Steam causing Memory Mangement BSODs when running in the background?

[BayBay]

Hi there.

So recently on my gaming laptop I have been having a problem in which a BSOD would randomly appear. The error code is always the same Memory Management error. I have tracked down the appearances of the BSODs and they only seem to appear when Steam is running in the background. I've had no BSODs when playing games so far. The only way I can work around this is to close Steam when I'm not using it, but it becomes a bit repetitive if you get what I mean.

I've tried all sorts of solutions but they never seem to fix the blue screens. I've tried updating my graphics card to the latest version, uninstalling certain software (such as Creative Cloud) and scanning my hardware for errors only for it to return with a clean scan.

Another thing I notice about the blue screens is that they seem to corrupt Adobe Photoshop when one appears, requiring me to reinstall it every time, which can be annoying.

Is anyone else having the same problem as me? I'm not sure if its either Steam or Creative Cloud that's causing the problem or it could be my hardware. Does anyone have any suggestions and recommendations for this bug? Thanks.

[Theblaze]

Had the same error code and from my experience, one of my RAM has caused the issue, I put it out and never had a BSOD again.

I checked my RAMs using a software called "MemTest86".
https://www.memtest86.com/

[Elucidator]

Yeah I only had it once and couldn't confirm what caused it, so I didn't report it in Steam Client Beta.
but after running so many tests and knowing what programs and services were running at that time I am pretty certain Steam indeed, randomly (even admidst gameplay) can cause a memory management BSOD.
It likely has something to do with the memory leak issues it also has.

In my case it caused corruption of my microphone input (my sound card was consistently sending loud noise into my mic input)
since I dont have a mic I didn't even know till someone noticed in a game that has voice chat.
It only goes away after another restart.
e.e; idk what it does nor what the conditions are that cause this, but yeah-

BSODs cause a quick reset, so its not the same as turning the computer off and on again. O'm not surprised due to this that you see problems in other programs.

I don't have adobe products (too expensive). At that time I encountered the BSOD just had steam and my browser open (and discord).
It also made me scan my memory in fear, but... my memory was fine.

[Iceira]

Do you have the Laptop autoupdate in start menu . most new laptop has such VIP portal that do all this today. but sense yuo dont mention Laptop or model nr. or game name.

and adobe issue dont fit here.

dont underestimate if you even can this under the laptop. take slot battery out and reinsert it. so it reconnect , i did not say dismantle laptop i said if you even can such. rest i hope is simple update its Driver and Bios at support place or through its auto update app.

windows /scannow
dont thnk you have much other choise.

and just because its adobe , please dont say its edit movie or other huge file or other big task much dont know about ( adobe is much other then view simple things ) Adobe Photoshop
ppl even made huge homepage or other things like that.

even seen post with all is dump at virtual file so hard disk is use as memory to big things.
so 1TB free space can quickly be full , if you edit a movie.

32gb ram is nothing then edit big things
( if this is adobe only issue, then you might want to ask that forum. )

[Elucidator]

Steam recently updated chromium embedded framework, so I can't say if the issue I had encountered back then still counts. I was just posting about it to let others know, they aren't the only one with weird mem related bsods that could happen while steam runs. e.e;

It's possible the update fixed the mem leaks. I haven't really tested it after that update. (it was a this week they made this update on the beta client). Would need to test at some point I guess.
Also, the leak likely still persists on release. The OS doesn't matter and you can diffidently see it build up if you use a more analystic process manager (with a good memory viewer), one that measures in KB and such. (one that can see the amount of ram Steam allocates vs what it actually uses at that time, etc.)
I think Steam may eat less RAM since the update, from a quick look, can't say. Maybe I will measure it again at some point, but this update isn't in release yet so, idk if it matters.

[Jack Schitt]

BSOD's don't happen because of any software they happen because hardware fails. Your laptop is failing, it's not Steam.

[Elucidator]

Only if the software using the hardware is perfect.
malloc, read, error, malloc, read, error, malloc, read, error, malloc, read, error, malloc, read, succes, free(last one only).
In system ram, normally windows would at some point just close the faulty program.
but now immagine it happening in your vram and thanks to vulkan scripts for example, which provide deep access to the hardware.
this is when a software caused BSOD becomes possible.

Here: maybe some info that helps https://www.howtogeek.com/163452/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-blue-screen-of-death/

There are various software exclusive BSOD error codes, such as those related to paging for example.

Edit (late, (as an added reply to jack's statement below and) as I don't want to drag the thread off topic)
If something in windows kernel needs to restart (due to a crash) and it was needed at that time, you get a bsod. You can innitiate a bsod yourself with a few edits and clicks https://www.windowscentral.com/how-intentionally-force-blue-screen-death-windows-10
both of these are diffidently software caused... and you know what, if it is truly hardware only, then OP may want to see evidence of this and not just a statement.
Also yes I get that kernel stuff can also error and crash due to hardware failures, but that is a lot more rare. (because usually broken hardware prevents the system from even booting up)
And usually if something faulty on the hardware itself happens, such as a power surge in the wrong place, the entire system will hang, not make windows bsod and prepare for a restart.
Also:
> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appeal_to_probability

[Jack Schitt]

Incorrect. As I said the only thing that causes a BSOD is hardware failure. How software can cause a BSOD is when the computer can't handle what the software wants to do, because hardware fails to do it.

Steam has over 21 million users. It works great for all of them except this one person. It's not Steam it's their computer. BSOD's are hardware failure not 'bad software' that works for 20,999,999 other people.

[Iceira]

Jack Schitt i know you know this Driver and Bios is also a piece of software.

this is know as should not happend , but atleast its rare today , cough cough , not sure OP now agree with it, but compare to previous OS, then its alot better today. atleast we can agree on that part.

and many forget MS dont make drivers, they only test for crash issue , again dont think OP agree on that part, but whatever cause this from mem to what did OP do in Adobe. and maybe steam moderator will close this thread, as i recall adobe not a steam issue.

but i bet they will not do it. why bother untill something change. or solved it.

[BayBay]

A bit of an update on the problem.

So I noticed I sometimes get notifications on Windows to tell me to restart the system for hard drive repairs and when my laptop boots up, it sometimes starts an automatic C: Drive repair that lasts for around 15 seconds. So, I assume that something is wrong with my hard drive and that the problem doesn't lie within Steam.

[Nx Machina]

Originally posted by BayBay:

A bit of an update on the problem.

So I noticed I sometimes get notifications on Windows to tell me to restart the system for hard drive repairs and when my laptop boots up, it sometimes starts an automatic C: Drive repair that lasts for around 15 seconds. So, I assume that something is wrong with my hard drive and that the problem doesn't lie within Steam.

Always assume bsod's are either hardware related and/or driver related or Windows updates or a corruption in the install.

To troubleshoot.

https://www.thewindowsclub.com/disk-error-checking-windows-8

https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/help/929833/use-the-system-file-checker-tool-to-repair-missing-or-corrupted-system

https://www.thewindowsclub.com/pc-stress-test-free-software

[Iceira]

Originally posted by BayBay:

A bit of an update on the problem.

So I noticed I sometimes get notifications on Windows to tell me to restart the system for hard drive repairs and when my laptop boots up, it sometimes starts an automatic C: Drive repair that lasts for around 15 seconds. So, I assume that something is wrong with my hard drive and that the problem doesn't lie within Steam.

yeah problem is did it fix itself or change disk , thats your call or warrent on laptop, and as i tried to explan hope it not hardware releated and just a crash.

[Elucidator]

Originally posted by BayBay:

A bit of an update on the problem.

So I noticed I sometimes get notifications on Windows to tell me to restart the system for hard drive repairs and when my laptop boots up, it sometimes starts an automatic C: Drive repair that lasts for around 15 seconds. So, I assume that something is wrong with my hard drive and that the problem doesn't lie within Steam.

;sweat;
I highly recommend you to run chkdsk on the drive with /f
Scan the health of the disk as soon as possible.
and also make sure your windows system files are still okay with sfc /scannow

I also recommend you to a look at your Virtual Memory settings.
First make sure the installed RAM is enough, if it isn't then likely a lot of it maybe Virtual.
(right click my computer. Properties. Advanced System Settings. Performance. Advanced (tab). )