifier
Memory Dump Options




Regards. . .

jcgriff2