Windows 10: Regular freezing and BSOD on Windows 10 - intelppm.sys seems to be the cause

Hi everyone,


I have an ASUS ZenBook UX391U, which I use mostly for work. It's a great little machine, and can easily run two extra monitors if I'm desk-bound for any period of time.

For years, after the end of a client engagement, I always wipe my computer clean and reinstall a fresh copy of Windows - mostly to properly delete any client data, but also to remove any software that I will no longer use or stuff I experimented with.


I just did this now again, at the beginning of June, and my laptop has not been the same since: sometimes, when I leave it idle and the screen goes off, I can't wake it up again without a hard-reset i.e. holding down the power key, and restarting from scratch - this has happened twice just while writing this post.

Other times I get a BSOD, and when I look at the dump in BlueScreenView, somewhere intelppm.sys is always mentioned.


I have reset my PC multiple times, using Intel's Driver and Support Assistant to make sure everything is up to date, and at one point even manually went through EVERY item in the Device Manager, one by one, and checked for updated drivers.

My version of W10 is currently 1909 - the update screen says 2004 is "on its way". I have no outstanding updates in the Windows Update screen.


I have tried the usual DISM and SFC routes - no luck. I even ran memtest to see if that was causing issues - found nothing.


I'm at a loss now - I am hoping to start my next job soon, after lockdown, but I need a reliable PC! I don't understand how resetting it could cause this problem, since I didn't have it before that point.


The extract from BlueScreenView on my latest crash is below - I don't have any others, since I reset my PC again late last week, and haven't used it much until today.

Any help appreciated.


Thanks very much,

J


==================================================

Dump File : 070920-4968-01.dmp

Crash Time : 2020/07/09 11:35:10

Bug Check String : MEMORY_MANAGEMENT

Bug Check Code : 0x0000001a

Parameter 1 : 00000000`00061941

Parameter 2 : fffff800`91e0b150

Parameter 3 : 00000000`00000009

Parameter 4 : fffff800`81e6f7a0

Caused By Driver : intelppm.sys

Caused By Address : intelppm.sys+11b3

File Description : Processor Device Driver

Product Name : Microsoft® Windows® Operating System

Company : Microsoft Corporation

File Version : 10.0.18362.693 WinBuild.160101.0800

Processor : x64

Crash Address : ntoskrnl.exe+1c23a0

Stack Address 1 :

Stack Address 2 :

Stack Address 3 :

Computer Name :

Full Path : C:\WINDOWS\Minidump\070920-4968-01.dmp

Processors Count : 8

Major Version : 15

Minor Version : 18362

Dump File Size : 543 684

Dump File Time : 2020/07/09 11:35:39

==================================================

:)

 

BSOD and freezing

Yesterday I started up my laptop from hibernating and it freezes, after restarting several times I get a BSOD which freezed on the BSOD one time.
After restarting again the laptop freezed at the Welcome screen.
I have had the freezing before, it was gone for about 2 months.
I did not install any new hardware.
Now it seems to run fine again.

But what is causing the freezing and the BSOD?
I bought this laptop last January.

 

BSOD Error, DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL (intelppm.sys)

Hi Alexander,

Thank you for posting in Microsoft Community and being a part of Windows 10.

I understand the inconvenience you are facing in accessing the operating system with BSOD errors. Do not worry we will help you with this issue.

Let us know the following information to assist you better with this issue:

• Have you made any changes to the operating system prior to this issue?
• What is the make and model of your device?
• Are you able to boot the device to desktop with BSOD device?
• When exactly you get this error message and how often?

This Stop error message usually occurs during installation when there was an attempt in kernel mode to touch pageable memory at too high a process
internal request level (IRQL). Typically, this error occurs when a driver uses an incorrect memory address. Other possible causes of this error include an incompatible device driver, a general hardware problem, or incompatible software.

If you are able to boot the device to desktop, try the below troubleshooting steps and check if it helps.

Step 1: I suggest you to boot the system to Safe mode wherein the computer starts with basic drivers and no third party programs. Check if you are still receiving the error message.

Refer: Start your PC in safe mode in Windows 10


Step 2: If the issue does not persists in Safe Mode then perform a
Clean boot to
check if any third party application is causing the issue, as clean boot helps in eliminating software conflicts.

Disclaimer: Putting your system in
Clean Boot state helps in identifying if any third party applications or startup items are causing the issue. You need to follow the steps from the article mentioned below to perform a Clean Boot.

How to perform a clean boot in Windows

(Applies to Windows 10 as well)

Note: After troubleshooting, refer to the section “How to reset the computer to start as usual after troubleshooting with clean boot” to return the computer to a
Normal startup mode.

Step 3: Follow the below steps to
place the computer in normal mode.

• Press Windows + R keys to open Run
  command.
• Type msconfig and press Enter.
• In the System Configuration window, click on
  General tab.
• Select Start-up selection as Normal startup, click on
  Apply and Ok.
• Follow onscreen instructions.

For more information about Blue screen errors refer to the Microsoft article:
Troubleshoot blue screen errors

Hope it helps. Reply to the post with an updated status of this issue for further assistance.

 

Random BSOD while browsing internet


BitDefender is nothing special. mwac.sys causes BSODs anywhere.
A tiny documentation can be found here: Solved Random BSODs - Windows 10 Forums
In that very thread, the suggested action apparently worked.

The storage and network filters of any third party antivirus can cause BSODs. Neither MBAM nor BitDefender is any special. For a regular antivirus, it may be shifted to an alternative; but MBAM has no alternative. So a clean install of the said program is the most feasible first step.
As far as the first step is not failing, it is better to not think for the second step. Because the BSODs are not universal, failure at the first step is not universal; and success at the second step is also not universal.
That is why I posted that my suggestion may work, or may not. Let us see where it goes.