This will be my first post with Bleeping Computer and even though i have seen quite a few topics on the same issue, as none of them resolved my problem and i did not wish to hijacks some's issue or bump an old topic, here i am
Note: i have attached perfmon.zip, SysnativeFileCollectionApp.zip, admin.evtx and system_info.txt in the zip file accompanying this post. Full system parts can also be found at: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/PMfXJV (link needs to be copy/paste in the URL bar - the direct link seems to get a 404)
First, some basics: the build i am currently using has been put together in January 2016 from individual parts (new). OS installed by myself on blank SSD (Windows 10 Enterprise N). The system was stable for the better part of the whole year while i used both as a gaming rig, as well as software developer/work desktop. Some of the games i played at top settings (Rise of the Tomb Raider, Shadow of Mordor, Tom Clancy Siege, Starcraft II, The Witcher 3, Battleborn, Metal Gear Solid V and Battlefield 1 - not a massive gamer just like options ).
My problems first appeared in October around the 22nd and they presented themselves as sudden restarts (or better put shutdown and immediate power up) while gaming. The most specific things i remember about that time was that i installed a new keyboard (K70 RGB Corsair) and the nVidia drivers were updated - can't remember if there was a Windows update and update history is not telling me that far back for some reason.
Now, these restarts were sporadic happening a maximum of 5 times in Siege since then, but more often it happened with Battlefield 1 (at least 1 in a 2 hour session). Because of the infrequency i blamed it on bad drivers and just waited out for nVidia to come up with new stuff. But recently i wanted to try Witcher 3 again (which i did not play since summer when i logged more than 20 hours without issue) and to my surprise the game starts just fine, cinematics are just good, but when actual gameplay starts -> restart. Each and every time like clockwork. Tried new game, different load, installed GOTY version, same thing.
Now since the game worked just fine before October and no issues whatsoever and then the restarts i had with Battlefield 1 this triggered the 'panic' mode and i realized something else might be at fault here. As such i started researching all i could on issues concerning Kernel-power ID 41 with no bugcheck error. More often then not the consensus lied on a hardware fault and before i start RMAing top candidates (right now i'm thinking PSU has the highest chances) I wanted to get an opinion and advice based on what i did so far to troubleshoot - and the fact that i'm at my wits end and don't know how to proceed without starting to each one part at a time until i identify the problem.
reverted back nVidia drivers to multiple versions since July 2016 (used Display Driver Uninstaller to be sure)
concentrated on Witcher 3 because this one is the only faithfully replicable scenario and as such tested multiple graphic settings, both the GOTY version and the original version i used during summer
interesting here was that if i lowered the resolution and ran it in windowed mode it seemed that it was stable (which got me thinking this might be a temp problem - to follow)
thinking that something happened with the system hardware wise (temp spikes, faulty PSU, faulty CPU etc) i went on a stress test rampage
IntelBurn on very high - CPU got in the 90 (Celsius) - never did so on any games i ran - nothing happened
Still suspecting this might be PSU related, took all the cables apart and put them back together - still no resolution
At this point i was calling it quits and was preparing to reinstall Windows (hoping it was a bad driver somewhere), but since I kept having the feeling of a spike happening (more than likely voltage related) i decided to give one last shot, the results of which brought me here cause i really don't know how to interpret this:
opened my case and disconnected all cases fans (except CPU of course) - lo and behold - the game started working - decent 10 minutes - nothing happened - so i thought, okay one of the fans might be bad. Current fan setup is:
case fan controller (it's a 3 step button - comes with the case) powered by a molex connector connects all other fans via 2 pin connectors
so to troubleshoot i start connecting fans one by one. game works until i connect all the molex powered fans - game starts restarting the PC again
take out case fans and go back to molex fans and fidget with them again until i think i have either a faulty cable or faulty fan - so i leave out those parts and start the game with only one case fan working - surprise - game restarts again - which did not happened a few steps ago
i remove again all the fans just like i did the first time - game still restarts - so my bewilderment grows
At this point i am unsure what to do next except reinstalling Windows and giving it a try on a non-updated non-used system and if that is still a problem, warranty the PSU and keep my fingers crossed.
So, any help would be very appreciated as i think i have exhausted all convenient methods of testing (i have a few friends with similar rigs but since i'm leaving on a business trip on Saturday, it's a bit hard to coordinate exchange of parts to test out the hardware).
In short, it's an error that occurs because Windows doesn't know why it shut down. This can be due to hardware, compatibility, or even low-level drivers
It's not a critical error, but it suggests (to me) that you're cooling solution isn't working all that well.
If you wish to check, run Prime95's Blend, Small FFT's and Large FFT's tests and see where the temps get up to (I am familiar with that test).
You've already run most of the tests, but I'd like you to run the 2nd set of video tests (the "other" video tests)
Your UEFI/BIOS (version P2.70) dates from May of 2016. Please check at the manufacturer's website to see if there are any UEFI/BIOS updates available for your system. This is just in case there has been a more recent update.
Other than that, you appear to have a reasonable number of Windows Update hotfixes for this version of your OS. Please double check for any new Windows Updates. It only takes one update to cause a problem, so it's essential that you have all of them. The actual number is not important. Rather it's important that you checked manually, installed any available updates, and didn't experience any errors when checking or updating.
Other than that, please try running Driver Verifier according to these instructions: http://www.carrona.org/verifier.html
I have no reason for running it, other than a hunch - but if it does find something, it'll be worth the trouble.
Thank you for the response. I will try to get to as many of the suggestions as possible today. I'm leaving on business tomorrow till Feb so it might take some time till i check all.
What i managed to already check is that my Windows didn't update because it's Enterprise and I can only go to 1607 if i have the new ISO from MSDN. Looking into that now.
replaced the memory with 2 dims from a friend that has a similar system which runs Witcher 3 (same version) - no change - restarted in the same spot
the CPU goes over 85 in stress tests (only) because i don't have a water cooler, only stock - but i have seen no game that took it over 75 C (even before i had this problems)
I'll go through the rest when i get back in February. In the meantime if i can get everything in order i might have my friends RMA the PSU for me as something in my gut is telling me, for now, that has the highest chance to be the problem here.
As such, I cannot discount your gut feeling about the PSU (FYI, the OCCT test has a PSU test built into it - have you run that?)
first of all thanks for the responses i received before my long trip from which i am currently back from.
As an update on my machine, let's just say fate is very ironic. I ordered a new PSU before my arrival as i wanted to make sure i test out that component and if my guess was right have something to replace it with. On top of that my housemate just changed his PSU so i had 2 to play with...problem is: computer is just FINE! No errors, no restarts, resets etc. The Witcher 3 which killed it every time it loaded, has no problem anymore (ran for 35 minutes plus and nothing). I even put it through Overwatch at maximum everything for 3+ hours and nothing. Still have to reinstall Battlefield 1 and try that as well.
I'm perplexed. The only this that happened was that the PC stayed unused for 7 weeks and a Windows update happened right after i began using it again (which i know can be a big deal, but i am unsure if this could have been caused by a W10 issue)
Working in Edinburgh and trying to focus my life and thoughts on things other than work to keep me happy. That's why I love looking at things through a lens. Teaches me to look more and appreciate interesting and beautiful things in life.	
I hope that you all have a fabulous day surrounded by ones that you love eating all the turkey, cranberry sauce & vanilla chai cheesecake your heart desires!
I wanted to take a quick second to thank you guys that read this blog! I am so grateful that I get to play a little part in helping you become the healthiest and best versions of yourself one workout, recipe & blog post at a time. It is seriously the most rewarding and fun job I could ever ask for. So thanks for being awesome, keep doin' you!
Ok time to get to the bootcamp workout... Side note a down dog sequence consists of {inhale circle arms up, exhale forward fold over, hang there, inch hands out into plank position, Chaturanga, Updog, down dog, peddle feet, inch hands back towards feet and stand up}
Transformations have been super popular on social since the rise of the #transformationtuesday hashtag and fitness programs that thrive off before and after pictures. Because I have personally felt INCREDIBLY overwhelmed by the influx of program coaches contacting me & my need to always tell it like it is with you ladies I wanted to share my knowledge on this subject in hopes that it would inspire you to choose differently/wisely.
I am a huge believer in documenting your progress, and taking movement seriously, but I'm not sold on transformation photos, 30 day slim downs, etc. & let me tell you why.
2 reasons. 1 The photos are misleading because of many different editing tactics & 2 They're a poor representation of what well balanced programs will actually do for you. They make it seem like a magic genie will change the way your body looks in a months time.
Losing weight, or making the decision to live a healthy life is a lifestyle change that takes dedication, TIME, and intention!
Even the best programs take months of dedicated work to get results from...plain and simple. {HELLOOO The BL Community}
It doesn't happen at the snap of your fingers and we need to flip the mindset to not be so phased by this. These transformation photos we're seeing are really just a marketing tactic used to lure people in to buying a specific workout program, drink, etc. but don't work for everyone, and are an illusion to make people think their body will look chiseled in a seriously short about of time. Just to show you guys how much of an illusion they are I put up my own before and after photo. Both of these photos were taken on the exact same day, 90 seconds from one another, one flexing and manipulating my body into the sunlight and the other pushing my stomach out and manipulating my pose to look "unfit". I wanted to share this with you to show you how photos can easily be doctored to show desired results. Photoshop, lighting, time of day the picture is taken, etc. can drastically change the photos for better or worse, social media is an interesting place PLEASE don't get sucked into the highlight reel.
Now lets get into the nitty gritty...The human body doesn't want to change. It fights the process of losing weight, & the process of gaining muscle {the body doesn't want to be pushed outside its comfort zone...it's cozy where it is which means CONSISTENT WORK over a long span of time is in order to create longterm change}. It's one thing to exercise to maintain your look and it's another to transform the way you look {that takes a significantly greater amount of work}.
My question to these large scale programs is...What do we do after your month long weight loss challenge? Have we really learned the tools in ONE MONTH to sustainably change our life? Have we taken a step back & looked at the end goal, the long term play rather than the short term outcome? Even if we lose weight in that month then what do we do after it's over?
Do we keep up with the perfectly portioned container eating & the expensive morning shakes? Do we purchase another program in hopes it will create change? Sadly but most often the answer is YES until we see the light of day, until we realize it isn't working. Why? because it isn't realistic or attainable just like the transformation photos themselves.
I'm always honest with you loves and I had to bring this to attention much more deeply than in a few quick Instagram stories, I had to give you examples & reference, to the incredibly hard spiral sooo many of us fall down.
Here's something I want you all to remember, Everyone's bodies are different which means everyones BEST bodies are different. Find out what best, healthiest, most fulfilled looks like for you & GO FOR THAT... get rid of the social accounts & salesy fitness program friends on FB & DO YOU. Eat real whole foods, move your body at least once per day, ALLOW YOURSELF TIME & most important of all put your head down and stick with it.
I'm always here for guidance and true personalized whole body transformation whenever you're ready. Lets do this thing SUSTAINABLY together. Sign up for your discovery call HERE or check out The Community 8 month online whole body wellness program starting September 23rd.