Possible Infection? or maybe Hardware Malfunction?
 

Problems:

-Vista doesnt always boot, however XP will always boot.

-I Can consistantly BSoD my computer by playing EQ2.

-Random crashes of programs and BSoDs do occur.

-Some of the blue screens have been:
0x000000D1
0x000000E8
0x0000000A
And have shown problems with files:
USBPort.sys
Nv_Disp.DLL
nvlddmkm.sys

-****Nothing involving connecting to windows will work, WindowsUpdate, Windows Problem Solutions, Windows Time updates. None of it, and on the last crash 3 windows services had an error before it crashed.

-Happens on BOTH Operating Systems installed on my computer, which leads me to believe its either an infection, or hardware malfunction.


Events leading up to this:

I decided to OC my CPU and see what kinda temps it would put out, not much of an OC i went from 13x to 14x clock and it was a 200mhz increase, 2.6 to 2.8 on an AMD FX-60.
it only ran about 2 degrees warmer and my system is liquid cooled so it really wasnt a problem. But when i tried OCing it to 3ghz the bios didnt like it so i had to do a pinswap reset on my MoBo (something ive done before while tweaking my ram 2 years ago)

After i set everything back to normal, i decided to update my gfx driver... that was fine.
Then i used the nvidia search thing to find drivers for some of the MoBo things i never installed that were Nvidia based and installed those. Then the computer restarts like always after an installation and i get some pop up about restarting thinking it was some windows thing or something to do with all my updating and i click it not paying attention... then the next time it boots, nothings connecting to Microsoft, EQ2 is crashing, and im disgruntled.

Below is my HiJackThis log, and there seems to be A LOT of "File Missing"s....

Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2
Scan saved at 7:34:24 PM, on 1/1/2005
Platform: Windows Vista (WinNT 6.00.1904)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v7.00 (7.00.6000.16546)
Boot mode: Normal

Running processes:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Lexmark 8300 Series\lxcjmon.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Lexmark 8300 Series\ezprint.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jre1.6.0_03\bin\jusched.exe
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\CTHELPER.EXE
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\CTXFIHLP.EXE
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\CTXFISPI.EXE
C:\Program Files\Logitech\SetPoint\x86\SetPoint32.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\HiJackThis\HiJackThis.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://google.daemonsearch.com/
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant =
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,CustomizeSearch =
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar,LinksFolderName =
F2 - REG:system.ini: UserInit=userinit.exe
O1 - Hosts: ::1 localhost
O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Reader Link Helper - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: Groove GFS Browser Helper - {72853161-30C5-4D22-B7F9-0BBC1D38A37E} - C:\PROGRA~2\MICROS~1\Office12\GRA8E1~1.DLL
O2 - BHO: SSVHelper Class - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jre1.6.0_03\bin\ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {7E853D72-626A-48EC-A868-BA8D5E23E045} - (no file)
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [amd_dc_opt] C:\Program Files (x86)\AMD\Dual-Core Optimizer\amd_dc_opt.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Adobe Reader Speed Launcher] "C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Reader 8.0\Reader\Reader_sl.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [GrooveMonitor] "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office12\GrooveMonitor.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] "C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jre1.6.0_03\bin\jusched.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AsioThk32Reg] REGSVR32.EXE /S CTASIO.DLL
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [CTHelper] CTHELPER.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [CTxfiHlp] CTXFIHLP.EXE
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ehTray.exe] C:\Windows\ehome\ehTray.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [igndlm.exe] C:\Program Files (x86)\Download Manager\DLM.exe /windowsstart /startifwork
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [PlayNC Launcher] C:\Program Files (x86)\NCSoft\Launcher\NCLauncher.exe /Minimized
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [WMPNSCFG] C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Media Player\WMPNSCFG.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [DAEMON Tools] "C:\Program Files (x86)\DAEMON Tools\daemon.exe" -lang 1033
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-19\..\Run: [Sidebar] %ProgramFiles%\Windows Sidebar\Sidebar.exe /detectMem (User 'LOCAL SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-19\..\Run: [WindowsWelcomeCenter] rundll32.exe oobefldr.dll,ShowWelcomeCenter (User 'LOCAL SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-20\..\Run: [Sidebar] %ProgramFiles%\Windows Sidebar\Sidebar.exe /detectMem (User 'NETWORK SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-18\..\Run: [DevconDefaultDB] C:\Windows\system32\READREG /SILENT /FAIL=1 (User 'SYSTEM')
O4 - HKUS\.DEFAULT\..\Run: [DevconDefaultDB] C:\Windows\system32\READREG /SILENT /FAIL=1 (User 'Default user')
O4 - Global Startup: Logitech SetPoint.lnk = ?
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~2\MICROS~1\Office12\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jre1.6.0_03\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jre1.6.0_03\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra button: Send to OneNote - {2670000A-7350-4f3c-8081-5663EE0C6C49} - C:\PROGRA~2\MICROS~1\Office12\ONBttnIE.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: S&end to OneNote - {2670000A-7350-4f3c-8081-5663EE0C6C49} - C:\PROGRA~2\MICROS~1\Office12\ONBttnIE.dll
O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - C:\PROGRA~2\MICROS~1\Office12\REFIEBAR.DLL
O13 - Gopher Prefix:
O16 - DPF: {74DBCB52-F298-4110-951D-AD2FF67BC8AB} (NVIDIA Smart Scan) - http://www.nvidia.com/content/Driver...aSmartScan.cab
O16 - DPF: {D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000} (Shockwave Flash Object) - http://fpdownload2.macromedia.com/ge...sh/swflash.cab
O18 - Protocol: grooveLocalGWS - {88FED34C-F0CA-4636-A375-3CB6248B04CD} - C:\PROGRA~2\MICROS~1\Office12\GR99D3~1.DLL
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\Alg.exe,-112 (ALG) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\alg.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: Creative ALchemy AL1 Licensing Service - Creative Labs - C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Creative Labs Shared\Service\AL1Licensing.exe
O23 - Service: @dfsrres.dll,-101 (DFSR) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\DFSR.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\fxsresm.dll,-118 (Fax) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\fxssvc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @keyiso.dll,-100 (KeyIso) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: lxcj_device - - C:\Windows\system32\lxcjcoms.exe
O23 - Service: @comres.dll,-2797 (MSDTC) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\msdtc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\System32\netlogon.dll,-102 (Netlogon) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\psbase.dll,-300 (ProtectedStorage) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\Locator.exe,-2 (RpcLocator) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\locator.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\samsrv.dll,-1 (SamSs) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\SLsvc.exe,-101 (slsvc) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\SLsvc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\snmptrap.exe,-3 (SNMPTRAP) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\snmptrap.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\spoolsv.exe,-1 (Spooler) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\spoolsv.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: Steam Client Service - Valve Corporation - C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Steam\SteamService.exe
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\ui0detect.exe,-101 (UI0Detect) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\UI0Detect.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\vds.exe,-100 (vds) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\vds.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\vssvc.exe,-102 (VSS) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\vssvc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\wbengine.exe,-104 (wbengine) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\wbengine.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%Systemroot%\system32\wbem\wmiapsrv.exe,-110 (wmiApSrv) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\wbem\WmiApSrv.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%ProgramFiles%\Windows Media Player\wmpnetwk.exe,-101 (WMPNetworkSvc) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Media Player\wmpnetwk.exe (file missing)

--
End of file - 7565 bytes

Re: Possible Infection? or maybe Hardware Malfunction?
 

Well, it just crashed again after running EQ2. Alot sooner than before though which was pretty surprising. but the Error i got was...

An Attempt Was Made To Execute to Non-Executable Memory
Stop: 0x000000FC (0xFFFFF900C07D6100, 0xD4D000009117B863, 0xFFFFF98029FD8460, 0x0000000000000002)

Re: Possible Infection? or maybe Hardware Malfunction?
 

Maybe this applies to your case:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/886348

If the error happens it mid-game, it is entirely logical that your graphics driver is addressing main RAM incorrectly.

The BSOD indicators point to the Nvidia drivers, don't they? And you did update your gfx driver. Can you revert to the old driver?

As for Vista, do ignore my rambling but just about anything can go wrong in Vista with drivers. What didn't work in Vista but worked in XP doesn't surprise me and you'd need to plug away at Vista in isolation and not take XP into account.

So, my advice is to regress your drivers.

Re: Possible Infection? or maybe Hardware Malfunction?
 

I would give it a shot but i completely reformated because i was annoyed with not having any room on my drives anyways (im a pack rat, i took what i needed and dumped it all)

But whats weird was, the issues were on BOTH systems, Vista AND XP, not just vista....

So the whole "Vista has issues" is true still, but the fact that it was affecting XP is another problem in itself..

I just got done re-installing drivers and gonna reinstall the game and try it... if it gives me a problem i will go to archieved drivers and see if thats it.

Re: Possible Infection? or maybe Hardware Malfunction?
 

Well, that's the whole point about regressing drivers. If it doesn't work on both (remember you first reported XP OK according to my reading), then it's likely to be the gfx drivers (or the hardware as a common but unlikely point of failure).

Re: Possible Infection? or maybe Hardware Malfunction?
 

I only stated that XP will consistantly boot... but it still always crashes which means it just boots better than vista, doesnt run better at this point.

Well i logged in the game last night after this complete wipe, crashed with the newest drivers. so i change them back to the old ones and it still crashed. So i figured, what if i set something wrong in the bios and decided to reset it and just boot without changing anything.

Logged in the game, left it on over night, came back.. and no BSOD. So it had to have been a miscalculated option in my BIOs. I'll keep it posted if i have any more trouble.. now it just seems that my password was changed somehow for EQ2... who knows whats going on its all a bunch of headaches..

Re: Possible Infection? or maybe Hardware Malfunction?
 

For the record, it would be nice to know the BIOS change you made.

Well done and best of luck with the follow on problem.